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Molokai Ranch seeks to unload its water utility
By Kate Gardiner
5/12/2008 11:56:29 PM
Molokai News : Business News
West End could lose water service by August
Last Monday, the Molokai Action Team met to share opinions and ideas for solutions to the island’s economic woes. But those ideas were only half of the meeting. An hour was devoted to solutions for another looming problem on the West End: Water. Molokai Ranch operates the water and sewage utilities for Molokai’s West End, including the towns of Kualapu’u and Maunaloa and the Kaluakoi area. Molokai Ranch, or Molokai Properties Limited, is the parent company for three state-licensed public utilities, a sewage company and two water companies, and operates three more private systems. MPL has approached the Public Utilities Commission, which certified the regulated utilities, with its intent to sell all six companies, to any buyer. According to state office of planning director Abbey Mayer, who both chairs MAT and is acting as liaison for the state to MPL, the likely buyers are either the state or the county. PUC chief counsel Stacy Djou said in an interview Friday that as there is no precedent for the state running direct-service water systems, therefore the burden likely falls on the county. Djou acknowledged a third party buyer could come in, however she thought it would be unlikely. She says that her understanding of the situation is the assets are up to county standards. The utilities are required to meet department of health requirements. Regardless of who is running the system, the new entity will have to create an agreement with the Molokai Irrigation System for transmission. Mayer said anyone entering into the lease agreement will likely trigger section 343 of the Hawaiian Revised Statute, requiring a new environmental impact statement to transmit through the MIS. In late December, the Hawaii State Supreme Court remanded MPL’s permit for using Well 17 to the state committee on water resources management. Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation argued on behalf of DHHL and others that the PUC violated several of its duties as a public trust. Associate Justice Paula Nakayama wrote for the court, stating, “The Commission erred when it failed to consider the impact that the closing of the hotel and golf course would have on its allocation of water to Kukui (Molokai) Incorporated.” KMI is one of the companies that MPL seeks to dispose of by August. Mayer said that regardless, “Until other agreement is made for transmission, the PUC regulated companies are subsidiaries of MPL and they have, as part of their agreement, an obligation to provide service.” The only exception, said Mayer, would be if the companies are bankrupt. Djou said the economic status of all three PUC-regulated companies was solvent, and the sewage company shows some profit.
PUC Chairman Carlito Caliboso said Friday, “No matter what happens, we do not want paperwork to slow down water.” The Molokai Ranch timeline for disposal of the companies is four to six months, or August 2008. Djou and Mayer agreed that they want to avoid any circumstance that could result in a cessation of service. MPL did not respond to requests for comment. Ranch spokesman John Sabas last commented to the press about the Kaluakoi palm tree incident, online, http://www.molokaitimes.com/articles/841622243.asp. It has been widely stated by government officials, including Mayer, that all offers submitted to MPL for the sale of its entire property on the island have been refused by Chief Executive Officer Peter Nicholas.
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How is it that some punk with a green card (Peter Nicholas) can continually give us the shaft? And how is it that a foreign entity can own an American utility company in the first place?
5/13/2008, 2:49:26 AM |
Welcome to America, there are allot of green card people in America,
Deal with it.
Scott
5/13/2008, 7:44:30 AM |
how is it that a group of loudmouthed punks led by walter ritte can shut down this island's economy? they have intimidated other, destroyed or damaged or vandalized property that was not theirs, they have called people names and insulted our kupuna. How do they dare to call themselves Hawaiians? this is not what we stand for and the people of Molokai, the people of the State of Hawaii, and Hawaiians across this island nation are sick and tired of these loud mouth punks misrepresenting us.
It is not pono to act like Walter and his crew are doing... taking money, intimidating others, etc. These guys are unwelcome members of our community and they should be banished until they learn how to act like normal responsible human beings.
Ua Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono makes reference to the Life of the Land being perpetuated in righteousness, but it's time Walter and his group of thugs recognize there is righteousness is the way people live their lives, too.
5/16/2008, 3:13:58 PM |
You must be mistaking Walter with the Ranch. If I am correct it was the Ranch that vandalized it’s own properties by cutting down the coconut trees and filling in the swimming pool. And it was the Ranch that used defiling statements like “they don’t like the color of your skin” at a west end meeting. And it was the Ranch that brought an end to its own operations by not doing its EIS homework for its La’au development. The LUC shut them down after day one. (1) No water (2) lack of protection of endangered species and (3) segmentation- which means they conveniently forgot to mention their other projects. That is how poorly they prepared. Oh yeah, and righteousness, doesn’t that have something to do with honesty. You don’t say “one last development” and have another six hotels on the back burner ready to go. I am one of many that have been intimidated and threatened by Peter Nicholas the CEO of Molokai Ranch. This is the same reason that senior employees Palipo Salotario and Clarence Loo quit. The Ranch is not pono! You better ask yourself who the real thugs are.
The people of Molokai are bot stupid. We clearly understand this alliance that exists between these two large corperations Monsanto and Guoco. Monsanto has no fear of Walter Ritte stopping their GMO farming and they know that. They are just using the employees as pawns in their scheme.
5/16/2008, 4:37:37 PM |
I suppose all of the Kupuna that support Walter are also loud mouth thugs. And Collete I suppose is the example of humility and honesty?
5/16/2008, 4:45:07 PM |
I suppose all of the Kupuna that support Walter are also loud mouth thugs. And Collete I suppose is the example of humility and honesty?
5/16/2008, 7:12:24 PM |
I think a few examples of the loud mouthed thugs from waltter ritee's group that are being referenced are as follows:
- hemowai bruddahs hahanono naeweue and walter ritte jr. going on akaku and using the F* word to reference the ranch, spewing their hate speech against any non-hawaiian race, etc. that is not hawaiian and gives molokai a bad bad reputation.
--- just think walter ritte jr. is a representative of the hawaiian nation to the american indian congress! way to go hawaiians, do you want this guy as your representative???
- being disrespectful to uncle jimmy by not taking down the 'this is war' sign. even if you don't agree with him, you need to respect him.
- going on people's / ranch's private property and vandalizing signs that supported the ranch's plan
- shouting down others who had different opinions
- vaguely worded threats to blow up peter's car, a repeat of the terroristic action that happened years ago
it's okay for people to be against the ranch and want to save laau point, but the disgusting behaviour is this blatant disregard and disrespect for others. there are people from both camps who have been disrespectful, but the worst offenders were in walter's camp and shame on him for not better controlling his thugs. i guarantee every single person reading this that the kupuna would have never gone on akaku and used the f* word or disrespected uncle jimmy or made death threats or vandalized.
THAT's what is being referneced here.
And by the way, collette machado is a loud mouth, but it takes a bull dog like her to stand up to people like walter and glen and hanohano.
the ranch cut down their own trees on their own property - they didn't cut down trees at the library or at the park. i wish they hadn't done so but i don't have the right to tell them what to do on their own kuleana, just like they can't come in to my yard and tell me what to plant.
as far as vandalizing the aina.... have you seen the junked cars right outside the airport?? that is a disgrace.
now that laau is off the table, let me see walter and his gang focus on cleaning up the junk cars.
can you say 'malama aina' now?
5/19/2008, 8:33:57 AM |
I think that the reaction by the Hemowai Brothers is what happens when people are pushed in the corner. Hawaii has continuously failed to support laws that are supposed to protect Native Hawaiian rights. History reveals that If the law is abusive or is not followed, then anarchy prevails. While I never defend the F word, the actions of Hano and Ua can be likened to the actions of early American history where revolutionaries felt the tyranny of a foreign government. The Boston tea party was a classic example. The Hemowai brothers aren’t the only ones that feel pushed in a corner and violatated. This is why tens of thousands of Hawaiians continue to come forward hoping their cries will be heard. Because no one is listening, the Hemowai brothers have turned up the volume
5/19/2008, 8:55:17 AM |
you sound like you have your head screwed on straight, so why don't you tip of walter and his loud mouthed thugs to the idea that they can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Translation: turn off the repulsive rhetoric, cut out swear words and stop the hate speech, put on a clean shirt, shave and shower and and speak and act like a civilized human being.
They will win over more people than they ever thought possible because people won't be immediately turned off and will actually listen to what they have to say.
as far as breaking the law to make your voice heard... that may have worked 300 years ago but not today.
you've got to be kidding to compare walter to an american revolution hero. if you repeat that you're going to lose all credibility.
times are different and no one has the time or patience or ability to deal with anarchists or loud mouthed jerks.
native hawaiians who want to get organized should do so under a legimitate politician who can make a difference... support the akaka bill, petition Inoyue for his help, get the media involved, but the way they've been doing it is all wrong.
we've all heard the stories about people who are victims who lash out at their attackers... then the victims become criminals. that's what has happened to walter and his thugs. they have lost the respect of the majority of the community and politicians and economic leaders.
there are right ways and wrong ways to do things. walter and his hemowai thugs have been doing it the wrong way from a cultural, social and legal perspective.
it's time to straighten up, play by the rules and try to make a change.
but just because they want a change doesn't entitle them to it.
This is still the USA and Hawaii is still a state.
5/19/2008, 10:21:31 AM |
Right on! I am tired of the excuses, victim mentality, and explaining away bad behavior. "Someone else" is always to blame, and "someone else" always has ulterior motives. This is a disgrace to the Hawaiian culture. Walter and the thugs need to get the facts straight. You can't pick out cultural practices that fit what you are "working" on...and ignore the others. History has been taken out of context...I think this group is becoming known for what they really are...self-serving...power hungry...They are organization without responsibility, and we're sick of it!
5/19/2008, 10:59:37 AM |
I think what most people grow sick of are those who oppose Walter yet lack any real discipline to challenge him and only use rhetorical statements and propaganda to oppose him. Using terms like "thugs" and "activists" are examples of this. Your thugs include grandparents, teachers, business people, liberals, conservatives, Hawaiians, non Hawaiians, Church leaders,
and even children. All of these disillusioned I suppose. Your unwillingness to not recognize any current revolutionary aspect of the Hawaiian culture demonstrates how little regard you have for the culture….. I guess the Ranch was the ideal role model of responsibility.
5/19/2008, 11:20:28 AM |
It is too bad that Hawaii is not a seperate country. If that was the case, those coming to our islands would be forced to understand the history and values of the Hawaiian people. What is even sadder is that many of our own people have been educated in the malahini way and don't even know or understand their own culture.
5/19/2008, 11:25:03 AM |
Definition of a thug: (note that law abiding, civil behavior is excluded from the defintion of a thug, so anyone whether kupuna, keiki, malahini or kama'aina has the choise of how they want to be considered)
see the following post from a fellow blogger:
a few examples of the loud mouthed thugs from waltter ritee's group that are being referenced are as follows:
- hemowai bruddahs hahanono naeweue and walter ritte jr. going on akaku and using the F* word to reference the ranch, spewing their hate speech against any non-hawaiian race, etc. that is not hawaiian and gives molokai a bad bad reputation.
- being disrespectful to uncle jimmy by not taking down the 'this is war' sign. even if you don't agree with him, you need to respect him.
- going on people's / ranch's private property and vandalizing signs that supported the ranch's plan
- shouting down others who had different opinions (this happened in town, at church, in meetings, at my family gatherings, not just in the press or at protests on the side of the highway).
- vaguely worded threats to blow up peter's car, a repeat of the terroristic action that happened years ago
Everyone is entitle to their opinion. It's a free country and it's okay for people to be against the ranch and want to save laau point, but it's not okay to stamp out others who have an opinion different than yours -- and that's what walter and his thugs were doing.
There are people from both camps who have not been pono, but the worst offenders were in walter's camp and shame on him for not better using his ability to organize and lead people.
5/19/2008, 11:55:45 AM |
OK, let's put it this way. I am sick of some...and I say some Hawaiians on this island who think that they are more Hawaiian than Hawaiians on other islands. Also in ancient times...if there was an "illness" in a family or community, the kahuna would not let anyone leave the meeting location,etc. until a situation was resolved. No where have I heard that trouble was to be constantly stirred up...one project at a time. While we're here...I am also sick and tired of haoles who want to "belong" so badly that they follow the protests. They even start talking about "our" ancestors, instead of the ancestors of the Hawaiian people. So, give me a break, already! PS--no one ever mentioned the Ranch being a role model, that is another cop-out.
5/19/2008, 1:59:27 PM |
Going back to the comment regarding Walter Ritte Jr. representing Hawai`i...well that's OK because he is going to be attending an Activist College. Hanohano is a graduate. He is only representing the negative guys. What a fun group those alumni must be.
5/19/2008, 2:34:20 PM |
Your bitterness betrays you. Ho'oponopono requires much more than words. If you can not forgive Walter or anyone else for that matter, you have already lost. In case you don't know already, your kupuna will reveal themselves to the Hawaiiian as well as the Haole. If you fail to hear the voice of those from the past, they too will find those who will listen.
5/19/2008, 10:52:28 PM |
No one has the right to think that they are more or less Hawaiian than anyone else and everyone has the right to participate. But shame on those Hawaiians who know the teachings of their kupuna but are willing to sell out to the highest bidder. The good news is that the next generation is not weak and will carry on the legacy that is Molokai's.
5/19/2008, 11:05:26 PM |
How about the one person who talks about how some Hawaiians are acting like they are more Hawaiian than others and then is all over the "haole" claiming that person is so desperate they just want to fit in? Who is acting like they think they more better? Whether our kupuna or not, some of us non Hawaiians was raised in the culture and this is our culture. For me I don’t need to fit in to know what is right.
5/20/2008, 6:17:44 AM |
if you're ever going to marginalize (thereby trivialize) xxxter and xxren, then you'll need to STOP referring to them by name. ego driven folks like to see themselves in print and online.
and, if the rumor somedumbhaole heard while away from this beautiful island pans out the xxxxwai bros. got their hands full... mega buck$ xxxman bros. may be making a play.
xxxxxxxxxxole
5/20/2008, 7:26:46 AM |
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