Letters

Call for Ceasefire

Wednesday, November 1st, 2023

Hawaii officials representing Molokai, 

As a Molokai resident, and a member of Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans and Veterans for Peace Hawaii Chapter 113, I’d like to know the reason you haven’t supported any resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. This would prevent further loss of Israeli lives, and help halt what many human rights groups are calling genocide against the Palestinian people. You come to Molokai to campaign, you claim to represent our community with aloha, now is the time to prove it. 

As someone who has sold Palestinian olive oil on Molokai since 2018 to help support farmers in the West Bank, and as someone who has witnessed the everyday violence of this apartheid regime and occupation in the West Bank, I call on you to be on the right side of history and stand with the Palestinian people, as Jews here on Molokai, throughout Hawaii, throughout the US, Israel and around the world, are doing. …

Molokai Appreciation Letter

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

To the Molokai Community, 

On behalf of the entire Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, I want to express our extreme appreciation and deep gratitude to the many people who responded to clean Papohaku beach after a boat recently broke apart in near-shore waters in west Molokai. 

Just one week before, we met with dozens of you to listen to your thoughts and concerns for the protection of your island’s natural and cultural resources. The concept of community was so evident during this listening session. You heard from and interacted with DLNR division staff representatives, who live and work on Molokai and whom many of you know personally.…

Request for Veterans Board of Directors

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

The undersigned are all members of Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans (MVCV). The purpose of this letter is to request the Board to add two items to the annual meeting scheduled for Dec. 6. 

The first request concerns the proposed change of membership requirements. Currently, to become a member of MVC you must be a veteran of the Armed Forces. The new proposal would expand the membership to include spouses and children. The original membership requirements were approved by the IRS. Although a change of membership requirement is allowed by the IRS, the change would significantly affect the way this organization elects officers and directors.…

Response from Mokulele

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

A detailed response was provided to Ms. Thomas, with a shortened version printed here. It is unfortunate that road construction delays caused her to miss this important flight.  

 Kaiser Travel was incorrect about seat availability on the Molokai to Honolulu route.  At the time of this inquiry, there were multiple seats available every weekday for the rest of the month (except for Oct. 6). We have offered to speak directly with Ms. Thomas’ Kaiser representative to resolve, but thus far have not been provided any contact information.

Missing a flight due to road construction is neither the fault of the airline nor the passenger. We…

Transparency for Molokai Veteran Leadership

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans has been a nonprofit 501 (c) 19 veterans organization since 2002. 

For seven years, we have been led by a discreditable tribal group with no transparency and no accountability. 

For example, the unauthorized participation of certain veterans spouses and family members who have long participated in our affairs. 

“Done deal” meetings with agents of our longtime corrupted state agency, DHHL, claiming that “they do not need membership approval.” 

Confusion over the difference between a nonprofit 501 (c) 9 and a nonprofit 501 (c) 19 resulted in our missing $400,000 never being there. 

Today, we are facing serious financial shortfalls, memberships concerns ignored that we have not been complying on either the federal or state level as a veterans nonprofit organization. …

$1,000 Reward for Lost Dog

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

Harlie walked off of our property, the morning of Aug. 18 and has not been seen by us again. She is an elderly, spayed Siberian husky with an eye disease that causes a film to grow over her eyes. If not treated twice a day, she will go blind. I love my girl dearly. We have been so heartbroken and filled with guilt for losing her after all the preparation and stress of bringing her to Molokai with us. My cousin and I have spent countless hours driving from one end of the island to the other. We’ve put up flyers everywhere.…

Molokai on My Mind

Wednesday, September 20th, 2023

It has been a week since I left Molokai, and the two-week residency I attended through Molokai Arts Center. Slowly, I have weaned myself off streaming Hawaiian 105 KINE. I am back to wearing sweaters and jeans and long-sleeved shirts to warm me against the Bay Area’s fog and chill. But as nice as it is to be in the comfort of my own home again, I feel that a part of myself did not leave Molokai.

Growing up, my mother and I spent two weeks of every summer visiting family on Oahu. I am Kanaka Maoli and Chinese, and ever since I was a child, I’ve felt most like myself when going back to the islands.…

Mental Health in Disasters

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023

When the World Trade Center was attacked, people were glued to their TVs.  When Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana or the LA riots of 92’, we were cemented to the TV.  Now it is the ongoing recovery from the Lahaina fires.  But it’s different now, this is right across the water from Molokai.  This involves our home, our ‘ohana, our coworkers, and our friends.  It’s all over the news, social media, and it’s in the hearts and minds of our community, every day.  I set out to fish the shores of Molokai and I find myself staring at the charred remains of Lahaina.…