Author Archives: layout@themolokaidispatch.com

Those Masked Marvels

Thursday, April 23rd, 2020

By Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

Many of you readers grew up watching the Lone Ranger fight for justice. Some of you may have thrilled at the exploits of Batman as he nabbed all types of crooks and criminals. More of you marveled at the feats of the Green Hornet. As for myself, I was drawn to the swashbuckling but sometimes reckless Zorro. Indeed, I once dressed up as that mystery man, complete with sword and whip and concealed behind a mask, at a parish country fair in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. All of these fought for justice behind the mask.…

Stores Reopen, School to Remain Closed

Thursday, April 23rd, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai remains at two COVID-19 cases after two large-scale testing events in the past two weeks. The county reported that 400 people during the April 7 drive-thru testing and nearly 100 people during last week’s event. Though neither the Mayor’s office nor state officials could provide confirmation, sources say all results have been negative so far.

Statewide, there were 580 cases as of Sunday, 414 of which have been released from isolation; there have been 10 deaths in the state linked to COVID-19.

After more than two weeks closed following two employees testing positive, Friendly Market Center reopened their doors on Monday.…

Health Center Gets COVID Funding

Thursday, April 23rd, 2020

Health Center Gets COVID Funding

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) received $550,535 in emergency federal funding to assist in COVID-19 response.
The funding was part of $10,037,995 given to 14 health centers statewide by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) which funds health centers across the country. The coronavirus money was part of President Trump’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act.

“This federal assistance to our community health centers can be used by the centers for staffing, personal protective equipment, screening, testing, and prevention or other means to fight the pandemic,” said Congressman Ed Case.…

Hawaii Beaches Closed

Thursday, April 23rd, 2020

DLNR News Release

Governor David Ige issued a Fifth Supplementary Proclamation to his Emergency Rules. This one includes limitations on activities outside homes or places of residence and closes all beaches on Molokai and statewide. It became clear that many people are continuing to access beaches, waters, and trails for social and recreational activities without proper social distancing during the COVID-19 crisis. Such activity contributes to the risk of spread of coronavirus across the state.

Under these new rules, all beaches are closed, which means no sitting, standing, lying down, lounging, sunbathing, or loitering on beaches and sandbars. People can still cross beaches to access the ocean for outdoor exercise like surfing, solo paddling and swimming as long as social distances are maintained.…

Airport Gets $1.6M for COVID-19 Support

Thursday, April 23rd, 2020

Airport Gets $1.6M for COVID-19 Support

Sen. Brian Schatz News Release

The Molokai airport will receive $1.6 million in funding, announced U.S. Senator Brian Schatz. That’s part of $133 million in new federal funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that Hawaii airports will get across the state. The new funding will help support airports and its workers experiencing severe economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

“Hawaii airport workers and the entire airline industry have taken a significant hit during this crisis,” said Sen. Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This new federal funding will help save jobs and keep our airports across the state running.”…

Ualapue Shaft Tested Positive for E. Coli

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

County of Maui News Release

The Maui Department of Water Supply detected E. coli bacteria in the Ualapue Shaft on Molokai on April 7, in a water sample collected the previous day. E. coli testing takes 18 hours to complete. It is important for residents to note that this detection was in the shaft itself and not in the water source.

A resampling of water from the Ualapue Shaft the following day, April 8, was confirmed to meet federal Environmental Protection Agency and state Department of Health water quality standards. It did not contain any traces of E. coli contamination.

The water in the Ualapue system remains safe to drink, because it has been disinfected, and no E.…

Rotary Scholarships Available

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset News Release

The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset is awarding two $2500 academic scholarships to two graduating seniors who live in West Maui, Hana or Molokai and attend a Maui or Molokai high school. The students should demonstrate superior academic abilities, involvement in school activities and a winning character profile and must be pursuing a field of study that will benefit the environment.

The scholarship highlights the club’s commitment to support the educational goals of local youth.

“Knowledge is power and we are thrilled to help a senior student reach his or her educational goals,” said Erica Gale, Youth Service Chair.…

Cendall Manley is 4-time National Wrestling Champ

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

Cendall Manley is 4-time National Wrestling Champ

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter

The Manley ‘ohana of Molokai is famous for wrestling. For many years Randy, along with his wife Louise, has coached Molokai wrestling at the high school and club level and their five children were all were coached by their father and had great success. Sons Colton, Clinton and Caele, and daughters Charisse and Cendall have all wrestled for the Farmers of Molokai High School.

In 2016, Cendall won a Hawaii State Wrestling Championship in her senior year and continued her wrestling career at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Last month, she won her fourth straight National Collegiate Wrestling Association Championship in Allen, Texas and was named the women’s tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.…

Produce Distributed to Residents in Need

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

Produce Distributed to Residents in Need

Molokai Chamber of Commerce News Release

On Friday, April 10, with generous financial donations from our business community, the Support Molokai Initiative was able to purchase produce from Valley Isle Produce and have it flown on Mokulele Airlines and Kamaka Air to Molokai. It will be distributed to our kupuna and needy families by the Molokai Homestead Farmers Alliance and community volunteers.

The Support Molokai Initiative is a partnership between the Molokai Chamber of Commerce, Representative Lynn DeCoite, Molokai Community Federal Credit Union, Molokai Homestead Farmers Alliance, Molokai Farm Bureau, Bayer Hawaii and other volunteers to help our community through the COVID-19 pandemic with various relief efforts.…

Mokulele Grocery Delivery

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

Mokulele Airlines News Release

Last week, Mokulele Airlines announced it would that it would offer free grocery delivery to Molokai and Kalaupapa in response to a temporary closure of one of the island’s two main grocery stores. Some store employees there reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. The offer for free shipping is good for up to 50 pounds of groceries per customer and is valid for the rest of the April.
Later in the week, Mokulele expanded its Grocery Airlift to include flights to Lanai, Hana, and Waimea starting last Friday morning and lasting until the end of the month.

Friendly Market on Molokai has announced that it will be closed until April 20, with all employees currently in self-quarantine.…