Author Archives: Eileen Chao

Corps Values in Health

Sunday, October 14th, 2012

Molokai is one of 12,000 communities in the country – over 10 million people –that are considered medically underserved, according to the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Every year, the NHSC enlists medical, dental, mental and behavioral healthcare providers to these communities to provide primary health care to those who may not be able to afford it. Last Thursday marked Corps Community Day that recognizes the efforts of almost 10,000 NHSC members nationwide who are caring for underserved communities — four of whom serve on Molokai, according to Catherine Sorenson of the Hawaii Department of Health.

One of those members is Dr.…

How to Say E Komo Mai

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

How to Say E Komo Mai

 

 

While it is pau hana time for most teachers, Kumu Manuwai Peters and a few of his students are at Ho`olehua Airport getting ready for a busy afternoon. Holding an ukulele in one hand, Peters straightens a student’s kukui lei, all the while reminding the four student-volunteers to be professional, smile and engage visitors coming off the plane. By the time the next plane touches down, Peters and his band of students are already at the arrival gate, instruments, lei and smiles ready. As soon as the door opens, the group breaks into a traditional Hawaiian mele, or song, welcoming visitors and residents to Molokai.…

Molokai Hoe 2012

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

Molokai Hoe 2012

Just before 100 canoes started launching from Hale O Lono Harbor Sunday morning, Wa`akapaemua team captain and steersman Bozo Dudoit hugged each of his teammates, one by one. While neighboring teams had loud chants and practiced slogans, the men’s open team from Wa`akapaemua Canoe Club gathered their hands in the middle and shouted just one word –Molokai. They picked up their six-man outrigger canoe and departed for the 41-mile legendary Molokai Hoe course to Oahu.

“We’ve trained mentally and physically,” said Dudoit a day before the race. “But I’ve never paddled 40 miles directly into the wind, so it’ll be an interesting experience.”…

Aiming High

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

Aiming High

MHS’ first Air Riflery home meet a success

The clicks of pellet bullets bouncing off metal target stands echoed through the Barn, Molokai High School (MHS)’s gym, early Saturday morning. Schools from across the state traveled to Molokai as MHS’ Air Riflery team hosted its first ever Maui Interscholastic League (MIL)-sanctioned meet at home.

The meet started around 8 a.m. on Saturday, with MHS and St. Anthony shooting first while other schools were still arriving. Each shooter fires three rounds –one in a standing position, one kneeling and one prone, or lying down. The scores for each round is out of 100 points, totaling a possible score of 300 points for each individual shooter.…

The Perfect Pick

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

The Perfect Pick

Micah Friel, 5, scoured the pumpkin patch for a few minutes before running over to the biggest one he saw, bending down to wrap his arms around his large selection, and lift it with all his might.  The pumpkin was almost as big as he was, and when his grandmother asked if he was sure he wanted to take home such a big one, he nodded with a smile.

Micah was one of many keiki who picked their perfect pumpkin Saturday morning at Heart of Aloha Church’s third annual Pick-A-Pumpkin Day.  The event, hosted at the church’s 4.2-acre parcel of land along Kalae Highway in Kualapu`u, featured hundreds of orange, white and green pumpkins to choose from, which they had started planting in June.…

MHS Athletes Clean Up the Wharf

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

MHS Athletes Clean Up the Wharf

While other students relaxed their fall intersession break, Molokai High School (MHS) student athletes were hard at work –and not just at practice. Last Wednesday morning, nearly 80 MHS athletes from the girls’ volleyball, 8-man football, track and field and air riflery teams gathered at the wharf with rakes, shovels and garbage bins in hand. They participated in the wharf clean-up, a community service program started three years ago by former athletic director Camie Kimball. There are three wharf clean-ups scheduled each year, with one for every season –fall, winter and spring.

“It’s important to give back to the community because the community is their number one support[er], especially on this island,” said current athletic director Hoku Haliniak.…

Sharp Shooters

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

Sharp Shooters

MHS Air Riflery hosts first home meet in 22-year history

Crouched on one knee, rifle pressed firmly into her right shoulder, Molokai High School (MHS) senior Mariah Kalipi remembers to breathe as she focuses in on a paper target 33 feet in front of her. Her left arm rests on her left knee, the fingers of her right hand pressed gently on the trigger, ready. Her eyes never stray from the target as she takes a deep but steady breath and fires. Those interested in the same sport may want to consider purchasing gunstocks for sale and AR-15 Rifles for Sale Online or at your local gun store.…

Rock Wall Repair Work at Kalaupapa National Historic Park

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

Rock Wall Repair Work at Kalaupapa National Historic Park

NPS News Release

A skilled group of Hawaiian masons from parks throughout Hawaii Island joined park staff at Kalaupapa National Historic Park (NHP) to repair deteriorating drystack walls in the settlement and at Kahaloko Cemetery. Kalaupapa NHP has hosted the masons for rock wall repair within the park for the past five years. The masons follow traditional Hawaiian protocols to repair the walls, with respect to the nature of the work, the relationship to the landscape, and working with a laulima (or group) to pass the pohaku, a living entity.

The crew repaired the collapses along the south, west and north walls of Kahaloko Cemetery.…

Mental Illness: No Shame

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

Community Contributed

By Stephanie Napoli, Psy.D. Behavioral Health Director, MCHC

One in four adults have mental illnesses, yet fewer than one third get help. Why? The answer is summarized in one word: stigma. Stigma is defined as a sign of social unacceptability; the shame or disgrace attached to something regarded as socially unacceptable. How, though, can we label disorders that one quarter of us have as unacceptable?

Mental illnesses are conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas that can be treated through lifestyle changes, medication, and skill building, mental illnesses can be effectively treated with the most potent delta 8 carts on ExhaleWell.…

Topside Kupuna “Rock” Kalaupapa

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

Topside Kupuna “Rock” Kalaupapa

Community Contributed

By Cookie Robins-Kaopuiki

After six months of planning, reality set in as more than a dozen topside kupuna anxiously arrived at Kalaupapa as an August activity. For some it was a first visit, while for others it was a wet-eyed trip down memory lane or the joy of visiting of finding long-lost family.

Visitors’ quarters were set up for the two-night, three-day adventure and the welcoming committee and big-hearted sponsors Zianna Kaulia, Harry Arce, Kirk Dela Cruz and Luana Kaaihue truly outdid themselves in accommodating and honoring the kupuna with traditional Hawaiian values.

For kupuna, the peninsula tour and history with National Park Service staff Leanna Dixon brought educational enlightenment followed by a silent prayer for all the beloved people who endured to the end and have left their footsteps in the land.…