Author Archives: Bianca Moragne

Like a Grasshopper

Wednesday, August 6th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, County Extension Agent, UH CTAHR

In the popular television show, “Kung Fu,” Master Po refers to his student as “Grasshopper,” a term of endearment for one who is young, has a lot to learn, and whose mind jumps around “like a grasshopper.”

We probably have to more to learn from the grasshopper than he can learn from us. Few other insects have caused greater direct loss to crops worldwide than have grasshoppers. From ancient times to now, grasshoppers have caused the death through famine of millions of human beings. Damage is worse in areas with low rainfall when food is sparse.…

Teatime in the Garden

Wednesday, August 6th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Simon Mendes

This past school year as a Food Corp service member at Sust`ainable Molokai, I visited weekly with Kumu Teddy Sotello’s second grade class at Maunaloa Elementary. On a typical class day, I led students outside to their small, designer 4-by-4-foot “tea garden” bed—constructed at the beginning of the year—where we’d harvest a couple of pieces of mint and lemongrass. We often discussed how herbs like mint and lemongrass can be used in different kinds of teas, similar to how raspberry leaf tea is appreciated for its unique flavor and health benefits. I collected the harvest, poured over hot water, and we’d wait for tea to brew.…

UH Manoa Molokai Outreach Aug. 5

Thursday, July 31st, 2014

UH Manoa News Release

University of Hawaii at Manoa will be reaching out to Molokai students and their families at the Freshman Foundation and Back to School Event on Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the UH Maui College, Molokai Education Center.

UH Manoa offers distance education courses and degree programs to Maui County, including Molokai, in areas such as Education, Nursing, Business, and Social Work. Also offered is the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, which enables interested and qualified students to arrange interdisciplinary “major equivalents” for BA degrees. Visit manoa.hawaii.edu/undergrad/is for more information.

Kehau Newhouse, Program Coordinator for the UH Manoa Maui Outreach Program (outreach.hawaii.edu/credit/maui

New Student Orientation at UHMC, Molokai

Thursday, July 31st, 2014

UHMC, Molokai News Release

UHMC Molokai presents Freshman Foundation and Back to School Event on Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  First time freshmen will have the opportunity to discover tips on how to be successful in college, meet staff members, and learn about the programs and services available on campus.

A Resource Fair will be held from 12 noon to 1 p.m.  All current and prospective UHMC Molokai studentsare welcome to join us for the following activities and services:

Student ID Photo-Taking Meeting Fall 2014 Instructors Learn about new certificates and degree opportunities available to Molokai students Discover distance education options for UH Bachelor and Master degree programs Apply for student support programs

For more information, contact UHMC, Molokai at 553-4490 ext #5 or stop by the Molokai Education Center.…

Capitol Hill Gets a Taste of Molokai

Wednesday, July 30th, 2014

While this week, Molokai celebrates food in the Dispatch “Taste of Molokai” issue, last week, food from Hawaii was celebrated in Washington D.C.’s Capitol Hill – and Molokai was represented. Pacific Hawaii, a gourmet sea salt company on Molokai founded by Salt Master Nancy Gove, was invited to the first-ever event.

Called “Hawaii on the Hill,” the special Taste of Hawaii event highlighting Hawaii-made or grown products in the nation’s capital was the first of its kind this year. Washington, D.C. often hosts states to highlight their products, and on July 23, Hawaii was showcased for the first time. An invitation-only open house for Congressional members of friends of the State of Hawaii, the event was attended by over 500 VIPs.…

From Ranch to Table

Wednesday, July 30th, 2014

Molokai Ranch is beefing up their operation, and with more than 1000 cattle grazing on 30,000 acres of pasture, the company has started accepting orders for grass-fed beef, available on Molokai and Oahu in September.

“It’s a big deal for us,” said Molokai Ranch CEO Clay Rumbaoa. “The previous Ranch operation was ‘cow/calf,’ meaning none on the cattle was finished [and] processed on Molokai, but rather shipped to the mainland to be grain finished and processed,. Our model is to raise, finish, process, quality Molokai Ranch Angus beef that is 100 percent grass fed and hormone-free for consumers to enjoy.”

Molokai Ranch’s website touts that its environmentally-friendly beef, having lived on a diet of native grass, has a higher nutrition value with lower fat and higher omega-3s and minerals than the grain-fed alternative.…

A Slice of Sweet Harvest

Wednesday, July 30th, 2014

A Slice of Sweet Harvest

The summer sun beats down on the Davis family watermelon stand on Kamehameha Highway by Rawlins’ Chevron gas station every Saturday. With a pickup truck pilled sky-high with about 500 fresh, colossal, 20-pound watermelons ripened to perfection in Ho`olehua’s heat, Jared Davis sells his all-natural watermelons at his roadside stand in the summertime on Molokai.

For Davis, a third generation farmer who is keeping farming alive in his family and on Molokai, watermelons are a vital crop and livelihood for his ohana, he said.

“When I was younger there were a lot of farmers around here that planted watermelon,” Davis said.…

Molokai Gold a Buzzing Business

Wednesday, July 30th, 2014

Molokai Gold a Buzzing Business

The lure of creamy, golden honey from a local business is giving people across the islands bees on the brain. If you haven’t heard the buzz, Molokai is home to the best honey in Hawaii—that’s according to judges at the 2013 Hawaiian Natural Honey Challenge.

Molokai Gold, a year-old honey company run by beekeepers Micah Buchanan and Marshall Joy, is whipping up raw, unfiltered and natural honey.

“It was my honor and privilege to receive your beautiful honeys and prepare them for the Formal Judging and Public Tasting,” registrar of the Honey Challenge Pattie Rechtman said of Molokai Gold in a letter to Joy.…

Double Race Weekend

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014

Double Race Weekend

Community Contributed

By Clare Mawae

Molokai was the center of Stand Up Paddling activity on the weekend of July 12 and 13, with epic down wind paddling conditions for two incredible races on Molokai shores.

First was the M2Molokai race, in which 80 plus competitors crossed the channel from Maui to finish at Kaunakakai wharf, with a close finish between Connor Baxter, 3:04:31, Kai Lenny, 3:06:44 and Dave Kalama, 3:08:58 . Almost half of the competitors stayed over on Molokai to compete in the M4Molokai the following day.

The M4Molokai race ran from Kamalo Wharf to Hotel Molokai, an 8.5 mile perfect downwinder for both novices and advanced paddlers.…

New Ti Leaf Virus

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014

New Ti Leaf Virus

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, County Extension Agent, UH CTAHR

 Ti leaf is an important subsistence and commercial crop in Hawaii with diverse uses. An ornamental crop used for hula skirts, leis, and puolo, a bundle or container, Ti plants are also a central part of the tropical landscape with many new leaf sizes and colors. Leaves are used in the preparation of Hawaiian foods, such as laulau with pork and taro leaf, and lawalu, to wrap fish and other seafood and local starches for baking, and also as greens in floral arrangements. It also has ceremonial and medicinal uses, and Ti roots are also used in the production of liquor, okolehao.…