Author Archives: Dan Murphy

Ranch Pays Big

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Some of the desolate-looking grounds and empty swimming pool at Kaluakoi’s old hotel will be brought back to life in the near future thanks to a recent court ruling against Molokai Ranch.

Last month, an arbitration hearing forced Molokai Properties Limited (MPL) to reopen the abandoned pool at the site of the Kaluakoi Hotel and pay $75,000 in punitive damage to the West Molokai Resort Association of Apartment Owners (AOAO).

The hotel, owned by MPL, stopped maintaining the grounds in late 2008 and officially shut down the pool in December 2008. However, a cross easement with the AOAO that dates back to 1976 requires the hotel’s owner to maintain common areas as long as they own the property – even if the hotel is no longer in operation. Retired Judge Patrick Yim, who served as arbitrator in the case, said MPL’s failure to do so was, “intentional, knowing, egregious and malicious.”

When the Kaluakoi area was first being developed in the 1970s, the Kepuhi Partnership purchased to adjacent plots of land – one to build condominiums and the other for what became the Kaluakoi Hotel.

Kepuhi Partnership created a cross easement declaration that outlined “common areas” that were available to patrons of both lots. According to the easement, those spaces include, “all parking areas, roads, walkways, landscaped areas… and the swimming pool.” The easement explained that the cost of maintenance for those areas was to be split, but the actual work was the responsibility of the hotel lot’s owner.

The AOAO, with the help of Honolulu attorney Terry Revere, filed a complaint with the Second Circuit Court on Feb. 17, 2009 – roughly two months after MPL shut down the pool. Both groups decided to settle the matter in arbitration and a final decision was reached on Dec. 24.

MPL claimed it was not their choice to shut down the pool and reopening it would be legally impossible. However, Yim’s report denied both of these defenses and also stated that MPL failed to provide evidence to back up their counterclaim that AOAO actually owed them thousands of dollars in maintenance fees.

The AOAO also requested an unstated amount of money to reimburse unit owners for possible renters they had lost due to the pool being closed and other poor maintenance. Yim denied that claim saying there was no way to tell how much business was actually lost because of MPL’s failure to uphold its obligations.

AOAO President Jeff Kent, his attorney Terry Revere, MPL General Manager Daniel Orodenker and his attorney Andrew Beaman were all contacted for comment, but none returned phone calls.

Residents in the Kaluakoi area did say crews began cleaning the pool and landscaping walkways earlier this week, but could not verify that they were working for MPL.

It’s Tiger Time

Friday, January 15th, 2010

Molokai's first ever Chinese New Year "Year of the Tiger" parade is less than a week away. The parade will begin at 9 a.m. and end with a ceremony at the War Memorial Park.  The program will consist of a Chinese Kung Fu demonstration and the honoring of our Chinese kupuna.  Betty Kehaulani Kauka Puaa will be one of the kupuna honored.

Puaa's original Chinese maiden name was Lau. Her paternal great-grandfather Mr. Kwan -Sun Lau was a medical practitioner from Canton, China who was also known for his medical expertise in Hawaiian herbs.  Arriving in the first wave of Chinese settlers to Hawaii, he eventually established his medical practice at the Big Island’s Waipio Valley where its herbal plants were in abundance.  The villagers in the Valley affectionately named him Kauka, a respectful Hawaiian term for medical doctor.  In due course the Lau family adopted Kauka as their family name.  During that time, he married a local lady named Kamalolo.
 
Puaa's paternal ancestors were notable Hawaii citizens. Her great-granduncle Lau On aided Dr. Sun Yet Sen, who succeeded in overthrowing the Manchu Dynasty in 1911. Her other great-granduncle, Lau See, was a successful entrepreneur and founded and later sold the popular Sun Sun Lau Restaurant in Hilo. Her grandfather Lau Chong Akiona Kauka was a US government civil engineer who supervised the construction of the breakwaters on most of Hawaii's islands. The original Molokai pier was due to Mrs. Puaa's grandfather's efforts.
 
Born in the year of the Rabbit to father Henry Ah-Yau Kauka Sr. and mother Henrietta Newmann, Mrs. Puaa was the fourth child in the family.  She lived at Ahaino, then at Kipu Camp on Molokai and attended the Holomua School.   At Molokai High, she met her future husband, the late Jacob Kopa Puaa.  They were together for 49 years.  She is now the matriarch of the family, helping her daughter oversee operations at the Spencer bus company. This legendary bus company carries students to and from school and has provided a community-minded bus service for over 69 years.
 
In honoring our present kupuna, they also bring to mind an impressive line up of past notable Chinese kupuna such as the late George Fook-Kun Chong, founder of the well-known Chong 's Poi shop; the late Charley Yin-Hoy Young, founder of  C.Y. Electric, a popular electric contracting company;  the late Harry Yet-Wah Chung, a keen community affairs advocate who was one of the founding charter members of  Molokai General Hospital and  Molokai Lion's Club as well as the founder of Harry's Market and the late  Dr. Arthur Chu who was a dentist for many years.  These past kupuna were all known for their pioneering spirit and enduring strength.
 
Our kupuna, past and present are the source of strength that we can draw upon to build a better future. Please come on Jan. 18 to see them being honored.

The fun doesn’t stop when the parade does. The Year of the Tiger Festival will start at 12 noon in the parking lot between Mel Chung Gunsmith’s and Shop 2. The festival will include traditional Chinese ceremonies, tai chi lessons, a mini Chinese bazaar and artwork and essays from Molokai’s students. For more information about these events or to sign up for a Tai Chi lesson call the Molokai Cultural Club at 553-5888.