MAY 11, 2016 - VOLUME 31, ISSUE 19
The
Molokai Dispatch T H E I S L A N D ’S N E W S S O U R C E S I N C E 198 5
NTSB: Safety A BIRD IN THE HAND Protocol Lacking in 2013 Crash By Catherine Cluett | Editor
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he National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a report last week on the 2013 Makani Kai crash off Kalaupapa. According to passenger testimony included in the report, the Makani Kai pilot did not give a federallyrequired safety briefing prior to take-off. A video captured by one of the passengers during the crash also shows former Department of Health Director Loretta Fuddy, who died in the water following the accident, wearing an infant life vest. On the afternoon of Dec. 11, 2013, a Cessna departing the Kalaupapa peninsula with a pilot and eight passengers on board lost engine power at about 500 feet altitude and landed in the ocean. Everyone on board exited the aircraft safely before it sank about 25 minutes later. Fuddy, however, was reported to have been fearful and breathing hard while floating in the water with other passengers. She died before the U.S. Coast Guard and Maui Fire and Rescue helicopters rescued the other passengers and pilot from the water more than an hour after the accident. According to her autopsy report, her cause of death was "acute cardiac arrhythmia" or irregular heartbeat, due to hyperventilation. The video evidence shows Fuddy wearing a life vest intended for infants, and that only one of the two CO2 cartridges in the device had been deployed. Another passenger, who later swam to shore before rescue crews arrived, also reported inadvertently wearing an infant vest. Two of the passengers reported serious injuries including broken ribs and sternum, while the pilot suffered head injuries. Sixty-year-old pilot Clyde Kawasaki had extensive experience with ratings in a variety of aircraft types, including the Boeing 737 and 777. He had logged about 16,000 hours of flight time at the time of the accident. While some passengers reported exiting the plane without difficulty, several passengers told investigators that Kawasaki did not give them a safety briefing before taking off from Kalaupapa. One passenger said Kawasaki asked them how many of them had flown over that morning, and then said, "you know the procedures." The report states that after instructing passengers to exit the plane, Kawasaki "looked for life vests, saw one, and gave it to a passenger who said his wife did not have one. He did not take time to look for his own life vest as the airplane was filling with water. After checking to see that the cabin was empty, he exited through the door at the rear of the cabin." Makani Kai owner Richard Schuman has denied the claim of the lack of safety briefing, pointing to the fact that all passengers safely exited the plane as they were instructed to do. He also told KHON2 News that there were sufficient adult life vests on board for all passengers but that child vests were also on the plane. Schuman did not return requests for comment in time for this printing.
Photos by Catherine Cluett
Vo l u n t e e r s b a n d s h e a r w a t e r s e a b i r d s By Catherine Cluett | Editor
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s dusk fell on the Mo`omomi coastline, silhouetted birds began to swoop over the shore and across the grasses and native plants of the dunes. Donning their headlamps, a dozen biologists, conservationists and volunteers stood by, waiting for the birds to settle. Then, in the pitch blackness and gusty wind, the group broke into small teams and vanished into the darkness. Brandishing their flashlights and tools, the teams searched the ground for piles of sand and holes that would indicate a burrow. The inhabitants pf the holes are Wedge-tailed Shearwater,
or `Ua`u kani, an indigenous shorebird with gray-brown and white feathers, a long, hooked beak and a wingspan of more than three feet. Clumsy on land, the birds live most of their lives on the wing at sea, and come onshore only to breed. These burrows could contain a single bird in search of its mate, or a pair, resting for the night. The task of the volunteers -who ventured out as part of an annual effort last month -- seemed fairly straightforward. Capture the birds, place a small, metal band on one leg, then release them back to their burrow. By logging data on the bands and keeping track of recaptures, experts hope to be able to learn more about
Boys Volleyball State Runner-ups
By Rick Schonely | Sports Reporter
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he Molokai Boys Volleyball team finished as runner up in the state Boys Volleyball Championships on Oahu last weekend. The Farmers were seeded number two and defeated Kaimuki 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-18) and Damien in a thrilling five-set match broadcast live on Oceanic XCast 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 25-20, 19-25, 15-9) before losing in the final at the Neal Blaisdell Arena, and also live on TV, to the number one seed Hawaii Baptist 3-0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-20). Hawaii Baptist has won five straight
Photo by Hale Domingo
DII Boys Volleyball Championships and six out of the last seven. Head Coach Hale Domingo was very excited for his team. “State tournament, wow! We loved every minute of it," he said. "The experience was wonderful and having the exposure for the team, the school and the island of Molokai… I couldn't ask for anything else." He said he and his fellow coaches and the team are thankful to be Farmers and grateful for everyone who has supported them.
the demographics of the bird population, breeding habits and where colonies are thriving. "Mo`omomi is a very significant colony for the state -- it's among the largest populations," said Jay Penniman, project manager of the Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project. "It's a shining example of what you can do by just changing the habitat and removing predators – it’s a jewel." Penniman was referring to the efforts of The Nature Conservancy Molokai, along with partners like the Molokai Land Trust. They cleared kiawe from the area, restoring the habitat for native plants and shorebirds, and
Seabirds Continued pg. 3
THIS WEEK’S
Dispatch
Baseball Closes Season Sixth in State
Origins of the Molokai Ka Hula Piko Pg. 2
Why I fly with Makani Kai “It’s not for the frequent flyer miles or the corporate account status or the ‘every seat, every flight, $50.00 online fare,’” says Colette. “It’s really my preference to choose to fly with an airline that understands our Molokai lifestyle, the uniqueness of our people and cares about fulfilling all of our needs as an ‘ohana.” Colette says she appreciates an airline that’s not strictly profit-driven, “The entire staff including their skilled pilots are exemplary representatives of Schuman Aviation who choose not to uphold a corporate model for their bottom line. Mahalo Nui for the service you render to the people of Molokai.”
From topside Molokai to Honolulu or Kahului
$50 online fare, every seat, every flight, every day. MakaniKaiAir.com | (808) 834-1111
The
Molokai Dispatch
P.O. Box 482219 Kaunakakai, HI 96748
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Colette Machado Molokai Born & Raised