Author Archives: Catherine Cluett Pactol

Local Students Named to Pacific University Dean’s List

Thursday, August 29th, 2024

Pacific University News Release

Several Molokai students have been named to the spring 2024 Dean’s List at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. The Dean’s List recognizes undergraduate students in Pacific’s colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business and Education who earn a grade-point average of at least 3.70 and complete 12 or more graded hours.

Saije Aiana, Kamalu Kaawa Richardson and Reese Raguindin are all on the spring 2024 Dean’s List.

Celebrating 175 years of purpose, Pacific University is Washington County, Oregon’s only comprehensive university. With undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, health professions and optometry, Pacific inspires its 3,600 students to think, care, create, and pursue justice in the world.…

Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month

Thursday, August 29th, 2024

Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month

Dept. of Health News Release

This year is the inaugural designation of September as “Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month” for the state of Hawaii. This recent enactment coincides with the globally recognized World Suicide Prevention Day, observed each year on Sept. 10.

“We must do more as a state to build more connection and more resilience in our communities, as we know these protect us from severe mental health challenges and prevent suicide,” said Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, M.D. “This is a personal issue for me and my family, as we’ve lost loved ones to suicide. There are too many families who have a similar experience and none of us wants to see another family go through the same heartbreak and loss.”…

MHS Football Embarks on A New Challenge

Thursday, August 29th, 2024

MHS Football Embarks on A New Challenge

Practice for the Molokai Farmers’ football team borders on exuberant. The air is punctuated by the sharp voices of coaches, music to which the players subtly head nod, and a palpable excitement at what is a new and present challenge: 11-man football. Since 2010, Molokai High School (MHS) has dominated the eight-player Maui Interscholastic League (MIL), winning seven straight titles. Now, the Farmers and Head Coach Mike Kahale are focusing on conquering 11-man and the opportunity to compete for a Division II state championship.

Entering his 14th season with the Farmers, Kahale explained that MHS has been preparing for this transition for the last couple of years as they began to mix in 11-man games, which feature two more offensive linemen and one skills player.…

Mokulele Temporarily Grounded, Wins Lanai EAS Bid

Thursday, August 29th, 2024

Mokulele Temporarily Grounded, Wins Lanai EAS Bid

Last weekend, Mokulele Airlines grounded most of its fleet of planes, canceling flights for up to four days and stranding passengers across Hawaii. On Aug. 17, a letter to customers from Louis Saint-Cyr, president of Hawaii operations for Mokulele’s new managing company Surf Air Mobility, explained the cause of the service disruption as due to “potential discrepancies in the documentation of a recent landing gear servicing on one of our aircraft.”

A precautionary decision was made on Aug. 17 to halt most of its flights across the state while Mokulele conducted “thorough inspections” of its fleet. As the flights slowed, Molokai social media buzzed with residents desperately looking for flights and seeking boat rides to or from Maui – an increasingly popular method of transportation for increasingly frustrated Molokai residents.…

Molokai Kumu Shares Trip Aboard Exploration Vessel

Thursday, August 29th, 2024

Molokai Kumu Shares Trip Aboard Exploration Vessel

Molokai educator Gandharva Mahina Hou Ross was selected as the only science communication fellow from Hawaii this year for a voyage of deep sea discovery. The trip aboard the Nautilus exploration vessel earlier this month was planned to last a few weeks to explore the depths of the ocean between Hawaii and American Samoa. However, the trip was unexpectedly cut short.
“We had to make some changes to the plans,” said Ross. “We had some problems with the crane, and then there was a hole in the hydraulic tank that kind of controls the thrusters for the ship.”
They were scheduled to leave on July 20 but instead, the 220-foot vessel sat at the dock in Honolulu awaiting repairs for about two weeks.…

August Golf Ace

Thursday, August 22nd, 2024

August Golf Ace

Community Contributed
By Rick Schonely

Christine Kage is the August Ace winner for The Hui O Kukui Golf Club.

Kage, a Molokai golf enthusiast, Molokai paparazzi extraordinaire and Mrs. Positivity, shot 48-50 for a gross total of 98. With her 30 handicap, her 68 net got her the victory. Congratulations Christine!

The Hui O Kukui Golf Club would like to thank the staff and management of iconic Ironwood Hills golf course for perpetuating the game of golf on Molokai.

 …

Mental Health Support

Thursday, August 22nd, 2024

Molokai Mental Health News Release

Molokai Mental Health is now accepting Medicare. As we get older, sure we are wiser and we respond to life better than in our youth; we’ve learned a few tricks along the way. But life then deals us a whole new set of circumstances. Financial circumstances, physical health and ‘ohana responsibilities change, new worries about our children and grandchildren emerge, relationship challenges change, we become dependent on others, and the world is rapidly changing in many ways. There is plenty to worry and stress about these days. But we can get support, learn some coping skills to handle these new stresses and put that aloha back into our heart.…

A Special Night of Music

Thursday, August 22nd, 2024

Ho’ala Cafe & SipShop News Release

Kapena De Lima, son of well-known Kelly Boy De Lima and longtime member of the group Kapena, will be visiting Molokai for a special night of music, dinner and fun at Ho’ala Cafe & SipShop on Sept. 6 at 5 p.m.
Kapena, popular and talented winner of Na Hoku Hanohano awards, began playing keyboards for the group at age 11. Now, a well-known singer, songwriter and musician, he’s also a sought after producer and recording engineer.
Molokai’s own singer, songwriter and musician Tania Manabe will be sharing songs from her recently released CD “Me Ka Fiyah.”…

Could Scholarships Address Molokai’s Doctor Shortage?

Thursday, August 22nd, 2024

Molokai residents are well acquainted with the strained healthcare landscape on-island, especially with the passing of longtime physicians Emmett Aluli and William Thomas in recent years. Now, Alaka’ina Foundation, a Native Hawaiian organization, is looking at attracting medical personnel to Molokai through scholarships.

In addition to funding the Kauka Emmett Noa Auwae Aluli Medical Scholarship, the Alaka’ina Foundation is working on an additional, Molokai-specific scholarship at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii. According to Alaka’ina Foundation Vice President Kimo Bacon, this scholarship will require recipients to work five years at Molokai General Hospital.

“We’re looking at innovative ideas,” said Bacon.…

Upcoming BOEM Meeting on Offshore Wind Farming

Thursday, August 22nd, 2024

Upcoming BOEM Meeting on Offshore Wind Farming

A recently publicized project from Aukahi Energy made waves on Molokai this summer as the company seeks to build an offshore wind farm in the Ka’iwi Channel off the windward coast of Oahu. The channel’s geographical proximity, along with its environmental and cultural significance to Molokai, have already raised a variety of concerns regarding this project.

Now, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will be holding an intergovernmental renewable energy task force meeting on Aug. 22 on Oahu, accessible to Molokai residents virtually, to discuss offshore wind farming, amongst other renewable energy topics.

John Romero, Pacific Public Affairs Officer for BOEM, explained that while the Aukahi Energy project has gotten attention statewide, BOEM doesn’t currently have any projects before them to even review on wind farming.…