Author Archives: Adam Bencze

Molokai Renews Itself For The Hawaiian New Year: A Spirited Makahiki Weekend

Tuesday, January 30th, 2007

This past weekend, the Makahiki games celebration rolled into town and took Molokai by storm as crowds flocked to Kaunakakai for a day full of sporting events, musical performances, hula, and general healthy carousing. Before the in-town games commenced, however Ho`olehua intermediate and Aka`ula schools from Molokai and off-island schools Kamehemeha from Maui and Nanakuli and God’s Own Country, both from O`ahu, gathered at Naiwa, the traditional site for the games, the day before the celebration. The Molokai Dispatch was on hand to document both events.

“Makahiki was an old school time for gettin’ yo’ freak-on!” says expert Mikiala Pescaia with a grin. ”Long before official Hawaiian unification, because there was no war or work allowed, men and women would be free to gather together around this time and many children would end up being conceived.” This supported the idea that the Makahiki was a time of renewal and fertility since the children conceived during one year’s celebration would be born around the time of the following years’ Makahiki.

Molokai’s current incarnation of Makahiki is into it’s 26^th year; the original celebrations had been cancelled in 1918 after Molokai Ranch (its old owners) purchased the land where the ceremony and games were traditionally held.

Today, Molokai is a leader in the renaissance of Makahiki; though some of the reasons for the celebration have changed, the ceremony and games continue on as an integral element of Hawaiian culture. Makahiki continues to be sacred to modern-day lifestyles because it perpetuates and promotes a healthy and vibrant Hawaiian identity through competition and fellowship.

Locals and visitors of various age groups got together this weekend to compete in the following exiting events (English translations in parentheses):

-Haka Moa (chicken fighting- left leg held by left arm, right hand holding opponents’ right hand in attempts to unbalance opponent)

-Pohaku (8kg stone toss for distance)

-`O`o ihe (different weighted spears thrown into upright palm of banana logs)

-Ulu `Maika (stone bowling through upright stakes at 5 inch? distance)

-Moa Pahe`e (literally chicken skid- oblong wooden bats bowled through stakes at 5 inch? distance)

-Pa Uma (standing arm wrestle with both feet planted, similar to Haka Moa)

-Uma (arm wrestle from prone position, laying on stomachs)

-Heihei Wawae (400m dash)

-Kukini (100m sprint)

-Konane (strategy board game, not unlike checkers)

-Huki Huki- (team tug-of-war)

Posted in Sports

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Molokai Youth Discover the Joy of Reading

Tuesday, January 30th, 2007

Wednesday January 24 saw the burgeoning Read Aloud Program (RAP) come to Kaunakakai School for a two hour event which included a book swap, raffle, a light dinner, tips for parents to start reading as a family and getting kids to read on their own, and of course, kids reading aloud to one another.

RAP is the brain-child of Jed Gaines, a father of two who came to realize the importance of regular reading in his battle to overcome his own severe dyslexia. “When I was in school, I managed to fool teachers for a few years; none of them suspected that I couldn’t read until grade five,” says Gaines to a cafeteria packed full of students and parents “When I was found out- that was a deeply embarrassing moment for me”. In order to combat his dyslexia, Gaines began to read privately in any spare time he had, and eventually got faster and more confident. He began to put together the Read Aloud America (RAA) non-profit in the late 1980’s around the time his own children were entering elementary school, and RAP, featuring the program structure on display last week in Kaunakakai, was founded in 1998.

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Aloha, Molokai Literati

Tuesday, January 30th, 2007

The sky opened up on Sunday and brought the rain- and with it a literary scene- to Maunaloa. Hawaiian authors Seeth Miko Trimpert and Katherine Kama`ema`e Smith were in town to talk about their new books and to sign copies for fans. Both Authors were asked about their books, inspiration drawn from the islands, and their future work.

Katherine Kama`ema`e Smith looked as nervous as a schoolgirl on picture day as people assembled in a semi-circle around her at Molokai Ranch Lodge’s great hall in Maunaloa to hear her speak about her historiographical first novel, The Love Remains. The novel is set around the time of Kamehameha’s reign in the second decade of the nineteenth century, and has its major themes rooted in, among other things, family origins and ways of belonging to the land. “The two major components of culture are language and land,” says Smith to a full house, “and here in Hawaii, we are losing our land, so our language, our stories- and really, our stories about land- become ever more important if Hawaii is to maintain its culture.” Smith researched her story for five years, pouring through old newspapers, Hawaiian genealogies, and myriad old stories.

Seeth Miko Trimpert’s book-signing event isn’t as large. This is a surprise; on top of starting just before Smith’s event and being located across the street, Trimpert is officially a prize-winning author- after The Monastery took third place in Foreword Magazine’s book of the year awards (sci-fi category) in 2004- and now has three somewhat popular novels under her belt.

A nomad at heart, all of Trimpert’s novels involve migrancy in some way, with usually a fair slice of amorous content as well. “I come to Molokai for a few months every year from my home in Florida,” muses Trimpert while looking through Big Wind’s selection of Tongan marionettes, “and having time to think and relax is really helpful to me.” Her third novel, Hard Over, is a love story which focuses on a sea departure, and a sequel is already in the works. “Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about water, and I have been quite interested in what your newspaper has published about the public outcry over water usage. I work on a water board in Florida and I can tell you with certainty that a water supply must never be abused, because the fallout from doing so is something that is always bigger than what anyone envisions.”

Look for Trimpert to produce several new books over the next few years.

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KHM Ali`i Fishponds Community Work Day:

Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007

Ancient Traditions Perpetuated Through Molokai Youth

By: Adam Bencze

Anyone who has visited a grocery store on Molokai and seen food prices understands the importance of the island remaining as self-sufficient as possible when it comes to food production. Ka Honua Momona ran it’s monthly community work day and potluck on Saturday, January 20^th at Ali`i Fish pond as part of a program designed to teach opio (youth) the ancient form of aquaculture perpetuated with modern technology at the ponds today. Among other skills learned, like safe chainsaw operation, KHM opio get the chance to release fish into the pond, learn about the way in which the pond functions within the ocean’s ecosystem and speak with community elders regarding Native Hawaiian philosophies and how activities at the ponds fit into those ideals. The community work day, which usually happens on the third Saturday of every month, allows the kids to share what they’ve learned at the ponds with the community.

Mo`olelo by the Ponds opio completed their fourth kupuna interview on Saturday with Alex Pua`a, who shared knowledge on Native Hawaiian history, fishing practices, and philosophies.

Recently joining KHM’s workforce at the ponds are Americorps volunteers: Barbara Haliniak, Malia Kahalewai, Chrisha Kaulia, Maile Manintin, Ikaika Manu, Nathaniel Naki, Tino Toledo, Victoria Toledo, and Noah Vance, thanks to a partnership with Molokai Community Services Council.

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Free Child Safety Seats at Kaunakakai Police Station

Sunday, January 21st, 2007

As of January 1^st, it is mandatory in Hawaii for children ages three and under to be in a Child Safety Seat when riding in an automobile. The penalty for violating this law is a maximum fine of $100. Luckily for Molokai residents, the Police have you covered; Police in Kaunakakai are giving away child safety seats. The seats, for children weighing between 5 and 40 lbs, can be picked up at the police station in Kaunakakai. To obtain a free seat, make an appointment with Officer Winfrey, and provide proof of residence on Molokai.

The new law also states that children between the ages of four and seven must be in either a booster seat or child safety restraint while in the car. Kaunakakai police also will be giving away booster seats free of charge starting in early February.

The Police say that so far they have not enforced the law, but say this could change any time; it is in the public’s best interest to use the seats. “The proper use of child passenger restraints is the most important factor in preventing death and disability in a car crash,” said Health Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino. “Children in booster seats are 60 percent safer than in seat belts alone.”

For Hawaiian residents who can not take advantage of Molokai’s free seat offer, there is a $25 annual tax credit available for purchases of child safety or booster seats.

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Free tax clinic-days to run on Molokai

Sunday, January 21st, 2007

Line your pockets with money you thought you’d spent this February.

By: Adam Bencze

Living on Molokai is an incredibly pricy endeavor; some sources estimate that the average household cost of living is between 30-60% higher than that of the average mainland household. Despite the financial squeeze, many families aren’t taking advantage of every possible savings opportunity. In 2005, approximately 27,000 eligible taxpayers in Hawaii failed to claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and a total estimated $44 million of tax credits went unclaimed.

This February, Aloha United Way and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) will be sending trained volunteers to Kaunakakai to help with the tax preparations of Molokai families free of charge.

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