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Author Archives: Megan Stephenson

Deck the Halls with Aloha

Saturday, December 11th, 2010

Deck the Halls with Aloha

Fishing boats, singing Santas and plenty of aloha filled Ala Malama Avenue with holiday spirit last Saturday during the third annual Parade of Lights.  Spectators cheered on and sang with the shining floats as their friends and family representing various businesses, churches and schools rode by. Even a light snowfall sprinkled the crowd – even if it was fake. The Molokai Chamber Foundation hosted the evening, providing a wonderland of activities, food and entertainment at the Mitchell Pauole Center following the spectacle. Keiki were mesmerized by a magician and shared their Christmas desires with Santa as others viewed creative contest entries and various booths. 

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The Story of Hi`iakaikapoliopele

Saturday, December 11th, 2010

The Story of Hi`iakaikapoliopele

Maui Arts & Cultural Center News Release

This ancient saga begins with Pele’s migration to Kïlauea. Her spirit is lured by hula drums to faraway Kauai, where she finds a lover. The story details the quest of Pele’s younger sister, Hi`iakaikapoliopele, to retrieve her sibling's man, Lohi`auipo, the chief of all Kauai. After many adventures and trials on her way, Hi`iaka finds that the chief has been killed by the devious mo`o of that island. She must reunite his body and spirit, restore him to life through the rituals of healing and bring him safely back to their crater home. It’s a very human account of love and lust, jealousy and justice and peopled with deities, demons, chiefs and commoners. 

The mystery and thought-provoking enchantment for Hi`iakaikapoliopele and her story was a visual feast of cultural emotion mixed with contemporary Hawaiian thinking. Abigail Kahilikia Jokiel, Pualani Lincoln, Keali`i Maielua and Matthew Kawika Ortiz will discuss their artwork ‘Hi`iakaikapoliopele: Visual Stories by Contemporary Native Hawaiian Artists’ on Dec. 14 from 6-7 p.m. at Kulana `Oiwi.


The artwork and discussion is presented by the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in collaboration with `O Hina i ka Malama Hawaiian Language Immersion Program and Kalele Bookstore.

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Winning Big at Molokai Stampede

Saturday, December 11th, 2010

Winning Big at Molokai Stampede

At last month’s Molokai Stampede, nearly 100 teams and hundreds of cowboys and girls competed for the largest cache of prizes that rodeos in the state of Hawaii have to offer.

In its fourth year, the rodeo has gotten bigger and better, said Kapualei Ranch Manager Reyn Dudoit. The cash and prizes this year totaled $25,000, ranging from saddles to a horse and a TV.

“Our main focus was to put in [whole] roping – it’s what draws everybody to the island,” Dudoit said, adding that they also included women’s and kid’s roping that off-island rodeos don’t usually offer.

The big prize – a quad ATV – is the biggest roping prize in the state. To earn it, a roper has to have a sharp horse, draw good cattle, have reliable partners and luck, according to Stoney Pocock. His 15 years of experience helped him win it.

“It feels good any time you win something like that,” he said. Pocock is also Dudoit’s son-in-law, and was on hand to help set up the rodeo he competed in.


The ranch goes by American Cowboy Team Roping Association standards. Pocock is a three on a 10-point scale, but the standards are severe – his wife Real said the highest roper in Hawaii is a five.

Each contestant may enter with six partners, who rely on each other to gain points. As the contestants compete with each partner, points are awarded to the team with the fastest times. Points are also awarded to the team with the fastest times on 3 go rounds, or an "average," according to Real.

Prizes are an important draw for rodeos since riding horses is an expensive hobby.

“For us, it’s a family oriented thing,” Real Pocock said. “My kids rope on the dummy…If it wasn’t a hobby I could drive a Ferrari.”

With a barrel of hay costing just $7 on the mainland and $30-plus in Hawaii – plus shoeing, veterinarian care and other upkeep – roping is a sport you have to love.

“It’s worth it just to see our family do things that they love,” she added. “And be able to go back to Molokai.”

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Life of the Land

Saturday, December 11th, 2010

Life of the Land

Community Contributed

By G.T. Larson

In the early 1960s in the North Atlantic Ocean an island was born. Witnessed by millions via the media, it rose from the sea in an explosively spectacular birth. Within weeks the newborn land – rough, craggy rocks, black sand, steam and sulfur fumes – began to show signs of life. Tiny green leaves appeared in crevices watered by the mists, fog and rain of its nourishing host. Surtsy, south of Iceland, emerged from the womb of the sea in the same manner as our island home, volcanically. The short recent history of islands such as Sursty is a microscopic view of our history.

As soon as Molokai cooled enough to support life, life supports established themselves. Some of our diverse plant life traveled, as the Polynesians would later, by sea. Many more, probably most, came the same way modern day visitors come, by air. Except instead of Boing 747s and Airbus A300s, they probably arrived by `Iwa (Frigate bird), Kolea (Pacific Golden Plover), and Koloa Maoli (Hawaiian Duck), to name a few. Seeds specifically designed to travel attach themselves by spurs, sticky fibers, etc. or are eaten in berries and seed form to be deposited later in another location.


As the seeds of our original “locals,” such as the Koa tree and Hapuu (Tree Fern), arrived, they found an ideal climate, rich soils and few enemies. Being so isolated from other landmasses, our flora and fauna developed in a relatively limited scope. Even our reef fishes and invertebrates, though similar to other tropical Pacific regions, are not as diverse. Our climate is also affected by our unique location and our location is affected by our unique climate.

Typically, the weather in Hawaii is dominated by the trade winds; these winds of moderate to fresh speeds, mainly favor coming in from the northeast to east. A high pressure center of air called the Pacific Anticyclone, spends most of the year to the northeast of the islands. The air circulation of this high pressure center is clockwise funneling cooler northern Pacific air over us hence, Hawaiian air conditioning. When the trades weaken and “break down,” our winds usually become variable and light. In the winter, this “break down” can be accompanied by a hot, moist airflow from the south usually bringing high humidity and rain. At times these conditions develop into quite a stormy period called Kona conditions or a Kona storm. Our weather is quite interesting and we have just scratched the surface; considering it is one of the most important factors in Hawaii’s uniqueness.

As we travel around our island home we see many beautiful trees, flowers, and grasses, but most of these are as foreign as pizzas and Toyotas. We will look at this “invasion” in a later article. For now, enjoy the world around you, and take care of it. When the life of the land is gone, the land and its life soon follow. Aloha nui loa.

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Flood Advisory for Molokai

Friday, December 10th, 2010

The National Weather Service has extended a flood advisory for the island of Molokai through at least 10:15 a.m. today.

Heavy rain continued to soak Maui, Molokai and Lanai this morning, although county officials said around 9 a.m. they had received no reports of significant flooding. No roads were closed and the Maui Bus continued to operate according to its normal schedule.

Also this morning the National Weather Service canceled a high surf advisory for Maui and Molokai.

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Laugh Yourself Healthy

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Community Contributed

by Patricia Hammond

Start the New Year with Laughter Yoga! Laughter Yoga is a playful, effective form of exercise that combines simulated laughter, yogic breathing and stretching.
The idea that laughter is good for us is nothing new. The key to Laughter Yoga is that the body doesn't know the difference between real or simulated laughter. We are able to intentionally generate physical, mental and emotional benefits by simply choosing to laugh.
 

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Queen Emma’s Taro Patch

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, UH CTAHR

Queen Emma is best known for establishing Queens Hospital to serve the Hawaiian people, but few of us know that she was quite knowledgeable about the culture of taro. The wife of Kamehameha IV, Queen Emma lived from 1836 to 1885 and was considered one of the most influential queens of the Hawaiian Monarchy. In one of her writings found in the Bishop Museum archives entitled ‘Observations on Varieties and Culture of Taro’, she discusses constructing a lo`i, the different varieties, different planting techniques, and harvesting.

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Winter Wonderland Masquerade

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Winter Wonderland Masquerade

Community Contributed

By Dara Lukonen

Hotel Molokai was transformed into a Winter Wonderland Masquerade for Aka`ula School’s Sixth Annual Ku Ka Lau Lama (KKLL) event.

On the journey from the registration table to the dining room, a festive atmosphere was created by Aka`ula parents and students for their guests. Stops along the way included a table of student decorated Venetian masks, photo booth, lei stand, pupu buffet, Giving Tree ornament table and a silent auction. Silent auction items ranged from plants, crockpots, and a home-made drying box to washing machines, fine art and a bicycle. Whether you were looking for a vacation get-away or housecleaning services, this auction had it all.   

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DLNR Extends Public Comment for Hunting Rules

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Department of Land and Natural Resources News Release

Hunters have been given another chance at contributing to hunting regulation. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is extending the comment period for Hawaii Administrative Rule amendments for regulating game bird and mammal hunting, field trials and commercial shooting preserves. Public hearings were held statewide on November.

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Parks and Rec Director Returns Home

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Parks and Rec Director Returns Home

Community Contributed

By Zach Helm

It’s been approximately four years since I left Molokai to accept the appointment to Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation for the County of Maui. I am very grateful and honored to have served as the number two Administrator for the Department of Parks and Recreation. I would like to personally thank Mayor Charmaine Tavares for giving me the incredible opportunity. It’s also important that I thank Councilmember Danny Mateo for his continued support. He helped make many things possible.

The responsibility was huge, and at times very overwhelming. However, I enjoyed the day-to-day challenges and appreciated the hard work necessary to do the job. Being responsible for approximately 450 employees, an operation budget of approximately $28 million, and a capital improvement budget running at around $20 million annually, in my opinion, was rewarding and perspective changing. The things that seem easy and simple can sometimes in reality be very complicated. I feel confident we have done our best to serve the entire community in providing safe, satisfying, cost effective recreational opportunities for both the residents and visitors of the County of Maui.


Other regular tasks included monthly meetings with the Administration, assisting with personnel matters, County Council meetings, and public hearings, County Budget deliberations and so on.  

As we move forward, I look forward to returning to Molokai as the District Supervisor on Jan. 10, 2011. With my formal education – Recreation Degree, Central Washington State University – and over 29 years of experience, I’m ready to return to the community and my hometown once again to continue to provide the professional, people-friendly service for our entire community.  Thank you for allowing me to share and work towards a common goal. I look forward to my return.   


Projects Completed
•    Implementation of the Park Ranger Program; staff hired in 2007-2008
•    Removal and referral of approximately 150 homeless people at Kanaha Beach Park and Paukukalo Beach property
•    Maunaloa Community Center
•    Renovations and improvements to the Waiehu Golf Course Restaurant, Pro Shop, and Starters office
•    Grand opening of the new Waiehu Golf Course Maintenance Shop 
•    Ground breaking of the new South Maui Regional Park
•    Blessing and grand opening of the new Boys and Girls club in Lahaina 
•    Grand opening of the additional tennis courts in Lahaina 
•    Ground breaking and the grand opening of the new Molokai Parks Maintenance Shop and Base yard at Duke Regional Park.
•    Installation of new septic tank system for One Alii Park comfort station, Kilohana Community Center, and Papohaku Beach Park comfort station.
•    Improvements to the Iron Maehara Baseball Stadium facility and baseball field
•    Improvements to the War Memorial Complex Little League fields #1, 2, and 3
•    Wailuku Gym improvements
•    Keopuolani Park Playground Structure in Wailuku
•    Planning and preparation for the rock band Aerosmith and their concert at the War Memorial Stadium
•    Planning and preparation for the State High School Baseball Tournament at Iron Maehara Stadium
•    Planning and preparation for Golden League Baseball at Iron Maehara Stadium
•    Planning and preparation for the State Senior Softball at War Memorial Complex and Keopuolani 


On-going Projects:
•    Acquisition of Murphys Beach Park on Molokai (Maurice Point)
•    Kawaikapu Open Space on Molokai
•    Canoe Club lease agreement in Kaunakakai
•    Kaunakakai Gym improvements - exterior painting and removal of termite eaten lumber
•    Mitchell Pauole Center Pilot Project “Energy Savings Program”
•    Mitchell Pauole Center repairs - replacement of sliding doors and patching of the cement floors; contractor already selected
•    Cooke Memorial Pool improvements, completion in Jan. 2011
•    Paving of One Alii Park I entrance road way – has not been resurfaced in approximately 50 years
•    One Alii Park Playground structure
•    The new Parks Construction Maintenance Base yard in Wailuku
•    Long-term lease for Kihei Veterans Center – including requesting additional lands from DLNR, testifying in front of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and having the property re-surveyed.

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