Letters

Graduation Mahalo

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

The Molokai High School Class of 2021 graduates and advisors would like to thank everyone who gave their time and resources to make this unprecedented Class of 2021 Commencement Ceremony a great success and a special event for the Class of 2021. Once again the Molokai community has demonstrated their aloha and commitment to be there for the ’Opio of Molokai.
There were so many people who helped put this event together with their time and resources.

Thank you to Anoi Lima English, Bahar Yaghoubi and Perry Buchalter for helping with the class of 2021 legacy project. Thank you to the MPD for painting the lines in the MHS student parking lot and keeping the ceremony safe — Capt.Tom,…

And The Shama Thrush Sings To Me

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

By Robyn Labrador

Between innocence and waking

Spirits of the ancient ones tell the trees

The songbird is here with joyful calling

We go on creating with our seeds

My senses are alive now in my bed

A smile on my lips to hear the shama

Beautifully bring in the day ahead

They sing of joy and Island mana

A chorus erupts, all want to be heard

All energy and chatter

Little creatures with purpose

Nature’s garden, with open theater

Life’s necessities of survival and connections

The balance we strive to keep

Nature’s perfection can teach us trust

In the Shama’s range of verses

We make friends in the garden

I dig and plant, and turn the soil

While the Shama is near

Then comes close to gain from my toil

All through the day, I spy the black tail

Or hear the mates calling across the yard

Their song does then regail

Life’s grand and majestic ballad

Dusk light is falling

The garden becomes still

Nests are made cozy and all settle in

Then out of the silence a melodious trill

The Shama’s last song

Another day is ending

The ancient trees rustle and bend

And the pueo are ready to take their watch…

Pass Automatic Voter Registration

Wednesday, May 26th, 2021

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Hawaii instituted for the first time ever, an all mail-in voting system which resulted in the state recording its highest rate of voter participation since 1994. Last year, Maui County tallied a 42.7 percent voter turnout at the primary and a 66.4 percent turnout at the general election — a respective increase of 6.5 percent and 14 percent from the previous election.

Surely other factors influenced voter motivation in 2020, but the transition to an all mail-in ballot system was likely the largest contributor to the record turnout. Although this boost is encouraging, Hawaii’s voter turnout rates still score among the lowest in the nation.…

Firewise Success

Wednesday, May 26th, 2021

Saturday, May 1 was Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, a national campaign that encourages people and organizations everywhere to come together on a single day to take action to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risks. Paniolo Hale was awarded $500 from State Farm for the removal of stored fuel sources that could potentially ignite due to embers or radiant heat.

Mahalo nui loa to all for making the 2021 Wildfire Community Preparedness Day possible: The Molokai Dispatch and Hawaiian Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) for getting the word out; Paniolo Hale owners for your participation and the Firewise Committee for the many hours that went into organizing this event; Cameron Chemical Corporation (CCC) and Molokai Recycling, Refuse and Landfill for taking care of the materials; and to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm for sponsoring the 2021 Prep Day.…

Catholic Church Drawing

Wednesday, May 19th, 2021

A big mahalo nui loa to all who helped support Saint Damien of Molokai Catholic Parish and Missions with their donations to our lucky number drawing last month. It is with much appreciation that you are such a blessing to us! God bless!

Fr. Brian Guerrini, SS.CC.
Pastor/Administrator…

Mahalo Mokuele

Wednesday, April 21st, 2021

We would like to send a note of aloha and gratitude to Mokulele Air for the accommodations at the Honolulu and Molokai airports with a wonderful wheelchair and ramp service boarding on Oahu and off loading on Molokai.

After being hospitalized with a serious bout with pneumonia for five weeks including “rehab,” I was really concerned about the schematics.

Melissa at Mokulele assured us to not worry. They will serve us on both ends with the wonderful service. I am so happy to be home and thank all those who have prayed and sent happy thoughts and messages our way.

Mahalo.…

Molokaians Are Hurting

Wednesday, March 24th, 2021

…and the local, state and federal governments ought to step in.

When inter-island travel has become prohibitively expensive, controlled by just one airline… the government ought to step in. It is incomprehensible and unacceptable when one person or a family has to travel to Maui or Oahu for a locally non-available medical or dental procedure and has to pay close to $200/person round trip every time they travel. We need subsidized travel by air/boat made available to all Molokai residents.

When one company controls the shipment of goods to Molokai and has raised their rates by 60 percent… the government ought to step in.…

Vaccinations for Everyone

Saturday, March 6th, 2021

We on Molokai have been rather successful avoiding significant COVID infections. Approximately 24 percent of the adult population has already been vaccinated. However, if we wish to return to a “normal” life on our island, we need to increase vaccinations to nearly everyone, especially the adults.

Unfortunately, there are many who are refusing to be vaccinated or are reluctant. Putting it bluntly, such people are selfish and are endangering others, as well as being foolish. We all have a civic and moral duty to develop an immune island. I hope our political, religious, medical and other leaders will set an example by being publicly vaccinated and actively promote vaccination for all.…