Author Archives: Catherine Cluett Pactol

Meet the New Molokai Authors

Wednesday, January 10th, 2024

Meet the New Molokai Authors

Molokai has eight new, published authors with their book “Ho’ohui Maika’i: an Anthology.” The work is a collection of Molokai women’s stories told through the context of food, culture and identity.

Funded through a grant from the Hawaii Council for the Humanities and organized by the Krause Family Foundation – ‘Alana Ke Aloha, the book is the result of writing workshops held throughout the past year. The stories range from memories of grandparents cooking, to funny family dinners, to poems and more.

The title, “Ho’ohui Maika’i,” means “good combination.” The work focuses on the diverse cultural make-up of Molokai families, and how this diversity is experienced and demonstrated through food practices.…

Scholarship Event

Thursday, January 4th, 2024

UHMC Molokai News Release

Our annual Scholarship ‘AHA event will be on Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 5 p.m. at The Molokai Education Center. The ‘Aha connects students with scholarship agencies, programs and financial aid resources to help pay for higher education. Application workshops include FAFSA, Kamehameha Schools, UH Common Scholarship, and Hawaii Community Foundation. There will be a $500 scholarship drawing, prizes, free dinner, and more! We hope to see you there.…

Kalaupapa Month

Thursday, January 4th, 2024

Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa News Release

January is Kalaupapa Month.

Two years ago, Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa proposed designating January as Kalaupapa Month to the Hawaii State Legislature which gave the bill unanimous approval. Governor David Ige signed the legislation into law.

Ka ‘Ohana President Charmaine Woodward, whose great-grandparents are buried at Kalaupapa, sees Kalaupapa Month as a “time of remembrance and celebration — it is the time we celebrate their lives, their legacy, and their love. By overcoming adversity, the people of Kalaupapa guide us on how to traverse difficult situations by portraying characteristics of unconditional love, true faith, and family.”…

MHS Football Transitions to 11-Player

Thursday, January 4th, 2024

MHS Football Transitions to 11-Player

Molokai High School’s football team is making a historic shift from the eight-player to the 11-player level in the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) for the 2024 season. The announcement came during an MIL athletic directors meeting, where Coach Mike Kahale and Athletic Director Lee DeRouin shared their excitement with The Maui News.

DeRouin expressed their enthusiasm, saying, “today is a special day for Molokai; we’re thrilled to play 11-man football in 2024.”

With Molokai joining Kamehameha Maui and King Kekaulike in MIL Division II 11-player ranks, the league now has a total of six teams. Coach Kahale emphasized their long-term goal, stating, “we’re super excited for this opportunity.…

Pickleball Popularity

Thursday, January 4th, 2024

Pickleball Popularity

The pickleball phenomenon is a well-documented national fervor, becoming America’s fastest growing sport for three straight years, according to 2023 reports. Molokai, likewise, has recently sprouted a pickleball fandom of its own, with enthusiasts embracing the unique pickleball terms and phrases that define the game’s culture.

Adrian Canencia has over 30 years of tennis teaching experience. Now he’s channeling that knowledge into pickleball, leading classes on Mondays and Wednesdays at the tennis courts in Kaunakakai.

“Pickleball is a sport where anybody can play, any age can be compatible,” said Canencia. “It’s fun for everybody.”

Currently, Canencia teaches a kupuna class on Mondays and a junior class on Wednesdays.…

Youth in Aviation

Thursday, January 4th, 2024

Youth in Aviation

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

Twelve Molokai youth recently had a chance to begin their journey towards a career in aviation. Molokai’s own Hikili’i Chow, a commercial pilot, led the charge leading a Youth in Aviation program last weekend through the Aloft nonprofit.

“The main goal is to introduce kids to many different aviation jobs,” said Chow. During the three-day camp, kids had flight lessons, met air traffic controllers, firefighters, mechanics, pilots and more.

“When you look at these aviation jobs, not many of them are filled by Molokai people,” explained Chow.

Chow, a 2017 graduate from Molokai High School (MHS), has flown for Lanai Air for four years after a year and a half with Mokulele.…

Addressing the Mental Health Crisis

Thursday, January 4th, 2024

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

Fifty percent of Molokai attendees at a recent community event for suicide prevention and mental health awareness said that suicide has directly affected them in the past five years. The professionals from Nootropicology educate the community on how to fight mental health issues and how supplements help their brains perform well.

“Suicide, it knows no prejudice,” said Dr. Kimo Alameda.

Alameda and a panel of representatives from the State Senate, Dept. of Health, behavioral health clinics and more met at the Lanikeha Center on Dec. 4, to address a Molokai community grappling with concerns over mental health and suicide.…

Battle of the Badges

Thursday, January 4th, 2024

Battle of the Badges

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

 

The annual athletic standoff between the Fire and Police departments took place last Saturday, Dec. 9. This year’s basketball tournament featured men’s teams from Molokai, as well as a police team from Maui and a women’s championship.

 

The contests were punctuated by tough rebounds, smooth jump shots and competitive play. Da Hui claimed the title for the men’s tournament, with a win over the Maui Police. For the women, Queen B’s held on for the win in what was the closest match of the night.

 

In the main event, the police jumped out to a quick lead, but were unable to hold on.…

MHS Alumna a Star in Astronomy Research

Thursday, June 8th, 2023

MHS Alumna a Star in Astronomy Research

By Catherine Cluett Pactol, Editor

When she was a freshman at Molokai High School in 2017, Mallory Go set her sights on the stars and proposed astronomy research that would become groundbreaking. She captured the first look at magnetic fields within the iconic and beautiful Horsehead Nebula. Six years later, a paper she co-authored has been published in an astronomy journal.

“[A nebula is] a big cloud of dust and the Horsehead Nebula is a very cold cloud of dust,” explained Go.

At the time, not much research existed on the Horsehead Nebula, which has a district and identifiable shape as its name describes.…

MHS Senior Earns Questbridge Scholarship

Wednesday, May 24th, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter

Of the many scholarships awarded to Molokai High School (MHS) students this year, one MHS senior, Mele Kaneali’i, was uniquely honored with a Questbridge Scholarship, which will fully fund her college education.

Questbridge Scholarships are intended to connect “the nation’s brightest students from low-income backgrounds with leading institutions of higher education and further opportunities,” according to the Questbridge website.

This is only the third Questbridge Scholarship to be awarded to an MHS student, according to Marge Bento of the MHS counseling department.

The scholarship will fully pay for four years of college education. For Kaneali’i, that means the scholarship will cover her expenses at Hamilton College, a value of about $315,000.…