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Author Archives: layout@themolokaidispatch.com

Beach Clean Up

Friday, February 18th, 2011

Beach Clean Up

My class participated on Feb. 1, 2011 in a worldwide beach clean-up. There were schools from Molokai, Big Island, Oahu, California, Oregon, the east coast, and even from distant places such as Japan, Spain, Italy and Kosovo.

What Would You Do?
By Makani Davis

What would you do if you saw marine life being killed by nets, cans, six packs, or more? Would you sit there and watch it break down? I hope not, because you’ll be watching nearly until you die! Stand up and fight for our wildlife! You don’t need to be an adult to do it, because fourth and fifth graders can clean up too if they want to.

Make a change in sea life. I want to see it happen. Make the beaches clean. You don’t need to be any certain age; you just need too believe that you can. I believe and I will help. The next step for me is to get others to help. Will you help me? Will you help the environment? Make a difference!

Step up and grab a hand to fix our world and keep the atmosphere clean. Go to the beach and look around; see what you can pick up. You won’t believe what you can do. You can change things!

I’m Just a Butt
By Acey Reyes

One day, a class of school kids came to the beach. They found a lot of rubbish. They also found me! I’m a cigarette butt. I am really grateful that they picked me and a bunch of my friends (over 110 of us in all!) up. If they didn’t, I would be there a very long time.

I’ve just been waiting for someone to pick me up. After they carried me away, the next day I got to come out and become part of a beautiful ‘garbage’ sculpture with my friends.

If the kids had left me there, I would be littering the area. I am also toxic and if a fish or other marine animal mistakes me for food, they could get very sick and die. Now I’ve been rescued and don’t have to worry about being eaten! Thank you, kids!

Two more reflections will be shared in next week’s Dispatch.

 

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Molokai Girl Top Wrestler

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

Molokai Girl Top Wrestler

 

Leya Justina Luafalemana of Kaunakakai helped bring her college wrestling team to fifth place in the national wrestling championships last month, and added a few more titles to her belt.

Luafalemana placed second overall in the Women’s Wrestling National Tournament, held in California on Jan. 29, but was awarded the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler Award, according to the Jamestown Sun. She is an All-American athlete in her sophomore year at Jamestown College in North Dakota. 

In addition, Luafalemana received the Optimist Club Athletes of the Week for the Jamestown Sun.

“I am still proud of this accomplishment along with keeping up with her grades,” said her mother, Cynthia Luafalemana via email. Her mother added this is the second time Leya received the newspaper’s award.

 

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Draw a Picture, Save Some Water

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

The Department of Water Supply (DWS) is now accepting applicants for its second annual Water Conservation Poster Contest for students in Maui County.  Entry deadline is March 18, 2011, and the contest is open to public, private and home-schooled students from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Every student who creates and submits an entry will receive a Certificate of Participation.  First place winners will receive U.S. Savings Bonds of $100, second place $75 and third place $50. A total of 18 prizes will be awarded with first, second and third prizes presented to winners in each competition level. 

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Girls, Gowns and Grins

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Girls, Gowns and Grins

Despite the persistent rain, beauty queens kept their hair neat, makeup unblemished and dresses immaculate at the Lanikeha Carnival and Beauty Pageant last Saturday. After all, the show must go on.

Fistfuls of glitter and shining costumes brightened the dreary day where over 70 girls, ages zero to 18, showcased their talent and beauty for a chance to be crowned winner of their age division.

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Ka Molokai Makahiki 2011 Results

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

Kane Ano Koa Ki’e  Ki’e Divsion: Individual Event Winners:
1) Ulumaika: Ho’o Kaiama-Lenwai (Molokai)
2) Moa Pahee: Kaniela Buckley (Hawai’i)
3) ‘O’oihe:  Keli’i Kotubetey (O’ahu)
4) Pohaku: Kaina Makua (Kaua’i)
5) Uma: Kaina Makua (Kaua’i)
6) Pa Uma: Kaina Makua (Kaua’i)
7) Haka Moa: Hanohano Naehu ( Moloka’i)
8) 100 yd.: Kaniela Buckley (Hawai’i)
9) 440 yd.: Keli’i Kotubety (O’ahu)
10) Huki Huki: Kupono Kawa`a ( Moloka’i)

4th Place: Keaka Flores = 30pts.
3rd Place: Kupono Kawa`a (Moloka’i) =36 pts.
2nd Place: Hanohano Naehu (Moloka’i) = 40pts.
Ano Koa Ki’e Ki’e Champion: KAINA MAKUA (Kaua’i) = 60pts.

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Tutu’s Corner

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

Tutu’s Corner

By the time young children become two to three years old, they begin to see that they can group things according to a characteristic, such as color or size. This gives children a new sense of control over their environment.

It is interesting to observe young children’s satisfaction in sorting and classifying all kinds of objects such as rocks or buttons. Sorting and classification are important mathematical skills that require children to recognize similarities among objects.

At Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool, there are many opportunities for children to observe and group objects. When they come in to school, the block area provides ample opportunities for sorting and classification; the manipulative area with its beads, pattern blocks, buttons, or other material is another opportunity for sorting and grouping.

Try This at Home:
•    Let your keiki practice sorting by putting the eating utensils into their proper tray sections.
•    Let your child put back the clothes on the hooks or hangers, the food back on the shelves, etc.
•    Start a collection with your keiki (e.g., buttons, rocks, shells, bottle caps). Keep the collection in boxes or baskets and available for your child to sort or organize according to size, color or texture. These are excellent substitutes for television viewing.
•    While riding in your car, play a game of finding all the vehicles of the same make, or color. Say to your keiki, “Say ‘red’ when you see a red car”, or, “Let’s call out all of the Toyotas that we see.”
•    Let your keiki help sort the clothes for washing by putting all the whites in one basket and the colors in another.
•    Let your child help put the food away after a grocery shopping trip.
•    Make sure that there are shelves and storage containers in your child’s room, so that there is a place for your child to organize clothes and toys.

Remember, giving young children opportunities to sort and group objects gives them lifelong skills in mathematical thinking and organization. An organized person uses time and energy to his or her advantage.
Contributions from Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool, a program of Partners in Development Foundation.  Tutu and Me is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

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Aunty’s Corner February 9

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

Aunty’s Corner February 9

Aloha, aunty here…Auwe, my heart is heavy because another of our beloved kupuna has passed away.  Aunty Ku`ulei, to me, was the spirit of Aloha and Molokai.  The very first day I came to Home Pumehana with my niece Teri, she greeted me at the door, gave me a hug and said that she went to school with my sister and that they were a spunky couple of kids.  We would go to Coffees of Hawaii where she held court with her darling hat and the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.  She wouldn’t take no for an answer if you didn’t want to perform and even if you were not the greatest she was very encouraging.  She had a way with the eye.  When she was in the hospital, the staff would try to keep the visitors to a minimum but alas, not to be, there was food, singing and dancing.  If I ever had to be there in hospital, I hope that that will happen for me.  I shall miss her along with Aunty Dora and Shawn who also played with the gang.

My daughter and granddaughter came for a week for my birthday.  Nan, Todd’s mom, hosted us at the Mahana Nursery for cake and ice cream.  Nan and Dusty, along with her friend from high school are working very hard to restore the nursery to its former glory.  They have done wonders!  My family wanted to see everything. I need a vacation from my vacation.  While we were gone holoholo we stopped at the Kualapu`u shopping center.  I went to my favorite clothing store, Vintage Aloha Wear, only to find that she is going out of business.  She said that she’ll be around for a while but will be closing.  I’m so sad, I love to shop there.  We also went to Molokai Furniture to drool over the fabulous furniture there.  Such beautiful things.  The waves at Papohaku were huge.  I was worried my granddaughter would get caught in the under tow even though she was wading.  As my daughter and granddaughter left my oldest daughter came in.  She’s been here several times before and helped me to move into Home Pumehana.  She is driving all over so you might see her and say aloha.  Coming next on the 8th is Eileen Holloway.  She used to work at Kaluakoi Hotel for 10 years.  Those of you who remember her be sure to say aloha.  She said she just wants to wander around town and see everyone.  Whew! Lots of activity.

Does anyone have any suggestions for the mosquitoes?  I remember when I lived in Naval housing there was a truck that came around and sprayed for mosquitoes.  The mosquitos love my daughters and me.  We’ve sprayed and put stuff on to stop the itch but no such luck.  Suggestions will be accepted at The Dispatch.

Speaking of Papohaku can anyone tell me about the dune area just before the beach? I think I remember reading somewhere that that area was once a cemetery.  If it was, shouldn’t it be closed off?  Just a question.  Would you let me know at The Dispatch? Mahalo.

Well I guess I’ve rattled on long enough.  It’s so good to be back.  Much aloha to all of you.  Aunty Kapua

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The Great Crawl-About

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

The Great Crawl-About

Upon unleashing their babies at the starting line, parents cheered and lured their infants across the padded course that is the Keiki Expo’s Diaper Dash. Ten-month-old Kuanalu Dudoit (pictured below) chased after his mother, Kelley Dudoit, crossing the finish line in a fit of tears. While he may not have enjoyed his first crawling contest, he did win a Radio Flyer rocking horse.

I love to play Playdough with my school friends!”

“This is our biggest turnout thus far,” said co-organizer Becky Takashima. “After today people will already be anticipating next year!”

 

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It’s That Makahiki Time of the Year

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

Celebration and the spirit of aloha filled Kaunakakai this weekend as the farmer-friendly Makahiki season was observed.

At the 29th  annual festivities on Molokai since the island’s original celebrations ceased in 1918, Hawaiians reconnected to their land and ancestors by honoring Lono, the god of peace, fertility and agriculture, during customary ceremonies.

“It’s a time to reconnect with our culture and bring the community and family together to practice aloha,” said Kawika Crivello, a local participant in the day’s protocols.

The three-day celebration also focused on the ideals of health, wellness and Hawaiian identity through the practice of traditional games.

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Mental Health Options Discussed

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

Mental health services across the state often rely on grant funding, and one program will be holding a talk story on Molokai to share information about the progress made through Hawaii Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant (MHT SIG) initiatives. 

SIG Chief Project Director Sharlene Chun-Lum and her staff will hold a ‘talk story’ session on Feb. 10 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Queen Liliuokalani Learning Center in the Kulana `Oiwi complex. Residents are encouraged to attend and will be able to provide feedback.

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