Letters

Working With Us at the Molokai Dispatch

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Each week, our reporters strive to portray the island’s issues, events and discussions with sensitivity, respect and fairness. It’s a never-ending job and lifestyle that requires patience, hard work and a passion for the trade.

We have our limits though, and in the spirit of better communication and healthier relationships, we offer you a simple list of “Do’s and Don’ts” that we hope you will consider when working with us.

Do:
•    Talk to us, and share your mana`o. We love to hear from you and the interesting things you have to tell us.
•    Use email to send important details including dates, phone numbers, etc. editor@themolokaidispatch.com

Mule Musings

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Prior to coming to Molokai as a Dispatch intern in June, you could call me a city kid. Raised in the Boston suburbs and having lived in that city for the previous five years, the only thing I’d ever ridden was the public transportation system. “Smokey” was the scene outside a bar, and a “cliffhanger” was a good ending to a TV show.

Welcome, New Members!

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Mahalo for the Support

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Pakolea LLC would like to thank the kupuna of Kaunoa Senior Services, the staff of Kaunoa, Liko Tancayo, Angel Tabilangan and Pearl and Patrick Asuncion for inviting us to demonstrate and promote the benefits of our services. It was a great opportunity to help our kupuna to be more aware of the changes in fine motor skills as we age. Physical therapist Shauna Russell focused on fall prevention and techniques to minimize its risks. We look forward to seeing the kupuna next month so that we can focus on another area of therapy that our kupuna can greatly benefit from.

Mahalo Nui Loa,
Pakolea Rehabilitation

A Mixed Salad Bowl of Issues

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

When fishing and one sees a large school of fish, do you catch what you need or catch the whole school? Would you be satisfied with the one cooler and come back another time to catch one more cooler or would you go back and get nine more coolers to catch the whole school?

What is happening on Molokai, and in this country with people protesting Wall Street and corporate greed applies to my fishing story. The electric rate, phone, food, transportation, car registration, insurance, etc. costs a lot more while less people are working and the middle class gets squeezed. What is going on is people that have wanted more on their plate and their plate is overflowing. 

Molokai Middle School Bazaar

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

I’m a student parent at Molokai Middle School.  We are having a fundraiser to build a full volleyball court.  We are holding a Molokai Middle School Bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 22. It will be in the back by the cafeteria from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  We will have game booths, vendor booths, food, drinks, free entertainment, produce/plant booths, lucky number drawings and a grand prize of $500.  Another prize is a horse and many more other prizes coming in from different merchants from Maui, Oahu and Molokai.  We also are having a dunking booth were the children can dunk the principal! Please come support the students and their efforts.

Much Mahalo,
Elizabeth “Tollefsen” Coleman

Kelly’s Platoon Announces Fall Itinerary

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

Ray and Leina Kelly, pictured here with reedman Kaliflowa, have scheduled public appearances at the annual Veterans Day Memorial Parade in November and the Christmas Parade in December. Two other members of the platoon not pictured, Doug Barnd (bassist) and Kimo (percussionist), will round out the group. Barnd, Kaliflowa and Kelly are veterans and members of Koa Kahiko which proudly hails the platoon as its personal musical contingent.

Kelly is the founder of Na Mele O`Kupuna, one of the most unique and popular venues on Molokai. They have been appearing weekly at the Molokai Hotel for over 12 years. A recent decision by the band to withdraw from further participation at the hotel has created a controversy. When questioned about the move, Kelly responded, “Na kupuna are our elders and must not be neglected by ‘cut-backs’ and by disregard of the cultural ideals they represent. They are our ohana and as creator of na kupuna, I find it my obligation to speak up and take action when things aren’t pono. This is Molokai, not Hollywood.”

To date, there has been no response from the management of the hotel regarding the band’s decision.

Sandy Macone

Celebration of Life Mahalo

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

Our ‘ohana would like to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Molokai community for your love and condolences for our beloved Eric Fontes, as we celebrated his life in ceremony last weekend.