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Author Archives: Catherine Cluett Pactol

Crowning Mrs. Molokai

Thursday, March 29th, 2018

Crowning Mrs. Molokai

 

Miss America may be a well-known title but on the Friendly Isle, the first Mrs. Molokai in recent years has been crowned. Desirae Mendija will soon be taking the pageant stage as Mrs. Molokai competing for the title of Mrs. Hawaii America.

“It’s always been a dream to be Miss Hawaii,” said Mendija. She had run for the title several times but didn’t make it past the district level, so she decided to give up pageantry and get married. But when she heard about the Mrs. Hawaii competition, she was all in.

“The pageant features married women recognized as beautiful, talented, business minded, empowering women who are career and family-oriented as well as important contributors to their community,” she said.…

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Mokulele Selected to Serve Kalaupapa

Thursday, March 29th, 2018

Mokulele Airlines has been selected to fly into Kalaupapa under the federal Essential Air Service program without subsidized funding, despite concerns from the community. The airline has not yet finalized its flight schedule or pricing for its service to the isolated settlement, which will begin June 1.

The federal Department of Transportation (DOT) announced their decision on March 16, and Mokulele representatives met with Kalaupapa residents the following week to discuss their needs.

“I would say there’s a guarded optimism that Mokulele will serve the community and meet our needs, but there’re still concerns,” said Department of Health Kalaupapa Adminstrator Kenneth Seamon.…

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Library to Get More Space

Sunday, March 25th, 2018

Library to Get More Space

A growing collection of books and programs at the Molokai Public Library is causing its historic building to burst at the seams. If a proposed expansion is approved, the library would get some much-needed additional space. The proposal includes a new, stand-alone 1,875 square foot building behind the existing facility that would cost over $3 million, funded by the state Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS).

The new building will be connect to the back of the existing staff room by a breezeway. The facility will provide a meeting room, workroom for staff, and two restrooms additional space for books, as well as.…

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Setting Sights on the Stars

Wednesday, March 21st, 2018

Setting Sights on the Stars

“Shoot for the stars” is advice often given to youth, but three Molokai High School students have earned the chance to take the phrase literally. They were awarded a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe the stars through the one world’s best telescopes atop Maunakea.

Sunni Chow, Taye Mowat and Skylar Kuahuia are Molokai’s first Maunakea Scholars, a program run by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) that allows students observatory time based on research proposals they submitted. The ever-expanding program, started a few years ago, currently includes 10 Hawaii high schools.

“The program you’re in has never been done before and it’s unique worldwide… because we have the telescopes on Maunakea and no other kids in the world have that in their backyard,” said Doug Simons, CFHT executive director.…

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Baseball Off to Bat with Wins

Wednesday, March 21st, 2018

Baseball Off to Bat with Wins

 

The Boys Baseball team got its Maui Interscholastic League Division II season started with two wins over St. Anthony on Maui last weekend. On Friday, the Farmers (2-0) beat the Trojans (0-2) 17-6 in five innings. Senior Nainoa Kaahanui was on the mound for the Farmers and got the win. On Saturday, Molokai got the win 7-3 behind senior starting pitcher Shraedon Naeole-Starkey. Molokai has won the last five MIL DII Baseball titles.

Molokai is getting a late start with their season after having no games in preseason this year and Head Coach Bradford “Ilika” Kaahanui is ready to get the boys in a groove.…

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Softball Continues Undefeated

Wednesday, March 21st, 2018

Softball Continues Undefeated

 

The Lady Farmers Softball team got the sweep over Lanai (0-2) last weekend at the Molokai High School field. The Lady Farmers (4-0) won on Friday 15-5 in five innings. Molokai had 15 runs on eight hits.

On Saturday, the Lady Farmers got another win 17-8, and Head Coach Kawehi Horner was pleased with his team’s play.

“Our pitchers threw their best while on the mound this weekend and our catcher did an outstanding job holding it down behind the plate,” he said. 

Molokai had 17 runs on 16 hits on Saturday and showed that they are a strong contender this year.…

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Softball Opens with Wins

Friday, March 16th, 2018

Softball Opens with Wins

The Molokai Lady Farmer Softball team got their 2018 season off to a great start with two road wins at Hana (0-2) last weekend. Molokai only needed three innings to win on Friday 18-3. Tehani Yamamoto got the win by pitching a one-hitter and Wehi Pastrana, Sydney Rawlins, Cahl Horner, Cami Horner and Kaydence Oswald all hit home runs. On Saturday, the Lady Farmers won 11-1 in five innings to start their season 2-0. Sydney Rawlins was 2-3 with two runs batted in, Cahl Horner also 2-3 with two RBIs, Yamamoto also 2-3 with two RBIs and Camille Ledesma 2-2 with a triple and an RBI.…

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National Wrestling Champ Cendall Manley

Friday, March 16th, 2018

National Wrestling Champ Cendall Manley

 

Molokai High School Wrestling alumnus Cendall Manley won the National Collegiate Wrestling Association 170 pound National Championship last weekend in Allen, Texas. Manley, the number two seed this year, wrestles as a sophomore at Liberty University.  She defended her title, pinning top-seeded Saydie Kala of Southwestern Oregon in 4 minutes, 50 seconds in the final.

“I was very blessed to represent my school, my state, and my island, and God this weekend!” said Manley. “Wrestling has been such an amazing part of my life and I’m so thankful for my Molokai family who was cheering me on and praying for me the whole time!…

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Laps for Love

Friday, March 16th, 2018

Laps for Love

In its second year, the Molokai Cancer Fund’s Walk for Ohana drew hundreds of community members to raise money for island cancer patients last Friday night. With a country paniolo theme, 21 teams honored family and friends affected by cancer: survivors, those currently fighting the disease, and those who lost the battle. All money raised stays on Molokai to assist local cancer patients with travel and other expenses related to treatment.

Starting the evening with a lap dedicated to survivors, community members of all ages walked a track at the Kaunakakai Ball park, participated in line dancing, warmed up from the night’s chill with hot food and drinks and lit lanterns in honor of loved ones passed.…

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Choosing Molokai’s Energy Future

Friday, March 16th, 2018

Choosing Molokai’s Energy Future

Maui Electric has identified a four-way fork in the road to Molokai’s energy future. Last week, the utility presented several options to reach the goal of 100 percent renewable energy for the island in a series of island-wide community meetings.

A large-scale solar project with battery storage, proposed by Molokai New Energy Partners, a division of Half Moon Ventures (HMV), figures largely into those options. The project includes 37 acres of solar panels to be located next to Maui Electric’s Pala`au Power Plant. An agreement between HMV and Maui Electric was recently reached, and Maui Electric submitted the proposal to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for review last week.…

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