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Author Archives: layout@themolokaidispatch.com

Health Center Welcomes New Full-Time Family Dr.

Wednesday, September 14th, 2022

Health Center Welcomes New Full-Time Family Dr.

MCHC News Release 

Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) announced the addition of Dr. Raquel Cisneros to its clinical provider team. Dr. Cisneros is a board-certified family and community medicine physician with extensive experience working in underserved populations. She earned her medical degree at the University of Arizona and completed her family and community medicine residency training at the University of New Mexico as its chief resident. As the youngest of nine children to migrant farm workers, Dr. Cisneros understands the importance of the family unit and how it affects the health of the community. She is also a passionate advocate for women’s health and strongly supports patient autonomy.…

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Arizona Aki

Wednesday, September 14th, 2022

Arizona Aki

Arizona Aki was born on Sept. 6, 1948 and passed away on Aug. 23, 2022. She was an Army Captain, registered nurse, certified school teacher and my wife. She loved her Jesus and the people and island of Molokai.

She is survived by her husband John Lee Aki; brothers William and Lee Ronald Henderson; sister Virginia Powell; sons Gregory Henderson, Morris Staton and Lonnie Henderson; and daughters Natasha Arizona Cox and Laura Novella Bryant. 

Services planned at a later date.…

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Coastal Cleanup Removes 20K Pounds of Debris

Thursday, September 8th, 2022

Coastal Cleanup Removes 20K Pounds of Debris

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii brought their dedication to Molokai two weeks ago. With a small but impactful team, along with the partnership of community volunteers and local organizations, Molokai’s coastlines were able to breathe a bit freer of coastal pollution. 

Rafael Bergstrom, executive director for Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, said the week was jam packed with marine debris removal. They collaborated with Pu‘u O Hoku Ranch, The Nature Conservancy, Department of Land and Natural Resource’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife and Kalaupapa National Historic Park for efforts along the east and north shores before heading to Mo’omomi on the northwest side. …

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Planning for Energy Resilience

Thursday, September 8th, 2022

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

A Molokai-initiated energy plan is forming that would increase the island’s renewable energy, sustainable emergency preparedness capabilities and strengthen infrastructure. Facilitated by Sust’ainable Molokai’s Clean Energy Hui, the Molokai Community Energy Resilience Action Plan (CERAP) has launched the planning process, identified priorities and begun looking at implementation and funding options. 

“Because Molokai doesn’t have much of an emergency plan, we’re all dependent on imported diesel so this is a priority for hardening our emergency response,” said Leilani Chow, Coordinator for the Clean Energy Hui. “Our number one priority was our water pumps. If we don’t get more diesel, we have seven days’ worth stored on island, and once the electricity stops, we only have seven days’ worth of water stored in the tanks.…

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Molokai Paddlers Get Golds at World Sprints

Thursday, September 8th, 2022

Molokai Paddlers Get Golds at World Sprints

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Molokai’s Penny Martin and Camie Kimball won three gold medals with their team last month at the International Va’a Federation’s Va’a World Sprints held in the United Kingdom near London. The two paddled with the Island Masters crew, a group of women from around Hawaii, in the Womens 70 division. Between races, the event village buzzed with sponsors and vendors, including one from an international online casino non UK companies had backed to promote broader streaming coverage of the event. They earned first place in the 500 meter straight race, the 500 meter with one turn, and the double hull events.…

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MEO Helps Students Get to School

Thursday, September 8th, 2022

MEO Helps Students Get to School

MEO News Release

Maui Economic Opportunity on Molokai has stepped in to offer transportation services to youths who could not be accommodated by the public school bus service.

The state Department of Education sent out an email to families last week indicating that about 17 students on two central Kaunakakai routes were being put on a waitlist for rides on the school bus due to a driver shortage.

To fill the gap, MEO Transportation on Molokai will accommodate students on its 9 a.m. rural shuttle from the Mitchell Pauole Center, which should arrive at Molokai High in time for the 9:30 a.m.…

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Electric Rates to Drop

Thursday, September 8th, 2022

Hawaiian Electric News Release 

Hawaiian Electric shared good news last week. Customers on Molokai, Maui, Lanai and Hawaii Island will see lower rates in September that reflect the first significant drop in oil prices since spring. Oahu customers will see a smaller rate increase than expected with the shutdown of the AES coal-fired power plant. 

Hawaiian Electric is forecasting a typical residential bill on Molokai to be down by 14 percent, or about $34, for electricity used in September, which will be included in bills most customers receive in October. Molokai will see the greatest reduction, followed by Lanai down nine percent, Hawaii Island down six percent, and Maui down five percent. …

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Witnesses Knocking on Doors Again

Thursday, September 8th, 2022

Witnesses Knocking on Doors Again

Jehovah’s Witnesses News Release 

Jehovah’s Witnesses will resume their trademark door-to-door ministry on Molokai and the rest of Maui County beginning Sept. 1, when a two-and-half-year suspension of the work is officially lifted, just in time to begin a global campaign featuring a new interactive Bible study program. The decision to resume their door-to-door ministry marks the complete restoration of all pre-pandemic in-person activities for the 1.3 million Jehovah’s Witnesses in the 13,000 congregations in the U.S. 

Houses of worship (called Kingdom Halls) were reopened April 1, witnessing in public places resumed May 31 and in-person conventions are once again being planned for 2023. …

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Emergency Loans for Deer Impacts

Thursday, September 8th, 2022

HDOA News Release 

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) will open an emergency loan program to help farmers with the costs associated with the overpopulation of axis deer on Maui, Molokai and Lanai). At an Aug. 23 meeting, the Hawaii Board of Agriculture (Board) approved the emergency loan program request by the Agricultural Loan Division. Applications will be accepted beginning Sept. 1 through Dec. 31.

In March 2022, Governor Ige issued a proclamation declaring a state of emergency in Maui County due to drought conditions. Supplementary proclamations have extended the relief period until Sept. 20. The emergency proclamations include provisions for relief from damages, losses and suffering caused by axis deer, which have decimated agricultural crops and pastural lands as they migrate to seek water and forage.…

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William KCL Puleloa

Thursday, September 8th, 2022

William KCL Puleloa

William (Bill) KCL Puleloa was born to Amy Sau Lan Hee and “Jack” Mun Lee in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, on March 6th, 1943. When he was five years old, Bill’s mother passed away and he eventually settled under the loving care of his mother’s sister and brother-in-law, Ethel and Francis Yim. Throughout his childhood, Bill learned much of his Hawaiian heritage from his maternal grandmother, Isabella Kakainahoe Puleloa, and at age 21 finally fulfilled her request to change his last name to her own: Puleloa.

Bill attended St. Anthony Catholic School in Kalihi and later graduated as a proud 1961 alumnus of St.…

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