Author Archives: Colleen Uechi

Aloha on the High Seas

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015

Aloha on the High SeasQ&A with Hokulea crewmember Kawika Crivello

A handful of Molokai residents have been honored to be invited as crew on the Hokulea, a double-hulled voyaging canoe whose first journey from Hawaii to Tahiti in 1976 successfully replicated ancient Polynesian travel using traditional navigation techniques. The late Mel Paoa and Penny Martin began a long tradition of Molokai crewmembers, among them Kawika Crivello. He was one four local watermen to complete legs of the Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage, a 47,000-mile journey that will conclude in 2017. While not his first voyage, Crivello served as steersman on a leg across the dangerous Tasman Sea between New Zealand and Australia between April and June of this year.…

Residential Fire Sent Two to the Hospital

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015

Residential Fire Sent Two to the Hospital

A structure fire in Kamiloloa Heights last Saturday night sent two people to the hospital. Fire crews responded to a call just before 9 p.m. on Sept. 19 and found a building fully engulfed in flames. According to a press release from the Maui Fire Department, it was later discovered that the structure was a garage in front of the house.

Three people were in the home behind it — a couple in their late 70s and a female friend who was visiting them, according to the fire department. Emergency responders pulled the female homeowner and the friend out of the house through the bedroom window.…

Farmer Football First to Stop Seabury

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015

Farmer Football First to Stop Seabury

Last Saturday, Molokai’s football team did what no other school in the league had done before: defeat Seabury Hall. In three seasons of MIL eight-player football, the Spartans had yet to lose a game. However, on their home field last Saturday, the Farmers topped their undefeated archrivals 62-7.

“I’m just proud of the boys,” said Head Coach Mike Kahale. “We executed, put up some points. We finally got over that hump.”

Molokai dominated the game from the beginning in front of a big crowd, with Seabury only scoring on a long touchdown run late in the second quarter.

The Farmers started the scoring in the first quarter with a short run by senior fullback Ena Victorino from inside the 10-yard-line.…

Winning Weekend for Farmers

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015

Nobody, it seemed, could beat the Farmers last week. Every Molokai team tasted victory as girls’ volleyball won twice on Maui, air riflery shot first place finishes in The Barn and football broke Seabury’s 18-game winning streak at home.

Last Thursday, the boys’ and girls’ air riflery teams competed in their second postal meet of the season, in which schools shoot separately in their home gyms and submit their targets to the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL).

The boys’ air riflery team finished in first place and claimed the top three individual spots. Joshaviah Cabreros had 263 points, Cody Nip shot 260 and Jershon Kaalekahi was close behind with 258.…

Vet Center Told ‘No Solar’

Friday, September 18th, 2015

MVCV News Release

The Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans (MVCV) has been looking into installing solar panels on the roof of the new Veterans Center. But vice commander Longie Dudoit who was trying to get quotes on the project has hit a road block and he has been told by Sun Electric that solar panels cannot be installed on Molokai at this time. This is a frustrating situation that we hope can be resolved soon. If you have any questions, please call the vet center at 553-8387. There will be a meeting regarding electricity in Hawaii and especially the proposed Hawaiian Electric merger with NextEra Energy on Saturday, Sept.…

Molokai Selected for Middle School Enrichment Program

Friday, September 18th, 2015

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui News Release

Molokai Middle School is among 14 middle and intermediate schools around the state selected to participate in the R.E.A.C.H. (Resources for Enrichment, Arts, Culture and Health) Initiative for the 2015-2016 school year.

R.E.A.C.H.’s mission is to ensure all public school students in grades six to eight receive the academic and community-based support they need to stay on track toward high school graduation by engaging them in a broad-base of programs and activities, outside of regular instructional hours, in the areas of academic enrichment, arts and culture, and athletics.

The initiative, spearheaded by Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui in collaboration with state Department of Education (DOE) Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi, provides an organizational framework for public middle and intermediate schools to offer students expanded learning opportunities during after-school hours.…

Molokai Resident Among Pacific Century Fellows

Friday, September 18th, 2015

Pacific Century Fellows News Release

Thirty-six men and women from around Hawaii have been selected for the 15th class of the Pacific Century Fellows program, including Molokai resident Noelani Yamashita. The program identifies, encourages and helps to develop and strengthen island leaders.

Modeled after the White House Fellows Program and founded in 1996 by former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, the Pacific Century Fellows are chosen on the basis of written applications and personal interviews conducted by a blue-ribbon panel of judges. In evaluating the candidates, the committee considers educational background; current career responsibilities, noting any special achievements as well as the comments of superiors; involvement in community activities; communication skills; and strength of character.…

Students Awarded $16K for Science and Education

Friday, September 18th, 2015

Students Awarded $16K for Science and Education

MEDB News Release

Molokai students took top honors at the Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) Ke Alahele Education Fund Benefit Dinner and Auction last month. The event raised $309,000 to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) projects in Maui County and throughout the state, and recognized students for their accomplishments in the field with the presentation of the Daniel K. Inouye Innovation Award.

The MEDB Ke Alahele Education Fund earmarked $10,000 for this year’s winners, and the Daniel K. Inouye Institute matched the award with an additional $10,000. The first place winner received $10,000, second place $6,000, and third place $4,000.…

Swarm Season is Here

Friday, September 18th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Elisabeth Kaneshiro, Molokai Meli

Here at Molokai Meli, in addition to producing local honey, we also help residents and businesses with bee removal. We have had a lot of calls for removals and have seen the bees moving around. Honey bees swarm when the hives are getting too big and need more space. The rain causes the bees to swarm more often because the bees are bringing more nectar so the hive grows. The bees make a new queen and take a big group with the old queen and leave. These often look like a big cloud. They send out the scout bees to go and look for a new home.…

Walk for Sight

Friday, September 18th, 2015

Lions Club News Release

The Molokai Lions Club will hold its annual Walk for Sight on Sept. 26 from 7:30 to 10 a.m.  Registration for the walk will take place in front of the Kalele Bookstore.  All participants donating $10 or more will qualify for a Lions Walk for Sight T-shirt.

The walk takes place in a circle round town and participants will record the number of times they make the loop.  Community members are urged to sponsor a participant and donate an agreed upon amount according to the number of loops the participant walks!  Monsanto is the largest business sponsor and the Lions Club encourages other businesses to donate to this fund.…