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Author Archives: layout@themolokaidispatch.com

‘Ohana by Hawaiian Halts Flights

Wednesday, January 13th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

‘Ohana by Hawaiian air service will indefinitely suspend flights to Molokai and Lanai on Jan. 14, the airline told employees in a letter from a company official last week. The move leaves Mokulele Airlines as the sole air carrier serving Molokai.

“Our low levels of inter-island flying, caused by depressed demand across our network due to travel restrictions, triggered a provision in our labor contracts that prevents us from offering this third-party passenger and all-cargo service,” wrote Executive Vice President and COO Jon Snook in the letter that employees received last Wednesday, Jan. 6.

In October, the airline announced it would suspend flights on Nov.…

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4 Molokai Residents Join Fire Dept.

Wednesday, January 13th, 2021

4 Molokai Residents Join Fire Dept.

MFD News Release

Last month, the Department of Fire and Public Safety celebrated the graduation of its 36th Firefighter Recruit Class in Wailuku. The 19 firefighter recruits graduated from the Maui Fire Department’s 25 week Recruit Training Program, and four of them are from Molokai. The program is designed to train and evaluate fire recruits on the many skills and disciplines necessary to serve the public as a firefighter.

Fifteen firefighters will be joining the ranks with the Maui Fire Department and will be assigned to Maui County fire stations on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. They are: Mahonri Aiwohi, Kaikane Beam, Ross Bisera, Michael Carter, Joshua Galvan, Aaron Griffith, Cameron Layer, Ikaika Neizman, Daniel Place (of Molokai), Kenneth Puaa, Charles Puaa-Spencer (of Molokai), James Puaa Spencer (of Molokai), Daniel Silvestre, Matthew Wilburn, and Jacob Wolfson.…

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Free After-School Program Teaches Watershed Learning Virtually

Wednesday, January 13th, 2021

Learning Endeavors News Release

A placed-based STEM watershed learning experience, called Champions of Coastal Resilience (CCR), is designed for after-school enrichment for grades 4-6 on Molokai. It is a virtual, seven-week action curriculum, facilitated by a Molokai-based instructor beginning on Monday, January 25, taking place from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays. Registration is now open.

This is a free opportunity offered by Learning Endeavors, a Wailuku nonprofit organization offering innovative education program development, in partnership with the Molokai 21st Century Community Learning Centers. The Champions of Coastal Resilience initiative is its newest program, starting on Molokai and soon expanding statewide.…

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3 New COVID Cases for Molokai Last Week

Wednesday, January 13th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

The new year brought new cases to the island, with an influx of three last week, bringing Molokai up to a total of 25 COVID-19 cases, as of Sunday, since the pandemic began.

One new case was reported by the Dept. of Health last Wednesday, Jan. 6, with two more joining the tally Friday.

Statewide, Thursday, Jan. 7 saw the highest number of cases in a single day since August, with 322 new cases across the state. In Maui County, numbers were also concerning to officials, with 56 new cases reported in the county last Thursday. Because the vast majority of cases are in households throughout all regions of Maui island, officials in the Maui District Health Office believe the spike stemmed from holiday gatherings.…

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Golf Wins

Wednesday, January 13th, 2021

Golf Wins

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter

Two golf tournaments at the iconic Ironwood Hills Golf course got three residents wins recently.

The 2020 Molokai Teachers’ Winter Classic was held Dec. 21. Congratulations to Bob Danner for winning the low gross Horns Trophy and Jacket and Scott Hemenway for winning the low net Bowl Trophy. Big aloha to the leader of Farmer nation and the tournament organizer, Lee DeRouin!

David Spencer is the January 2021 monthly Ace winner for the Hui O Kukui Golf Club. After shooting 82 (42-40) and with his 19 handicap, his net 63 got him the first Ace of the new year!…

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MPD Reflects on Blessings

Wednesday, December 30th, 2020

As 2020 comes to a close, let us not reflect on the challenges we faced but on the blessings we received. Many organizations, businesses, and neighbors on Molokai stepped in to assist those in need, evident by the many food distributions, PPE donations, free inter-island cargo shipping, as well as the countless people who offered assistance to those afflicted by COVID-19. We were able to keep our COVID count low, due to everyone doing their part in helping to stop the spread of this disease.

We appreciated those that kept traditions alive, like PK Enterprise and Misaki Store, spreading holiday cheer from their annual floats.…

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Island’s First COVID-19 Vaccine

Wednesday, December 30th, 2020

Island’s First COVID-19 Vaccine

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Last Tuesday, the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines arrived at Molokai General Hospital via Kamaka Air. The first vaccine was administered shortly afterward, with the first recipient being Jeanette Oshiro, Manager of the Paul G. Stevens MD Outpatient Clinic, administered by Nicolette Montizor, RN. The hospital says it vaccinated more staff last week. Only healthcare workers will receive the COVID-19 vaccines at this time.…

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Star of Wonder

Wednesday, December 30th, 2020

Star of Wonder

Opinion by Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

“O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright.

Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.” -John Hopkins Jr. in 1857

I am not exactly known as a star gazer but I do recall times in my high school years when, during class time, I caught myself looking out the window, either because I was desperately looking for inspiration or was just plain bored in class that day. Still I have looked toward the heavens on a few occasions in my time, be that to forecast the weather or to check out a twinkling star or an approaching unidentified flying object.…

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Vaccines for Healthcare Workers Expected Soon on Molokai

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

A limited number of COVID-19 vaccines for healthcare workers are expected on Molokai this month, according to health officials.

“We are expecting Molokai General Hospital to get its first delivery of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines early next week,” said state Dept. of Health spokesperson Brooks Baehr last Thursday. “I do not yet know exactly how many doses will be included in that shipment. These vaccines will be for healthcare workers on Molokai.”

Molokai General Hospital President Janice Kalanihuia confirmed she is expecting the shipment.

“We’re all set to immunize anyone here [hospital staff] that wants it,” said Kalanihuia last Thursday.…

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MHS Alum to Finish College Football Career

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020

MHS Alum to Finish College Football Career

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter

Molokai High alumnus Makani Kaneaiakala will continue and finish his college football career at Western New Mexico University in Silver City, NM. He began playing at Eastern Arizona College as a freshman in 2017, before enrolling at Tabor College in Kansas two years later. Since then, he has had some bumps in the road but is now back to the game.

“After being in the NCAA Transfer Portal for some time I can finally say I’ll be returning to action at Western New Mexico University,” said Kaneaiakala. “I’m beyond thankful and blessed for another opportunity after all the struggles I’ve gone through this year; it was such a tough stretch with COVID-19, school, work, training, a potential career-ending injury which healed, eligibility paperwork that required navigating specifics like New Mexico sports betting regulations to ensure compliance, and I made some very tough sacrifices along the way to embrace this fresh start in a state rich with unique athletic and cultural landscapes.”…

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