Author Archives: Catherine Cluett Pactol

Free Concert

Friday, July 12th, 2024

Hawaii Youth Symphony News Release

The public is invited to a free afternoon of music in Kaunakakai at the Molokai Public Library from 3:30 to 4 p.m. on July 12, featuring the talents of renowned cellist Daniel Scoggins in a concert presented by Hawaii Youth Symphony and its Pacific Music Institute (PMI). Through Hawaii Youth Symphony’s partnership with the National Orchestral Institute and Festival, Scoggins will return to Hawaii as a teaching fellow for this year’s PMI: an annual summer music camp connecting students with celebrated soloists, players from major symphony orchestras, and educators from leading music institutions. In addition to the public performance, Scoggins will teach a private workshop for the string students of the Molokai Instrumental Music Education Program, led by Lauren Fischer.…

Multiple Raised Crosswalks to be Installed

Friday, July 12th, 2024

Multiple Raised Crosswalks to be Installed

HDOT News Release

The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) will be completing nine raised crosswalks planned for Molokai in July. The raised crosswalks are planned for several locations due to proximity to schools and pedestrian destinations: mile post 0.01 on Kamehameha V Highway, near the intersection of Ala Malama Avenue; mile post 0.27 on Kamehameha V Highway, near the intersection with ʻAiloa Street and fronting Kaunakakai Elementary School; mile post 0.34 on Kamehameha V Highway, near the intersection with Oki Place; mile post 13.25 and 13.32 on Kamehameha V Highway, at the entrance of Kilohana Elementary School; mile post 1.35 on Maunaloa Highway, near the intersection of Kahiwa Street.…

Learn the Art of ‘Nothing’ with Zazen Meditation

Friday, July 12th, 2024

Learn the Art of ‘Nothing’ with Zazen Meditation

“Just sitting” or “sitting Zen” is the English translation of the word “Zazen.” Zazen meditation comes from the Buddhist tradition and allows for the transformation of the mind in a simple, seated posture.

Molokai residents have an opportunity to experience Zazen meditation at weekly classes by Koko Kawauchi Johnson and monthly instruction from Flint Sparks at the Guzeiji Soto Mission in Kaunakakai.

“The temple is a pu’uhonua,” explained Johnson, who is from Japan, and introduced weekly classes to a small but growing group of participants back in January. “Anybody can come and we’ll be open for everybody.”

The primary principle of this Japanese meditation technique is establishing a comfortability and eventual fulfillment with nothingness, according to longtime Zazen teacher Sparks.…

Keiki and Kupuna Mo’olelo Project

Friday, July 12th, 2024

Keiki and Kupuna Mo’olelo Project

Kalia Purdy-Avelino showed the circle of keiki and kupuna gathered at Home Pumehana some of Molokai’s most famous books of mo’olelo, including “Tales from the Night Rainbow” and “Tales of Molokai: the Voice of Harriet Ne.” As she flipped through the books, Purdy-Avelino described what they all had in common: stories of Molokai’s past heroes, descriptions of natural phenomenon and historic events, and not many pictures for kids to enjoy.

Part of the goal of Hokulani Children’s Theater of Molokai’s Keiki and Kupuna Writing Project is to engage young people in the telling and recording of mo’olelo. Taught by Purdy-Avelino, the program aspires to bridge the gap between older history and today’s stories of Molokai, as well as reinforce stylistic aspects of Hawaiian storytelling.…

Celebrating the Youth Cadets

Friday, July 12th, 2024

Celebrating the Youth Cadets

Twelve Molokai young adults started their summers a little differently: early mornings, endless push-ups, miles of running, ocean rescue training and more. As part of the third class of the Maui Police Dept.’s Youth Cadet Leadership Program, these Molokai high schoolers were honored on Friday, June 28 for completing the challenging course.

The four-week program was led by Molokai police officers. From 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every day, the cadets were put through various physical and mental challenges, focusing on “mind over matter,” explained one of the program organizers, Officer Lani Caparida.

At Friday’s graduation ceremony, Caparida explained that he was proud of how the Molokai cadets “just put their heads down and didn’t quit” during the program.…

William Robert Keating

Friday, June 28th, 2024

William Robert Keating

William Robert Keating was born Oct. 16, 1940, in Columbus, Ohio and passed away April 25, 2024, in Honoka’a, Hawaii. He is predeceased by his parents Robert A Keating, MD., and Harriet Steele Keating. He is survived by his sister Karen Keating Moody Bierly, nieces Merry Troper, Molly Moody, Megan Moody Dininger, and nephew Scott Moody. William was a graduate of Worthington HS and Ohio State University, where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

Billy ran The Jerome Wheelers Public House in Aspen for many years. He loved Aspen and his companion wolf/husky, Tugboat. Billy took up bull riding in local rodeos – never managing a winning eight seconds, but plenty of time in the hospital.…

New Deputy Superintendent for Kalaupapa

Friday, June 28th, 2024

New Deputy Superintendent for Kalaupapa

National Park Service News Release

Please join us in welcoming Linh Anh Cat as Kalaupapa’s new deputy superintendent. We are looking forward to exercising her skills to enhance the park’s management capacity at this critical time.
Linh Anh Cat started in her new role as deputy superintendent at Kalaupapa National Historical Park earlier this month. She was the integrated resources management lead at Cabrillo National Monument before joining Kalaupapa National Historical Park as the natural resource management division lead in July 2022. Within the National Park Service, Linh Anh has worked on furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion goals at park, network, regional, and service wide levels.…

Preserving the Stories of Molokai

Friday, June 28th, 2024

Hokulani CTOM News Release

The Hokulani Children’s Theater of Molokai (CTOM) invites kupuna to share their stories in the ‘Preserving the Stories of Molokai’ children’s book project.
This unique initiative seeks to bring together the wisdom of Molokai’s kupuna, or elders, with the creativity of our keiki, or children, to create a timeless collection of stories that celebrate our rich heritage and impart valuable life lessons.
We are calling upon our beloved kupuna to participate in this special project by sharing stories from their childhood that taught them important life lessons. These stories will be retold by our keiki, who, working with kupuna, will also illustrate them — capturing the essence and spirit of Molokai’s traditions for future generations.…

Kaluakoi Brush Fire

Friday, June 28th, 2024

Kaluakoi Brush Fire

On June 20, around 1 p.m. Molokai fire crews arrived to find a brush fire partially in a gulch and being spread by the windy conditions in the area of 40 Maunaloa rd. Access to portions of the fire was difficult due to the steep terrain of the gulch, according to the Maui Fire Dept. Using tankers, heavy equipment and helicopters, fire crews were able to eventually contain the fire and stop it from crossing the highway. Public works heavy equipment were able to assist in cutting lines around the perimeter of the fire. By 7 p.m. on June 20, the estimated 50 acre fire was declared under control, but not fully extinguished.…

Kaunakakai Saturday Market Revival

Friday, June 28th, 2024

Residents and visitors fondly recall the vibrant Saturday morning outdoor market that was held in Kaunakakai, where vendors sold a variety of goods including fresh produce, art, jewelry, baked goods, and local delicacies like musubi, mochi and kulolo. This bustling market fostered a sense of community with impromptu reunions and shared connections. The COVID pandemic halted this weekly celebration of local products, and subsequent changes to Ala Malama’s sidewalks have made it impractical for the market to return there.

To revive this cherished tradition, the Molokai Arts Center (MAC) and the Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) are teaming up. Moving the market from its current location in front of Grace Church in Ho’olehua to the large, grassy field at MCHC will make it more central for residents on the island, along with offering ample parking, restroom access and tent coverage.…