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Author Archives: layout@themolokaidispatch.com

Senior Reflection

Wednesday, May 27th, 2020

By Ayla-Rose Naehu-Ramos

Closure is a luxury we, as seniors in the class of 2020, couldn’t indulge in. We spent 13 years, some of us more than that, waiting for the day we graduate, dreaming of the magical wonders of senior year: when you’re the top dog and nothing can touch you and you are infinitely young and free. A golden year.

We never got to finish it.

Many of us underestimated the sheer weight that COVID-19 would incur as it developed. I, myself, hadn’t foreseen the amount of changes our lives would undergo in such a short amount of time.…

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Bells of Hope to Ring

Wednesday, May 27th, 2020

St. Damien of Molokai Catholic Parish News Release

Starting on June 1, the the St. Damien of Molokai Catholic parish will bring back a celebration of a rich history of expressing our devotion to God and our gratefulness of all things provided to us by way of the Angelus bells. Each week day at noon the bells of St. Damien church in Kaunakakai will ring out to remind us of our bond with God and to pause and give thanks. The bells will sound three times followed by a number of single chimes.

Historically, the Angelus prayer is a famous Catholic devotion commemorating the Incarnation and is said 3 times each day: at dawn, noon, and dusk.…

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Fall Canoe Races Cancelled

Wednesday, May 27th, 2020

OHCRA News Release

The spirit of aloha continues to permeate our Hawaii communities as we champion making difficult decisions to support one another and care for the safety and health of our people and visitors. Many have had their lives change overnight and businesses, as well as individuals, continue to feel these effects as we transition into the next phase of our statewide COVID-19 response efforts.

As our state has been tremendously impacted by the global reach of this pandemic, the Board of the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association (OHCRA) together with the organizing committee of Na Wahine O Ke Kai, regretfully announce the decision to cancel this year’s championship canoe races — Hawaiian Airlines Na Wahine O Ke Kai, scheduled for Sept.…

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Class of 2020 Celebrates Unconventional Graduation

Wednesday, May 27th, 2020

Class of 2020 Celebrates Unconventional Graduation

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

When this year’s Molokai High School senior class left for spring break, they had no idea they’d never have a class on the Molokai High campus again, get to have a traditional graduation ceremony in the Barn, or even hug each other after receiving their diplomas. But after the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything, they became the first class to ever be handed their diplomas at arm’s length in front of the school steps as their families looked on from their vehicles.

“As a class we won’t be able to experience what it would be like to have a traditional graduation in the Barn,” said class president and salutatorian Kayla DeRouin in her speech.…

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Malama Meals Shut Down, Interisland Travel Considered

Wednesday, May 27th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Hundreds of families on Molokai benefitted from Malama Meals, a program that delivered more than 1000 precooked home-style dinners to Molokai residents three times a week, free of charge. The Oahu-based program was shut down last week by the state Dept. of Health (DOH) for violations, however.

“The operation had multiple food safety issues as it prepared and packaged hot meals on Oahu and shipped them to the neighbor islands without proper temperature controls,” said Peter Oshiro, chief of the DOH Food Safety Branch. “Without proper controls, the risk of an outbreak of food illness is high and could have a devastating impact especially on those who are elderly and have underlying conditions.”…

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Two Residents Earn Degrees Online

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

WGU News Release

Two Molokai residents have earned a degree from Western Governors University (WGU). The online, nonprofit university has graduated over 178,000 students from across the country since its inception in 1997.

Lian Chong Kalima of Kaunakakai has earned a Bachelor of Science, Business Management degree. Rachel Abshire of Kaunakakai has earned a Bachelor of Science, Business – Healthcare Management degree.

Since January 2, 2020, WGU has awarded 6,313 undergraduate and 4,975 graduate degrees. Graduates’ areas of study include business, K-12 education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. The average time to graduation for those earning a bachelor’s degree was two years, three months, while the average time for graduate programs was one year, six months.…

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Second Phase of Reopening Parks

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

County of Maui News Release

Additional County parks and beach parks reopened on Saturday, May 16, Mayor Michael Victorino announced. The reopening of parks facilities includes select tennis and pickleball courts. Players of both tennis and pickleball may invest in essentials and equipment such as rackets, paddles, tennis and pickleball scoreboards, etc., to improve their plays. County parks and beach parks will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For those looking to join events or leagues, the padelfast signup process offers a convenient way to get started and stay connected.

“Many of these parks are neighborhood parks, which give our families more options for exercise near home,” Mayor Victorino said.…

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Molokai Middle Winner in Video Contest

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

‘Olelo Community Media News Release

Schools from across the state were named winners in the 17th Annual ‘Olelo Youth Xchange Student Video Competition last week. Top prizes went to Maui High, Wai‘anae Intermediate and Moanalua High, and Molokai Middle School students won the Free Speech Middle School category.

The competition is the state’s oldest and largest contest of its type. Over 900 video submissions this year were created by elementary, middle and high-school students who attend 71 public, charter and private schools statewide. Winning videos were from across Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, Kauai and Molokai.

The 54 award winners will receive high-definition Sony digital video cameras as prizes.…

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The Historical Trauma of Infection

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

By Dr. Landon Opunui, ND

The island of Molokai has a long-standing history with infectious diseases. Molokai is known around the world for Kalaupapa’s history and the enduring spirit of all those affected by Hansen’s disease. Although our current pandemic is caused by a virus as opposed to a bacterial microorganism, there are parallels that bridge this infectious disease’s past with the present.

The first wave of imported diseases came to Hawaii with Capt. James Cook in 1778 when his sailors introduced tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases. About a quarter century later, the first recorded epidemic occurred in 1804 when the cholera outbreak known as maʻi okuʻu killed more than 15,000.…

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Food Packages

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

On April 17 and May 1, the Molokai Youth Center/MCSC and Maui Food Bank provided food packages to the community. We’d like to send a mahalo to those who volunteered their time: Aunty Honey Girl English, Ekolu Ah Yee, Ui’lani Smith, Sybil Lopez, Ashlynn Kaulili, Shae Pualihau, Whitnelle Phifer, Gwendolyn Dudoit and MCSC staff, Karen Holt, Katie Juario, Shaye Lauifi, Lilinoe Bush, Kalola Kaulili, Ali Kaina and daughters, Rose Pettigrew, Ashleigh Dudoit-Polido, Darlynne Mollena. For the generous donations, Kualapu’u Ranch donated two cows that provided 5 pounds of hamburger packages, Molokai Livestock, Josh and Harmonee Pastrana, Mike and Nani Kahinu, and other generous supporters.…

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