Author Archives: layout@themolokaidispatch.com

Christian Jay Fermin P. Motas

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

Christian Jay Fermin P. Motas was born Sept. 1 to the proud parents of Jessica and Noel Joseph Motas. He was born at Molokai General Hospital weighing 6 pounds 5 ounces and is welcomed by sister Deisha Esther and grandparents Patricio and Rosemarie Pantaleon and Fermin Jr. and Felicitas Motas.

Understanding Pet Vaccinations

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

Understanding Pet Vaccinations

Community contributed by Brenda K Smith DVM, Molokai Humane Society

Vaccinations play a crucial role in keeping your pet safe and healthy by teaching the immune system to defend itself against diseases it may encounter. Vaccinations contain a harmless form of the virus or bacteria which causes that particular disease.  The vaccination works by stimulating the pet's natural defense mechanisms to set up a protective screen against the disease. This protective response is remembered and triggered whenever the animal encounters the disease.

Newborn puppies and kittens receive some immunity or protection against disease from their mother's milk during the first few days of their lives. The mother can only pass on the immunity that she herself has, and her ability to do this depends on whether or not she has been properly vaccinated. This protection is only temporary and it declines in the first few weeks of life.

At the same time the maternal antibodies are starting to decrease, the immune system of the puppy or kitten is starting to become effective. It is also during this time that we start to vaccinate pets, in order to let their developing immune system start to produce antibodies to disease. 

It is recommended to vaccinate puppies and kittens starting at about eight weeks of age, and continuing every three to four weeks until they are at least 16 weeks old. It takes time for the immune system to respond to the vaccines, usually between 10 and 14 days after the last dose has been given.  Until the series of vaccinations is complete, it is very important that you keep your puppy away from other dogs and to avoid places where other dogs might have been.

Older puppies/kittens and adult animals need a series of two vaccines three to four weeks apart to obtain the initial immunity. This is followed by a booster one year after the initial series in all pets, then every one to three years depending on the pet's lifestyle.

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Most veterinary vaccinations are relatively inexpensive, and are substantially less expensive than the cost of treatment for the diseases they protect against.  Many dangerous diseases seen in dogs and cats are completely preventable with the right vaccinations.

The Molokai Humane Society offers dog vaccinations for $10 each and cat vaccinations for $20 each. Please call the Molokai Humane Society at 558-0000 for more information. The Molokai Humane Society is open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with extended hours when we have a vet on island.

Tutu’s Corner

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

Community contributed by Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool

Self-esteem is one’s regard for self. It is how we value ourselves. Most of the feelings about ourselves were established when we were children. Many people suffer from a low self-esteem, which leads to many other problems in their lives. Low self-esteem could, for example, lead to depression and even a life of oppression and crime as one strives to feel good about oneself. Therefore, it is very important, as caregivers of young children, that we help children to develop a healthy self esteem while they are young.

Farmers Football Dominates

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Hundreds of fans cheered a mean, green touchdown-scoring machine last Saturday, as the Molokai High School (MHS) club football team blanked visiting Seabury Hall in the first matchup of the season.

“It felt good – it was an exciting game,” said sophomore Noah Caparida. “We’re looking like a real team.”

Paddling Pailolo

Monday, September 19th, 2011

Paddling Pailolo

The 26-mile Pailolo Channel is one of the windiest but best courses in the state, according to its paddlers. Last Saturday, 70 teams assembled for the fifth annual six-person outrigger race from Maui to Molokai known as the Pailolo Challenge. Molokai’s Wa`akapaumua men completed the race in 4th place overall with a time of 2:59.48. The club also paddled a women’s crew, finishing 10th in the open women’s division.

Maui’s team Primo won the race with a time of 2:42.59. For Primo paddler Kekoa Cramer, the toughest part of the race is “leaving Molokai.”

Molokai’s Clint Labrador said the course held five to six foot swells on race day. “The finish was intense as we were battling with Hawaiian Canoe Club's first crew from about One Alii Park for 3rd place,” he said. “They got us by a half canoe length at the very end, but we managed to give them a run for their money.”

Molokai Teaches with Heart

Monday, September 19th, 2011

Submitted by Diane Abraham

Each month, kumu from a different school island-wide are featured in articles written completely by the keiki to share their experiences with their most beloved teachers.  Below are the submissions from seventh grade Molokai Middle School students and fourth grade Kualapu`u School Hawaiian immersion students. Mahalo to Kumu Loke Han of Kualapu`u and Iolani Kuoha of Molokai Middle for gathering the students’ contributions.

Kualapu`u School
Kumu Henohea Linker
`O ka`u kumu punahele `o Kumu Henohea Linker no ka mea
Ho`omake`aka `o ia a hana `o ia i na mea maika`i, na mea le`ale`a
e like me na kemu hana lima. `Olu`olu o Kumu Henohea a a`o

Veteran’s Corner

Monday, September 19th, 2011

Veteran’s Corner

Column by Jesse Church

Hello veterans, old Jesse here with all the veterans’ news and upcoming events. On Aug. 13, 1918, Pvt. Opha Mae Johnson became the first woman to pin on the eagle, globe and anchor. Johnson was the first of 305 women to enlist in the Marine Corps Reserve, according to the Marine Corps History Division. Women were accepted in noncombat roles in the Corps in order to “free a man to fight.” They took over clerical roles and became recruiters so more men could be sent to France during World War I. At that time, women were not allowed to serve at Headquarters Marine Corps. The female Marines were called “Marinettes” according to the book “USMC: A Complete History,” and they did not go through boot camp. Less than a year after Johnson was sworn in on July 30, 1919, orders were issued to separate all women from the Corps due to the war ending. The last day for active duty female reservists was Aug. 11, 1919. It wasn’t until World War II that women were allowed to serve in the Marine Corps.

The Navy Times has reported a new missile being developed will be able to find and destroy enemy radars, even if they are turned off. In late May, the AGM-88E advanced anti-radiation guided missile finished initial flight integration tests on the EA-18G Growler and FA-18E/F Super Hornet. The AARGM, developed by ATK for the Navy, Marine Corps and the Italian Air Force is expected to provide more accurate attacks on enemy radar systems and radar-equipped anti-air defenses. It will supplement the AGM-88 high speed anti-radiation missile but will have a greater range, field of view and frequency coverage than HARM, which will not leave the fleet. When attacking enemy radar defenses with HARM, the enemy sometimes would hide from the incoming weapon’s radiation-seeking guidance system by turning off their radars. The AARGM can target arrays after they are shut down. If tests are successful, the missile is scheduled to enter fleet in 2012.

There was an article in the Aug.1 copy of the Marine Times by Patricia Kime, titled “Purple Heart Recipients Live Longer.” A study of aging World War II and Korean War-era veterans showed that those who were awarded the Purple Heart died at a much slower rate over the course of a decade than those who didn’t receive the medal. Researchers at the Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System examined medical records of 10,255 military veterans over age 65 to determine whether troops wounded in combat were more resilient to disease, illness and death over a lifetime. And they were twice as likely to be alive after 10 years of follow-up, compared with veterans who did not have a Purple Heart. Researchers looked at veterans ages 65 and older in the late 1990s and followed their survival through 2008. They found that the Purple Heart recipients, if they made it to that age, were “too tough to die.” Those with Purple Heart citations had half the mortality rate of those without Purple Heart citations, said Dr. Tim Kimbrell, a research psychiatrist with the Center for Mental Health and Outcomes Research at the Arkansas facility.

Just a reminder that Joe Thompson, the veterans service officer will be on Molokai Friday, Sept. 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Veterans Center in Kaunakakai. If you need to see Joe, please mark your calendar. Please show our service men and women stationed around the world, and especially those brave men and women in harm’s way, that we care about them and that we are in total support of them. To all the men and women serving in our armed forces, and veterans at home, for all you’re doing and have done, I send a big mahalo. I also send a big mahalo to the people of Molokai for all their support; you are truly the cream of the crop, and I love you all.

Become a Voice in the Reinstated Nation

Monday, September 19th, 2011

Share mana`o and become educated on the Kingdom of Hawaii, also referred to as the Reinstated Hawaiian Nation. Register to vote in the upcoming election. We need more mana`o and ike so we can shape what the government will be like. Meetings are held every Thursday at 6 p.m. at Mitchell Pauole Center. This is also an opportunity for those who want to become participants or citizens of the nation, to start the process. All are welcome to attend and register to vote. The time has come for us to stand up for our basic human right called sovereignty in Hawaii, and especially on Molokai. This effort is supported by Hui Kane.

Remembering Eric Fontes

Monday, September 19th, 2011

Remembering Eric Fontes

While the room was full of laughter and high spirits, it was tragedy that brought together dozens of friends to share stories and jokes long into the evening.

“This is who Eric is, a fun-loving and smiling person who always brought people together,” said long-time friend Gina Agliam.

Last Friday, more than 25 classmates and friends gathered in honor of Eric Fontes, a Honolulu police officer from Molokai who was killed on duty last Tuesday during a routine traffic stop on Farrington Highway in West Oahu. Through reminiscences and song, the group pieced together their memories of a man who will be remembered for both his playfulness and faith.

Frank Borden remembers little league games and sleepovers throughout elementary school: “He left us in the dust for high school ball!” Brooke Puaa remembers his red Celica – “Here comes braddah Eric!” And Kata Lee recalls driving lessons down the wharf. “He thought I would run him straight off da road!”

“This guy always had a joke, he was hilarious!” said Volsha Johnston.

Man of Many Vir


“We gonna sing as one class, we gotta stay strong,” said Lyndon Dela Cruz during last week’s gathering. “If you can sing and shed tears at the same time, go for it. But by all means, sing and sing well for him.”

A Life Well-lived
Fontes, son of Lottie and Leslie Burrows and the late Macky and Ann Fontes and brother to Aaron Fontes, Leonard, Alvin and Leah Burrows, grew up in Ho`olehua and graduated from Molokai High School (MHS) in 1984. He then moved to Hilo before making a home on Oahu where he met and married his wife .

He graduated from the police academy in 2005 and had been stationed in Kapolei since 2006.

Major Ray Ancheta, Fontes’ District Commander, said Fontes was “the best we could hope for in an officer,” as he was a spiritual leader and big brother to the community and his fellow officers.

“We believe that he was the best that Molokai could give us and I feel deeply for Molokai’s loss,” said Ancheta.

Services on Oahu will be held Friday, Sept. 30 at Borthwick Mortuary. Visitation is from 3 to 9 p.m., with services at 5:30 p.m. Services on Molokai are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 8 with location and time pending.

Heal Malama Park

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

Opinion by Clare Seeger Mawae.