Author Archives: Jessica Ahles

Bennett Pottery Annual Show and Sale

Sunday, November 17th, 2013

Bennett Pottery News Release

One of the first human technologies was the creation of fire-hardened clay.  In pre-industrial societies artisan/craft people and their families, and then craft guilds created items of daily use.  Goods were produced locally and the household had direct contact with the creator.  In some cultures, due to the reverence for the marriage of earth and nature, ceramics is esteemed as the highest form of art.  The trade of valued items such as ceramics influenced early geo-politics.

Today, archaeologists trace the development of cultures through the remnant pieces of ceramic ware.  The introduction of the English and Japanese folk art movement into the universities of the 1950s rekindled ceramics as an art form in the U.S.…

Ropin’ in the Rain

Thursday, November 14th, 2013

Ropin’ in the Rain

Competition got a little dirty during the first day of the eighth annual Molokai Stampede at Kapualei Ranch. Squinting through pouring rain, gripping slippery ropes as their horses sent mud flying across the arena, cowboys toughed it out through stormy conditions last Saturday. Eighty-five teams were narrowed down to eight by the final round of stiff competition in the # 11 team roping events, while the afternoon’s keiki and barrel events were postponed from the downpour.

“Rain changes strategy and game plan — anyone can rope under perfect conditions, but who can rope [when it’s not perfect]?” said emcee Zhantell Dudoit during the event.…

Working Women

Thursday, November 14th, 2013

Working Women

New Professional League on Molokai

A motivated group is working together to empower women on Molokai through an emerging professional organization called the Molokai Professional Women’s League (MPWL). The organization’s goal is to host professional networking opportunities, mentorship programs and collective support to encourage active leadership in the community.

“We want to support the women here on Molokai,” said MPWL Vice President Liette Corpus. “If we support our women, we will strengthen our families and our communities.”

More than 40 members, representing all ages, attended MPWL’s first membership meeting last Thursday at Hotel Molokai. There, they were introduced to the organization, its mission and plans for the future.…

Agriculture: Career and Technical Education

Thursday, November 14th, 2013

UH Maui College Molokai News Release

The Agriculture and Natural Resource program at University of Hawaii Maui College, Molokai provides instruction for those in need of training, retraining, or skills upgrading in the field of agriculture. The credits earned also benefit those wishing to transfer to a four-year college or university.

Diverse learning activities are provided right here on Molokai!  The Molokai farm includes a 5,000 square foot greenhouse, orchards, and vegetable field on 28 acres of land.  Projections point to a continued need for well-trained people in all aspects of the green industry.  Farms and agriculturally related businesses need informed individuals to implement new technologies and sustainable agriculture techniques.…

Molokai Furniture Celebrates 10 Years

Thursday, November 14th, 2013

For local business owner Denise Taueetia, growing up on Molokai meant always working hard. After 10 years of managing her own gift and furniture store, she’s taking a moment to celebrate.

“I still look at our pictures from our first anniversary,” said Taueetia. “In the beginning it was fun and it’s still fun today.”

Molokai Furniture got its start in 2003 after Taueetia had come back to the island after studying and working on Maui.

“[My husband and I] had gotten rid of all our furniture on Maui,” said Taueetia. “When I came here, I thought it was going to be easy to get furniture, but it wasn’t.”…

$3.1M Battery Proposed for Power Plant

Thursday, November 14th, 2013

If you’ve noticed a lot of temporary electricity outages and lights dimming lately on Molokai, you’re not alone — and energy researchers have proposed a multi-million dollar project they hope will help stabilize the island’s electricity supply.

About one fifth of Molokai’s electricity comes from photovoltaic (PV) energy from business and residential solar panels, according to Mathew McNeff, Maui Electric manager of Renewable Energy Services Department. However, that high percentage is causing instabilities in the flow of electricity. Because energy generated from PV depends on conditions like the weather and daylight, it doesn’t provide a steady source of electricity to Molokai’s electric grid.…

Diving to the Depths of Safety

Thursday, November 14th, 2013

Diving to the Depths of Safety

Martin Stepanek can dive more than 400 feet on a single breath of air. He’s set 13 freediving world records and knows more than anyone how dangerous the sport can be. But with the proper safety education, he said freediving has minimal risks — and with the goal of sharing that knowledge, he’s become a pioneer in modern freediving education. Last month, Stepanek visited Molokai to offer a series of safety courses free of charge to local divers.

Having been raised in Czech Republic, a country without ocean access, didn’t dampen Stepanek’s passion for diving, and when he was 20 years old, he relocated to the U.S.…

“Na Kupu Mana`olana — Seeds of Hope” Premier on Molokai

Thursday, November 14th, 2013

By Jamie Ronzello, MOM Hui

It has been estimated that Hawaii currently imports 85 percent of their food.  However, if we were to look at the history of the Hawaiian Islands, it was not that long ago that the Hawaiian people produced enough food to support a population of one million. Yet today, with the rising costs of shipping foods and the resurgence in the community to return to land, is there hope that Hawaii can feed itself once again?

Come see the acclaimed documentary “Na Kupu Mana`olana — Seeds of Hope” that chronicles the history and current challenges of agriculture in Hawaii today.…

Red Cross Disaster Team On Molokai

Thursday, November 14th, 2013

Red Cross Hawaii News Release

The Red Cross is growing their cadre of disaster volunteers on Molokai. Free disaster training was provided on Molokai at the end of October and new volunteers were trained.  Currently, the Molokai Red Cross disaster team consists of 23 individuals, ready to respond on island to disasters that may occur.  All disaster response and training of disaster volunteers are free of charge.

Halona Kaopuiki is one of the newly trained Red Cross volunteers.  “I was very impressed on the Red Cross orientation classes on Molokai,” he said.  “When I saw Lester Keanini helping victims on the news in Louisiana, it made me feel proud to see a Molokai boy volunteering his services away from home.…

Caregiver Workshop

Thursday, November 14th, 2013

Maui County Office on Aging News Release

Maui Adult Day Care Centers and Maui County Office on Aging invite you to a free caregiver workshop, “Understanding the Older Adult.” The workshop will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Home Pumehana Hall.

Gain awareness and understanding for the emotions an aging loved one goes through as you take over their care. Learn also about factors that contribute to negative/positive behavior changes, caregiver tips to help you provide care with compassion and tips for surviving the holidays.

The event will be taught by Kathleen Couch, Caregiver and Program Coordinator at the Maui Adult Day Care Centers.…