Letters

Thanksgiving Day Search

Wednesday, December 15th, 2021

The search for Gianina Reid continues, who went missing in Kalae in June. We had the Oahu Search and Rescue Team fly to Molokai to repel off the cliff in search for Giannia on Thanksgiving Day and the day after. Although this team put in more than 20 hours of search time over the two days they were unable to locate any sign of her. The team members were Becca Frager, Debbie Halbert, Jeff Dexter, Nimai Wong, Justin Brackett, of Oahu and Molokai’s team was Lester Keanini and Ku Keanini as their guides.

Thank you to Mr. Mel Chung, Nani, and Justin Lawelawe Wong, Alu Like, Melia Kalawe, Lucy Wilhelm and Cameron Tancayo, Sonua Lavia, Meyers landowners, Kimberlyn Scott, MPD, MFD, DLNR, Keani Rawlins and Lynn DeCoite.…

The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful

Wednesday, December 1st, 2021

Community Contributed

Opinion by Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

It came to me last week during our annual Sacred Hearts retreat at St. Anthony Retreat Center in Kalihi Valley. My next article would be entitled “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” after the movie of that title, starring Clint Eastwood. This “inspiration” came to me during one of Father David Reid’s dynamic conferences. Forgive me, David, for being momentarily side-tracked at such a solemn moment! When I shared this “inspiration” with Sister Dolores Pavao ss.cc., my longtime friend and coworker during our time in Massachusetts, she came back with, “Oh, I don’t like that.”…

MOC Concerns

Thursday, November 11th, 2021

We have serious concerns with the Molokai Occupational Center’s management and lack of a qualified executive director. We have received reports of bullying, unprofessionalism, humiliation by management and unsafe working conditions at MOC for those in our disabled community, as well as the denial of work opportunities to clients.

MOC’s mission states that it “provides opportunity for the people with disabilities to be actively involved in determining how, and where they live, learn, work and play.”

We ask the MOC board of directors if it is currently carrying out its mission.  

In February 2020, the executive director position at MOC became vacant.…

Dwindling Services

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021

We, the people of Molokai, used to have a ferry that traveled to/from Maui twice daily, and we used to have services from three different airlines.  However, as of February 2021, off-island travel for family visits, doctors’ appointments, medical treatments, or to conduct business or shopping (not only for tourists) means to fly Mokulele Airlines/Southern Airways, only.  Except for an occasional mishap we basically were satisfied with Mokulele’s service.

However, our 20-month-old grandson and his parents were here visiting this past weekend from Oahu (a quick two-day visit and vacay).  Their return flight was delayed 36 hours. The airport was full of passengers, and I’m sure each have their own story to tell. …