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The Wreck of the Dixie Maru

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

The Wreck of the Dixie Maru

Community Contributed

By Arleone Dibben-Young


The fishing sampan, a wooden Chinese boat, Dixie Maru was built in Honolulu in 1916 by Harold L. Morris, a wealthy tourist from Denver, Colorado. A few months later, on the night of April 26, the boat ‘sprung a leak in the heavy sea’ off Molokai’s west end. The crew of two – Jack Kailianu and another Hawaiian named Makuka – attempted to steer the flat-bottomed boat through the breaking surf into the safety of a small bay, but it struck the rocks.

The two men swam to the sandy crescent beach and then walked the dusty horse trail to Kaunakakai where they were given food and clothing. The boat was a total loss and the site is remembered nearly a century later as Dixie Maru…Kapukahehu Beach.

Mo`omomi-Anahaki Protection in the Works

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

Department of Hawaii Home Lands News Release

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is considering re-designating Mo`omomi-Anahaki as a “Special District,” which would protect resources, provide stewardship opportunities and preserve the unique sense of place.

Mo`omomi-Anahaki current land use designation is “General Agriculture,” but at a beneficiary meeting in July it was clear the community is concerned about the potential for wind turbine development there.

Candidates Weigh In on District Voting: Part I

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

One of the greatest issues that will face the next Maui County Council is the proposed change to how members are elected. A group of Maui residents are pushing to replace the current at-large system with nine single-member districts, which would redraw district lines according to population and eliminate seats that represent Molokai and Lanai exclusively.

Currently, council members are elected at-large by voters countywide to represent one of nine districts, meaning members can lose their districts but be elected by winning the countywide vote.

Bull’s Eye

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

Shoot-shoot-shoot!

They’ve been saying it all season, and last week the Molokai High School air riflery team did just that, topping the girls’ division at last Saturday’s Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) championships. They finished first overall with 1,733, the combine score of the team’s top four finishers.

“They tore them to pieces,” said coach David Kalani. “They said ‘Molokai?’ Yes, Molokai! We’re here.”

The Lady Farmers beat out second place St. Anthony with 1,702 and third place Maui High with 1,664.

He Mana`o Aloha `Ia

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

He Mana`o Aloha `Ia

Check out a selection of photos from this year's Festivals of Aloha.

Bill Sparks Controversy for Small Farms

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

Local farms are up in arms over proposed federal legislation, claiming it would impose strict food safety regulations that could further strain their ability to make ends meet.

Known as the Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510), the bill has passed in the House and is currently being considered by the Senate. It seeks to increase the administrative power of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to ensure safer food production.

Some local farming operations are concerned that S. 510 would bring about extra paperwork, increased costs and less-than-manageable regulations.

Church Exceeds Campaign Goal

Monday, October 18th, 2010

As the Diocese of Honolulu wraps up its capital campaign to raise $30 million – which actually received $57 million in pledged funds – parishes around the state will begin to reap the benefits.

The diocese, a collective of Hawaii’s Catholic churches, launched the ambitious campaign in 2008, a time when the entire nation was - and still is - shoulder-deep in an economic slump. But with the help and participation of 66 Hawaii parishes, including Molokai’s St. Damien Catholic Parish, the results were nothing short of surprising.

“It was quite a big shock,” said Cynthia Lallo, director of development and stewardship of the diocese. “We’re amazed by what this group has accomplished.”

School Uniforms Get Mixed Reviews

Monday, October 18th, 2010

School Uniforms Get Mixed Reviews

no meetings, no nothing.”

Mokuau disagreed, saying the SCC has been considering the uniform policy for years and kept parents informed throughout the process. Information was included in report cards, back-to-school packets and printed in the Dispatch as early as March 2009. A parent representative on the SCC even called parents of incoming freshmen to alert them to the change.

“It was not something that just happened the first day of school,” Mokuau said. 

Uniforms became mandatory on Sept. 1, a month after school started. They are meant to maintain a safe campus, improve education environment and enhance school pride, according to Mokuau.

Students can choose from four colors and three designs, but all are polo shirts. The new dress code also requires bottoms be no more than three inches above the knee.

“It’s not like every person looks the same,” Mokuau said.

Shirts cost $11-16. On Aloha Fridays, students are free to wear what they chose as long as its within dress code policy.

Remembering Our Sister

Friday, October 15th, 2010

Sept. 28 marked our sister’s 10th year of passing. We miss her so much – her smiles, laughter, kindness, caring, beauty and love that she had toward everyone. Becca will always be special. She has given us so much love and lots of memories to remember her by, on her short time with us. She was always so quiet, shy and totally innocent. When we lost our sister, it was like the world came to an end. We had questions that couldn’t be answered, we held anger, and I myself wanted revenge, feeling so helpless.

From Five Years to Five Minutes

Friday, October 15th, 2010

On Saturday, Oct. 9, the Molokai Veterans hosted a “talk story” session on the Veteran property with Alan Arakawa. Mahalo to the approximately 130 veterans, families, and friends for attending. A solution to the long building permit process for the veterans sounds simple – the fire department and water department together test the same fire hydrant at the same time and find a solution. Amen. Thank you to the Vets Jesse Dudoit, Bo Mahoe, Earl Paleka, Ray Sambueno, Manny Garcia, Adolph Helm, Cappy Caprida, Hank Ellertsen, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Kelly, Douglas, Norm DeCosta, Connie Hao, Albert Pu, Alice Kono, Silvia Pablan, Andre Cibiyan and Oliver Young. Thank you also to Jerry Johnson, Jovencio Ruiz and his gang, Nathan Ignacio, Ipo and William Davis, and the Catholic Church.