Ho`omana Hou School 4th Quarter Honor Roll
Honor Roll
Shaquille Rapanot McGuire: 3.69 GPA
Honorable Mention
Danielle Mersburg: 3.32
Kamohoali`i Gomes: 3.23
Rashel Ka`aikala: 3.21
Che Gonzales: 3.19
Mikayla Tengan: 3.18
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Add your commentHayzen Franco-Kelekolio
Hayzen Kamalu O Nalani Fanco-Kelekolio was born on May 27, 2011 at 11:32 a.m. to parents Shalina Franco and Caleb Kapahakula Kelekolio, at Molokai General Hospital. He joins sisters Mikayla and Kaylee and brother El Jay; grandparents Rhonda Albino of Hilo, and Gabriel Kelekolio Sr and Roselani Soares of Kalamaula, Molokai. He was 5 lbs 10 oz and 19 inches long.
Some Molokai Nonprofits Lose Tax Exemption
More than a thousand nonprofits around the state have lost their tax-exempt status this year, and a handful of those are Molokai organizations, according to a list recently published by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Most tax-exempt organizations, other than churches, must file a yearly tax return with the IRS. If an organization fails to do this for three consecutive years, it automatically loses its tax-exempt status.
“Loss of exempt status means an organization must file income tax returns and pay income tax, and its contributors will not be able to deduct their donations,” according to the IRS website.
Theraputic Thanks
Pakolea Rehab Inc. (Physical, Occupational, & Speech Therapy), Dr. Shauna Russell, DPT and Dr. Suzann Wojciechowski, OTR, would like to thank the community for its support during its grand opening held on May 7, 2011. The facility and staff was graced by the presence and blessing of Kahu Anna Lou Arakaki, who said the facility emulates the "good it brings to the community.” Following the blessing, ono food was shared by everyone while the crowd was serenated with the beautiful voices of "Melva" and "Baba" Hanohano.
Philip Benedito
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Philip Fujita Benedito of Kaunakakai, died May 20, 2011 in Honolulu at age 81. He was born Jan. 18, 1930 in Waimanalo, and was a retired National Security Technologies maintenance technician and U.S. Army veteran in the Korean War.
He is survived by his wife, Emelia; son Philip Jr.; daughters Phillynn Benedito-Haas and Phyllis Benedito-Felipe; brothers Carlos Roy and Leocadio; sisters Rosalina Omalsa, Lourdes Fujimoto, Caroline Kawano, Jeanette Arellano, Elenita Keanini, Beatrice Abadilla and Adele Gorospe; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be on June 4, 2011 at Kalanianaole Hall at 8 a.m., followed by eulogy at 9:45 a.m. and mass at 10 a.m. Flowers welcome; aloha attire. Arrangements by Borthwick Mortuary.
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Until Next Time, Molokai
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To those I met on Molokai, and to those I didn’t meet here, I would like to extend a big thank you for allowing me to serve your community for the past six months as an intern reporter at the Molokai Dispatch. If it wasn’t for you and your kindness and hospitality, my stay here would not have been amazing as it was. I got acquainted with the real Hawaii and I enjoyed every minute of it; from the good to the bad, I learned immensely.
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It’s the things like that I enjoy when I visit new places that I will remember. Although you live such a simple life, you don’t have the luxuries that other places in the world have, but that’s what makes this place special, Molokai. You really know what is important in life, and that is your family and friends. With that and a roof over our head, we have everything.
I really learned what it meant here to embrace the people around you. And on top of that, I learned what it really means to be part of a community. You guys work together. That’s awesome. Don’t change. Molokai’s the best. Hands down. And of course, I can’t forget the ones who helped me along the way: thank you to Todd and Noe Yamashita for making it happen. If any of you will be in the Durango, Col. area, let me know. That’s where I’ll be. There’s some awesome skiing and snowboarding there, so you can put your great board-balancing skills to use.
Planning Commission Vacancies
The Molokai Planning Commission (MoPC) serves a vital role in the community as the gatekeeper for development and construction that could potentially cause harm to the environment or encourage local businesses to thrive. There is currently one vacancy on this volunteer commission, and another vacancy anticipated.
Ho`omana Hou Graduates Four
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Through tears and smiles, hugs and warm words, four students proudly graduated from Ho`omana Hou High School last Friday. The graduation ceremony – planned, organized and led by the students themselves – focused on ohana to demonstrate understanding of who they are and where they come from.
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While Ho'omana Hou is not an immersion language school, `olelo Hawaii plays an important in the curriculum for students to learn about protocol, history, and the Molokai environment, according to Karen Holt, school principal.
Their kumu tied a kihei around the shoulders of the four students that they had each hand-painted, symbolizing status and maturity, according to Ho`omana Hou teacher Loretta Ritte. Students’ parents bestowed a kukui lei around their necks in recognition of the knowledge they gained, and their grandparents placed lei po`o (head garlands) upon them. The lei po`o were gathered and woven by the students themselves from native rainforest plants, symbolizing patience, planning and spirituality.
Speaker Rapanot-McGuire reflected on all his class has been through and the good times they shared – “We will cherish the memories and laughs,” he said.
Two of the four graduates are already enrolled in college, while the other two plan to apprentice in the electrician and mechanic trades, according to Holt.
The school’s curriculum is based on Molokai’s resources, focusing on the island's environmental and cultural heritage. It provides hands-on opportunities to learn academic skills in outdoor settings.
Ho`omana Hou is licensed and its credits are accepted by colleges and vocational schools in Hawaii and on the mainland. The school is now accepting applications for new students in grades 9-12; to apply, contact the Molokai Community Service Council at 553-3244 or mcsc@molokai.org.
Veterans Corner
Community Contributed
By Jesse Church
Hello veterans, old Jesse here with all the veterans’ news and upcoming events. Well everyone, I have some wonderful news that you should already be aware of. The Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans received their building permit for the veterans’ center on Wharf Road. It is fantastic knowing that we have the permit, it feels like a very large weight has been removed from our backs. A big mahalo to all the veterans that worked so hard the last five years to get the permit, thank you from the bottom of my heart. To the veterans that we have lost in the last five years, I’m sorry that you were not here to share this day with us, but you are not forgotten.
Crane Action at St. Damien
Community Contributed
What is going on behind that black fence across from the post office? Resurrection. Behind the construction fence at 115 Ala Malama, there is an intense construction effort underway to build the new St. Damien of Molokai Catholic Church. Since early January, Nordic PCL Construction has been hard at work constructing a new worship center for the Molokai Catholic Community on the recent ashes of the old St. Sophia plantation church, scheduled for completion in December. This week, concrete walls will be raised into place with a crane.
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