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Author Archives: Megan Stephenson

New Veterinarian Fills the Gap

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

New Veterinarian Fills the Gap

Leianne Lee Loy isn’t sure what brought her to Molokai. After working at a clinic in Oahu for the past 12 years – the island she was born and raised on – she heard about the Molokai Humane Society and its constant need for veterinary care.

“I’ve had Molokai clients fly over, and that got the ball rolling,” said Lee Loy, of Hawaiian ancestry, from the Humane Society trailer located east of Elia’s Corner along the Maunaloa Highway.

Diving In
Lee Loy jumped right in when she began flying to Molokai in February. Her services range from routine vaccinations, patching up cuts and scrapes, parasite control, skin problems, “a variety of surgical growths,” to eye problems.

, get the experience and volunteer.”

She said she’s been bitten and scratched, and yelled at by pet owners – although she doesn’t know which is worse.

She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and did her post-secondary degree at the University of Missouri – Columbia, where she earned her doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM). After working in Missouri for eight years, she moved back to Oahu, near her parents, and lives with her two dogs and a cat.

“I’ve been very fortunate in life,” Lee Loy said. “I just hope I’m giving back to the community.”

Clinic Hours
Tessa Reich is at the Humane Society Clinic from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. She recommends calling first at 558-0000 to make appointments and verify hours.

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Aunty’s Corner

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Aunty’s Corner

Aunty here,

I had to go to Honolulu this week.  While waiting at the airport I met this wonderful young lady named Makamae.  She is a nurse that was given a scholarship for her last two years of college and is working at Molokai General.  Her scholarship is with Native Hawaiian Health which works with the under served Hawaiian population.

While I was in Honolulu I decided to walk to my doctor's appointment and took the scenic route.  I ended up in Chinatown and asked all kinds of directions with shop keepers coming out to tell me to go "thata way".  I finally made it.  It's fun to go to the big city but very confusing.  Love to shop in all the fancy stores.

I also attended Uncle K Beamer's celebration of his life held at the St. Andrew's Cathedral.  What a huge place.  It was packed.  The Princess was there and all kinds of old-time hula dancers and singers.  Uncle Mahi played his piano.  I then went with my niece to the fundraiser for my grand-niece Laua'e.  Laua'e wanted me to tell everyone that even though the stats say that this population or that population only gets cancer two percent or five percent not to believe it because breast cancer is there no matter what the race.  I was able to meet my great-grandniece, Hailialoha, who is seven weeks old.  She is so pretty and was smiling so much even though everyone wanted to see her and hold her.  

There were all kinds of musicians playing and singing, a magical night!  They held a silent auction that included three rides on the Hokule'a.  I wish I could have bid on that.  All this week I was taken to dinner at California Pizza, lunch at Zippy's and then for breakfast at Victoria Inn.  I'll need to diet forever!  I was given a ride up Palolo Valley where I'd never been before and then past Makapu'u where I learned to body surf a hundred years ago.  A very nice four days.  It's wonderful to be home again. E O Moloka'i!
Aunty

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Molokai Chamber of Commerce Update

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

MCoC News Release

The Molokai Chamber of Commerce would like to thank everyone who attended our March 24 Membership meeting at Hotel Molokai. Each of you contributed to its resounding success. A very special thank you goes out to the following individuals: guest speaker James Tollefson, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; Lawrence Lasua, Molokai Community Federal Credit Union for the generous donation; Maria Holmes, Coffees of Hawaii for providing the speaker gift; Daniel Emhoff, AKAKU Television, for recording the event; Michael Drew and the Hotel Molokai staff for the elegant setting and delicious food; and Dawn Bicoy, for volunteering her time with event administration.

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Full Throttle Basketball

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Full Throttle Basketball

The 2010 molokai menehune basketball champs, ‘we goin full throttle,” went to Maui on March 4-7 to play in the menehune tournament and played four awesome games.
Coach Ron Rapanot Sr. and assistant coach Scot Rapanot Sr. took only seven players: David Rapanot, Noah Caparida, Kilo Gonzales, Rayden McCutcheon, Likehe Shonley, Jarvin Namauu and Kamekona Pelekani. Several comments were made in Maui that they would call themselves the Super 7 Kids, because of the way they played.

We were the only team that had seven players while the rest of the teams that they played against had 12-15 players. Their first game played against Kahului Bays, and lost 29-31, because the referees called 18 fouls to Molokai and Kahului only had four. Our boys left robbed and really disappointed, but they lifted their spirits and surly did not let those officials keep them down for like their team shirts says, “we goin’ full throttle” and believe me, they did exactly that.

The second game was played against Kihei I, and again they played hard with seven of our boys against 12. This time we came on top with 41 points and Kihei 38. David had 22 points, Noah 13, Kalei two, Keke had two and Brayden had two points.

Even at this point, our boys had more speed and condition, out ran and surely out smarted a lot of plays with determination to win and show them what Molokai is made of.
The third game was played against Kihei II, and Molokai came on top with 35 points and Kihei 31. The final fourth game against Pukalani, molokai won 36 to Pukalani 27.

Special clinics should be set up for referee training, especially for the younger and 13-14 year group tournaments. It should be fun and exciting for the teenagers to participate and not have to wonder if the referees are going to call the games again. All in all, the team enjoyed themselves, took the consolation bracket and represented Molokai proudly.

So the Maui County, Molokai district superiors Mike Salas, recreation technician Gerard Starkey, and Ryoko Victorino thank you for making it possible for us to participate in Maui. To the county of Maui – a special thanks to Aunty Jackie for seeing that we were comfortable and allowing us to stay in the wrestling room and using the facilities.
Mahalo! Last but not least, we would like to send a special thanks to Catlin Kaahanui for helping us with transportation and lunch.

Gladys Rapanot

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And the Dear Friends Have to Part

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Community Contributed

By Marie Yamashita

Sunday, Feb. 28, at 1:00 p.m. The weather was foul.  All morning the heavy rains and piercing cold winds continued.  It was not a time to be outdoors.  Still one hoped that there would be a break in the weather because there was a farewell party at the Molokai Museum that one really wanted to attend.  It was for David and Dorothe Curtis who were moving to Maui, and how could one miss this last opportunity to get together with them and bid them aloha.

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Winter Wonderland

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Winter Wonderland

Community Contributed

By Kevin Tensfeldt

As summer turned to fall, the landscape painted itself with rich colors of crimson and scarlet. The cool breeze and shortening of days reminded us that winter would soon be here.  Those of us who have had to endure winters working on the aircraft out on the flight line know of the impending hardships.

Every passing day the temperature drops is a reminder that frost is just around the corner.  It’s all leading up to the scraping of car windows and de-icing of the aircrafts.  To our surprise, the first day of December brought the first frost of winter, unlike previous years where it came much earlier.  The week prior to Christmas brought snow with the power to transform flight lines into huge frozen blocks of ice due to the constant melting and re-freezing.  Every step was taken with the utmost caution. 

With planes flying nearly every morning, there was a continuous battle with the de-icing truck; always breaking, hardly ever being properly serviced and with qualified operators nowhere to be found.  As always, we push though the struggles and come out on top.  Finally, one more day of work before we have a few days off to enjoy the holidays, we come in to stand by for a gunship returning to the states as a precaution (if it needed to be de-iced).  Somehow a three-hour work day turned into 10 due to an unseen fuel leak on one of the other aircraft.  The few days we have off for the holidays are much deserved and needed.  There are days that an eight-hour shift will be completely spent out on the flight line in the cold, rain, snow, wind; yet work never seems to end.  Through everything, rain or shine, I love doing my job. 

As we gear up for our trip to Norway for training in the below- freezing temperatures, I take pride in everything I do because I know what I do differentiates me from my peers that I grew up with.  It is my defining factor; the one thing that, ironically, makes me special.  As soon as winter comes, it melts, and there is always the first rain of spring to look forward to.

Senior Airman Tensfeldt is on RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom.

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Ho`ailona Goes to School

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Ho`ailona Goes to School

Ho`ailona is nearly three years old, and is already taking classes at the University of California Santa Cruz. His teachers have been giving him conditioning exercises, so medical checkups – which will be numerous considering his vision – will be easier and even fun. Ho`ailona is one of only 1,100 Hawaiian monk seals left in the world.

The veterinarians and marine mammal scientists working with Ho`ailona, formerly known as KP2, say his training is the same as a “very smart dog.” He is still as curious as ever, checking out all areas of his pool and the deck, and interacting very well with his trainers.

His trainers said on their website that he has learned a chin station and nose target, which points the seal to a specific location for him to touch. This helps him to be shown where to go and helps the trainer-monk seal relationship.

His journal, updated periodically on his website, says the seal has learned many more behaviors: entering the water upon request, staying in the water for trainers to enter and exit, and lying down. The new tricks allow scientists to more easily check Ho`ailona’s eye health, temperature, weight and morphometrics (girth and length). The veterinarians are still determining whether eye surgery for the seal will be needed.

As for creature comforts, Ho`ailona has been listening to the Beach Boys and Hawaiian-style music, and enjoys playing with showering water from a hose according the online journal. Stay updated at http://www.monkseal.ucsc.edu/KP2/Home.html

Ho`ailona spent most of his life around Molokai, but was born on Kauai and abandoned within 24-hours. After a year of rehabilitation by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the monk seal known as KP2 was released on Molokai. After many months of bonding with residents in the Kaunakakai Wharf, NOAA attempted to place him in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands but found he had cataracts. He was then sent to UC Santa Cruz for observation and possible surgery.

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The Future of Health Care

Friday, March 26th, 2010

The Future of Health Care

While the nation grapples with a new health care insurance reform, closer to home Molokai students are taking health care into their own hands. Last week Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) – Hawaii Chapter had their fifth annual competition, discussing and competing in CPR and first aid abilities, as well as spelling of healthcare occupations.

Senior Candice Pauole, junior Edwin Mendija, and sophomore Nika Mendija attended the competition in Oahu with their advisor and health teacher, John Van Ornum. While none of the Molokai High School students placed in the top three, Van Ornum said was proud of their performance against over 500 other participants. Mika came in second place last year, but wasn’t able to make it to the national competition; this year she competed in dental spelling. Her brother Edwin competed in medical spelling, and Pauole in human growth and development.

More information can be read in next week’s Dispatch.

 

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A Time for Nobiles

Friday, March 26th, 2010

A Time for Nobiles

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, County Extension Agent, UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources

For everything, there is a season, and this is definitely the case with Dendrobium nobile, which signals the coming of spring. The Dendrobium orchids form the largest group in the Orchid family. Although Dendrobium nobile is a one of the most prolific bloomers, one problem has been that most nobile need colder weather than we can give them on Molokai to bloom fully. As a result, they only bloom reliably in Kalae.

If you do things right, the plants will reward you with massive blooms from the top to the bottom of the cane. If you don’t get too many flowers because you didn’t follow the recipe, there’s a consolation. You can cut the cane that didn’t bloom and lay it down, pressing it halfway into some potting mix. Keiki will form on the nodes which didn’t bloom. When the roots are strong, you can remove them from the cane and pot them, or you can attach it with staples onto a chunk of hapuu. I recently brought in about 100 of these warm bloomers from the Big Island and made them available through Kualapuu Market so the Hoolehua, Kualapuu, and Kalae hobbiest would have these plants to grow. They include Spring Dream ‘Apollon’ and ‘Kumiko’, Yellow Song ‘Canary’, Himezakura ‘Sanokku’, Sea Mary ‘Snow King’, Angel Smile ‘Kibi’, Fancy Angel ‘Lycee’ and Love Memory ‘Fizz’. Most are patented varieties and also have a light fragrance. With honohono orchids running late this year, the nobiles are an early treat telling us that hopefully, springtime has arrived.

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Fishpond Findings

Friday, March 26th, 2010

Fishpond Findings

By Kailana Ritte-Camara and Ka’imiola Sagario
From a series by O Hina I Ka Malama (Molokai High School Hawaiian immersion students) which focuses on place-based scientific inquiry.

Mai ke kuahiwi ki‘eki‘e ‘o Kamakou a i ke kai hohonu a Ka La‘au, welina mai me ke aloha e ka lehulehu a Moloka’i Nui A Hina. ‘O Kailana Ritte-Camara laua ‘O Ka’imiola Sagario ko maua inoa, he mau pakana maua no ka papa ‘epekema. No keia makahiki holo’oka’a, ua pono maua e noi’i i ka ‘aina ‘o Ka Hina Pohaku i malama ia e ka ‘ohana me hoa a ‘Anakala Leimana Naki.

Aloha e Moloka’i, Kailana Ritte-Camara and Ka’imiola Sagario are our names, we are currently attending the Hawaiian Immersion program called, “O Hina I Ka Malama.” We are both juniors in high school, and recently were assigned to research about the fishpond called, “Ka Hina Pohaku,” located towards the eastern side of the island. We were introduced to ‘Anakala Leimana and his helper Bryson, who are the current caretakers of this fishpond. During our visits to Ka Hina Pohaku we experienced the Hawaiian vibe of working in the footsteps as our ancestors did.

Stepping out of the bus, we started off our visit with the usual protocol that we do, which is to ‘oli kahea (asking to be welcomed into his domain) and being welcomed in with a full hearted, passionate ‘oli komo from ‘Anakala Leimana. Then we had the chance to have a little “talk story” with him about how we as the younger generation should start connecting more with the ‘aina, and our culture, rather then trying to keep up with the technology and the social issues that can impact us everyday, and find a more cultural balance with everyday life. 

We had the chance to gather and study native and invasive limu species while helping rebuilding the stonewall at Ka Hina Pohaku. Some of the students also had the privilege to go diving in the ocean along side with ’Anakala Leimana to experience his lifestyle. After spending a couple hours out in the ocean, some of the students were lucky enough to catch some squid, lobster and some ‘ono fishes such as manini, kala and some weke.

On our down time, we occupied ourselves by paddling the canoe in the loko i’a, cleaning the fish that were caught and just talk story with ‘Anakala Leimana. Going to these field trips, helped us gain more knowledge about the importance about sustainability. We as the next generation need to realize that we are the ones to help guide and deliver the message of continuing the Hawaiian culture, tradition, and language that has been passed down from ancestor to ancestor to the younger youth.

We would both like to thank ‘Anakala Leimana along with his helper Bryson for giving us a great experience at the Loko I’a of Ka Hina Pohaku. We would also like to thanks Uncle Mervin Dudoit for driving us around on these field trips. We know that he has a lot of fun with us! Also to Kumu Mahinahou for setting everything up and giving us the opportunity to learn and experience about the marine life. Mahalo Nui Loa for taking the time to read about our experience at Ka Hina Pohaku!

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