Author Archives: layout@themolokaidispatch.com

Support the Arts

Wednesday, November 25th, 2020

MAC News Release

Molokai Arts Center (MAC) started 2020 celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Plans to expand classes and activities, helping to intensify MAC’s commitment to the Molokai community, was waylaid by COVID-19 and frequently changing safety protocols.

The mission of the only non-profit arts education organization on Molokai is to provide art classes, youth and kupuna programs, as well as studio and gallery space for adults, children, residents and visitors to this rural island. We believe that everyone in the Molokai community, from the professional artist to the novice, deserves the opportunity to develop their creative gifts.

Today, this means servicing less people in light of social distancing requirements and canceling all activities which normally gathered more than ten people.…

Virtual Floating Lantern Ceremony

Wednesday, November 25th, 2020

Since 2013, Hospice Molokai (now known as Navian Hawaii), along with the Molokai Guzeiji Soto Mission, has hosted the Annual Floating Lantern Ceremony. The event provides our Molokai Community the opportunity to come together in a safe and familiar space reminding us that we are not alone and to honor our loved ones that have died.

Due to COVID-19 we were unable to hold the seventh annual live event on Nov. 14, so a Virtual Video Event was created for you — “Holding Space to Honor Our Loved Ones.” It can be viewed at any time on YouTube at youtube.com/watch?v=57asQuS4yQk “Molokai Floating Lantern.”…

La Ku’oko’a Celebration

Wednesday, November 25th, 2020

Uncle Rudy’s brother, Richard, welcomes residents to celebrate La Ku’oko’a (Hawaiian Independence Day) at Homelani Cemetery on Saturday, Nov. 28. Come hear your kupuna’s, the gardener (the ali’i, the one you can see walking around).

Aloha,
Richard Cabanting…

Hawaiian Electric Proposes Shared Solar for Molokai

Wednesday, November 25th, 2020

Hawaiian Electric News Release

Hawaiian Electric’s proposal to launch shared solar or Community-Based Renewable Energy (CBRE) programs and projects on Molokai and Lanai featuring solar photovoltaic (PV) paired with battery energy storage systems (BESS) will be the topic at separate community meetings. In consideration of the pandemic safety precautions, both meetings will be held virtually, Dec. 2 and 3 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., on webex.com.

For the Molokai meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 2, callers can dial 1-844-992-4726 (Toll-Free) and enter WebEx meeting number: 146 449 2132, Password: 2qqQjCYmr52

The live format will include a presentation by company officials followed by audience questions.…

Electric Outage Map Now on Mobile App

Wednesday, November 25th, 2020

Hawaiian Electric News Release

Maui County customers can now retrieve outage information, receive outage alerts and see outages mapped on Maui, Molokai and Lanai from the Hawaiian Electric mobile app.

Available in the Apple iTunes and Google Play stores, the Hawaiian Electric mobile app is free and can be downloaded on a phone or tablet.

From the app, customers can view a Google map of Maui County and zoom in for details on reported outages in specific areas. Users with the geolocation feature activated on their mobile device can also see information on outages near their location.

The app also enables users to view and pay their electric bill, receive notifications, look for electric vehicle charging stations and move or stop service.…

The Angels Are Coming

Wednesday, November 25th, 2020

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

First came the virus and we found ourselves wearing masks, keeping the social distance from our fellow citizens, shutting down our businesses and places of worship and going into quarantine. Then came the devastating fires on the west coast, with subsequent widespread destruction and loss of life. Next came storm after storm decimating parts of the nation and taking lives in their paths. It seemed like the end of the world might be imminent. Finally came the fever of election campaigns where the truth often went out the window, to be replaced by blatant lies.…

Church Thrift Shop Founder Returns

Wednesday, November 25th, 2020

Church Thrift Shop Founder Returns

Grace Episcopal Church News Release

Father James (Jim) Loughren has retired and returned to Molokai. Always a go-getter personality, he has agreed to manage the store he founded, Saved by Grace Thrift Shop, located at Grace Episcopal Church, 2210 Farrington Ave, Ho’olehua. He will also be serving as Priest Associate, joining Father John Lunn in ministry at Grace.

With Father Jim’s leadership, the Thrift Shop will be open Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is an opportunity for both donation of used furniture, appliances, clothing and household goods in good condition, and shopping in the store.

With new shop services, comes new volunteer needs.…

True Community Based Renewable Energy at Stake

Wednesday, November 25th, 2020

MREC News Release

As you may know by now, Hawaiian Electric, as required by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), is planning to seek proposals for their “Phase 2” Community Based Renewable Energy (CBRE) project on Molokai in early 2021. The timing of the CBRE request for proposal is an opportunity for Molokai to formalize its own grassroots cooperative and compete for a project that will reduce our reliance on diesel generated electricity, improve grid resiliency, and bring support and relief to our overburdened rate payers.

Molokai community members have joined together to create Molokai Renewable Energy Cooperative (MREC) and are preparing to submit the coopʻs first project, a 2.75 megawatt solar plus battery project, which could meet the electric needs of 1000 households.…

Gift Local

Wednesday, November 25th, 2020

Gift Local

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Instead of buying gifts from Amazon this year, try supporting local and choosing a present that’s handcrafted and Molokai-made by one of our very own talented business people! In our continuing series to highlight local vendors this holiday season, here are a few more to inspire you. What are your go-to Molokai artists, creators or businesses to support? Why do you shop local? Email us at editor@themolokaidispatch.com or visit our Molokai Dispatch Facebook page to suggest a local highlight or join the shop local conversation.…

New MEO Bus

Wednesday, November 25th, 2020

New MEO Bus

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

A new bus was blessed at Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) Molokai last week. The 18-seat bus is the 13th bus in MEO’s Molokai fleet and is equipped with a wheelchair lift as well as seat harnesses built into the seats, according to Yolanda Reyes, MEO Molokai branch director.

“It will be used for all transportation routes but mainly for our Head Start children as their chair harnesses are already built in on each seat,” said Reyes. “Previously we needed to install each seat harness when there was an excursion for the children but now they are already built in.”…