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Dive In

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Maui County News Release

The early bird catches the worm – or, in this case, the world record.

Maui County is joining organizers around the world in an attempt to set the Guinness World Record for largest swimming lesson.

On Thursday, June 3, simultaneous lessons will take place at over 175 sites worldwide -- including Cooke Memorial Pool on Molokai. Participants must be registered, in position and ready to begin the lesson prior to 4:00 a.m., the official start time. Registration begins at 3 a.m. All ages are welcome and there is no cost to participate. The lesson will last 45 minutes.

Sites joining the attempt stretch from Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and across North America.

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Studying the Options

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

County of Maui News Release

Mitchell Pauole Center is one of 12 Maui County facilities to be included in an energy study. The study will recommend building retrofits, identify energy saving measures, and propose sizing of renewable energy generation systems.

Through the U.S. Department of Energy, funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as stimulus funds, will be used for a 90-day contract to conduct an investment-grade energy audit on County facilities. The $50,000 contract was awarded to Honolulu-based Energy Industries, LLC. 

Other facilities to be audited include the Wailuku, Paia, Lahaina, Makawao, Kihei, Kahului, Napili, Kula and Wailea fire stations, and Kaunoa and West Maui senior centers. 

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Congratu-lei-tions

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Congratu-lei-tions

The stuffy Barn hummed with excited chatter as the anticipation grew. Stragglers combed the stands for empty seats while mothers armed with digital cameras lined the aisles for the perfect vantage point. Then, with the opening bars of “Pomp and Circumstance,” the graduates began to enter -- greeted by blasting air horns and excited applause.

Saturday’s gradation ceremony brought out about 800 people to watch the Molokai High School class of 2010 graduate.

“Just look around and soak in everything because this is the end of an awesome beginning and the start of another,” Jesse Lite told his fellow graduates in his valedictorian address.

A sense of accomplishment filled the day, along with an appreciation for what the students had been through together as a class and where they are headed.

“It’s not about what you create for yourself, it’s about what you leave behind that truly defines your success,” senior class president Chenoa Na`ilikea Ahuna-Kaai said in her speech.

This year’s graduates also got a special commencement address from Miss Hawaii 2009 Raeceen Woolford.

The students’ earnest performance of Michael Jackson’s “We Are the World,” proved the highlight of the ceremony. Swaying and snapping in true gospel choir fashion, the song seemed to embody the knowledge that these students from the tiny island of Molokai will go on to make a difference in the world.

Finally it was time for the diploma presentations. The boys danced, strutted and fist-pumped their way to the podium, all trying to out-do the last, while the girls, enjoying their moment in the spotlight, walked as gracefully as their high heels would allow. Again the gym filled with air horns, cheers and camera flashes for pictures that will undoubtedly follow the graduates for years to come.

Afterward the crowd flowed outside, turning the parking lot into a swarming sea of handmade signs, flower bouquets and piled-on lei. An occasional gust of breeze ran through the lot, tugging at balloons, sending lei flying and urging the crowd to leave, but they lingered still, enjoying this very last day of school. And a good time was had by all.

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Party With D.A.R.E.

Friday, May 21st, 2010

Party With D.A.R.E.

Molokai elementary school students celebrated the end of a 10-week D.A.R.E. program with a rally on Thursday, complete with entertainers, a skit by police and a helicopter landing.

The students -- third and fifth graders from Maunaloa School, Kilohana Elementary, Kaunakakai Elementary and Kualapu`u School – were treated to performances by singer Jordan Segundo and hypnotist and juggler Greg Gabaylo. For the grand finale, Maui County police put on a skit while members of the Special Response Team repelled from a landing helicopter to demonstrate a marijuana eradication mission, according to Maui County Police Department (MCPD) spokesperson Kehau Dods, who emceed the event.

D.A.R.E. – Drug Abuse Resistance Education – is a global campaign to teach children about the dangers of drug use.

“Kids are so vulnerable and come under a lot of peer pressure,” said MCPD officer Keola Tom. “This might be the program that makes them think twice about drinking or doing drugs.”

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Kalaupapa Trail Makes Headway

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

For the isolated peninsula of Kalaupapa, the trail that zigzags along its overlooking cliffs is nothing short of a lifeline. That lifeline was cut after a mudslide destroyed a section of the trail last month. Now, restoration efforts are gaining ground as workers prepare to install an approximately 65-foot bridge prefabricated in the continental U.S.

The high-grade aluminum span will replace the temporary bridge constructed on switchback No. 2 of the pali trail. To ensure maximum stability, the new bridge will be held in place by two concrete end structures as well as other stabilization techniques along its full length. 

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Living Well with Diabetes

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Maui County Office on Aging News Release

Diabetes is one of Hawaii’s most common diseases, and to help residents better manage its effects, a workshop is coming to Molokai. Ke Ola Pono will offer the program “Living Well with Diabetes” at Home Pumehana beginning on May 20. The workshops will be held on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and run for six consecutive weeks.

“Living Well with Diabetes” shows participants how to take care of themselves and do the things necessary to manage their diabetes and related symptoms. Classes are small, allowing classmates to get to know each other and work together to achieve their health goals.  

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Answering the Call to Conserve

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Maui County Department of Water Supply News Release

Molokai keiki grow up learning that water is gold, and that philosophy stood them in good stead in the Department of Water Supply’s First Annual Water Conservation Poster Contest. Four Molokai students were contest winners in the county-wide challenge, and a fifth received honorable mention.

The contest was open to all Maui County students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The goal was to educate Maui County’s keiki on the importance of water conservation and encourage them to take an active role in ensuring the sustainability of Maui’s water supply. Winning entries and honorable mentions will be featured in the 2011 Water Conservation Calendar.

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Local Authors Honored

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Local Authors Honored

Kalele Bookstore News Release

Local authors Rachelle Maikui (Anake Snookie) and Gaellen Quinn each had books honored by the Hawaii Publishers Association at the 2010 Ka Palapla Po`okela awards held April 30th at Bishop Museum.

“Ho`okupu: An Offering of Literature by Native Hawaiian Women” (edited by Miyoku Sugano and Jackie Pualani Johnson, Mutual Publishing) won Honorable Mention in both the “Excellence in Hawaiian Culture” and “Excellence in Literature” categories. The book is a fascinating collection of the writings of contemporary Native Hawaiian women in a variety of styles. Rachelle Maikui authored the selection included in the anthology entitled, “The Birth of Mo`omomi.”

“The Last Aloha,” by Gaellen Quinn (Lost Coast Press) won the award for “Excellence in ‘Aloha from Beyond Hawaii’” (for books about Hawaii published outside Hawaii). “The Last Aloha” is historical fiction set in 19th century Hawaii during the time of the overthrow of the monarchy by American missionary descendents.  It also recently won the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association “Best Book” award in historical fiction and is a finalist in ForeWord Review’s  national “Book of the Year” award. Winners will be announced this month at Book Expo in New York City.

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The Green Scene

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

The Green Scene

It’s not everyday you get to nod your head, tap your feet and sway your body to the funky reggae beats of The Green live on Molokai. So it’s no wonder that when the Oahu-based band marked its presence at Paddlers Inn last Friday, they were greeted with a mass of welcoming fans.

Prior to the show, we talked with Zion Thompson, lead guitarist and vocalist for The Green, and found that The Green seed was planted long before the band even came together. We also talked story with Thompson about what the band has been up to recently.

. It was a killer road trip. We didn’t have to drive – we had a bus. It was unreal. A couple of us had done a little bit of touring, but nothing like this. We’ve always wanted to do it as a group, so it was really cool.

MD: Any favorite spots?
ZT: Oregon, New York and Texas were awesome. Everywhere was unreal, though.

MD: But there’s no place like Hawaii.
ZT: Oh yeah. It was great to come home. We were ready to come home and have some fat crowds. It makes you appreciate Hawaii even more.

MD: So, what’s with the name, The Green?
ZT: Well, it’s a good color. It’s the land, it’s the trees. We let people see it as they want. And especially right now, in this day in age, it’s positive with everyone going green and trying to be aware about the planet. We thought of a name that would hit a lot of different markets if people have an open mind. For Hawaii, this name works awesome for various reasons. On a world scale, we’re trying to get back to the whole attitude of spreading awareness about the environment. And… it’s also our favorite color.

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Hitting the Right Note

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Hitting the Right Note

Over 50 people crowded the Molokai Public Library last Wednesday to hear slack key guitarist Jeff Peterson play a set of traditional and original pieces. In between songs, he talked about the history of slack key and what makes the style distinct.

“You extend the range of the instrument,” he said of the technique of detuning the guitar to allow for more slack in the strings. “It’s a real full, rich sound.”

Slack key began when Mexican cowboys arrived in Hawaii the 1800s to start ranching – and brought with them the steel-string guitar.

“Hawaiians took it and adapted it and put some aloha spirit in it,” said Peterson, who grew up on Maui.

He described the evolving style of slack key, which today incorporates elements from other genres like classical, jazz and even swing.

Peterson’s new album “Maui On My Mind” is nominated for three Na Hoku Awards, including Slack Key Album of the Year, and Peterson himself is nominated for Favorite Entertainer of the Year.

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