Announcements

Ka Mana’o o Na ‘Opio

Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

Ho'olei lakou ka 'upena I ke kai 'emi a ho'omaka e kahea i na i'a mai ke kai hohonu. Ma hope iho, piha ka 'upena I na i'a! He hana kapu a kuikawa keia a makemake au e ho'ola hou I keia hana.

I want to bring back the art of kahea. I heard stories from my kupuna about when they were young and how their kupuna would take them fishing. They would lay the net in knee-deep water and then begin to kahea, or "call-out." Moments later the net would be filled with fish! This is a sacred and special practice that I would like to see be brought back.

Puanahele Kawamae, 15

Makemake wau e `ike i ka ho`i `ana mai o ka la`au lapa`au. No ka mea he waiwai a na’auao ia ma na `ano a pau.

I would bring back the Hawaiian healing arts, because Western medicine is toxic, poison, and bad for our people’s health. Our people used different parts of plants to make different medicines. This Hawaiian healing has a lot to do with `olelo and appreciation of the land. Healing plays an important part to Hawaiians and can help all.

I was able to speak with Aunty Snookie, Mo`omomi Acasio’s mother, and she was able to pass on his mana`o from 2003. Mo`o made a laulima ki`i (drawing) that represents the Hawaiian tradition of cooperation and togetherness.

Mo`omomi Acasio as told by his mother, Aunty Snookie;

I ko'u mana'o, 'o ka laulima ka mea e ho'iho'i mai ai. I ka hana o na lima a pau i ho'okahi kumuhana, e malamalama ka po'e he nui i keia kukui ikaika. Mai ka piko e pa mai ana ma na wahi a pau, 'aohe wahi e pa 'ole ai. Pa mai ia kakou pakahi a pau. Mai laila mai ka mana o ia mea he laulima.

As many hands work together for a common cause, the light of pono will touch many. The light shines from the center to all reaches, and as it touches each one of us, so does the energy of cooperation.

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Mana`e Mania

Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

Haliu Kealoha, a second grader at Kilohana, wins a prize at the bean bag toss last Saturday at the Bazaar that will go to fund programs for her throughout the next year.

What’s so bazaar about a fundraiser?

By Brandon Roberts

Hard to have Kilohana without the `ohana who gathered across school grounds to support the school by enjoying a day of food and fun. The East End was alive and full of aloha for the annual fundraiser.

“This is the main fundraiser for the school,” said Margret Makekau, Kilohana alumni and chairwoman of the bazaar. “Everybody works together for the kids.” Makekau is also the president of Kilohana School Community Organization, which organizes and coordinates the bazaar.

Around 400 people flooded the Kilohana campus last Saturday to contribute to student events like the theater group performances, holiday parties, and educational workshops.

April Kealoha has been the entertainment coordinator since 1996, and she provided keiki hula performances by her Halau Hula O Kilohana.

“Student activities depend on what happens today,” said Kealoha. “The whole `ohana benefits, it is a beautiful thing.”

The crowd was wowed with original Hawaiian music by Kanoho Helm and his entourage. Between performances, the appreciative audience laughed along with emcees Shannon Crivello and Kaleo Pilanca.

The bazaar had games for the `ohana, like the ring toss and bean bag throw, as well as booths from local artists and entrepreneurs. The line for laulau always seemed to stretch, and the shaved ice and cotton candy never had a moments rest. There were baked goods and fresh produce in abundance for sure.

Kilohana has a very special program that creates a network of support for students and family. Louise Miguel is a proud alumnus, and is employed as a parent facilitator for the school. Miguel said her role is to “build a partnership between the home, community and school, because partnerships equal student achievement.”

Mahalo nui loa to the Mana`e `ohana and KSCO, that make this amazing event possible, and help fund the haumana to develop a well-rounded education, which is priceless.

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“’A’ohe pau ka ‘ike i ka halau ho’okahi”

Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

Not all knowledge is learned in one house. What does that mean? Well, for me, that means that my house is different from someone else’s house, and that’s okay.

I always like to reflect on my hula life, since I am a hula person. As a haumana (student) I was given certain basic foundations and I have been fortunate to have learned hula from several kumu from different halau. Each halau, or house as I’d like to call them, have different styles.

Neither of these kumu hula have a style more correct than the other, just different, distinct, and personal to their respective hula genealogy. It’s fascinating to know that one halau can kaholo (a side step) differently from another. I’ve come to a point where I can look at a dancer’s feet and know what halau, what island, or which kumu their hula originates.

But this saying goes beyond the scope of hula; it can be used in many situations. Fishing for instance. Molokai may fish a little different from Hawai’i Island. Conditions are different but it is how we function and how we see pono in situations that really sets us apart. I believe that everyone’s pono can be different and that’s okay.

My kupuna used to always tell me, “eh, never mind how they’re doing it, do what I ask - it works just as well.”

I used to get nuha and in my mind I would think, “okay, okay, but how come it’s so different?” As I got older and gained better understanding, I finally understood that he was telling me to relax, and not to worry about the differences. He taught me to do things from my na’au (insides) because our na`au knows what’s best. Sometimes I forget to listen to my na’au, but I do my best to see, feel, and hear what it is telling me.

Every year Ka Hula Piko is celebrated here on Moloka’i, the birthplace of hula. It is intriguing to see the many hula styles portrayed, shared and celebrated. People from all of Hawai’i Nei and abroad come to share their hula and to honor Laka, the goddess of Hula.

In the spirit of ’a’ohe pau ka ‘ike i ka halau ho’okahi, let us celebrate and learn from our differences and thus perpetuate our beloved Hawaiian heritage.

Kanoe Davis is keiki o ka `aina Molokai and the proud parent of three beautiful girls. Though she is not a kumu hula, she shares her hula knowledge with a halau young energetic like-minded people. Davis is also a proactive member of an `opio group who is trying to start a culturally based learning center on Molokai.

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Upcoming Events

Monday, May 12th, 2008

May 12-17 TWIC registration all day in front of Kuha`o Business Center.

May 14, Members Only. Chamber of Commerce Membership Meeting 11:30 am at Hotel Molokai.

May 14, OHA meeting open to public at Kulana `Oiwi Halau at 6 pm

Currently the Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Transportation Workers Identification Credentials (TWIC) registration in front of the Kuha`o Business Center on Kamoi St. (across from the Molokai Drive in). Along with a Lockheed-Martin representative, they will be registering individuals and businesses all week, May 12-17. You can call the Chamber at 553-4482 to schedule an appointment, or try for a walk-up. Must have proper identification and payment at time of registration. This is only for registration, the card will be activated at a date to be determined. The TWIC program will be instituted no later than April 15, 2009.

Posted in Announcements, News Releases, Political

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Crowning Our Kupuna

Monday, May 12th, 2008

Lei Day gives first time honors to deserving seniors.

By Brandon Roberts

Spring is a time of rebirth, of newness, and the perfect atmosphere for Kupuna Lei Day which was filled with youthful spirit. This year’s Queen Dorothy Nihoa and King Kenneth Nip reigned over the first kupuna May Day festival held at Home Pumehana retirement center.

Queen Nihoa will be 94 in August. She has seen every Lei Day celebration since the event first began in 1928, however this year was her first to be crowned as queen.

Aunty Nihoa is originally from Mana`e and now lives in Ho`olehua. She has worked in the terraced taro patches and the pineapple fields, and has farming in her veins. At the age of 90 she retired as a Senior Companion, where she would drive and assist many seniors much younger than herself. The Queen continues to volunteer and remains active in the community.

King Nip was also first-time royalty. With his crown and cape, he took his seat next to the Queen for Kupuna Lei Day at the Pumehana Senior Center on May 6. King Nip humbly accepted the honor, saying his peers “just picked me up; I didn’t want to, but they insisted.”

Mr. Nip is a retired school teacher and volunteers his time, reading with keiki at the public library, helping with MEO food distribution and Kaunoa Senior services. He also shares his wonderful voice with patients at Molokai General Hospital.

“Everyone should be king or queen once in their life,” Aunty Gladys Brown said, her face lit-up from the festivities.

This year’s royal court was symbolized by the eight major Hawaiian Islands. Each couple proudly displayed the colors and flowers that symbolize each island.

Paul Lu`uloa and Maka Joao represented Big Island and were the first to take seat in the court. Kulani Purdy and Aunty Didi followed for Maui, Joe Barno and Tiny Domingo as Kaho`olawe, with Ron and Lani Kula signifying Lanai.

Symbolizing Molokai’s spirit of `ohana were Eddie Gorospe, escorting his mother Mary Lou. Next came Oahu with Alex and Anna Bishaw, Thomas Awai and Ululani Rodriguez followed as Kauai, and the royal court concluded with Drake Wells and Denona Chu as the island of Ni`ihau.

Kupuna celebrated their Lei Day with the light-hearted spirit of their youth; glowing with smiles, singing and hula - all while draped with leis that filled the senior center with sweet Hawaiian flora.

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Jet Skis on the High Seas

Monday, May 12th, 2008

Molokai reopens debate on the legality of thrill craft.

What are currently coined thrill-craft, jet skis on Molokai are used for gathering rights, access to remote areas, recreation, and safety while surfing said jet ski owners at a town meeting last Thursday.

As the pro-legalization group spoke, a theme emerged; jet skis are being used and will continue to be, regardless of their illegality on Molokai. Supporters say the law needs to change to regulate use instead of keeping the craft illegal. However, opponents argue a lack of enforcement and the potential for thrill-craft based businesses could outweigh any benefits of legalizing the craft.

The 1992 state law refers to any vessel under 13 feet with the ability to carry up to three people as a “thrill-craft” said Nicolas Giaconi, district manager of the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreations (DOBOR), adding that jet skis are illegal around Molokai and Lanai because these islands are not mentioned in the law.

Posted in Announcements, Political, Sports

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Kilohana Bazaar

Sunday, May 11th, 2008

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Molokai Enterprise Community Plans to Cancel Public Elections

Friday, May 9th, 2008

(UPDATED 5/10/2008) KAUNAKAKAI, HAWAI'I: On the eve of its tenth and final year of federal funding, the Moloka'i Enterprise Community (EC), Ke Aupuni Lōkahi, Inc., is taking final steps to exclude the community from its board by planning to cancel regularly held elections.

On April 17, in a meeting that was closed to the public, the board split 5-4 on the question of voting electronically to cancel the already over-due election, according to EC board member Bridget Mowat.

The organization's bylaws require annual elections. This year's election was slated to be held in January or February of 2008, when the terms of office for four of the board members expired. The EC board is required by federal law to have 55% of its members elected to their seats by the general public. Six residents had announced their candidacies for the each of the vacant seats.

Posted in Announcements, La`au Point, Political

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