Author Archives: Eileen Chao

Art at Aka`ula

Sunday, September 30th, 2012

Art at Aka`ula

As the sun set slowly over the hills of Kalae on Friday, students, teachers, families and friends gathered to enjoy Aka`ula School’s “Celebrating the Arts” exhibit. The annual exhibit, which first started in 2006, features the works of Aka`ula students and some family members who donate their art to raise funds for the school.

“It really is about getting [the students’] artwork out into the community,” said Dara Lukonen, one of the school’s founding teachers. “New students have been very surprised and awed when they see their work displayed –sometimes it is as simple as putting a mat on it and lighting.”…

A Step Towards Sovereignty

Sunday, September 30th, 2012

For years, there have been talks about bringing back the sovereign nation of Hawaii, for Hawaii to become socially, economically and politically independent of the United States. Kana`iolowalu, a project of the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission within the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), may be the first step towards Hawaiian self-governance, according to John Waihe`e, Roll Commission chairman and former state governor.

“There are so many different ideas when it comes to sovereignty, often times it seems disjoining,” said Waihe`e. “Unification is the foundation of our nation.”

The purpose of the Roll Commission is to register Native Hawaiians with the goal of organizing a sovereign entity.…

Biodiesel: A Viable Option

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

Biodiesel: A Viable Option

Molokai farmers explore renewable energy alternatives

Kukui nuts have long been used by Hawaiians for food and medicinal purposes, but it may soon be also used for fuel –specifically, biodiesel fuel. Wayde Lee, who created the Molokai Sustainable Farming Project (MSFP) last year, has been exploring biodiesel initiatives that he said may lead to economic stability and energy security for Molokai farmers. Recently, they’ve been working with Maui-based company Pacific Biodiesel (PBD) to discuss the possibility of eventually developing a crushing and processing plant on-island that would produce biodiesel fuel for Molokai from crops farmed on Molokai.

According to Wescott Lee, Wayde’s brother and MSFP’s project facilitator, over 2.5 million gallons of diesel are imported to Molokai every year, most of which goes towards powering the Maui Electric Company Molokai electric plant.…

Painting a Retrospective

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

Painting a Retrospective

Molokai Artist Miyako Yamazaki’s work on display at Arts Center

Contemporary artist Miyako Yamazaki has had her fair share of success as an artist. She has worked as a fashion illustrator for companies like Christian Dior and Barneys New York, designed packaging for Japan Airlines, been featured in big galleries in Tokyo and is a published author of two books. However, she said her aspirations in life were never to be widely rich or successful, but instead, what she really wished to do was to “paint like a child.”

She moved from her hometown of Tokyo to Molokai in 2004 and became a mother, two shifts that she says have changed her art and her life.…

Home Field Advantage

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

Home Field Advantage

Farmers Football beats Hana 42-0

The Farmers football team dominated their home field against Hana High Dragons on Saturday, winning 42-0. This was the first home game of the season, and the win brings their record to 1-1, having been defeated by Seabury Hall last week on Maui.
The Farmers’ offensive line scored five touchdowns in the first half and one in the second. Their solid defense kept Hana from scoring any points the entire game.

“The best thing [about this game] was that everybody had an opportunity to play,” said Molokai High School’s (MHS) head coach Mike Kahale after the game.…

A Night at the Grove

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

A Night at the Grove

Island reggae artist J Boog had concert-goers at Coconut Grove on their feet Friday night with popular favorites like “Sunshine Girl” and “Let’s Do It Again.”  The California native has worked with known artists like Fiji, Peetah Morgan and Monsta.  J Boog released his second and latest album, “Backyard Boogie,” in September of last year, which topped the charts on iTunes reggae.

The all-ages event, presented by HI Finest, also featured Hot Rain, Kiwini and Laga Savea.…

Beyond Big Wind

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

Scope of clean energy initiatives broadens

When the Wind Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) scoping meeting was conducted in February of last year, many Molokai residents stood outside of the Mitchell Pauole Center waving signs that protested the state’s proposed Big Wind and undersea cable initiatives. From the comments that were made then, the panel, made up of both state and federal officials, returned to the drawing board and drafted instead the Hawaii Clean Energy PEIS, which promises to analyze not only wind energy, but a broader range of renewable energy initiatives and technologies, according to the initiative’s website. The goal is to meet 70 percent of Hawaii’s energy needs through energy efficiency and renewable energy by 2030.…

Prize Fighters

Sunday, September 23rd, 2012

Prize Fighters

The crowd at Molokai High School’s Barn cheered wildly as the official raised 15-year-old Michaiah Soares’ hand as the winner of his match. Soares, who has been training with Molokai Southside Boxing Club for the past two years, defeated his opponent Tre Acang after three two-minute bouts. The win brings his amateur fighting record to 3-1.

Fighters from across the state traveled to compete in the Molokai Southside Boxing Invitational, the first sanctioned amateur boxing event on Molokai. Other victors from Molokai included Jordan Manangan, age 10, Kazmero Zeithammel, 13, Simon Blair, 19 and Hunter Manaba, 15. The event on Saturday featured 21 matches.…

Na Wahine O Ke Kai 2012

Sunday, September 23rd, 2012

Na Wahine O Ke Kai 2012

With large overhead swells crashing right into Hale O Lono Harbor Sunday morning, just getting out to the starting line became a treacherous feat for paddlers competing in the 34th annual Na Wahine O Ke Kai canoe race. The surf was so big that 10 canoes were swamped, with a few vessels flipping completely, just exiting the harbor before the race started. Fortunately for Molokai’s only competing team, the wahine of Team Boomski of Wa`akapaemua Canoe Club navigated out past the breakers and made it swiftly to the starting line. They went on to finish the race, which spans about 40 miles, with a time of 7:02:46.…

All Good Things Must Come to an End

Wednesday, September 19th, 2012

Community Contributed

By Kalei “Pumpkin” Moss

As they say, “all good things must come to an end,” and so does the 21st Century grant program. The 21st Century grant program, which is federally funded, has just entered its fifth and final year. The grant was designed to run for five years, with funds decreasing each year; so in its final year, the budget for the afterschool program is half of what it usually receives, meaning fewer classes can be offered. With the tight funds, administrators of the 21st Century grant program have decided that in its final year, the focus will be on educational activities which promote student achievement in reading and math.…