Author Archives: Colleen Uechi

Plants for Mother’s Day

Friday, May 1st, 2015

Hospice Hawaii Molokai News Release

Hospice Hawaii Molokai Mother’s Day fundraiser plant sale includes an assortment of flowering plants and herbs in varying sizes suitable for a garden and decorative pots. Plants are a loving way to remember your mother on this day.

The sidewalk sale is Friday, May 8 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Molokai Hospice office in the Kamoi Center (next to Dave’s Ice Cream).  Please no pre-sale requests.

All funds raised are earmarked for Hospice Hawaii Molokai.  Mahalo for your support.…

Propagation Workshop

Friday, May 1st, 2015

HTFG News Release

On Saturday, May 2, Molokai is proud to host world renowned fruit expert, chef, author and filmmaker Ken Love. Learn his successful propagation techniques in grafting, air layering and seed saving, hosted by the Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG) on Molokai. Ken travels the world to learn and teach about growing and producing unique tropical fruits and has looked for rare and exotic fruit in more than 50 countries.  He has at least 150 unusual fruit trees on his family farm in Hawaii Island.

As a chef and localvore advocate, he has a passion for introducing unusual local grown fruits into farmers markets, grocery stores and restaurants with a “Buy Local” message as Hawaii producers compete with Florida, Mexico and Ecuador. …

Beachcomber Of Kalaupapa

Friday, May 1st, 2015

Community Contributed

By Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

I approached the huge log with caution and a degree of awe. There was something majestic about this massive piece of tree, something almost mysterious. How did it get here? When did it get here? Had it been floated from some other location in ancient times, destined to be shaped into a wa`a, a Hawaiian canoe? I stood there looking down at its great length and enormous girth and I thought, “God only knows.” Then I stepped around it and continued to explore the beach.

It was a beautiful sunny and windy Sunday afternoon and I had decided to leave the quiet of Kalaupapa village and explore the outer fringes of this Makanalua peninsula.…

Join the E Ola Campaign

Friday, May 1st, 2015

Growing Pono Schools News Release

Are you part of a group who has done a project or activity to improve your school or community this school year?  If so, consider joining the E Ola Pono Campaign by May 15 so your efforts can be acknowledged and your group becomes eligible for a monetary award.

The E Ola Pono Campaign is in its seventh year of encouraging student led initiatives in grades K-12 to proactively work to eliminate bullying and promote the concept of living pono, defined as acting with respect toward everyone and everything.

Campaign sponsors ask groups to submit documentation and a brief reflection about their activity by the mid May deadline.…

Wild West End: Molokai Ranch Heritage Rodeo

Wednesday, April 29th, 2015

Wild West End: Molokai Ranch Heritage Rodeo

As the bullriders packed up their protective gear and the last riders led their horses out of the Molokai Ranch arena, cowboy Maka Augustiro beamed with quiet pride. His 14-year-old son Chevy had just braved several long seconds in the ring with a madly bucking bull and won uproarious cheers from the crowd for his efforts. For the Augustiros and many other Molokai families, last Saturday’s Molokai Ranch Heritage Rodeo was a chance to admire each other’s grit and talent – and sometimes compete against each other.

“It gives us a time to come and have what we call a playdate for us, a time where we can make a sport of the work we do on the ranch,” said long-time paniolo Jimmy Duvauchelle.…

Makani Kai Adding Maui Routes

Wednesday, April 29th, 2015

Makani Kai Adding Maui Routes

Starting June 1, Makani Kai Air’s single-prop Cessnas will be heading east. The company plans to offer flights to Maui, after repeated requests from Molokai residents who enjoyed their services, said airline owner Richard Schuman.

Currently, Makani Kai operates between Ho`olehua, Kalaupapa and Honolulu. In June  the airline will add six daily round trips between Molokai and Kahului and two weekly between Kalaupapa and Kapalua, according to P.J. O’Reilley, the company’s director of sales and marketing.

Makani Kai will kick off the new routes with introductory online fares of $39  one way and $78 round trip between Maui and Molokai. The flights, which will be available online starting May 1 , must be booked by July 1 for travel by September 1.…

Baseball Wraps Up MIL Title

Wednesday, April 29th, 2015

Baseball Wraps Up MIL Title

The Molokai High School boys’ baseball team will be headed to the state tournament for the third year in a row after winning the MIL Division II Baseball Championship this past weekend at Maehara Stadium on Maui.

The Farmers outscored their opponents in the tournament 26- 1 and had solid pitching from their two aces, Nohi Meyer and Hanale Dudoit Enos.

On Thursday, they defeated Lanai 15-0 in three innings, and on Friday they defeated St. Anthony 11- 1 in five innings. Ena Victorino had a home run and a triple in the game against the Trojans, and all of his teammates also contributed to the successful weekend.…

Softball Sweeps First Homestand 

Wednesday, April 29th, 2015

Softball Sweeps First Homestand 

The Molokai girls’ softball field may be brand new, but the path to home plate is already well worn by the cleats of the high-scoring Farmers.

Last weekend in Ho`olehua, the Lady Farmers (7-1) swept the St. Anthony Trojans (1-7) in a pair of three-inning wins, 16-1 on Friday and 23-1 on Saturday.

It was the Farmers’ first and final series on their new home field, which was officially blessed on March 20.

“I’ve practiced here before, but this year, having a game and having everyone from the community and our parents coming to watch us, it just felt really exciting, and I felt really honored,” said senior Kelsie Espiritu-Tanabe.…

Tennis Teams Stay Hopeful

Wednesday, April 29th, 2015

Molokai’s tennis teams exited early in last week’s Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) championships, but not before giving opposing schools a glimpse of what’s to come from this young, growing program.

“Our team is mostly comprised of sophomores and first year players,” said Luke Kikukawa, the team’s only senior. “… We really were starting to become a much bigger figure in MILs. Coaches are becoming more aware of us.”

Multiple underclassmen contributed to the Farmers’ five first-round victories, while sophomores Kaiea Dowling and Preston Pascua-Kaho`okano were named the sixth seed in the boys’ doubles competition and received a first-round bye.

Freshmen doubles teams Cassandra Ragonton and Romelyn Ragonton, and Michelle McGuire and Althea Cariaga got past the first round, as did junior duo Kea`a Davis and Oceana Madani.…

Five-Year Grant Kicks Off

Wednesday, April 29th, 2015

Five-Year Grant Kicks Off

Students and community members learned and created side-by-side at last week’s Molokai LIVE Family Fair. The event at Molokai High School celebrated the start of the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, which Aka`ula School, Molokai High and Middle Schools received this year.

The five-year grant that covers up to $200,000 each year will allow the schools to offer free courses to students and the community through the Molokai LIVE program, which is short for “Learning, Investing Vigorously Everyday.” The program is meant to enrich overall student learning as well as to engage the community, said Lyn Bonk, after-school coordinator for Molokai Middle School.…