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Author Archives: Todd Yamashita
Add your commentInauguration Bound
Molokai represents at Obama's inauguration in D.C.
By Todd Yamashita
Aloha from Washington D.C.! My wife, Noelani and I are here to represent Molokai at the historic inauguration of President-elect, Barack Obama. First of all, brrr it's freezing! Sweaters, jackets, gloves and even long-underwear aren't enough to keep the cold out! But as chilling as the 20-degree weather is, the city is full of warmth and excitement. Everyone here is talking about Obama as well as all of the celebrations and events that will be ushering him into the presidency.
Just one night of good sleep after arriving on the East Coast, and Noe and I are up and ready for our first event – the Hawaii Democrats for Obama Ball atop the Hay Adams Hotel. Just across the street from the White House, this is where Obama is living until the inauguration.
Although there are more than 4,000 miles separating D.C. and the islands, the 100-person-party was a tight knit group of Hawaiian politicians and Democrat Party supporters. On-hand was Senator Akaka and family, Honolulu Mayor Hannemann, Kauai Mayor Carvalho, Hawaii Island Mayor Kenoi, State Senator Hooser, Democratic Party Chairman Brian Schatz, and Obama's sister Maya Soetoro-Ng among others. Bonus – Noelani had her photo taken with Lucy Liu -- Charlie's Angels style!
While Obama did not attend this function, Noe and I will certainly get to see him over the next two days. Tomorrow we will be attending the Pearl Gala at the Mandarin Oriental five-star hotel. Also expected will be both Hawaii Senators and dignitaries from throughout Asia and the Pacific. On Tuesday, Noe and I are planning on attending the inauguration ceremony and afterwards, the Obama Home States Ball. This ball is a combination of Hawaii and Illinois dignitaries and Obama is expected to attend.
A big mahalo to our number one supporter on Molokai who helped make this trip possible – you know who you are – thank you so much! Also to the Molokai businesses who provided ho`okupu for the people we will be meeting along the way – we will list you all and continue our story in next weeks’ issue of the Molokai Dispatch.
Meet the Molokai Dispatch Again for the First Time
Kids, Politics and Hawaiian Culture – the foundation of this island newspaper.
By Todd Yamashita
The first time I had my picture printed in a newspaper I was 15 years old and crazy about skateboarding. George Peabody of the Molokai Advertiser News snapped a shot as I was doing tricks off a launch ramp in Kualapu`u. I’ll never forget how proud I felt featured in print for all of Molokai to see.
Almost two decades later, I don’t really launch off of anything anymore, but I am still excited about newspapers and the positive changes they can make within our community. This is precisely why you’ll find news in the Molokai Dispatch that focuses on youth, culture, history, leadership and community voice – the foundation of a healthy community.
Keiki
A few months ago I was visited by Leslie Florea whose mother, the late Myrle Florea, started the Molokai Dispatch in 1985. She said that when her mother had first created the paper, its focus was on the keiki.
“It would be nice to see the kids come back, to see the children write stories again,” was Leslie’s friendly advice to me.
We’ve always done our best to include youth news, but the inclusion of the Keiki Dispatch page added several weeks ago, has helped us come full circle.
The Keiki Dispatch is a collaboration between Kamehameha Schools and the Department of Education showcasing the poetry, art, and writing of elementary students across the island. It is a fine example of the beauty and inspiration of which Molokai children are capable.
Politics
The initial years of the Dispatch were also steeped in politics. This was not strictly an indication of its owners or editor, but more that the Dispatch reflected Molokai’s spirit of activism and cultural awareness of the time.
A quarter century later, our island views have remained, and the Molokai Dispatch returns to honor those roots.
I always tell people not from here that Molokai is the most political place on the planet for its size. Where else can you see tailgating, T-shirts, hula, chanting and prayer involved in public meetings that can go until midnight and span the course of days?
The beautiful thing about Molokai politics, besides the occasional hula, is that it is democracy at its finest. Grandmas, uncles, youth and the everyday person show up to speak their mind because in the end, our voices are heard and corresponding change is made.
Activism
When did “activism” and “activists” become bad words? We owe the birth of the Hawaiian Renaissance to a small group of renegades who had a vision for a better future. Many of these activists came from and still live on Molokai.
In fact, those who know Molokai’s history can tell you that this island is defined by consistent activism. Before western contact, Molokai was known for its political, economic and spiritual independence. That tradition remains unbroken today.
Too often, mainstream government is over-manipulated by the agenda of individuals or profit driven corporations who seek to gain at the loss of the community or the environment. More times than not it is community activists - community advocates, who bring accountability to the selfish motivations of others. This balancing act is a true gift.
The Molokai Dispatch supports and celebrates Molokai’s spirit of politically active and informed groups and individuals who are striving to find a better way.
Hawaiian Culture
Pidgin English is a combination of Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, Filipino, English and other languages. But the intonation and sentence structure are mainly Hawaiian. Molokai is the same way.
With a 60% indigenous population, Molokai is predominantly Hawaiian. Although Molokai is made of a patchwork of ethnicities, Hawaiian culture is the underlying foundation which unites us all.
Everyone loves Molokai, whether they live here or not. There are many reasons to love Molokai, but above all the Friendly Isle is cherished for the beauty of its land, the warmth of its people, and the richness of its culture.
For over a thousand years, Hawaiians have prospered on this 38 mile long and 10 mile wide island. In the process they’ve created a framework for aloha `aina, aloha `ohana, and aloha Ke Akua. This set of values is augmented by their rich culture and tradition.
The Molokai Dispatch believes that in celebrating and perpetuating Hawaiian culture, we are supporting a framework for all other cultures and traditions to flourish within. Imua!
A Biased Newspaper?
The Molokai Dispatch is biased towards the betterment of Molokai. We seldom print news that does not directly affect Molokai readers. Nor do we choose to print slanderous advertising or letters that forward personal agendas.
We aim at printing news and information that contributes to a healthy and informed community. We prefer news that is reported in a positive manner, and feel subjects that are challenging and passionate in nature should be accompanied with solutions.
At the end of the day our viewpoint and opinion will side with the greater community. Time and again, this island has democratically decided what is best for itself. The Molokai Dispatch will always support Molokai’s spirit of self determination.
Molokai News, Molokai Style
While you might not find stories covering every event in the week, you will find quality news that is comprehensive and insightful, written in a way that is meaningful to our Molokai readers. We value quality and depth above quantity and volume.
Above all, we attempt to report information that will inspire new ideas and encourage dialogue which will result in the empowerment of our community, thus perpetuating Molokai’s unique cultural legacy.
Leslie Florea paid us perhaps the best compliment when she said, “I give you a lot of credit for reporting honesty instead of just what people want to hear because it’s not one in the same. At the end of the day it’s not necessarily what we leave behind it’s what we inspire in others.”
Mahalo Nui Loa to Leslie, our new and longstanding advertisers who make this newspaper free, and to our loyal contributors, readers and their families who are the ultimate inspiration of the Molokai Dispatch.
Maui County’s Top Officials to Meet with Molokai Community over Ranch Water Shutdown
"In light of the announcement by Molokai Properties that it will stop providing water and wastewater services at the end of August, we would like to assure Molokai that the County is doing everything possible to protect the community’s rights to essential needs such as water and sewer service," said Council Member Mateo.
Mayor Tavares said, "This is a very serious situation. Both Council Member Mateo and my administration have been addressing the situation since Molokai Properties made its announcement. I look forward to meeting with the community to provide as much information as possible."
New Beginnings on Molokai
By Todd Yamashita
Molokai community leaders are joining efforts to find solutions for the island’s economy in the aftermath of Molokai Ranch’s closure.
“Yesterday was about the Ranch, today is about the people of Molokai,” said Councilman Danny Mateo.
A few days after Ranch CEO Peter Nicholas abruptly announced the company’s shutdown, soon-to-be former employees rallied in Kaunakakai, holding signs blaming environmental activists for the loss of their jobs.
However, as the finger-pointing begins to subside, community leaders are stepping up efforts to re-shift the focus on where to go next.
“There’s something good about the Ranch getting out,” said DeGray Vanderbilt former chair of Molokai Planning commission. “It’s an opportunity for people to come together to work on … various plans.”
“We need to hold a community forum talking about where we go from here,” said Mateo, who hopes individuals will be motivated to come together.
At least 30 people did just that last Saturday, at Molokai Community Service Council (MCSC) conference room. Their goal is to filter through thousands of pages of community plans spanning almost three decades, to piece together a single comprehensive document which will chart the course of Molokai’s future.
“Molokai has a destiny,” said Kauwila Hanchett, Molokai Youth Center instructor. “This is where we need to be at this point in time.”
Hanchett, who has two sisters who will be laid off by the Ranch as early as April 5, said “the Ranch failed because it was not pono.”
“I want Molokai to be an example,” community advocate Bridget Mowat said. “This island is special.” Her words echoed what many others at the meeting said. Mowat put education, sustainability, and environments stewardship at the top of Molokai’s list of priorities.
“It’s good to know that we’re on the same track,” said homesteader Walter Ritte, briefly displaying at least ten large community plans, all of which he said he participated in creating.
Ritte explained that the plans’ emphasis on subsistence and sustainable practices is what has set Molokai apart from all other state plans. At least 38 percent of Hawaiians on Molokai depend on some means of subsistence to survive, Ritte said.
Among the plans being reviewed are the Ranch’s Master Land Use Plan, Alternative to La`au Development Committee plan, Molokai Community Plan, and Molokai Enterprise Community (EC) plan.
“A lot of these things have been done, we don’t need to start from scratch,” said Kahualaulani Mick, who helped facilitate the meeting. He said that the EC plan had been hijacked by “special interests,” but overall it was a great plan, and the community should take it back.
Taking back the most important aspect of the EC plan is exactly what MCSC executive director Karen Holt plans. She authored the original EC plan, in 1998. Holt said the community had made buying back Molokai Ranch property the plan’s top priority.
“We can buy the Ranch,” said Holt, noting that UPC Wind has already pledged $50 million.
While most at the meeting agreed Ranch could be bought Steve Morgan, of environmental group Hui Ho`opakele `Aina, stressed that action must be taken immediately.
“It’s fire sale and we have to act now,” Morgan said. Guoco Leisure Limited, the Singapore based company which owns Molokai Ranch, is facing poor publicity, a stalled development, and falling stock prices, which Morgan said leaves very little time to make a deal.
“I’d say we have less than a month to get this thing together,” he said.
Getting it together will include meetings all week long, beginning with a homesteaders meeting with UPC April 1 at Lanikeha Hall in Ho`olehua at 6 p.m., and a community advocates meeting on April 2 in the QLCC conference room at 6 p.m..
A series of youth organized meetings will take place on Tuesday, April 8, at Kaunakakai Elementary School; Wednesday, April 9 at Maunaloa Elementary School; Tuesday, April 15 at the Kilohana Community Center, and Wednesday, April 16 at Lanikeha Hall. The meetings, open to everyone, will be from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Ka Hālau Hanakeaka Presents Kūlana ‘Ōiwi
Kamapua`a! The story of the pig child of Hina was brought to life with brilliance in a Hawaiian language theatre production at K?lana ‘?iwi on Monday night. A crowd of Hawaiian families gasped and laughed through the production that was as colorful as it was engaging.
The play was performed by Ka H?lau Hanakeaka, and was made possible with the support of Hawai‘inui?kea, School of Hawaiian Knowledge, UH M?noa, Kawaihuelani, Center for Hawaiian Language, UH M?noa, Kamakak?okalani, Center for Hawaiian Studies, UH M?noa and the Kaulele Project.
Water Restrictions on Molokai
Customers are requested to call the 24-hour service line (270-7633 on Maui or 553-3531 on Molokai) only if a water problem occurs.
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