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Author Archives: Catherine Cluett Pactol

Makakupa’ia Bridge Replacement

Wednesday, June 20th, 2018

The Makakupa’ia Bridge, located on Kamehameha V Highway four miles east of Kaunakakai, is slated for a $6 million replacement  starting in 2020. The project is estimated to last 18 to 24 months and will involve the construction of a temporary bypass road, demolition of the existing bridge and construction of the new bridge. The existing bridge, built is 1940, no longer meets current National Bridge Inspection Standards, meaning replacement is required.

Right now, Makakupa’ia Bridge is 23 feet long and 28 feet wide with two 11-foot lanes and two-foot shoulders. The new bridge will be 49 feet long and 42 feet wide, with widened shoulders for pedestrians and cyclists.…

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Emergency Device Helps Rescue Fishermen

Wednesday, June 13th, 2018

 

Last Thursday, two Molokai fishermen were stranded after their 18-foot boat capsized. A Coast Guard crew was able to quickly locate them and hoist them to safety after the fishermen activated an emergency beacon on board their vessel called an EPIRB, which stands for emergency position-indicating radiobeacon.

The two men, who were not identified, launched their boat from Kaunakakai Harbor Thursday morning to go fishing. They reported that a wave hit their boat, overturning it. They were able to swim out from under the boat but weren’t able to call for help, according to the Coast Guard. One of the Molokai residents swam back under the boat to manually activate the emergency beacon, and the signal was received by the Coast Guard at 12:06 p.m.…

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Molokai Remembers Anthony Bourdain

Wednesday, June 13th, 2018

 

Anthony Bourdain, a celebrated chef, TV personality, travel and food commentator and host of the award-winning series, “Parts Unknown,” died last week at the age of 61. In 2015, Bourdain visited Molokai as part of the series’ episode on Hawaii food and culture, and many Molokai residents have been reacting to his death and offering tributes of their memories of him. Bourdain himself wrote fondly of Molokai on his blog following his visit.

“The place where I was happiest in Hawaii was the place everybody (native Hawaiians included) insisted that I would probably be least happy—or least welcome: Molokai,” wrote Bourdain.…

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Finding Unity in Hula

Wednesday, June 6th, 2018

Finding Unity in Hula

 

Honoring a tradition thousands of years old, the 27th annual Ka Hula Piko celebrated the birthplace of hula at Ka’ana on Molokai and carrying forward hula’s value into modern times. Halau and music groups from around the state came together last Saturday at Kualapu`u Community Center to honor dance, language and culture with locals and visitors alike.

The three-day event included a guided cultural excursion to Ka’ana in Maunaloa where hula began, and a Talk Story session with kumu hula, culminating in Saturday’s Ho’olaulea.

Ka Hula Piko was founded by the late Kumu Hula John Ka`imikaua and Halau Hula O Kukunaokala, which is now led by Kumu Hula Elsie Ryder.…

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Battle of the Airlines

Wednesday, June 6th, 2018

 

It’s a battle of the airlines to the tiny settlement of Kalaupapa, with two companies vying for the ridership of residents. In a drama that will play out in the coming weeks, both Makani Kai Air and Mokulele Airlines are now flying into the peninsula.

In March, Mokulele Airlines was selected to service the settlement under the federal Essential Air Service (EAS) program beginning June 1, but without the federal subsidy that normally offsets the cost of flying into remote locations that otherwise might not get air service. Makani Kai has been serving Kalaupapa under the EAS since 2011, also applied to renew its EAS contract, requesting about $700,000 annually.…

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Schonely Awarded for Sports Reporting

Monday, June 4th, 2018

Schonely Awarded for Sports Reporting

 

The Molokai Dispatch’s sports reporter Rick Schonely was awarded by Molokai High School for his collaboration efforts with the school and highlighting student athlete accomplishments. Schonely was among a handful of community members and organizations honored with the school’s No Ka Heke award at a luncheon last week.

“Molokai High School acknowledges the contributions and collaboration efforts of our community partners in conveying the school’s vision and mission,” reads the award. “This award is given to our community partners who exemplify ‘No Ka Heke’ spirit of being ‘Molokai Mo Better.'”

Schonely writes weekly sports stories in The Molokai Dispatch, films Sports Report videos on social media, and sometimes even accompanies teams to off-island sporting events.…

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Celebrating the Class of 2018

Wednesday, May 30th, 2018

Celebrating the Class of 2018

 

Nearly half of this year’s Class of 2018 graduated from Molokai High School with college credits under their belt. This and many other achievements were celebrated last Friday evening by the 85 graduating seniors along with their families, friends, teachers, community members and dignitaries.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard joined the celebration, offering words of wisdom in her opening address.

“The details of every step along your future path are actually less important than answering the one very important question, which is, ‘What is your ‘why?’ What is your purpose? What is your motivation?’ she told the seniors. “Understanding your own personal answer to that is critical.”…

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Sports Year Wraps Up with Banquet

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018

Sports Year Wraps Up with Banquet

 

The accomplishments of this year’s Molokai High School student athletes were honored by the Athletic Department at their annual Athletic Recognition Banquet last Wednesday night at the MHS Cafeteria. After a nice roast pork dinner, served by Mikes Catering, all our student athletes and coaches were recognized by Athletic Director Lee DeRouin and his staff. The evening started off with the Parade of Athletes, in which all classes were recognized and athletes were introduced.

In a separate event earlier last week on Maui, eight Molokai student athletes were honored among this year’s Sports Spotlight Student Athletes, a program sponsored by Alexander and Baldwin.…

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Tsunami Fears ‘Unfounded’

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018

 

With the continuing volcano and earthquake activity on Hawaii Island, many Molokai residents have their bags packed, ready to run for higher ground in case a tsunami is triggered. But Cindi Preller, duty scientist and geologist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, said that scenario is highly unlikely.

“The tsunami fears being propagated are unfounded,” she said. “The likelihood of a collapse from Kilauea is super low. The scary scenario that people are referring to is Mauna Loa [which is not currently erupting]. Kilauea has a buttress of sediment on the ocean floor… even if it does slide, it wouldn’t slide very far.”…

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Landfill Expansion Planned

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018

 

Molokai’s landfill is looming larger each year, and the existing facility is slated to reach capacity by mid-2020. Maui County’s Dept. of Environmental Management is now proposing a $6.5 million plan to add two new disposal cells to the Molokai Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility in Na`iwa that would bury the island’s waste disposal needs until 2038.

The two-phase expansion of disposal cells would increase the size of the existing 11.6 acre landfill to 18.4 acres. Phase 5 is projected for development in 2019 and Phase 6 would be completed in 2024. The project also includes relocating the existing green waste facility to another location at the landfill, as it currently exists where Phase 6 is planned.…

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