Author Archives: Emily Sumners

Oh Rats! Part II

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

Oh Rats! Part II

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, County Extension Agent, UH CTAHR

A serious disease spread by rats is in the headlines in Hawaii recently. Angiostrongyliasis, also known as the Rat Lungworm Infection, is caused by a microscopic nematode or eelworm. The adult stage of this nematode lives only in rats, while the immature form or the larvae are passed from the rat droppings to other animals, especially snails and slugs, and even prawns.

Humans ingest the lung worm when they eat slugs and snails hidden in produce, such as lettuce and uncooked greens, and also raw or undercooked snails (escargot) and prawns.…

Taking a stand against meth

Sunday, February 10th, 2013

Taking a stand against meth

Five girls from Ho`omana Hou High School saw first-hand how common meth was on Molokai, so they decided to take a stand. Partnering with the Hawaii Meth Project, they began a campaign to bring education and awareness to a community burdened by the dangerous drug. Ingesting Adderall through nasal administration may result in a range of short-term and long-term side effects, impacting both mental and physical well-being. For additional information, one can explore more info regarding these effects.

As part of their project, Makana Nahaku, Jayvelin Tabilangan, Tyliah Kaha`ulelio, Pomai Puailihau and Tati Pa`aluhi educated Molokai Middle School (MMS) students about the dangers of meth last Monday.…

Keiki Expo will be Big Fun for the Little Ones

Thursday, February 7th, 2013

Keiki Expo will be Big Fun for the Little Ones

The ninth annual Keiki Expo packed a lot of learning and entertainment into one morning at the Mitchell Pauole Center last Saturday.

Education and health was the driving force behind the Expo’s activities, but for the keiki, it was all fun and games. The “Diaper Dash” crawling contest had tots racing for the win, and Kala Juario got things moving with keiki Zumba. There was also a bouncing castle, giveaways and storytelling.

Event organizer Lori-Lei Rawlins-Crivello said the event shows parents of young children what programs on the island can help them and their kieki.

“Once the children get older, everything they do is part of the [school] system,” Rawlins-Crivello said.…

Seed Company Provides Local Plants

Wednesday, February 6th, 2013

 

Molokai Seed Company News Release

Established in 2008, Molokai Seed Company provides high quality seed and planting material. We sell products to the homeowner, farmer, and home gardener with sustainable agriculture in mind. Our motto is “seed for conservation and sustainable agriculture.”

Currently we have two products available: “Sunshine” Vetiver and “Tropic Sun” sunn hemp. Check our website, molokaiseedcompany.com, as we expand our product base into other seed crops. We are also planning to have additional products like Fu Man Chews, which are of premium quality.

“Sunshine” Vetiver may be the single best method to control soil erosion and provide slope stabilization.…

NOAA Proposal Aims to Save Coral

Wednesday, February 6th, 2013

NOAA Proposal Aims to Save Coral

The south shore of Molokai boasts one of the largest fringing coral reefs in Hawaii, providing a home for fish, a draw for tourism, shelter from ocean storms, and sustenance for the local economy. Coral is fragile, though, and biologists fear these valuable organisms could be extinct by the year 2100. This is why the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposed to list 66 species of coral as endangered or threatened, an action that could protect the island’s reef.

Of the 66 species that NOAA may soon list as threatened or endangered, three exist in Hawaii, and two – montipora patula and montipora flabellata– call the Molokai area home.…

MHS Student Accepted into Harvard

Wednesday, February 6th, 2013

MHS Student Accepted into Harvard

 

Michael Kikukawa’s Ivy League dreams have come true.  With a list of colleges he had yet to apply for, the Molokai High School senior received an acceptance letter to Harvard this past December. The news opened a door for Kikukawa to prestigious school and proved to Molokai students that they too can find pathways to this kind of success.

“Anything worth doing is going to involve a struggle,” he said, noting the challenges he faced in pursuing his goal.

MHS Principal Stan Hao said Kikukawa’s successes exhibit what can be accomplished by setting a goal and working toward it.

“It shows that a great desire can be realized, even in a small rural community like ours,” he said.…

Fish and Dive Refreshes Business

Sunday, February 3rd, 2013

Fish and Dive Refreshes Business

 

After 40 years in the same location, Molokai Fish and Dive is being moved into the gas station next door in a process that will bring several changes to the popular ocean gear and tour provider. Tim and Susan Forsberg, who have owned the shop for 12 years, said it was time to do something different, so they took on the challenge of adding fuel and food to their services for locals and tourists.

When the Forsbergs noticed Hayaku, the gas station next door, was often closed last December, they feared that Molokai would soon have only one gas station again.…

Lady Farmers Score MIL Title, Head to States

Sunday, February 3rd, 2013

Lady Farmers Score MIL Title, Head to States

As the overtime clock ticked down to its final seconds, Molokai High and Seabury Hall were tied for the tenth time and the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL)Girls Division II Championship was anybody’s game.

The Lady Farmers claimed the victory, though, with one solid shot and two successful free throws in the last 29 seconds, securing a 53-49 win. The Lady Farmers claimed the MIL Championship title and sent the fans and players into wild celebration, according to the Maui News’ report of the game, played at Maui High School’s gym. The win brought the Lady Farmers their tenth MIL championship since 1985, when the team first entered the league.…

Molokai Mom on a Mission: Raising Awareness, Inspiring Change

Sunday, February 3rd, 2013

Molokai Mom on a Mission: Raising Awareness, Inspiring Change

Community Contributed

Opinion by Mercy Ritte

On Wednesday, Jan. 16, a unified group of charter school students and teachers, environmentalist, conservationalist, Hawaiian rights activists, people of all ethnic backgrounds, and families trekked a three mile march, from Buckman Hall on the University of Hawaii campus to the State Capital, in an effort to push for labeling GMO foods.

According to the Center for Food Safety, “it has been estimated that 70 percent of processed foods on supermarket shelves–from soda to soup, crackers to condiments–contain genetically engineered ingredients.” Studies have also revealed, over the past decade, that GMO foods can pose serious risks to humans, animal life and the environment.…

A Realistic Approach to a Healthy New Year 2013

Sunday, February 3rd, 2013

A Realistic Approach to a Healthy New Year 2013

Community Contributed

By Jon Mikami, RPh, and Kelly Go, RPh, Molokai Drugs, Inc.

It’s January 2013, and you know what that means. “New Year’s” and “resolution” are about as inseparable as hamburger and French fries, stew and rice, or fish and poi. Maybe you want to eat less, exercise more at Na Pu’uwai Fitness Center, quit smoking, or spend more time with your ohana.

Easy does it. Before you take the plunge, try rethinking your approach. Instead of making vague, sudden, and difficult-to-keep resolutions, think in terms of healthy lifestyle changes – more of a work in progress.

Start small, with one goal at a time, and make a solid plan.…