OpenSourcery

Since 2006 OpenSourcery has enjoyed working a wonderful client: the Moloka'i Community Service Council, MCSC. I met Karen Holt, the executive director, in 2005 through PSU as we were working with EZ Wireless to help them design and implement a city-wide wireless network in Kaunakakai, Hawaii (island of Moloka'i).

In addition to helping them with their wifi networking, we also went in and overhauled their IT systems in 2006. Improvements included new Cisco switches replacing hubs, cleaning up DNS off their internal "local.com" Windows domain to djbdns, and a migration off Microsoft Exchange to Zimbra. Their local IT staff were also interested in learning Linux and the number of Ubuntu hosts has only gone up with plans to migrate off the Windows 2003 server for file and print sharing.

Back on the email front, Zimbra provides tools to migrate Outlook PST files on local storage, and connect directly to an Exchange server to scoop up mail and address books. Given Karen's 10GB mailbox, Outlook had to go and the migration tools worked as advertised.

Two years later Zimbra has gone through multiple upgrades and added many useful features. It has even survived an acquisition by Yahoo. This week completes a final migration to a dedicated server off VMware (due to increased usage), and an upgrade from 4.5.7 to 5.0.8.

MCSC helps the local community through programs including: an elementary and high school education program, educational scholarships, a mental illness center, a commercial kitchen, brownfield cleanup, at-risk family assistance, and the latest project: the Moloka'i Ranch Purchase.

The island of Moloka'i has the highest percentage of foreign land ownership in Hawaii. This ownership has put profits ahead of environmental and cultural sustainability.

MCSC is leading a new global campaign to purchase the ranch to begin restoration and preservation of Hawaii's last native lands.

More information can be found on their website:
http://molokai.org/

An good article articulating how well Moloka'i fights outside influence, and won against a Molokai Ranch development project:
http://tinyurl.com/6fauxp [nytimes.com]