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Author Archives: Catherine Cluett Pactol

Oceanic Internet Upgrade

Monday, July 22nd, 2013

Oceanic Time Warner Cable broadband Internet customers on Molokai have waited for years, filed dozens of complaints and wrung their hands in frustration as hundreds streaming Netflix movies failed to load — all because of Internet speeds many called substandard. Finally, the wait is over and YouTube videos can buffer in an instant. Last week, Oceanic upgraded Molokai service from microwave technology to fiber optic — effectively doubling Internet speeds to its approximately 1,000 island customers, according to Oceanic President Bob Barlow.

Last week, Oceanic notified its Molokai customers of the upgrade through an automated telephone message. Barlow said no interruption in service occurred, and despite their preparation for potential technical issues, none were experienced.…

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Brother Dutton Statue Gifted to Molokai

Monday, July 22nd, 2013

Molokai is already home to two saints — Damien and Marianne — and if efforts continue, the island might be known for a third: Brother Joseph Dutton. Dutton worked alongside St. Damien and Marianne to serve Hansen’s disease patients in Kalaupapa, but he is just as known for his rocky past before becoming a Catholic. Thanks to Oahu benefactor John Perreira and a few local residents, including the late Larry Helm, a statue of Dutton will soon arrive on Molokai to help tell the story of a transformation from soldier to would-be saint.

A Relatable Life
Dutton served in the Northern Army during the Civil War and climbed the ranks for his loyal service.…

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Kalaupapa Barge Day

Wednesday, July 17th, 2013

Kalaupapa Barge Day

The remote Kalaupapa settlement is normally the epitome of peace. But once a year, its wharf becomes as busy as a New York City intersection. It’s barge day — a big occasion for the tiny community that’s taken place annually for decades. It’s when a year’s worth of equipment, gasoline, non-perishable food supplies and personal orders is delivered to the settlement. It’s been described as Christmas in July.

There are barge transloading equipment in the state small enough to fit into Kalaupapa’s narrow harbor — and only a short window of time in the summer when the rough water is calm enough for the barge to safely dock.…

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Weekend of Hope

Wednesday, July 17th, 2013

Twenty-two and a half tons of free groceries. Two thousand one hundred pairs of free children’s shoes. Thirteen hair stylists offering free haircuts. These are the statistics for an event called the Convoy of Hope on Molokai this weekend, part of a three-day Weekend of Hope. But the humanitarian effort is about more than just numbers and free services — organizers say it’s really about bringing churches and people together to share an important message: helping one another and sharing hope.

Four years ago, churches on Molokai teamed up for the first Concert of Hope, featuring award-winning and well-known Christian musicians from around the state.…

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Remembering Larry Helm

Friday, July 12th, 2013

Remembering Larry Helm

A Molokai icon has passed away, leaving memories of a leader, veteran advocate and entertainer who was as passionate as he was humorous. Larry Helm died peacefully on June 19 at the age of 70, surrounded by his family, after a battle with liver cancer.

“Throughout his career, Larry has been a positive influence in the Molokai community, and over the years, much of the progress on Molokai has had Larry’s fingerprints on it,” said Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa.

Helm is perhaps best known as commander of the Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans and leading the nearly decade-long battle to build a veterans’ center on the island.…

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Young Inventor Hits It Out of the Park

Friday, July 12th, 2013

Young Inventor Hits It Out of the Park

A simple stitch got a young Molokai inventor national recognition and a free Kindle Fire e-reader. Erik Svetin, who will be a freshman at Molokai High School this year, added a row of stitches to a baseball to see if it would affect the distance the ball traveled. He entered his invention in the national Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge and was named the Hawaii merit award winner.

“I wanted to do a science fair experiment on my passion, which is baseball,” Svetin said. The additional stitches ran horizontal across the ball and had the same spacing as the existing ones.  …

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60 years of Family Service

Wednesday, July 10th, 2013

Friendly Market celebrates 60th anniversary

Jeff Egusa swore he would never come back to Molokai to work in his family’s grocery business. But more than 30 years later, he calls the decision to continue the legacy of Friendly Market Center the best decision of his life.

It all began when his dad, Alex Egusa, was fired from his job working in the grocery business operated by the Y.K. Yuen family, which owned four stores on Molokai in the early 1950s. Jeff said a group of fellow employees quit when his dad was let go after a difference of opinion, and shortly afterward, they decided to open their own store together in 1953.…

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Hotel Kitchen Approved for Repair

Wednesday, July 10th, 2013

Hotel Kitchen Approved for Repair

A year after a fire destroyed Hotel Molokai’s kitchen , Hula Shores restaurant and bar is one step closer to repairing and reopening its dining facilities. Hotel Molokai was approved for repairs at the June 26 Molokai Planning Commission meeting, securing their ability to begin construction soon. The Special Management Area (SMA) minor permit approved repairs to the Hula Shores kitchen and the hotel’s storerooms, laundry and second floor guestroom, all of which was demolished after an accidental fire June 19, 2012.

The Maui County Planning Department set a June 30, 2014 start date for construction and completion within a year after that.…

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Supporting the Island’s Caretakers

Wednesday, July 10th, 2013

From the Middle School to the Molokai Land Trust, local organizations and nonprofits work year-around to ensure the success of the island’s youth, environment, community and culture. Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) offers financial backing and other supporting resources to many of these groups, and when trustees got a chance to hear from local leaders two weeks ago, they found that their investments have paid off. At a community forum, the OHA board of trustees listened for nearly four hours as community members shared the successes they’ve enjoyed, as well as the struggles they face.

Environmental Efforts
I Aloha Molokai (IAM) president Kanoho Helm discussed the progress the organization has made since its establishment four years ago to oppose wind turbines and the undersea cable on the island.…

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Hokulea to Visit Molokai This Week

Sunday, July 7th, 2013

Hokulea to Visit Molokai This Week

A vessel representing thousands of years of Hawaiian culture and history will soon dock on Molokai. The Hokulea, a replica of a traditional Hawaiian wa`a kaulua, or double-hulled voyaging canoe, was completed in 1975 and set sail on its first voyage to Tahiti a year later. The vessel has come to represent a cultural awakening of Native Hawaiian seafaring as well a message of aloha aina (love of the land) and the importance of caring for each other and our resources.

“I sailed in 1976 but my real voyage began after that — to apply the lessons we learned to better myself and my community, and to be a better steward,” said Penny Martin, Molokai resident and one of Hokulea’s original crew members.…

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