Author Archives: Catherine Cluett Pactol

How to Reach Renewable Energy Goals

Monday, March 5th, 2018

Maui Electric News Release

Maui Electric Company will host community meetings to share possible options based on feedback collected from the Molokai community on how to achieve 100 percent renewable energy for the island. The meetings will start at 5 p.m. with light refreshments, followed by updates from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

Tuesday, March 6: Kilohana Community Center Wednesday, March 7: Maunaloa Community Center Thursday, March 8: Mitchell Pau`ole Center

“We’re working toward accelerating clean energy plans for Molokai, and this includes continuous dialogue with all of you – the island’s residents and businesses throughout this process,” said Sharon Suzuki, president of Maui Electric.…

The Pink Lady Goes Home: Remembering Elizabeth Kahihikolo

Monday, March 5th, 2018

Community Contributed

 

By Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

The cortege left St. Francis Church grounds to the strains of an Elvis Presley song and headed up the hill past the movie house toward Staff Row. The procession was led by Kahohulani in her truck, bearing the casket containing the body of our friend and long-time resident, Elizabeth. We passed the burned-out site of the former state kitchen where she had enjoyed many a meal with her friends over the years. Then we passed McVeigh Hall where she had participated in many celebrations. Next we slowed down as we passed her house as well as that of her sister, Gertrude, where her sister had fed all the cats in the neighborhood.…

Mesmerized by Moana’s 

Thursday, February 22nd, 2018

Mesmerized by Moana’s 

Moana’s Hula Halau’s annual fundraiser dinner show once again dazzled a captivated audience under the banyan tree at the Molokai Community Health Center last Saturday night. Now under the guidance of Kumu Raquel Dudoit, the halau has been dancing for more than 60 years, according to founder Kumu Moana Dudoit’s grandniece, Zhantell Dudoit Lindo.

The show featured Moana’s wahine, kane and keiki as well as fire dancers from Po`ohala Productions of Maui. One of the evening’s numbers was a dance honoring Aunty Moana written by musician Kuana Torres. The hula referenced her bus service and described her as the “ambassador of aloha,” said Dudoit Lindo.…

Wrestlers Take Bronze at States

Thursday, February 22nd, 2018

Wrestlers Take Bronze at States

Ten Molokai wrestlers battled on the mat at the State Wrestling Championships last week and two came away with bronze while a third claimed fourth place. The eight girls and two boys who qualified for the event faced top notch opponents.

“The first day of competition was tough but at the end of the day there were still five Farmer wrestlers in medal contention,” said Head Coach Randy Manley. “Three had advanced to the championship semi-finals and two, with one loss each, were on the consolation side of the bracket.”

Molokai’s three semi-finalists, Daisha Kalilikane (140 pounds), Luhi Pedro (227), and Caele Manley (154), fought hard but all faced losses Friday morning.…

Kualapu`u, MHS Robotics Take Home Awards

Friday, February 16th, 2018

Kualapu`u, MHS Robotics Take Home Awards

Community Contributed

By Edwin Mendija, Robotics Coach

Both Kualapu`u School’s Robotics Team and the Molokai High School VEX Robotics Team competed at the 2018 Hawaii State VEX IQ Championship on Jan. 13-14.

Three teams from Kualapu`u school competed: Team 1037A — Felix Kehano, Matthew McGuire, and Kamau Pali; Team 1037B — Alice Alvarez and Chevy Bush; and Team 1037C — Shazen Bush and Anthony Naia Starkey.

All three teams performed strongly in the qualification rounds, landing them all in the finals which consisted of the top 18 scorers. The finals were nail-bitingly close, as second through fifth place all scored within one point of each other.…

Kealopiko Shirt Supports Kualapu`u Immersion Students

Friday, February 16th, 2018

Kealopiko Shirt Supports Kualapu`u Immersion Students

Each morning, students at Kualapu`u School start the day by joining together in chanting a Hawaiian `oli. The third line of the `oli — “Aia i hea ka `uala Lanikeha e wili ai ka lei kalina” — talks about the Lanikeha varity of uala, or sweet potato, from Ho`olehua. This line will soon have special significance and visual representation on a shirt that will both celebrate February as Hawaiian Language Month and raise money to support Hawaiian language learning at Kualapu`u School.

The T-shirt is the result of a collaboration between Hui Makua, the parent organization of Ke Kula Kaiapuni `o Kualapu`u Hawaiian Immersion program at Kualapu`u, and popular local clothing company Kealopiko.…

Controlled Fire Planned for Kalama`ula

Wednesday, February 14th, 2018

MFD News Release

Maui County Fire Department (MFD) staff will have a controlled fire in Kalama`ula, Molokai, between Feb. 19 and 23. This controlled, or prescribed, fire is done to satisfy national requirements to be certified as a Type 3 Incident Management Team, provide live fire training to fire personnel, and remove hazardous levels of overgrown plant material.

The MFD and Department of Public Works, in consult with the Hawaii Department of Health, Maui Police Department, and the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, will be working together in a multi-agency effort to conduct this exercise.

The live fire training will be conducted between 7:30 a.m.…

Girls Swim Relay at States

Wednesday, February 14th, 2018

The Molokai High School Girls 200 yard medley relay team competed at the state Swimming and Diving Championships last Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9–10 on Maui, where they finished fourth in their heat. The Lady Farmers swimmers were senior Michelle McGuire, junior Maire Kalawe, sophomore Kapili Naehu-Ramos and sophomore Kayla DeRouin.

Head Coach Amanda Labriola was excited to have Molokai represented at the swimming state championships.

“I am so proud of our girls who placed fourth in their heat and their time was 2 minutes 10 seconds,” she said. “This season went very well I am proud of the team I had this year.…

Boys Basketball Finishes Season

Wednesday, February 14th, 2018

Last week, the Boys Basketball team played in the Maui Interscholastic League Division II tournament, where they won their first game then ended their season in the semifinals game with a 7-5 record.

Molokai played against Haleakala Waldorf, winning 54-30 with 27 points from Senior Kaina Adolpho.

“I was proud of our team for coming together and really playing for each other and they were focused and took care of business so that we were able to advance,” said Head Coach Nohea Pangkee.

The Farmers then advanced to the semifinals and faced the host Lanai Pine Lads (10-3). The Farmers played well in a close game but came up short and lost 43-37.…

Large-Scale Solar Moves Forward

Wednesday, February 14th, 2018

Large-Scale Solar Moves Forward

 

A large-scale solar and battery storage project on Molokai has moved one step closer to reality after an agreement was reached between Maui Electric and Molokai New Energy Partners, a division of Chicago-based renewable energy company Half Moon Ventures. The 2.7-megawatt project would supply 41 percent of the island’s electricity usage. It consists of 37 acres of solar panels on industrial land near Maui Electric’s Pala`au Power Plant and a three megawatt battery energy storage system. If all goes as planned, the project is anticipated to in service by the end of 2019, and would operate under a 22-year contract.…