SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 - VOLUME 31, ISSUE 37
The
Molokai olokai 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
More Rooftop Solar Coming for Molokai
MHS Gifted Life-Saving Device
By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor
M
olokai is at the forefront of the country's renewable energy future, and residents got a chance to talk story with their utility company, Maui Electric, ask questions and share what's important to them last week. With more than 100 Molokai customers waiting to install rooftop solar, photovoltaic (PV) challenges took a front seat at the discussion. Those residents had filed applications under the Net Energy Metering (NEM) program -- which pays customers the retail electric rate for excess energy generated from their panels -- before the program was discontinued to new applicants last October. Jamie Cook, Maui Electric's director of renewable energy projects, said 107 applicants are currently waiting in the queue to be approved -- the same number that were waiting in March of this year. That number had nearly doubled from the pile-up of 65 applications in March 2015. The holdup is because Molokai's already high volume of solar energy is causing instability in the island's small electric grid. But the end is in sight for those awaiting connection, promised Cook, calling Molokai "a success story" for integrating PV. "We intend to honor all the NEM applications in that queue -- and we will be able to interconnect a few of those customers soon," he said, adding that even though the NEM program is closed to new applications, those 107 customers would still receive NEM program benefits. "We can't give an exact time frame but it's our intent to focus on efforts that would allow all those applications to move forward within a year." This past spring, Maui Electric announced a pilot program partnership with E-Gear Technology, a company that will provide equipment to allow rooftop PV systems to be monitored and controlled by the utility. Cook described it as "a really high-tech solution to integrate more renewable energy." He said the pilot is moving forward and will allow 10 customers currently waiting for NEM approval to move forward with their installations. He said the program is only being offered for the Kaunakakai area and those waiting in the NEM application queue will be selected in the order that their applications were received. Maui Electric will be reaching out to the 10 selected applicants in about a month, he said. A new type of rooftop solar system called self-supply is also opening up to customers as another option. Cook explained it is a non-export model -meaning excess energy generated from a resident's PV panels would not feed back into the grid -- but rather could be stored for future home use in a battery storage system. Cook said to date, the
Solar Continued pg. 2
Photos by Catherine Cluett Pactol
By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor
M
olokai High School may have an extra chance to save lives in an emergency thanks to an automated external defibrillator (AED) that was recently donated to the school by Hawaii Life Flight. An AED is an electronic device that can diagnose certain heartbeat irregularities causing cardiac arrest and administer electric shock to reestablish proper heartbeat rhythm. MHS' new device will be located in the school's cafeteria, and will join two other AEDs on campus -- one in the gym and one in the health room. "This is a function that anyone can do once you're trained in it, and in conjunction with CPR, the survival rate is high," said Lori Cannon, a nurse of over 30 years who now works for Hawaii Life Flight as a flight nurse. The air ambulance company operates around the state and in 2014, established a Molokai-based crew and plane that serves the island. Cannon said when someone collapses
in front of you, it's both nerve-wracking and emotional. Thanks to the AED's simple audio and visual instructions, the machine can help guide average citizens to perform a potentially life-saving procedure. "That's the importance of the AED, you don't really need medical personnel there... everybody in this room can save a life," Cannon told a group of teachers, staff and students gathered last week at the school for a short course on AED use. "Anybody can collapse at any time, anywhere." Those who received education on the AED included department heads, athletic personnel, cafeteria staff and student members of the school club Health Occupation Students of America, who are interested in pursuing careers in health fields. Cannon explained that there are two heart rhythms that can be treated with the AED, ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. One you turn on the device and place the pads on the patient as it instructs, the machine will diagnose whether or not the patient suffers from either of
THE WEEK IN SPORTS Photo by Rick Schonely
By Rick Schonely | Sports Reporter
Girls Volleyball
T
he Molokai High School Lady Farmer volleyball team had its first home games of the season last weekend at The Barn in Ho`olehua. On Friday night, Sehja Pedro had four kills and Jaide Kiaha had four aces as Molokai High School swept Maui Prep 2511, 25-15 and 25-11. Brooke Keliihoomalu, Kawaohi Duvauchelle and Stasia Kaahanui each had three kills for the Farmers. On Saturday, Molokai upped its record to 4-2 by winning again in three sets 25-10, 25-11 and 25-8. Maui Prep fell to 0-5.
those rhythms. It will then instruct the user to administer the electric charge or not. Before initiating use of the AED, call 9-1-1 and follow the instructions given by the device, in combination with CPR. "There's a lot of strength and passion when you're trying to resuscitate somebody and give them that chance at life again," said Cannon. The Good Samaritan law in Hawaii prevents someone from being sued who's trying to help with good intentions, Cannon said. MHS Vice Principal Kainoa Pali said one of his responsibilities is keeping the campus safe and the AED is one example. "These things cost money so to have a chance to work with [Hawaii Life Flight] is a privilege," he said. "The more people that know how to use this, the more lives we can save."
THIS WEEK’S
Dispatch
All players for each team played equal time on Saturday and stats were pretty even all around for both teams. Coaches did not report final stats on Saturday. Head Coach Mahea Rawlins was pleased with her team’s play. “I want to say that all my players are improving in their individual skills," she said. "We're playing more as a team and bonding very well. I'm glad that everyone got playing time. We went into this week’s matches hoping to minimize our errors and to play to our potential.” Rawlins likes that her team is dedi-
Kalaupapa Cultural Manager Leaves Park Pg. 3
2 Molokai Crews Paddle in Pailolo
Sports Recap Continued pg. 2
Why we fly with Makani Kai “Everybody on the island loves this airline,” says Jacob, a sales rep for Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED). “There’s the friendly faces, the great service and relaxed atmosphere…it all works.” Jacob likes to coordinate his trips home with his brother, who works for CED on Maui and flies on Makani Kai from Kahului. “It’s plain and simple,” he says, “No stress.” 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
Jacob Adachi Molokai Born & Raised
Pg. 6