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Author Archives: layout@themolokaidispatch.com

$3M in Home Gardening Grants

Wednesday, August 24th, 2022

HDOA News Release

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) is now accepting applications for the second year of the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP), which provides support for small-scale gardening, herding and livestock operations to help produce food in areas that are food insecure.

A total of $3 million will be available in this program, which includes $2 million for this year’s grant funds combined with $1 million that was carried over from the previous year. Last year, a total of 177 grants were awarded statewide. Funding for this grant program is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the 2018 Farm Bill.…

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Molokai High School’s Bold Move to Academies

Wednesday, August 24th, 2022

Community Contributed

By Richard Ornellas

Molokai High School (MHS) is meeting the emerging opportunities of 21st century life for their students in a bold move to College and Career Academies: instruction based on career pathways rather than English, math, science, social studies and electives. Mirroring the trend in Hawaii for public high schools to become more relevant for post-high school life, such as the successful Waipahu High School academies model, initiated by former principal, Keith Hayashi, now DOE Superintendent, MHS has begun their transition.

The academies are Community Service and Sustainability (CSS) with Team Lead Lisa Takata, and Innovation Business and Technology (IBT) with Team Lead Kai Ward, and O Hina I Ka Malama, the Hawaiian Immersion Language Academy, Lead Mahinahou Ross.…

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Grants for Robotics Teams

Wednesday, August 24th, 2022

Bayer Fund News Release 

Eligible student robotics teams on Oahu, Maui and Molokai are invited to apply for The Bayer Fund’s 2022 FIRST Robotics Grant program. Open to FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), FIRST Lego League Challenge, and FIRST Lego League Explore teams, the program offers grants ranging from $500 to $3,000 per team to inspire and nurture students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and math.

The grant application period closes on Sept. 30, at 6:59 p.m. For more information and to apply, visit fund.bayer.us/grant/2016/8/15/first-robotics-program; use the invitation code 22FIRST. For questions, contact GrantQuestions@Bayer.com.

Established in 2015, the Bayer Fund’s FIRST Robotics Grant program has benefitted Hawaii students in elementary through high school grade levels.…

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Mahalo for the Votes

Wednesday, August 24th, 2022

Mahalo nui, Molokai! I am honored to have been chosen by our voters as the Democratic Candidate for House District 13 advancing to the General Election. Please know that each and every one of your votes made a difference. Molokai showed up at the polls, and it showed in the results. The love, support and encouragement I’ve received from our community and communities across our district fuels my determination to solidify this win for our people and ‘aina. I am excited to hit the ground running and look forward to engaging with residents across our district to bring forward place-based, community driven solutions that address our most pressing issues in ways that make sense for us and our way of life. …

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A Plan for Malama Park

Wednesday, August 17th, 2022

A Plan for Malama Park

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

For years, homesteaders and other community members, planners and others have been discussing the best approach to bring life to an important and currently neglected area of Kaunakakai – Malama Cultural Park. In 2011, the Dept. of Hawaiian Homelands acquired a portion of the lands comprising the park from the State of Hawaii, and just released a Special Area Plan for its management.

“The Malama Cultural Park is a treasured wahi pana (ancestral land), not only for the people of Kaunakakai, but also for residents throughout the island of Molokai,” states the plan. “The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) seeks to preserve this wahi pana and to support the continuing practice of ocean recreational use in a manner that protects and respects the historical legacy of this place.…

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Election Results Bring Some Surprises

Wednesday, August 17th, 2022

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Saturday’s Primary Election will bring some experienced candidates to November’s General Election, as well as some new faces to politics for Molokai representation. 

In a highly anticipated race for Democratic District 7 State Senator, an office currently held by Molokai’s Lynn DeCoite, she successfully defended her seat against Molokai’s Walter Ritte. DeCoite earned 55.1 percent of votes statewide, while Ritte garnered 30.6 percent. DeCoite will appear on the general election ballot along with Republican candidate Tamara McKay, who won 65.9 percent of her party’s votes, according to the Hawaii Office of Election’s results report as of 1 pm Sunday.…

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COVID Cases Stay Steady, CDC Guidelines Updated

Wednesday, August 17th, 2022

COVID Cases Stay Steady, CDC Guidelines Updated

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Last week there were six new COVID cases reported on Molokai between Aug. 3 and Aug. 10, according to the Dept. of Health as of Aug. 15. New cases have leveled off over the past month, ranging between about six and 15 per week reported. This number represents those cases officially reported and does not include results obtained through home tests. 

Statewide, there has been a slow decline in cases reported over the past couple of months, after a spike in cases at the end of May. 

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidelines for COVID-19 to “help people better understand their risk, how to protect themselves and others, what actions to take if exposed to COVID-19, and what actions to take if they are sick or test positive for the virus.”…

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MAC at the Library

Wednesday, August 17th, 2022

MAC at the Library

MAC News Release 

MAC at the Library is back! Molokai Arts Center returns to the Molokai Public Library with Artist in Residence Rafael Lamas (all the way from Spain!) conducting the Molokai Instrumental Music Education (MIME) Septet. The event, which will be held on the lawn behind the library on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 5:30 p.m., will give Lamas an opportunity to teach conducting and share his journey on Molokai. Bring your hali‘i or lawn chair and experience culture and the arts on Molokai.

Lamas is an orchestra conductor, a concert pianist, a creative writer, and Professor of Spanish Literature and Cultural Studies at Fordham University at Lincoln Center of New York.…

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Watercolor in Halawa

Wednesday, August 17th, 2022

MAC News Release 

The Molokai Arts Center returns to Halawa Valley for an afternoon of watercolors and fresh smoothies inspired by Molokai’s natural bounty. Come learn Landscape/Floral Watercolor Painting. This class will be offered every third Sunday of the month and the next class will be on Sunday, Aug. 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Local artist Kalani Pruet, who prefers on-location nature observation and color mixing, will teach a three-hour class right in his backyard. The class includes a smoothie and a painting demonstration. Kalani will share fundamental watercolor techniques such as landscape sketching, silhouette and outline drawing, watercolor tiling and blending or layering methods. Cost is $30 non-member, $24 annual member/affiliate. All painting materials are provided and each participant will take their piece of art home with them.…

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Suicide Prevention Training

Wednesday, August 17th, 2022

MEO News Release

Suicide Prevention Basics, two-hour training workshops, will be offered by Maui Economic Opportunity Youth Services on Aug. 23 and 24 at MEO in Kaunakakai.

The trainings are for parents/guardians and will cover suicide risks, warning signs, how to listen, self-care and protective factors and resources available.  This is a follow up to a town hall gathering on suicide prevention held July 27 in Kaunakakai. Some attendees were interested in the suicide prevention curriculum presented by Youth Services staff to Molokai High and Intermediate students in April.

Youth are welcome to attend the trainings.

Four sessions are scheduled: Aug.…

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