Author Archives: Catherine Cluett Pactol

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.…

Obituary: Steven James Schonely

Sunday, September 23rd, 2012

Obituary: Steven James Schonely

Steven James Schonely passed away on Aug. 31, 2012 at his home in Kaunakakai. He was born on March 29, 1951 in Agana, Guam. He is survived by his mother Barbara Schonely of Kaunakakai, Molokai, father William Schonely of Portland, OR and his three younger siblings: Linda (Jim) Christison of Portland, OR, Rick Schonely of Kalua`aha Molokai, and Billy (Sam) Schonely of Hillsboro, OR. Steve’s passion was for the deep blue sea, where he spent many days and nights fishing the waters of Hawaii. He was also the owner of Island Kine Auto Rental & Sales.

Services will be held on Sept.…

Country Fair for the Catholic Church

Wednesday, September 19th, 2012

Country Fair for the Catholic Church

Catholic parishioners on Molokai have been planning and fundraising for a new church since 1995. Now that the worship structure is a reality, the fundraising efforts haven’t stopped — one of the St. Damien Parish’s biggest annual events was held last Saturday. This year’s Country Fair at the Mitchell Pauole Center had a fundraising goal of $12,000, according to church secretary Rose Brito.

“[The Country Fair’s] purpose is to pay off our beautiful church,” said Brito.

Even with years of fundraising, the parish still has over $1.4 million in loans to pay off on the new church, said Joan Lasua, the church’s finance chair.…

Raising Suicide Awareness This Month

Wednesday, September 19th, 2012

Community Contributed

By Dr. Stephanie Napoli, Behavioral Health Director, MCHC

A boy’s girlfriend just broke up with him. His parents tell him “I told you so”. His classmates gossip and laugh about it on Facebook. His best friend is too busy with his own girlfriend to talk. The boy isolates in his room and thinks, “I wish I was dead. I might as well be. Nobody cares.”

Alone, empty, rageful, worthless, trapped in nothingness. These are just some of the words people use to describe how they feel as they consider suicide. These are also some of the words people use to describe how they feel when a loved one does take his or her own life.…

Boxing in the Home Ring

Sunday, September 16th, 2012

Boxing in the Home Ring

First sanctioned amateur event on Molokai this weekend

For the first time in over 30 years, young Molokai boxers will be able to slip on their gloves and hear their name chanted as they face off in front of friends and family on their home island. Old timers remember the last boxing matches held on Molokai in the early 1980s, but this weekend, the Molokai Southside Boxing Club will host the first USA Boxing-sanctioned amateur event on the island that anyone can recall. The event is drawing fighters ages 8 to 24 from around the state for 21 confirmed bouts.

For Molokai youth, the Molokai Southside Boxing Invitational is a chance to compete on their home turf and gain valuable experience in the ring, which is limited because traveling to off-island sanctioned events is so expensive.…

Sust`ainable Molokai Named Finalist in National Program

Friday, September 14th, 2012

Sust`ainable Molokai News Release

Local nonprofit Sust`ainable Molokai has been selected as the only finalist from Hawaii in the Tom’s of Maine “50 States for Good” program. That means it now has a chance to win up to $50,000 in support of a community project that will engage student and community volunteers to plant 5,000 trees to heal our aina (land) and recharge our single source aquifer.

Through a online public vote at Facebook.com/TomsofMaine now through October 9, local residents can help bring the funding to Molokai with the click of a mouse.

The “50 States for Good” program seeks to uncover local nonprofit groups that address urgent community needs and engage volunteers to get the work done.…

West Molokai Association Opposes Big Wind/Undersea Cable Project

Thursday, September 13th, 2012

West Molokai Association News Release

The Board of Directors of the West Molokai Association (WMA), representing the owners of 811 West Molokai properties, has unanimously declared its “resolute opposition” to the proposed Big Wind industrial wind project and Hawaii Inter-Island undersea cable, and stated it will take whatever steps necessary to halt the project.

The project would cover 17 square miles of Molokai with industrial wind turbines 47 stories tall. It is being planned by HECO, Molokai Ranch, Pattern Energy and Bio-Logical Capital, and is backed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

Noting that the project would “dramatically alter and irreversibly change West Molokai’s rural character and pastoral environment,” the Board’s resolution added that it would also result in increased electrical costs for Hawaiian residents, already among the highest in the United States.…

Molokai Artist’s Work on Display

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

MAC News Release

“Miyako Yamazaki, 1987 – 2012 — A Retrospective” will be on display in the ‘Ike Lihi Gallery at the Molokai Arts Center (MAC) from Sept. 21 to Oct. 21. An opening and birthday celebration will be held on Sept. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Miyako is a Contemporary Artist from Tokyo, who has been living on Molokai since 2004. She has worked in oil, acrylic, video and photography, as well as publishing two books; LOVE SPEAKS, 1999, Kourinsya, Kyoto, Japan, Out of Print, and Gift from Molokai, 2007, Sangyo-hensyu Center, Tokyo, Japan, and one DVD, Heavenly Brights, 2001, now on media, Tokyo, Japan.…