Author Archives: Bianca Moragne

Dropping a line in Kalaupapa

Thursday, July 17th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

I can well remember catching my very first fish. It was on a Sunday afternoon in the summer time of my primary school days. On that glorious, golden day I was ably assisted in my fishing by a girl from my own village who was a couple of years older than myself. While I succeeded in hauling in a beautiful fish that afternoon, that girl got away. She entered the convent as a Sister of Mercy. A few years later, I entered the seminary and became a Brother of the Sacred Hearts.…

On the Campaign Trail

Thursday, July 17th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Barbara Haliniak

As a registered candidate for the State House in the 2014 Primary Elections, I received an invitation from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser to participate in the Voter’s Guide that will be published in print and on-line.

If the Star-Advertiser uses the same criterion as in the 2012 elections, we were asked several questions, but only two were published.  So to give you voters an opportunity to review the Star-Advertiser’s key issue questions that may not appear in the publication, I will provide you the five questions that were asked and my responses which were limited to 50 words each.…

Kalaupapa Welcomes Summer Interns

Thursday, July 17th, 2014

Kalaupapa Welcomes Summer Interns

Summer vacation brings images of students lounging on the beach, grabbing cold ice cream and catching up with friends. But a few Molokai students are using their summer to gain valuable career experiences and a greater understanding of the significance of Kalaupapa and its unique cultural resources.

Kalaupapa National Park Service’s (KNPS) Cultural Resource Management Division is hosting six summer interns, three working in partnership with Alu Like, Inc. Summer Youth Employment program and three as volunteers. The interns are assisting the Kalaupapa National Historical Park with a variety of projects from raking leaves and beautifying the settlement to cleaning up patient resident homes and creating informative Facebook posts.…

Closing Time for General Store

Thursday, July 17th, 2014

Closing Time for General Store

For three years, Molokai General Store has been a one-stop shop for just about anything a customer might need. However, if you take a drive down Ala Malama Street, you can’t miss the large, neon-colored closing sales signs plastered across the storefront. Come late August, business at the general store will close for good.

“We thank the Molokai community for their support of our business,” said CEO and Chairman David Mikami.

From office supplies and home goods to linens, fishing supplies and toys, the old-style plantation store offered a wide range of essentials. But after years in business, the general store will close its doors on August 30, Mikami announced last week.…

Veterans Corner

Wednesday, July 16th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Jesse Church

Aloha my fellow veterans and residents of Molokai, old Jesse here with all the veterans news and upcoming events. Kick the bucket, bite the dust, pushing up daisies. All creative ways to say, he or she is no longer with us, and of course the military way to highlight death is, he bought the farm. Why? Around WWII, pilots began to say that when a jet crashed on a farm, the farmer usually sued the government for damages done to his farm by the crash. The amount demanded was either more than or equal to the mortgage, around $10,000 at the time, buying the farm outright.…

Athletic Mandatory Parent Meeting

Wednesday, July 16th, 2014

MHS Athletics News Release

Due to new policies for the Department of Education, Molokai High School (MHS) Athletic Department will conduct three parent athletic meetings during the sports seasons (Fall, Winter, Spring) for school year 2014-15.

The fall season meeting will take place on Wednesday, July 30 at the Café from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The winter season meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 22 at the MHS Library. The spring season meeting will be on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015 at the MHS Library. All meetings will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Forms needed: Physical form, Release of Liability form, Concussion form, receipt of student fees paid and check off form.…

MHS HOSA Team Earns National Recognition  

Wednesday, July 16th, 2014

MHS HOSA Team Earns National Recognition   

Community Contributed

By John Van Ornum

Six students, one advisor and one chaperone from Molokai High School (MHS) traveled to Orlando, Florida on June 22 to compete in Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) national competition. The team of Oceana Madani, Marissa Motas, and Luke Kikukawa earned second in the nation for their PSA presentation on Child Hunger. This achievement places Molokai students in the national spotlight and shows that hard work does pay.

The win was offset by the burden of traveling eighteen hours and crossing four time zones to reach their destination. Molokai competitors face challenges that other islands and states do not in terms of cost and travel time. …

Keiki Make Waves at Last Surf Meet

Wednesday, July 16th, 2014

Keiki Make Waves at Last Surf Meet

Keiki surfers took on the waves and competed in fun heats at Waialua Beach last Saturday. They surfed their way through the day with the sun shining, cool winds blowing and light waves crashing to the shoreline, for the last Molokai Keiki O Ke Kai surf meet of the summer.

The meet, made possible through funding provided by Friendly Isle United Fun, was part of the 25th Annual drug and alcohol-free Keiki Surf Meet Series. The event gives aspiring surfers age 13 and younger the opportunity to compete and have fun learning to surf.

For those interested in diving deeper into the world of surfing, there are numerous opportunities for lessons tailored to young aspiring surfers.…

Short-Term Rental Laws Modified

Wednesday, July 16th, 2014

After the legalization of short-term rentals in 2012, Maui County planners say things are going well, with nine permitted properties on Molokai since then. But planners are still seeking to improve the laws that govern them.

At last week’s meeting, the Molokai Planning Commission (MoPC) reviewed the ordinance, addressed concerns and discussed issues relevant to Molokai to better implement the process. The Commission welcomed resident testimony, but there was a lack of attendance at the scheduled public hearing.

“I think today’s lack of turnout is a sign that it’s going pretty well and that the law is working,” said Staff Planner of Maui County’s Department of Planning, Gina Flammer.…

Molokai Youth Takes First in Paddleboard Race

Wednesday, July 16th, 2014

Molokai Youth Takes First in Paddleboard Race

Community Contributed

By Clare Mawae

Molokai’s 12-year-old Alex Mawae took the short course by storm with phenomenal finish amongst 300 plus paddlers in the short course of the Hui O He’e Nalu Independence Day Paddleboard and Stand Up paddle race. Alex took first place in his 13 and under divisionand 23rd overall in a virtual no wind race among many solid paddlers. His sister Josie also put in a credible finish to the short course while their mom Clare Mawae finished second in her division with a solid and respectable time in the long course.

The short course was from Sunset beach to Waimea, a four-mile course and the seven-mile long course started from Turtle Bay.…