Gathered around a table in Kulana ‘Oiwi, Molokai's political and economic leaders talked story about the closure of Molokai Ranch. The group of 14 men and women (two absent) were brought together by Gov. Linda Lingle to address the island's socioeconomic future. Representatives from all levels of government joined business leaders and homesteaders to figure out what the strategy should be for the future of Molokai.

Colette Machado, Molokai's Office of Hawaiian Affairs representative, began the meeting with her opinion. "Given the tumultuous situation, and as the only one who worked on the plan, one of the architects, there are greater issues we need to talk about ... I want to make those points very clear," she said.

Machado was referring to the Master Land Use Plan for Molokai Ranch, completed in 2006. The plan is cited by some as the cause of a divide in the community. The Ranch closed April 5, surprising some island residents and costing 120 people their jobs. The Molokai Action Team convened for the first time April 7 to figure out just where the island was going to discover its new economic base, and what should be done for the community in the short and long-term.

The group concluded its session with more questions than answers, and a valuable exchange of ideas.
Machado continued, "[It] has not been a good process, and [I come to the team] with anguish and hostility ... I am very direct, and I accepted this role to provide the long-term approaches. [I value] honesty, transparency and working together."

Other members of the group shared their opinions at the beginning of the meeting, citing past meetings and their own experience working on other coalitions.

Barbara Haliniak, president of the Molokai Chamber of Commerce and a member of various Maui County business and economics-based boards, said that part of MAT's goal should be to address, "how we can help not only the laid off, but also what we can do to help stabilize the economy."

Abbey Mayer, the newly appointed director of the state Office of Planning, who chairs the new committee, said that the governor is willing to support any action that the committee chooses to take. "The function of this committee is not something that will dictate to Molokai what should happen. What happens has to be bottom up. We have to have some evidence of consensus [to achieve anything.]"

Sen. J. Kalani English and Rep. Mele Carroll, Molokai's representatives in the state legislature, reminded the room that they're on a legislative time crunch. "The legislature is in its final month," said English. "If there's anything [for us to do] it has to be thought up really quickly. We have to find a vehicle to put it in. We don't have a lot of time to look at the short-term things ... and the long-term things [can be saved for next session]."

Molokai's Maui County councilmember Danny Mateo suggested that the state bring the Department of Agriculture to Molokai, if that's the way the community decides to go. "If you brought the DOA to Molokai," he said. "There could be recognition of potential on Molokai, if Ag is this community's choice ... I don't think shipping our people to Maui is the solution. There are social implications with that as well."

Kammy Purdy, general manager of the Molokai Livestock Cooperative and president of the Ahupua'a association of Molokai homesteads, said some 30 homesteaders lost their jobs with the Molokai Ranch closure. "Most homesteaders had 40 acres fenced," said Purdy. "[We should] think about getting cattle into those 40 acres, either for self-sufficiency or stock the Molokai Livestock Coop so that there's fresh and healthy meat for the island of Molokai. It's an economical course to take."

JoAnn Ridell, executive assistant to Maui County Mayor Charmaine Tavares, said that any such livestock program should be developed with the consultation of the Maui Cattle company, a group of small owners who operate a slaughter facility on that island. "They've become very successful," she reflected. "We should find out how and utilize them."

Purdy added, "It shouldn't only be cattle. Pigs for a piggery ... some people have goats, someone has an exotic meat permit, sells venison ... We need to find out how many families want what."

Outside of livestock, Purdy suggested some sort of scholarship for Ranch employees who want to go back to school. "Molokai has a need for everything," she said. "Those who want to get an education to get out of minimum wage jobs ... should be able to get that education. I would push for some kind of scholarship for going back to college."

Mayer said that he feels that there "has to be some driver that brings money for the outside to Molokai. As far as Ag is concerned ... the issue is water ... and the lack of water meters for non-homesteaders." Mayer suggested that the group might need to investigate the future availability of water through the Molokai Irrigation System. "If the community asks us to get involved in that issue ... [this body could play a role in what happens.]"

Machado said that she thinks the Ranch closure might provide some entrepreneurial opportunities. "The theater, the gas station might be more immediate. It might be a simple arrangement with MPL [Molokai Ranch's company] and the lease for the cinema, the gas station ... somehow those businesses might be able to get started."

Walter Ritte, a community activist who was attending the meeting as a layperson and not a member of the Team, said he "represents the group that's adamantly against La'au." He said that his group "made the assumption that La'au is off the table. If the governor can clarify that position, and if this issue is gone, then we have decided to go into an offensive mode and figure out the things we want for economic development on Molokai ... the feeling I get is that it's time for us to work together ... We want to have a new land owner on Molokai. Them closing the Ranch is a new opportunity."

Ritte said that he has been trying to get partners, including OHA, to gel the community together. "The crack in the door is not going to last for long," he said. "[We need to] take care the workers and to care for Molokai Ranch. We're a group that wants to put our energy into those goals. [We want to pick] up Molokai and pick up ourselves."

Mayer asked the group, "Is MPL willing to sell? There's questions that frankly haven't been answered. They say they're not gonna sell, they're going to land bank. But they're also businessmen, and if the price is right ... key pieces of the puzzle need to be filled in."

Sen. English said that he was curious about the Ranch contract with the Molokai Irrigation System. "The Ranch has been in discussions with the PUC as far as their pricing of water and their continuing operations of the water system ... There are big issues going on, [including] what the Ranch's responsibilities are as regarding the Public Utilities Commission. Substantatively, we know that someone will get water to the West End ... at the same time, without the $136,000 the Ranch contributes every year, the MIS is in the red."
Purdy responded, "The Ranch came to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands to get them to buy Well 17 and the Homesteaders said no. There is no contract ... they're doing it on a day-to-day basis. There's people on the other end of that line and there's no way to stop that happening."

In the short-term, said Mayer, the group should focus on "getting assistance to the workers and affected communities." In the long term, he said, "I don't see it as our role to dictate to the island. We have to facilitate research and resource ideas, and how to implement them and get things off the ground. A lot has to get off the ground."

Barbara Kalipi, from the Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center, wondered what the purpose of the MAT was. "We won't have a good process if we don't have some clarity on how to weigh-in on proposals ... What is our kuleana?"

Rep. Carroll said she's been asked to work with the legislature and the county, "[People have been asking me] if I lose my house, is there an emergency fund? Would the governor commit to an emergency fund?" She continued, "Lots of requests are coming, and we're looking at program cuts. We don't want people to lose their homes ... [Can we commit] to subsidies for transportation?" Carroll said that people were even asking for flight subsidies to avoid "the traumatic experience of riding the ferry every day." She concluded, "Although we need to look at the long term, I'm getting ‘what are we going to do tomorrow?'"

In the short-term, suggested Sen. English, the governor might fund the bill for an emergency environmental workforce. "We could hire immediately if it were funded," he said. "If we want to do that, then ... we use it for cleanup, eradication [of invasive species]. It's a good venue."

Ray Foster, general manager for Monsanto Molokai, said that he will be adding another 20 positions for seasonal employees. "Molokai has the land, the labor and the water that would facilitate expansion. It's not on the books now, but it's not out of the question."

Ritte brought up his final point, subsistence use of Molokai Ranch lands. "If DLNR comes in to help manage, and employees are organized to utilize the resources, then it'd work. The employees [already] have a volunteer system about who goes where when. They just need a lead agency to make sure that it's implemented to the satisfaction of the Ranch."

Mayer took all of the committee's recommendations and suggestions back to the governor's office, and promised to attempt to answer the questions asked by team members. The next meeting of the Molokai Action Team will be May 5, 11 a.m. at Kulana ‘Oiwi's DHHL Conference room. The public is welcome to attend.

The Molokai Action Team consists of Mayer, chairman; deputy director for the state department of human services, Henry Oliva; English; Carroll; Machado; Mateo; Ridall; Purdy; Janice Kalanihuia, executive director, Molokai General Hospital; Foster; Kalipi; Haliniak; Stacy Crivello, president, Ke ‘Apuni Lokahi/Molokai Enterprise Community; and Jimmy Duvauchelle, paniolo president of the Maunaloa Ohana and former Molokai Ranch employee.