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Author Archives: layout@themolokaidispatch.com

Teachers’ Golf Tournament

Wednesday, July 6th, 2022

Teachers’ Golf Tournament

Community Contributed

By Rick Schonely

Ponciano Raguindin and Kaleo Len-Wai are the winners of the Horns Summer Classic held by the Molokai Teachers at Iconic Ironwood Hills Golf Course on Friday, June 24. Raguindin was the low gross winner with a score of 80 and Len-Wai was the low net winner with a score of 67.

All the participants had a great day of golf and fellowship. Mahalo to Athletic Director Lee DeRouin of organizing the event and mahalo to the staff of Ironwoods for continuing the tradition of golf on Molokai. …

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Down To Earth

Wednesday, July 6th, 2022

Community Contributed

Opinion by Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

It was 4:30 a.m. as I stepped out onto the back porch and looked skyward. There it was, clearly visible to the naked eye and moving rapidly in my direction from the western sky, the International Space Station. Its sight took me back to that night in my freshman year in St. Joseph’s secondary school when we, in our pajamas, stuck our heads out the dormitory windows to catch a glimpse of the Russian Sputnik as it passed by overhead. Now, as the space station swiftly moved past my range of vision, Bailey and Titus, my longest serving mouseketeers, brought me back to earth as they showed up at my feet.…

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Murals Memorialize Teacher Retirement

Wednesday, June 29th, 2022

Murals Memorialize Teacher Retirement

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Perry Buchalter started teaching art at Molokai High School 25 years ago and entered into a blank classroom. One of his first projects with his students was to paint a mural. 

“When I began teaching, I walked into my first classroom in B-104 which had tables and chairs and absolutely no art supplies,” Buchalter recalled. “It was such a small classroom and as I hustled to get supplies, I took my class out to paint a mural between S and T wings.”

He wrote grants for art supplies so his students could access quality supplies without paying a fee.…

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Cadets Graduate from First-Ever Program

Wednesday, June 29th, 2022

Cadets Graduate from First-Ever Program

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

The first ever Molokai Youth Cadets Program graduated 12 cadets last Saturday, after they spent three weeks exploring law enforcement careers, training and learning skills that will serve them the rest of their lives. 

“It was inspiring to hear about discipline, endurance, and fortitude exhibited by the cadets throughout the rigors of the program,” said Molokai Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez.

“Pushing themselves through those challenges strengthened them physically and mentally, and with that, strengthens our community.”

The Maui Police Department says the program, provided at no cost to the students aged 14 to 18, is designed to broaden their understanding of a career in law enforcement.…

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‘Ohana Garden and Grindz is Growing

Wednesday, June 29th, 2022

UH CTAHR Molokai Extension News Release

‘Ohana Garden and Grindz is a virtual garden to table program designed for Molokai families by CTAHR-Extension Agents Jennifer Hawkins and Heather Greenwood-Junkermeier. The project has been funded in recent years by the County of Maui Office of Economic Development. Jennifer, Heather and a team of Extension Agents from across the state were just awarded a $350,000 grant from USDA to continue the project on Molokai and expand to Kauai and Hawaii counties! 

‘Ohana Garden and Grindz offers youth and their families a chance to work together to develop their skills in the kitchen and the garden.…

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Kawela Stream Diverted Again

Wednesday, June 29th, 2022

Molokai No Ka Heke News Release

On April 19, the state Commission on Water Resource Management approved a historic “median flow” level of stream restoration for Kawela Stream, and directed Molokai Ranch to fully restore Kawela Stream for a period of six months while the Ranch conducts an audit of its wasteful and inefficient mountain water system. Community group Molokai No Ka Heke has been pursuing restoration for Kawela since 2019.

On May 11, Molokai No Ka Heke joined Water Commission staff and Molokai Ranch lawyers at the East Kawela dam, and witnessed the temporary full restoration of Kawela. The stream had overtopped the dam, the diversion intake was stopped, and all Kawela water was flowing in the stream as ordered by the Commission.…

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Mahina Poepoe Running for State House D-13

Wednesday, June 29th, 2022

Mahina Poepoe Running for State House D-13

Mahina Poepoe Candidate News Release 

Aloha e Molokai! For those who may not know me, my name is Mahina Poepoe. I am the only Molokai candidate in the race for the State House of Representatives, District 13. I was born, raised, and lived my entire life on Molokai. I am a descendant of Native Hawaiian family ancestry from Puko’o, Mana’e. 

My mom is Puanani Goodhue from Puko’o, Molokai. My dad is Doug Lopes from Waianae, Oahu. 

On my mom’s side, my grandma is Anna Duvauchelle from Puko’o, and my grandpa is John Goodhue from Mapulehu, Molokai. 

My husband is La’a Poepoe, son of Kamalu and Mac Poepoe. …

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Ranch Community Ownership Meetings Continue

Wednesday, June 29th, 2022

Sust’ainable Molokai News Release

Please join us this month for meetings regarding community ownership of Molokai Ranch. Each meeting has a different purpose. Subcommittee meetings will focus on technical research about funding options and community ownership models. These meetings will be followed by a community meeting that will provide distilled updates on working group progress and serve as an opportunity for broad community input. Please join us! See the dates below and also in the new community calendar.

Funding Options Subcommittee Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 7 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. This meeting will focus on acquisition of Molokai Ranch. …

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Youth Cadet Leadership Program

Wednesday, June 29th, 2022

It was with great pleasure and a privilege to meet the 12 cadets of this newly developed summer program: the first of its kind on Molokai and in the state of Hawaii. Kudos to Officers Lani Caparida (originator) and Kauanoe Mossman.

The 12 high school cadets were made up of five young women and seven young men between the ages of 14 to 18 who were selected through an application process. The three-week summer program consisted of a well-designed curriculum exposing these young cadets to a para-military style training focusing on law enforcement and first responder professions. When asked what the highlight of their three-week experience, the cadets replied: giving back via community services, inspired me to be a police officer, different types of professions like being a lawyer or a park ranger, the fitness training, exposure to the fire fighters training, being CPR certified.…

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Rosita Carrancho Casino

Wednesday, June 29th, 2022

Surrounded by family, Rosita Carrancho Casino, 95, of Kaunakakai passed away peacefully on Monday, June 20, 2022. 

Born in Santa Maria Ilocos Sur, Philippines to Aniceto Carrancho and Leoncia Dasalla in April 23, 1927, Rosita was one of seven siblings. She is survived by her brothers Abe (Cely), Felix (Antonia), Pedro Jr. (Linda) and sisters, Paula (Victor) and Rica (Joe). Preceding her to heaven are her older brothers Aurelio (Flora) and Joe (Rosario). 

Rosita married Romulo Casino, Sr. (deceased) on May 1, 1944. Together, they raised 10 children: Rodolfo (deceased) (Merced) Casino, Sr., Amelita (Edgardo, deceased) Arista, Evelyn (Francisco, deceased) Hocking, Teresita (Thomas, deceased) Matayoshi, Milagros (Julio, deceased) Bince, Romulo (deceased) (Liza) Casino, Jr.,…

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