Na Pu`uwai News Release
Na Pu`uwai is pleased to announce that its Adult Day Care Center, the Senior Enrichment Program located at Home Pumehana’s senior living facility, is the recipient of a $100,000 community grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). This award will support our kupuna who attend the adult day care and who participate in its range of activities.
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Along with getting a higher education, some students at the University of Hawaii Maui College-Molokai, formerly known as MCC, also tried their luck at losing a few pounds this past semester during UHMC’s first-ever “Biggest Loser” competition.
Professor Donna Haytko-Paoa, the coordinator for the event, was inspired by her favorite TV show “the Biggest Loser,” a reality series which helps people lose weight. She and her staff partner, Kelley Dudoit, reeled in twenty students to participate in the weight loss program, and awards for biggest losers were handed out last Friday at the college’s campus.
First-place winner, April Maddela, won a volleyball and the respect of her classmates after the 10-week event. She lost 26 pounds during the Biggest Loser competition.
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Money is short, but the ideas and motivation of Molokai’s youth do not seem to be. The Maui County Council presented the next fiscal year’s (FY) budget for public mana`o, and students and young entrepreneurs were among those who spoke in support of Molokai programs.
Last month, Mayor Alan Arakawa proposed a $632 million budget for FY 2012.
County operations will be allocated $475.3 million and $157.7 million will go toward capital improvement projects, according the county website.
Molokai will receive $1.6 million in capital improvement projects.
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Students at Kualapu`u School transformed their auditorium into a multi-cultural mecca last Thursday with a school play about Hawaii’s history.
“I wasn’t nervous today,” said La`a Sumarnap, a sixth grader of Kualapu`u School.
Last Thursday’s play portrayed important events from Hawaii’s history, starting with the formation of Hawaii’s archipelago, to the banning of hula, and the migration of Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos who worked on Hawaii’s plantations.
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“We made our drums out of tires and tape,” he said.
Kenilyn Nishihiri-Aki, a sixth grader at Kualapu`u , summed up the play.
“We all have aloha for this place where we live. We love the Hawaiian culture,” she said.
Community Contributed
By Kim Markham
Molokai Arts Center is inviting artists to submit grant proposals for the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. The theme of this year’s grant program is “Mobilizing the Community Through the Arts” – a perfect theme for the start of Molokai’s first community art center.
All aboard! That seems to be the consensus so far across the Hawaii state legislature for a proposed bill that would jumpstart a state-wide high-speed ferry system.
Rep. Joseph Souki, along with seven other representatives, introduced House Bill 1239, which would create a system of high-speed vessels traveling at least 30 knots per hour, similar to ones that were used by the Superferry.
The Superferry served Hawaii between 2007-08. Following a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling, the Superferry shut down in March 2009 due to environmental concerns.
The bill stipulates the high-speed ferry vessels will be able to “carry at least five hundred passengers, two hundred motor vehicles and cargo between the islands of the State.”
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The Molokai Humane Society (MHS) has been setting new goals including more community outreach through the popular social network website, Facebook. One supporter was so impressed MHS reached their goal of 100 new members in one week, she donated $500 through the Shields Animal Foundation to Molokai.
“Facebook is so huge right now as a way to spread information,” said Jenn Harrington Whitted, president-nominee of the MHS Board of Directors. By connecting online, MHS will be able to give updates on the clinic’s progress and seek more volunteers.
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Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism News Release
With Lanai’s wind farm taking a tentative step forward, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) are seeking public comment at meetings on Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Oahu regarding the Hawaii Interisland Renewable Energy Program (HIREP), and the Wind Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
A meeting will be held on Molokai on Feb. 3 at the Mitchell Pauole Center at 5:30 p.m.
The EIS reviews possible environmental impacts that may arise from wind energy program development under the HIREP and the range of reasonable options.
Colorful kites are now flying in Kualapu`u, attracting residents and visitors to the newest sundry shop on Molokai, Blue Monkey.
Inhabiting the previous gift shop space at the Coffees of Hawaii plantation, Big Wind Kite factory owners Jonathan and Daphene Socher are expanding their current operations and bringing their unique products to a larger space.
Socher said response from the community has been nothing short of outstanding, and feels business will continue to flourish despite the downfalls other local stores have experienced the past few months.
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