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Local Woman Wins Journalism Awards

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Local Woman Wins Journalism Awards

Community Contributed

By Heidi Chang

Hawaii’s journalism community recently turned out to celebrate some of its best work at the annual Excellence in Journalism Awards dinner in Honolulu. The Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter handed out awards for work produced in 2010. Multimedia journalist Heidi Chang, who has Molokai ties, won the two highest honors for radio news and feature reporting. Chang won a first-place award for her story about Father Damien of Molokai: Hawaii’s First Saint, which aired nationally on AARP Radio’s “Prime Time Postscript.” 

It tells the story of Father Damien and his work with Hansen’s disease patients on Molokai. Chang interviewed Kalaupapa patients Clarence "Boogie" Kahilihiwa, Norbert Palea, and the late Kuulei Bell for the story.

Chang also won a first-place award for her story about the 40th annual Ukulele Festival in Hawaii, which aired on Public Radio International’s “The World.” She produced the radio story, and also a video of Jake Shimabukuro playing ukulele and took all the photos featured in the photo gallery.
 
Chang is part of the Yuen ohana on Molokai, who has lived on the island for generations.  She has also contributed stories to The Molokai Dispatch, including one about her grandfather, Y.K. Yuen, and her late aunty, Marybeth Yuen Maul.

“It’s always good to promote the best reporting in the state to make sure the standards are kept high, as the number of jobs in journalism decline, and the number of traditional media outlets shrink,” said Society of Professional Journalists President Stirling Morita.

Chang is currently working on an oral history project in Kalaupapa with the Hawaii Council for the Humanities. If you’d like to collaborate or help in anyway, please contact Chang at Heidi@HeidiChang.com.


You can listen to Heidi’s award-winning stories on her Hawaii Tales blog:
http://heidichang.com/2011/06/heidi-wins-two-spj-hawaii-awards-for-hawaiis-first-saint-and-ukulele-festival/

AARP Radio’s “Prime Time Postscript”
Hawaii’s First Saint (Father of Molokai)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAL9rsxYCd4&feature=player_embedded

Ukulele festival
Public Radio International’s “The World”
http://www.theworld.org/2010/07/ukulele-festival/

Jake Shimabukuro - While My Guitar Gently Weeps - 2010 Hawaii Ukulele Festival
http://youtu.be/xE33l8JrFlQ

Hawaii Ukulele Festival: Photo Gallery
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pritheworld/sets/72157624434325193/

Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter
http://www.hawaiispj.org/

See a complete list of the 2010 Excellence in Journalism Award Winners here:
http://www.hawaiispj.org/Awards/2010%20contest%20news%20release%20USE.txt

Molokai Pioneer and Humanitarian: Yun Kee Yuen | Molokai Dispatch
http://themolokaidispatch.com/molokai-pioneer-and-humanitarian-yun-kee-yuen

A Groundbreaking Woman | Molokai Dispatch
http://www.themolokaidispatch.com/groundbreaking-woman

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Keep Kupuna From Falling

Sunday, June 26th, 2011

Maui Adult Day Care Centers News Release

Maui Adult Day Care Centers and Maui County Office on Aging are inviting members of the public to a free caregiver workshop, “Fall Management Training for Caregivers.” The workship, held on June 29 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Kulana `Oiwi Halau, is open to both professional caregivers as well as those caring for family members, 

Ted Anderson, Doctor of Physical Therapy and member of the Hawaii Chapter of American Physical Therapy Association, and his assistant Jonathan Bucki will offer presentations. They will cover fall statistics and solutions, why falls increase with age, recognizing the warning signs, protection during a fall (demonstrations), fall recovery and Tai Chi for balance.
 

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Ho`omana Hou School 4th Quarter Honor Roll

Sunday, June 19th, 2011

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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Hayzen Franco-Kelekolio

Sunday, June 19th, 2011

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.

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Some Molokai Nonprofits Lose Tax Exemption

Monday, June 13th, 2011

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.

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Theraputic Thanks

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

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. 

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Philip Benedito

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

Philip Benedito

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

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

Until Next Time, Molokai

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.

Being from Nebraska, I definitely won’t forget the beautiful days on the beach, but more than that, I won’t forget simple nights of playing pool with the locals at Paddlers. I also won’t forget listening to Uncle Glenn’s stories about life in Halawa. I also won’t forget the story about him seeing Jimi Hendrix in concert in Honolulu.

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.

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Planning Commission Vacancies

Monday, May 30th, 2011

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.

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Ho`omana Hou Graduates Four

Monday, May 30th, 2011

Ho`omana Hou Graduates Four

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.

The four – Mikayla Tengan, Shaquille Rapanot-McGuire, Che Gonzales and Rashel Ka`aikala – were joined by underclassmen in singing oli. Before they were handed their diplomas, students chanted their genealogy in `olelo Hawaii.

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.

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