Mahi Pono, a Maui-based farming company, has partnered with STEMworks Hawaiʻi to present the February 2022 STEMworks Solutions Challenge. The challenge is open to all Hawaiʻi high school and undergraduate college students, and winners will receive a paid summer internship with Mahi Pono and a $500 cash prize. The STEMworks Solutions Challenge is open for applications now, […]
Mahi Pono and paraquat: The 2020 sequel
The use of the paraquat-containing herbicide Gramoxone on Maui should drop dramatically in 2021, thanks to Mahi Pono’s decision last year to stop spraying it on weeds. However, prior to its halt, Maui’s largest landowner sprayed some 240 gallons of Gramoxone eight times on 974 acres of its 1,195-acre field at the intersection of the heavily-used Haleakala and Hana Highways from January to May, 2020. It sprayed an additional 21 gallons on 185 acres around Hawaiian Cement close to North Kihei on June 8, 2020.
The information is contained in the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s [HDOA] annual Restricted Use Pesticides [RUP] report mandated by a 2018 law–that details the use of agricultural chemicals not available for public use. RUP chemicals must only be applied by licensed applicators. Each year, all RUP treatments must be reported to the HDOA by the end of January. Politics on Maui recently obtained the 415-page Maui Coun
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Water flows through a diversion in East Maui. In a ruling on Tuesday, a First Circuit Court judge upheld the state’s approval of controversial revocable water permits that allowed Alexander & Baldwin to divert from East Maui streams. The Sierra Club had sought to invalidate the permits, saying they violated environmental law. Photos courtesy of DLNR
A court has sided with the state and other defendants in a case in which the Sierra Club sought to invalidate two state-approved revocable water permits that allowed Alexander & Baldwin to divert from East Maui streams for Mahi Pono farming needs.
Hawaii declares state of emergency after heavy floods overwhelm roads and bridges
The Governor of Hawaii, David Ige, declared a state of emergency Tuesday after torrential rains prompted evacuations, damaged homes, and almost caused a dam failure. The severe weather is expected to continue until Friday, when the state will release general funds to help those affected by the storms. The order covers Hawaii, Maui, Kalawao and Kauai counties, as well as the city and county of Honolulu.
The town of Haleiwa on the island of Oahu’s North Shore was evacuated due to “catastrophic flooding,” however, this order was rescinded seven hours later while road closures were kept in place.