Rob Weltman

Huaka‘i Kaho‘olawe Day 4

By Neola Caveny

For the last time, the sound of the pū wakes us, and we scramble to pack sleeping bags and night clothes, leaving us in bathing suits and wetsuits in the pre-dawn chill. There’s a fire built on the beach, and some of us huddle around it – not so much for the physical warmth as for the sense of companionship with people with whom we have formed a bond, however temporary. Sitting on a log, I talk with Kukui, from Wai‘anae, O‘ahu, about taro lo’i restoration projects there, and how that relates to similar projects on Maui. Why haven’t we talked before? Oh well – next time.

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Huaka‘i Kaho‘olawe Day 3

By Neola Caveny Another incredibly refreshing sleep. Either the air mattress I insisted on bringing (after all, we’re not backpacking here) or the Advil I was advised to take by our trip physician (mahalo, Dr. Karen) are working, or it might just be the mana of Kaho’olawe. I walk out to the beach alone to see the sunrise (it managed to make it on its own that day), and am greeted with a “WHHOOMPH” sound … Read more

Huaka‘i Kaho‘olawe Day 2

By Neola Caveny The pū sounds before dawn the next day  but I have had the most peaceful, refreshing sleep I can remember, and – miracle of miracles! – am no more sore of body than from the average gym workout (which I realize I haven’t been doing nearly enough of lately). We gather on the beach to chant the sun rising into the sky off Kaupō, on Maui – “E ala e.” We must have … Read more

Huaka‘i Kaho‘olawe Day 1 PM

By Neola Caveny Day 1 – Thursday PM After lunch, we all participate in the hi‘uwai, a purification in the ocean. Standing in a semi-circle on the beach, the kua chanting, we are all asked to let go of any personal problems and negativity in our lives, so as not to transmit them to the pōhaku (chosen rocks) that we are about to handle. Swimming out into the bay, with a view of Maui, Moloka‘i … Read more

Huaka‘i Kaho‘olawe

(Voyage to Kaho’olawe) By Neola Caveny  Day 1 – Thursday AM On February 28, 13 intrepid souls under the auspices of the Maui Sierra Club began a four-day adventure unlike anything that any of us had ever experienced (other than the 2 that had been on a previous access) – one of the monthly service trips to Kaho‘olawe organized by the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana. For a history of the island and information on the PKO, … Read more

Kelly King of Pacific Biodiesel Comments on HECO/BlueEarth Biofuels Plan

Commentary. Regarding the response from HECO/BlueEarth Biofuels to Bill Kamanu’s letter of concern about their proposed 40 to 120 million gallons per year biodiesel refinery, maybe the title should have read “Biofuels Here Won’t Harm Environment Here”. There have been countless articles – from the Wall Street Journal to the Asia Times – written about the devastating effects of the importation of large quantities of palm oil. Some of these articles indicate that Europe, which … Read more

Blue Earth Biodiesel Plant

From Haleakala Times by Karen Chun One of the largest biodiesel plants in the U.S. is proposed for Maui. BlueEarth Biofuels will partner with Hawaiian Electric Company to build a 120 million-gallon-per-year plant in three stages. First stage is 40 million gallons earmarked for the Maui Electric Company electrical generators.  Any excess biodiesel will go to other HECO facilities. The plant will enable MECO to switch from diesel to cleaner-burning biodiesel. MECO already uses biodiesel … Read more