Author Archives: Catherine Cluett Pactol

Mother Marianne Soon to Be ‘Saint’

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

Mother Marianne Soon to Be ‘Saint’

This month marks long-awaited confirmation of what many Molokai residents and Catholics around the world already knew — Mother Marianne Cope will be officially declared a saint. Mother Marianne, who served Hansen’s disease patients in Kalaupapa for 30 years alongside St. Damien at the end of his life, will be canonized by the Pope in Rome on Oct. 21. Marianne will become the second saint to call Molokai home.

About 400 Catholics from Hawaii, including from Molokai four parishioners, Father William Petrie and a group of Kalaupapa patient residents, will make the journey to Italy to witness the canonization in person.…

The Food and Wine Festival

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

The Food and Wine Festival

Community Contributed

By Dillon DeCoite

Editor’s note: The second annual Hawaii Food and Wine Festival took place Sept. 6 to 9, with Molokai’s L&R Farms’ Lynn and Russell DeCoite participated. The DeCoite’s son, Dillon, a middle school student at Aka`ula School, wrote a story about his parents’ success in the Aka`ula monthly newsletter, reprinted here.

The Food and Wine Festival, in Kaanapali, Maui is located on the golf course. Twelve farmers and 12 chefs partner up to cook produce raised by island farmers. My mom and dad partnered with two chefs from the Westin Kaanapali Hotel. The dish they made was wild boar bacon with Molokai sweet potato gnocchi.…

Japanese Tsunami Debris Arrives on Molokai

Sunday, September 30th, 2012

Japanese Tsunami Debris Arrives on Molokai

Kaunakakai resident Dane Christopher and his dogs Pua, Chance and Tonka were going on their daily walk on the beach along Kaunakakai pier last week when they found something unusual: a giant, barnacle-crusted light bulb. The end of the fully-intact bulb was marked “500 W.” The rest of the markings were in Japanese.

While finding objects from Japan on Hawaii’s shores is nothing new, Hawaii residents have been reporting an influx of debris that officials believe to be from the tsunami in Japan in March 2011.

“It’s kind of ironic that a lightbulb could make it from all that devastation,” said Christopher.…

Learn about Native Hawaiian Roll Call on Molokai Tomorrow

Friday, September 28th, 2012

Kana`iolowalu News Release

Tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 29, two events will be held on Molokai to educate residents about Kana`iolowalu, a project of the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission. It is a year-long campaign to reunify Native Hawaiians in the self-recognition of our unrelinquished sovereignty. The campaign has two steps: first, a petition declaring and affirming the unrelinquished and inherent sovereignty of the indigenous people of Hawaii that can be signed by anyone, Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike. Second, those who are Native Hawaiians and who are 18 years of age or older as of Sept. 1, 2013 will be eligible to register for participation in the organization of a governing entity – also known as a “base roll”.…

Molokai Swim Club a Reality

Friday, September 28th, 2012

Community Contributed

By Robby Coleman

Rumors of a year-round swim club forming on Molokai have been circulating around the island for many months. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Malcolm Cooper, head coach of the Maui Dolphins Swim Club (MDSC), who obtained a permit from the county and the support of Zachary Helm and Michael Manga, from the local Parks and Recreation, the swim club is now reality.

Beginning 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 1, the Molokai Chapter of the Maui Dolphins will hold its first practice at Cooke Memorial Pool. Regular practices will be held Monday through Thursday (except holidays) every week of the year after regular pool hours.…

Plugging Into the Sun

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

Plugging Into the Sun

Molokai residents receive mixed news about installing solar

Around Hawaii, residents and business owners are eager to utilize the sun’s energy to reduce their electricity bills and help malama the environment. Molokai is at the forefront of that movement, with many residents waiting to install photovoltaic (PV) panels on their roofs. Current technology, however, limits the amount of renewable energy that can be fed into the island-wide electricity grid while maintaining reliability of electric service, according to Maui Electric Company (MECO).

A recent change in the statewide criteria used to determine how much renewable energy can be incorporated into grid may bring good news for some residents.…

Media Literacy

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

Community Contributed

By Alestra Menendez

Media is a means of communication. The exciting thing about media in the 21st century is that it is the hands of the beholder, as opposed to being transmitted by few to the masses, as is the case with traditional news, television and radio. This is especially important for today’s tech savvy youth, and on Molokai, the Molokai Art and Media Academy is guiding youth to analyze, evaluate and yes, create their own media.

From Oct. 1 to 5, the organization is holding a Media Literacy Academy for youth ages 13 to 18 during the fall school intersession.…

Letter: Walter Ritte, Candidate for OHA At Large Seat

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

Letter: Walter Ritte, Candidate for OHA At Large Seat

I am running for the At Large seat for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Everyone, Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians, can vote on Nov. 6, General Election Day.

I am not running against Colette Machado for the Molokai seat. If I get elected to the At Large Seat, Molokai will have two OHA trustees. This will be good for Molokai because Colette and I have worked well together in the past, even though we have been on opposite sides on several issues.

Please let your `ohana know that I will need statewide help and support, as there is only one At Large seat and there are six people running for that one seat.…

50th Wedding Anniversary on Molokai

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

50th Wedding Anniversary on Molokai

Last week, we celebrated our 50th anniversary and vow renewal at St. Damien Church. We chose Molokai for our celebration because of the island’s inspiration, people, culture and friendliness. This is our sixth’s trip to the island; we spend every Sept. and October here, and always celebrate our anniversary here on Sept. 15.

Mahalo nui loa, Molokai, for making our 50th anniversary a very special day and for helping us to experience and enjoy the true Hawaiian culture and aloha spirit.

Pictured left to right in the back row are our children Michael, Christi and Cindy; photo by Mae Alvarez.

Ron and Mary Neale and family
Evansville, Indiana…

Bakery Remains Closed After Another Inspection

Sunday, September 23rd, 2012

Bakery Remains Closed After Another Inspection

Kanemitsu Bakery’s ovens will remain cold after failing to pass another Department of Health (DOH) inspection last Wednesday. Following a complaint in June alleging foreign substances were found in the baked goods, the bakery’s permit was suspended pending the completion of a lengthy list of sanitation improvements. Bakery owner George Kanemitsu called for Wednesday’s inspection to verify the changes had been made. While many improvements had been completed, the state inspector found that some of the necessary changes were still lacking.

“I really thought they would let me open up and fix it as we go along, but it didn’t go like that,” said Kanemitsu.…