Author Archives: Colleen Uechi

Keiki Learn Conservation

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

Keiki Learn Conservation

Molokai youth don’t have to wait till they’re older to make a difference in the environment. At Keiki Earth Day last Thursday, elementary students from around the island learned how they can save energy, use natural resources and be on the lookout for invasive species.

“It’s important to know because plants and animals need to stay alive to help our native forests and to help our plants,” said Kilohana third grader Waimoku Pale.

This year’s Earth Day theme, Mai Ke Kupu Mole Hawaii, means “All is found in the Source.” Hokule`a crewmember Mahina Hou Ross said a similar theme applies while voyaging.…

David Rapanot on the Road to His Dreams

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

David Rapanot on the Road to His Dreams

Molokai High School 2014 graduate David Rapanot is in his first year of college at Feather River College in California. As a freshman, he is the starting shortstop for the Golden Eagles and is having a fantastic season while doing a great job stepping up to the next level.  Born and raised on Molokai by parents Scott and Kim Rapanot, he has played baseball since he could walk with the guidance of his father as his coach. He is now making his family and all of Molokai proud.

Feather River College is located in Quincy, Calif., a little town north of Sacramento across the border from Reno, Nev.…

Paniolo Round Up for Rodeo

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

This Saturday, 80 paniolo from around the state will gather at the Jimmy Duvauchelle Arena for the first annual Molokai Ranch Heritage Rodeo, to celebrate a colorful slice of Hawaiian culture that was born to counter an environmental problem in mid-1800s Hawaii.

At that time, with newly introduced cattle threatening native crops and people, according to hawaiihistory.org, Kamehameha III realized the need to round up the rampaging livestock. He invited Mexican cowboys to the islands to instruct Hawaiians in horse riding and cattle herding, creating the paniolo and ranching lifestyle that is still a way of life for many in Hawaii.…

Community Workday

Friday, April 17th, 2015

Sust`ainable Molokai News Release

Sust`ainable Molokai and FoodCorps are hosting a community workday.  Join us Saturday April 25 at our perma-farm at the Molokai High School (entrance directly across the Lanikeha center) from 9 a.m. till 12 noon.  We will work the aina while talking story about the importance of agriculture, local food, and our keiki’s well-being.

We will be having a potluck lunch so we encourage attendees to bring their favorite healthy dish to share.  Seeds and starters will also be available for volunteers. For more information please contact Harmonee Williams at harmonee@sustainablemolokai.org or call us at 560-5410.…

Summer PALS Registration

Friday, April 17th, 2015

County of Maui News Release

The County of Maui Dept. of Parks and Recreation (DPR) announced registration dates for the 2015 Summer Play and Learn Sessions (PALS) program.

Children should be registered in the district in which they will be attending PALS, and payments must be made on registration day. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis; if all the available spaces for a site have been filled before the allotted time is listed, staff will post signs about the site’s closure.

On Molokai, registration will be held on the first two days of the program, June 9 and 10.…

Proposed Skateparks

Friday, April 17th, 2015

County of Maui News Release

The County of Maui Dept. of Parks and Recreation will hold a series of four community meetings later this month to discuss plans for County skateparks in Upcountry Maui and on Molokai and Lanai.

Parks staff and skatepark design consultant, California Skateparks, will be on hand at the meetings to receive community input on the conceptual designs for proposed skateparks at three sites. Two meetings will be held in Pukalani regarding the Upcountry site; one meeting each on Molokai and Lanai will be held.

The Molokai meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 21 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.…

Molokai Fitness: Free Classes

Friday, April 17th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Ayda Ersoy

Do you struggle with your workout plan? You don’t know what you need to do, or you just get bored of doing the same every day? Do you need some inspiration?

Science shows that the best way to get motivated is to work together in a community. Let’s do workout together, and support and push each other!

Doing exercise is not always just to lose weight — it’s for feeling healthy and happy. Being healthy means that you’re not carrying extra pounds on you, you feel energized, you have no pain and you don’t need to take prescription drugs.…

Support for Independent Electricity

Friday, April 17th, 2015

IAM News Release

I Aloha Molokai (IAM) applauds and heartily supports Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa’s decision to explore the creation of an independent electric utility for the islands of Maui County.

As we understand it, the Mayor’s proposal would involve purchasing MECO and creating either public utilities or co-ops similar to KIUC on Kauai. IAM would be happy to assist with this effort in any way we can.

IAM has followed the melodramatic negotiations between the HECO companies and Florida-based energy giant NextEra with increasing concern. We share the Mayor’s skepticism as to just exactly how this buy-out would benefit Hawaii ratepayers.…

Molokai LIVE Family Fair

Friday, April 17th, 2015

Molokai LIVE News Release

Come one, come all!  Molokai LIVE is holding its grand opening Family Fair celebration to showcase educational opportunities at Molokai High, Molokai Middle, and Aka`ula Schools, grantees of the 21st Century Community Learning Center’s five-year grant.   The event will highlight what the schools and Molokai LIVE, a program that stands for “Learning, Investing, Vigorously, Everyday,” have been doing to build the success of our students and community.  The Molokai LIVE Family Fair will be held on Wednesday, April 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the high school cafeteria.

There will be performances and live entertainment from our Violin, Slam Poetry, Hawaiian Immersion, and MATS (formerly known as School of Rock) students. …

People of Molokai Protecting the Aina

Friday, April 17th, 2015

Hui Malama O Mo`omomi News Release

On Saturday, April 25, Hui Malama O Mo`omomi is hosting a meeting about the Mo`omomi Community-based Subsistence Fishing Area Designation. This is the second phase of meetings with the public sector.

In the first phase, fishermen and families from Pala`au Moku and other interested residents reviewed the CBFSA proposed rules for resource sustainability at Mo`omomi, providing feedback and adding suggestions. This next phase brings forward the mana`o given by stakeholders in rule-making, for the management of resources by the community.

The meeting will be held on April 25 at Kulana `Oiwi from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.…