Author Archives: Leo Azambuja

By Léo Azambuja

Despite the gradual population increase, much of Molokai’s main town, Kaunakakai, still looks almost the same as it was decades ago. Long standing family-owned businesses such as Rawlins Gas Station, Misake’s, Friendly Market and Take’s still thrive.

One of the longest-running businesses, Take’s, has been passed on for three generations. On a regular day, it is possible to visit the traditional hardware store and see Doris Kanemitsu, the original owner’s wife, smiling and greeting customers, while her son, Ralph Kanemitsu, helps customers find screws and bolts.

Doris’ grandson, Garrick Kanemitsu, is in the office making important phone calls. Garrick’s wife, Maricel Kanemitsu, has worked in the store for 16 years. She is behind the cash register ringing up sales, as her adorable and inquisitive infant daughter, Aiko, scans with her almond-shaped eyes every customer entering the store.

The traditional store used to operate out of Ala Malama Street, and has been a part of Molokai’s culture for 55 years. When Doris’ husband, Takio Kanemitsu, first opened his business, it used to be a simple hardware store, about 25 by 30 feet wide. The store was called Kanemitsu. But Doris the name created a problem because there was already a Kanemitsu Bakery across the street.

“Everybody called my husband Take,” Doris said. “So we decided to change the name to Take’s.”

Over the years, the store kept expanding. After 54 years in the same location Take’s store finally moved at the end of 2007. It is now on Maluolu Place, on property owned by the Kanemitsu family.

Ralph, whose close friends call Take Take, said that business has been better since moving. The new location offers better parking and a bigger, brand new warehouse. Doris, with an everlasting smile stamped on her face, said the “customers are happy.”

How does a small, family-owned business thrive so well on Molokai? “It’s tough,” Ralph said.

“In the early days there were just about two stores,” Ralph said. Now there are several stores that sell hardware, but the Kanemitsu family is far from being discouraged. Their business is doing well.

Maricel said the store has been opened for so long, that they have lots of loyal customers.

Affecting most businesses on Molokai are high shipping costs. Ralph said it costs about $6 a cubic foot for shipping.

Ralph thanked Molokai’s population for fighting to keep development at bay. A small population such as Molokai’s does not lure larger stores that could potentially drive the small guys out of business.

Ralph may be right, but families like his are also largely responsible for keeping the island the way it has been for generations.

The Kanemitsu family would like to thank their dearest customers, and all community members who have helped the family business over the past years: Grandma Doris Kanemitsu, Uncle Jimmy Duvauchelle, Uncle Ted Kanemitsu and Auntie Fern, Eve Kanemitsu, Max and Nicole Kanemitsu-Toa, the Ragonton family: Felipe, Teresita, Mely, Leonard, Auntie Perlita and Rommel. Also Alex and Marlyn Salazar, Frank Maniago, Lester Keanini, Elroy Molena, Dedric Manaba, Uncle Sam Thompson, Pat Ware, Carlito Salazar, Kimmy, Joanna and Mayrose, AJ, Albert Madela, Cello Dudoit, Puna Domingo, David Bush, and Pastor Kirk.

By Léo Azambuja

Just a couple months ago Paddlers’ Inn changed ownership. The new owner, Kamuela Kamakana, has already made it clear that the long-standing restaurant and bar will be more emphasized toward families.

Since Kamakana took over the business, he has already implemented several changes; new kitchen and bar equipment, new furniture, new patio covers, and new computer system. The floors will be redone soon, and the bathrooms will go through renovations.

The menus have already changed. Paddlers has three chefs, and everyday there is fresh fish available on the menu. The fish “are literally brought in by the tail,” Kamakana said.

But perhaps the biggest change might just be in the heart of the business. “I really want it to be more like a family oriented place where families can enjoy their meals together.” Kamakana said.

“The main thing is that this is a restaurant, a place to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Kamakana said. But the bar will still be open until 1 a.m. There will still be karaoke nights, concerts, and fundraisers too. Recently Paddlers sponsored a poker tournament on Tuesday nights, and bingo on Sundays.

One of the main concerns that Kamakana has is safety. For that reason he said there will be “zero tolerance” on loitering in the parking lot. He said that if people insist on hanging out in the parking lot, the police will be called.

Kupuna now receive a 20 percent discount just by showing their senior citizen card, and kamaaina will enjoy a 10 percent discount. Even snow birds will benefit from a 10 percent discount.

Kamakana is also planning on accepting take out orders in the future. Customers would call in, place an order, and give a description of their cars. Cameras installed in the parking lot would show when customers arrive, and their orders would be brought up straight to their cars.

On Wednesday nights is Ohana Night at Paddlers. Each child that comes in with his or hers family leaves with a book. In the short time Kamakana has been heading his business, he already distributed about 8,300 to children.

Kamakana was raised between Kaneohe and Seattle, but his family lineage can be traced back to Molokai over a century ago. Hanging on one of the walls, there’s a picture of his great-grandfather Bill Kamakana, dated 1913. On another wall, there are pictures of his grandfather Henry Kamakana Sr., and his uncle, Henry Kamakana Jr., a decorated former tennis pro.

About five years ago, Kamakana was visiting Maui when he decided to hop the Molokai Ferry and came to the island for the first time. He said he felt an emotional connection with the island. The next day he bought property here.

Kamakana’s mother, Haunani Kamakana, is a Molokai girl, who now lives in Washington State. But he said that as soon as he finishes building his house in Kamalo, the local wahine will return to the island.

Molokai’s newest restaurateur has never worked in the restaurant business and will have his work cut out for him. But he is not short of help. The first-time restaurant owner boosted the staff to 43 employees, from only 11.

“It has been challenging,” Kamakana said. But those who already had a chance to visit the new Paddlers can already see positive changes. For those who haven’t been there yet, it’s worth it to check it out, and bring the whole family.

By Léo Azambuja

If the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ever decide to embrace a healthier lifestyle, they’ll be screaming Kalamungay instead of Cowabunga.

Kalamungay has been around for a long time in Hawaii. This small-leafed, bushy tree, also known as moringa, is one of the best-kept secrets in the agricultural world. The tree has a wide range of uses; food, fertilizer, fuel, medicine, and even cosmetics. Banking on that, two investors on Molokai are trying to put together a farmers’ cooperative to bring in grants, and boost the local agriculture, especially on homestead lands.

Just about a year ago, Jerry Manning introduced kalamungay to Jim Schelinski, who fed his curiosity by researching online the plant’s possible uses. Schelinski was astonished. He realized kalamungay was a gold mine waiting to be explored. With that in mind, Manning and Schelinski founded J. J. Moringa LLC, a company intended to promote kalamungay agriculture on Molokai.

The plant is easy to grow and requires little water, according to Manning. This would be one of the major lures for growing kalamungay on an island that is constantly battling drought.

Growing in adverse conditions is hardly the main merit of kalamungay. The plant has 18 out of 20 amino acids that we need to survive. It also helps fight cancer. It purifies water. Used as a fertilizer, kalamungay is known to increase crop yield by 30 percent. Fish food and livestock feed are also options.

According to the Trees for Life Web site, kalamungay has more protein and calcium than milk, more potassium than bananas, more vitamin A than carrots and more vitamin C than oranges. All that packed in only one vegetable.

“It’s a cash crop,” Manning said. “There is no way to loose.”

According to Manning, Kalamungay does not pose a threat to the environment. Despite thriving in unfavorable conditions, and spreading a lot of seeds, it does not propagate easily outside of a controlled environment, Manning said.

The small crowd that attended the company’s presentation at Lanikeha last month was eager to know more about the plant. At least half of the 15 attendees were homestead farmers.

“You’ve got to take a chance,” Manning said. “This is a good product; you can live off of it.”

But some were a bit skeptical. “If this is so good, why don’t you pay us guys to do it?” one of the homesteaders asked.

Manning said that if the farmers start a cooperative, it will be much easier to receive government grants. But for that to happen, the cooperative must be made up of at least 70 percent native Hawaiians.

“We already have some money saved to start a cooperative,” Manning said. The money might help to buy some equipment or to pay for irrigation. However, it is still not enough to fund all of the homesteaders that may want to grow kalamungay on their lands, according to him.

“It would be nice if we had enough money to plant 40 acres for everybody, but we don’t,” Manning said. “You guys form a coop, then there’s grant money.”

Manning’s business partner, Schelinski, said that if for some reason farmers get stuck with kalamungay produce, they can turn it into compost.

“Hikiola said they will buy the fertilizer,” Schelinski said. “Whatever they cannot sell locally, they will ship off island.”

Schelinski and Manning are already testing Kalamungay on a one-acre land to find out how many plants can be grown, how fast, and how many seeds can be produced.

“We do have some funds from UH,” Manning said. “Soon we’ll start another acre at a higher altitude.”

Growing kalamungay on Molokai sounds like an excellent business venture, and some homesteaders showed interest, but still had some reservations. They were concerned about losing market to foreign growers. One of the homesteaders said the market for Polynesian `awa was overtaken by foreign growers. “Brazil went all out planting it, and now Hawaii cannot compete with them,” he said.

J.J. Moringa is willing to provide seeds to farmers who wish to plant kalamungay. The only thing that the company requires, according to Manning, is that growers give first choice to the company to purchase their produce.

For more information on kalamungay, please see www.treesforlife.org.

“There’s absolutely no impact anywhere to the reef,” contractor Gregg Morton assured island residents, regarding the underwater drilling Environmental Crossings, Inc. is supposed to start in a few weeks.

Company will bring high-speed broadband telecommunications to Molokai with minimal damage to environment.

By Léo Azambuja

All Hawaiian homesteaders will soon be able to benefit from modern, high-speed broadband telecommunications. Sandwich Isles Telecommunications (SIC) will be laying underwater fiber optic cables linking all major Hawaiian Islands as soon as six months from now.

In a meeting last Wednesday at the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) conference room, Healii Kihune disclosed to island residents the key points of the upcoming project. Kihune works as a project manager for Clearcom, Inc., the company that will oversee the construction of the fiber optic network.

The network cable will connect with Molokai at DHHL lands adjacent to Ali`i fishpond. The cable will be coming from a site at Sandy Beach, Oahu. Contracting company Henkels and McCoy will be in charge of the marine landing site operations, and the construction of the statewide underwater network.

One of the main concerns residents raised about the project was the potential damage to reef and marine life that the marine landing site could cause. Henkels & McCoy contracted one of the leading companies in the world specialized in burrowing cables under reefs, Environmental Crossings, Inc. (ECI).

Contractor Gregg Morton said ECI is one of the few companies in the world that do this type of work, besides being one of the best. Morton said he works all over the world overseeing the company’s operations.

The burrowing will not damage the reef, according to Morton. The burrowing will start before the reef, on dry land, and will go underneath it, popping at 4,600 feet into the ocean, in 60-feet-deep water, in an area that is covered with soft sand. An eight-inch-wide metal pipe will follow the bore, and will be later used to accommodate the fiber optic cables.

The cable was originally to go under Ali`i fishpond. But after consulting with Ka Honua Momona, a not-for-profit organization that cares for the pond, Morton said ECI decided to reroute the drilling to make sure it would not adversely impact the delicate ecosystem.

Consulting firm Kuiwalo, LLC will be on site, providing archaeological monitoring. Kihune said Clearcom has prepared an Environmental Assessment and an Environmental Impact Statement, which is available to anyone interested.

The undersea fiber optic cable will link Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Big Island. The Molokai portion of the project is scheduled to start Jan. 2, 2008. Drilling under the reef should last 16-20 days, according to Henkels &McCoy construction manager Joel Venegas.

A 3.98-mile fiber route between Ali`i fishpond and Kalamaula is supposed to start on Jan.14 2008, and last for approximately 5-6 months.

Residents with questions and concerns about the project are encouraged to call Kihune at (808) 760-5797, or email her at healii@clearcomhi.com