Announcements

MOLOKAI HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2008 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Sunday, May 25th, 2008

MOLOKAI HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2008 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

1.        HUNG WO & ELIZABETH LAU CHING FOUNDATION

AYLA BICOY                                
JAIMIE LANGER                                
TIERRA MADANI                                
KELSY TAKASHIMA                        

2.        MOLOKAI COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP
AYLA BICOY                                
KELSY TAKASHIMA                        

3.        MOLOKAI WHIPPAS
KELSY TAKASHIMA                        
AYLA BICOY                                

4.        FRIENDS OF MHIS FOUNDATION KAKO’O MALU
TIERRA MADANI                                
KELSY TAKASHIMA                        
WHITNEY APO                                

5.        FRIENDS OF MHIS FOUNDATION YOLA FORBES
TIERRA MADANI                                

6.        FRIENDS OF MHIS FOUNDATION WALTER MEYER, JR.
WHITNEY APO                                
KELSY TAKASHIMA                        

7.        HALI’A ALOHA
WHITNEY APO                                
ARIAN BLAIR                                
SUMMER JENKS-PUAA                        
KAWIKA KAAHANUI                        
CHEYANNE KELIIHOOMALU                
TIERRA MADANI                                
K-CEL PAWN-KALILIKANE                
RIARE PERREIRA                                
NELSON RAPANOT         JR.                        
AMBER STERNER                                
KELSY TAKASHIMA                        
JIREH TORRES-UMI                        
BRITTANY RAWLINS                        

CHASE WILL                                

8.        MOLOKAI COMMUNITY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
KAWIKA KAAHANUI                        
WHITNEY APO                                

9.        HO’OLEHUA HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB
WHITNEY APO                                
KAWAIOLA AGADER                        
ADRIANNA SIBAYAN                        
JIREH TORRES-UMI                        
NICOLETTE MONTIZOR                        

10.        MOLOKAI GENERAL HOSPITAL & MOLOKAI HEALTH FOUNDATION
KELSY TAKASHIMA                        
WHITNEY APO                                

11.        MOLOKAI LIONS CLUB
WHITNEY APO                                
TIERRA MADANI                                


12.        MOLOKAI FILIPINO CULTURE CLUB
JONATHAN CLEMENTE                        
WHITNEY APO                                

13.        CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY
CHELSEA KAPUNI                                

14.        KUALAPU’U MARKET
KAWIKA KAAHANUI                        
RIERRE PERREIRA                                
KAWAIOLA AGADER                        

15.        FRIENDLY MARKET CENTER – MATH AWARD
CHEYANNE KELIIHOOMALU                

16.        FRIENDLY MARKET CENTER – VOCATIONAL/TECHNICAL AWARD
CHEYANNE KELIIHOOMALU                

17.        FRIENDLY MARKET CENTER – LANGUAGE ARTS AWARD
TIERRA MADANI                                

18.        HERBERT & OLLIE BROOK
WHITNEY APO                                
NELSON RAPANOT JR                        

19.        LAURA ROWE BURDICK
TIERRA MADANI                                
KELSY TAKASHIMA                        
CHEYANNE KELIIHOOMALU                


20.        ROTARY CLUB OF LAHAINA
ASHLEY SULLIVAN                        


21.        MAMORU AND AIKO TAKITANI
TIERRA MADANI                                



22.        URBAN PATACSIL FAMILY
ARIAN BLAIR

23.        ALBERT Y INABA – ACADEMIC
KELSY TAKASHIMA
AYLA BICOY

24.        ALBERT Y INABA – VOCATIONAL
KAWAIOLA AGADER
BRITTANY RAWLINS

25.        MAUI SCOTTISH RITTE
ALEA ARCE                                        
AYLA BICOY                                

26.        CITIZENSHIP AWARD
AYLA BICOY                                

27.        FOODLAND SHOP FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
TIERRA MADANI                                


28.        MAUI CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
MASON KASANA                                
JIREH TORRES-UMI                        

29.        REALTOR’S ASSOCIATION OF MAUI
TIERRA MADANI                                


30.        UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
TIERRA MADANI                                

31.        COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, PARTIAL WRESTLING SC/HOLARSHIP
KAWIKA KAAHNUI                        

32.        SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY NON-RESIDENTIAL AWARD
                                TESIA HIROSE                                

33.        HAWAII PACIFIC UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP
                                KRISTAN FORSBERG        

34.        AIR FORCE – ROTC
                                AYLA BICOY                                

35.        LIKO A’E HIGH SCHOOL
                                LEINAALA WILLING-MALIU                
                                BRITTANY RAWLINS                        

                                KAYLENE BETTENCOURT                
                                KAWIKA KAAHANUI                        

36.        UH – FOUNDATION – WILLIAM SCOTT
                                KAYLENE BETTENCOURT                

38.  UF-FOUNDATION -         MAUI CHINESE CULTURE SOCIETY
                                KAYLENE BETTENCOURT                

39.  MCC-         IRENE G. COSTA FOUNDATION
                                CHASE WILL                                

40.        MCC – RUTH E. BLACK SCHOLARSHIP
CHASE WILL                                

41.        NATIVE HAWAIIAN SCHOLARS
KAYLENE BETTENCOURT                
NELSON RAPANOT JR                        
ADRIANNA SIBAYAN                        
PRECIOUS CAPARIDA                        
KAWIKA KAAHANUI                        
RIARE PERREIRA                                
WHITNEY APO                                
DONOVAN KELLIPULEOLE JR                
PATRICIA LUULOA-KEALAIKI                
K-CEL PAWN-KALILIKANE                

42.        KEIKI KOKUA
RIARE PERRERIA                                

43.        PACIFIC UNIVERSITY MERIT SCHOLARSHIP
KELSY TAKASHIMA                        

44.        PACIFIC UNIVERSITY PACE SETTERS SCHOLARSHIP
KELSY TAKASHIMA                        

45.        FILIPINO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
AYLA BICOY                                

46.        CENTENIAL ALEC & KAY KEITH AWARD
ARIAN BLAIR                                

47.        UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO OPPORTUNITIES AWARD
ARIAN BLAIR                                

48.        EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE WOMEN’S  VOLLEYBALL
VAOIA SEUMALO                

49.        UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA- RENO WUE AWARD
KUILAUOKALANI CHOW                        

50.        GROMET FOUNDATION
WHITNEY APO                                

51.        SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY – WUE AWARD
WHITNEY APO                                

52.        EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL –PARTIAL
CHRISTINE KELIIKULI-PETERS                

A Life Celebrated

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

Remembering a true Hawaiian Renaissance Man.


Bill Kapuni frequently graced the waves with friends and iconic surfers the Aikau brothers. This photo was taken at Sunset Beach on Oahu in 1970.

With almost 100% Hawaiian blood, artist and Master Carver, Bill Kapuni’s ancestry and art created a lifetime of beautiful memories and accomplishments. A true Renaissance Man, Bill would take up many trades and travels before finding a final resting place on Molokai.

Bill passed away last Saturday in the company of his loved ones. This loss will be felt by many, but Bill Kapuni leaves behind a legacy of a life to be celebrated.

Kapuni has been referred to as a visionary and a legend. The body of his work ranged from carving canoes, e.g. Koa, Native American, and Hawaiian; ocean animals; and Hawaiian cultural art work which included awa bowls, pig boards, spears for hunting, Hawaiian sleds, tikis, story boards, surf boards, paddles, tuetes, pahu drums for halaus and Hawaiian ceremonial drums.

As a youngster, Bill remembered ‘messing around’ with wood and a pocket knife. He hung out with his uncles who were canoe carvers like John Kapuni in Hawaii and canoe carver Sioni Fu’utu who both inspired him to work in wood during his high school years. He continued to learn about Hawaiian canoes with the Hui Nalo Canoe Club and watched Mr. Bowman, from Kamehameha School, in canoe building workshops on Oahu.

Bill learned how to draw at Farrington High School and learned how to paint from Nolli Queen. Every chance he got, he drew something he saw or felt, always relating to Hawaiian culture particularly men in canoes and fishing with nets.

At 15, “Willie” began to surf with Eddie Aikau and brothers. Surfing is “part of my art because surfing is like an art you perform with your body.” For Bill, “surfing was like a dance with Kanaloa…your body in motion with the waves.” As a surfer and life guard on the North Shore, he carved surf boards and used them as canvases for painting surfers on the waves.

During this time, he also began carving paddles and paddling with Hui Nalo Canoe Club. At 18, he helped to win the six man race from Molokai to Oahu in the Koa Canoe Division.

In 1969 Bill left his beloved Hawaii and moved to the mainland where his interest in cars, hot rods, and trucks would join his love of art. It was then, in his backyard, he began his body painting business. He competed in shows winning numerous trophies and awards for his work and was a featured artist in several street rod and off-road-vehicle magazines.

While in Washington State he worked on and carved Native American canoes, eventually mastering the Indian art techniques and designs for wood carving.

In 1982, Bill discovered his health was deteriorating, and decided to move back to Molokai to heal. His grandmother, Lani Kapuni, lived there and he longed for the quiet old Hawaiian lifestyle.

On Molokai he delved into native culture and the ocean. Going to the backside of Molokai with visitors to the island, he began to reacquaint himself with Hawaiian woods like Milo and Koa and soon began carving these woods with ocean creatures he watched while diving as a certified Dive Master.

Kapuni made his first pahu drum in 1984. Upon hearing about Bill’s drum, Molokai pahu maker Bobbie English came over to Kapuni’s house and shared with him his knowledge of the drum. Since then Bill has carved many drums for numerous special events and organizations.

He has taught classes and workshops on drum making and other Hawaiian arts. His pieces are in many collectors homes throughout the world and locally in homes such as Murdock on Lanai and Abigail K. K. Kawananakoa on Oahu, in addition to many Hawaiian Hotels and Resorts.

As the Mo`olele voyaging canoe was being towed to the east side of Molokai to sail to Maui, Bill was invited to sail on it by Captain Kiola Secara and to work in the Hui O Va’a Kailua’s Pihilani 63-foot voyaging canoe. He was one of the original five; and for many years traveled across the Molokai channel to Maui for long weekends first by ferry, then by boat, and then by his jet ski to do wood work and all of the epoxy and painting work on the voyaging canoe.

Bill then built his own five-man canoe on Molokai and started building scale models of Hawaiian voyaging canoes. He worked on the Iosepa (voyaging canoe) at the Mormon Temple in Honolulu with Sioni Fu’utu; and in Maui worked on a six-man canoe with Ray Bumatay at the International Festival of Canoes.

In 1998 he entered a Koa piece in the Wood of Hawaii Na La`au O Hawaii in Honolulu and won the honor of First Place. More recently, one of his pahu drums was gifted to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for the Art of Living Foundation peace celebration in Bangalore, India. “This drum is going to represent the Hawaiians. It’s a voice we pass on in energy. The Hawaiians have always used the pahu to communicate,” Bill said. In that single event, millions heard the communication of Hawaiian mana. John Kaimikaua used a Bill Kapuni Pahu drum for Hula Piko celebrations on Molokai.

Bill Kapuni’s Hawaiian cultural roots run deep, and his spirit is strong and overflowed into his art work. Each of his pieces has an extraordinary ‘mana’ for those who are able to connect with such energy. He honored his ancestors with his work.

Honoring Hula

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

Honoring Hula

Paddlers Inn Owner Slain in Florida

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

Local employees still reeling from the loss.










 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paddlers Inn owner Robert Spruiell, known on Molokai as Kamuela Kamakana, hoped to eventually call the Friendly Isle home.

Robert Spruiell, owner of Paddlers Inn in Kaunakakai, was found dead with stab wounds this past Saturday in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida during an altercation at the Golden Nugget Hotel. The incident left two other men injured.

According to a Paddlers spokesperson, an employee of Spruiell’s mainland magazine sales business had asked the owner for help confronting a suspected drug dealer. The spokesperson said Spruiell was stabbed along with other individuals.

On Molokai, Spruiell went by his family name, Kamuela Kamakana. And it is the Friendly Isle’s sense of family that led Spruiell to buy Paddlers Inn eight months ago.

“I really want it to be more like a family oriented place where families can enjoy their meals together,” said Spruiell in an interview this past January.

Five years ago, Spruiell was visiting Maui when he decided to catch the Molokai Ferry and see the island for the first time. He said he felt an emotional connection with Molokai and bought property after just one day of visiting.

“His own words were that he loved Molokai so much that he wanted to make Molokai his home,” said Paddlers Manager Alisha Montemayor. She added that his last wishes were for his ashes to be spread on-island.

Spruiell’s mother, Haunani Kamakana, is a Molokai girl, who lives in Washington State. He said he had planned to move her back to the island after getting himself settled.

Representatives from Kamuela Estates, Inc. have said business at Paddlers Inn to continue on as usual.

State Seeks Nominations for Keep It Hawaii Award

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

State Seeks Nominations for Keep It Hawaii Award

Award recognizes showcase of Native Hawaiian culture.


 

 

 

 

 

The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the state agency for tourism, is seeking to recognize individuals, organizations and businesses that honor and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture. Nominations for the 17th Annual Keep It Hawaii Recognition Awards will be accepted from May 19 through July 1.

The Keep It Hawaii Recognition Awards honor individuals, community organizations and businesses for: demonstrated commitment to honor and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and community by strengthening the relationship between the visitor industry and the Hawaiian community; and creative and responsible efforts to showcase the Native Hawaiian culture.

Recipients of the Keep It Hawaii Recognition Awards will be announced at a ceremony on August 7, at the Hawaii Convention Center, as part of the HTA’s 2008 Hawaii Tourism Conference, Hawaii A Ma ‘? Aku – So Much More Hawaii.

Previous winners of the Keep It Hawaii Recognition Award include Molokai’s Pilipo Solatario, who received the award in 1995.

The program’s K?hili Awards will be selected in three categories (Individual, Organization and Business), for each island, and for the out-of-state category. One recipient may receive the Koa Award, which was created to recognize a long-term and exemplary commitment to perpetuating and preserving Hawaii’s host culture.

All nominations will be judged on the following criteria: authenticity, usage, uniqueness, educational value, longevity, and commitment to the future. HTA’s Hawaiian Cultural Program Advisory Council (HCPAC), a group of Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners and supporters, will review the nominations and select the awardees.

There is no charge to submit nominations or entries. Entries must be received in the HTA offices by 4:30 p.m. on July 1. Entries should be submitted to HTA, Hawaii Convention Center, Floor 1, 1801 Kal?kaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815.

For full details on the criteria, guidelines and the application process, visit the HTA Web site at www.hawaiitourismauthority.org, or contact program coordinator, Martin Schiller, at (808) 227-6002 or (808) 531-1800 or via email (mschiller@tsg-hawaii.com).

Hula Momona

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

Molokai’s past is reborn in the present.

By Brandon Roberts

‘The heartbeat of our culture is dance. It is the essence of ourselves. Every movement in the universe is in our dance,’ wrote the late John Ka`imikaua, Ka Hula Piko founder. Hula dates back to the Eighth Century, where a Molokai wahine named La`ila`i is said to have given birth to the dance at Ka`ana on the hill Pu`u Nana..

In its 17th year, Ka Hula Piko is creating a new identity. To honor their Kumu Hula Ka`imikaua, the Halau Hula O Kukunaokala’s sunrise ceremony atop Maunaloa was private this year. Kumu Ka`imikaua’s haumana Sulu Tafaoimalo said “we are starting over, please respect that, and next year the ceremony may again be open to the public.”

Kalaupapa Settlement Seeing Growth

Monday, May 19th, 2008

Kalaupapa Settlement Seeing Growth

Peninsula designated “dream destination” by Life Magazine.

By Brandon Roberts

Larger airplanes are landing; bigger barges are planned in the harbor, and the National Park Service (NPS) is hiring more employees. There is no doubt, Kalaupapa is expanding.

Kalaupapa residents were informed at the monthly community meeting May 13 that their airport has new requirements due to the larger passenger planes that are now landing on the peninsula. Governor Linda Lingle has also appropriated just over one million dollars for pier construction and harbor facilities that should be completed by the fall of 2009.

Michael McCarten, administrator for the Department of Health (DOH), announced to residents that Life Magazine will contribute to the peninsula’s notoriety with the inclusion of Kalaupapa in a list of top 50 ‘dream destinations’. He said news was a total surprise and that state and federal officials were not informed prior to the designation.

The class three aircraft now using the Kalaupapa Airport can carry over 10 passengers requiring new codes and restrictions from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT).

Kevin Funasaki, Airports Division project manager for DOT, told residents gathered in McVeigh Hall that a new perimeter fence will be built around the Kalaupapa Airport within the next year. The fence’s main purpose is to keep animals off the runway. Funasaki reassured residents that archeological sites would not be disturbed.

Completion of the new fence is dependent upon the barge service and new Kalaupapa NPS Supervisor Stephen Prokop informed residents that a one-year contract will be signed soon for continued barge service, and that the next barge will dock on July 19.

Prokop explained that the new contract will not be with Young Brothers (YB), who did not bid with the peninsula this year. Earlier this year, YB decommissioned a smaller barge to service the settlement.

Consultants from Leo A. Daly presented the new Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting plan for the airport, which will consist of a new building to house a fire engine and two firefighters.

Figures from April said the Kalaupapa settlement consists of 27 residents, 46 state Department of Health officials, 40 NPS employees, and one DOT employee. However, according to Prokop, Kalaupapa currently has six positions open, including a Law Enforcement Ranger, an Ecologist, and an Administrative clerk, as well as maintenance workers for the new solid waste facility.

Prokop added that besides the six jobs mentioned, an additional three will be added to the list soon. To accommodate the expanding workforce, 11 new housing units will be finished sometime in July.

Tourism and infrastructure expected to expand - patient pensions will also get a boost from the 2008 legislative session and the Department of Health. Patients can expect increased checks, as well as compensation from 2007, when the bill was introduced but not passed.  

The next Kalaupapa community meeting is set for 11:30 a.m. on June 10 in McVeigh Hall. Settlement residents are also invited to a community block party on July 16 at 6 p.m.

Hula Mana`o

Monday, May 19th, 2008

Hula Mana`oBy Brandon Roberts

“Hula is the language of the heart, therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people” – King Kalakaua

Hula is more than dance, it is life, and with the annual Ka Hula Piko, I thought it would be appropriate to ask haumana from Ka Pa Hula ‘O Hina ‘O Ka Po La’ila’i how they incorporate the Hawaiian tradition into their everyday lives.

surrounds us has a story to tell and deserves respect.

Bettering Business

Monday, May 19th, 2008

Chamber of Commerce facilitates over 200 ID cards and elects new members.

By Brandon Roberts

Sitting quietly behind Molokai businesses is the Chamber of Commerce, which works tirelessly to improve the efficiency of local industry, and save us all some money.

The Chamber’s most recent success enabled individuals to attain Transportation Workers Identification Credentials (TWIC) which allow entry to Kaunakakai wharf for those needing to pick-up or drop-off freight. The identification card will be required no later than April 15, 2009 with the actual date to be determined by the Coast Guard.

Lockheed-Martin, the private contractor hired to process the cards by the Department of Homeland Security, was asked to come to Molokai by the Chamber. The Chamber partnered with the Kahu`o Business Center, and set up a processing tent outside the center’s office.

EC Elections Canceled

Monday, May 19th, 2008

Split vote ends in by-law amendment.

The Molokai Enterprise Community (EC) Board of Directors have officially removed the yearly election process from the nonprofit’s by-laws according to a recent press release.

The vote to change the by-laws was not unanimous; however, EC Board President Stacy Crivello said the majority of board members present at the May 15 meeting supported the change.

The 10-year EC designation sunsets in December of 2008, at which time the organization also known as Ke Aupuni Lokahi, Inc. (KAL) will remain a nonprofit entity.

According to the release, KAL will continue to implement and support the EC Strategic Plan and will meet to develop a transition plan.

For more information contact Stacy Crivello, KAL Board President at 553-8188.