Community

General news which affects the Molokai community in one way or another.

Ka Leo o Nā Hōkū Welowelo: The Voice of the Comets

Wednesday, November 16th, 2022

By Kumu Loke Han

Students in Papa 6 Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu, Kualapuʻu Public Conversion Charter School, are excited to share some of their first quarter adventures ma ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Please enjoy their articles written to support student learning in and out of the classroom! E ola ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.

No ka Papa Robotics

Aloha mai kākou, ‘o wau ‘o Kealoha Nakihei. ʻO Brent Nakihei ko’u makuakāne, a ʻo Amber Rubin ko’u makuahine. E wala’au au e pili i ka papa robotics. Aia kēia papa ma hope o ke kula ma ka Poʻakahi a me ka Poʻakolu o ka pule. …

Hole in One

Wednesday, November 16th, 2022

Hole in One

By Rick Schonely

It was a special Veterans Day for the Molokai teachers at iconic Ironwood Hills golf course last Friday. Molokai teachers have been gathering on Fridays after school for many years to play golf and have a good time with each other. On this Veterans Day, it was exciting because longtime physical education teacher Ponciano Raguindin got his second hole in one in his golf career on the seventh hole.

From 204 yards, Raguindin used his 7-iron which landed nicely and rolled towards the cup and dropped for his second ace. It was 24 years ago on the same hole when he got his first hole-in-one.…

New Kaunakakai Multi-Use Building Nearing Completion

Wednesday, November 16th, 2022

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

A prominent new building in Kaunakakai is nearing completion after construction delays following its controversial approval in 2017. The building, located on the corner between American Savings Bank and the current DreamTech Verizon store, will contain eight small studio units and three commercial spaces, according to owner Stan Wada of Oahu.

Wada said he is still deciding whether the units will be used as hotel rooms or longer term rental. Each unit will have a small refrigerator and bathroom, with six units on the second floor and two downstairs for wheelchair accessibility. Three commercial spaces will be available for business use.…

HallowHim Mahalo

Wednesday, November 16th, 2022

Smiles on the faces of excited costumed children were plentiful Monday evening, Oct. 31 as hundreds poured onto the grounds of Kaunakakai Baptist Church for the HallowHim Festival.  It has been two years since a group of local Molokai churches have been able to sponsor the event that has been part of annual fall festivities on island for over a quarter of a century. Everyone in attendance appeared to be overjoyed with the festival’s return.

Like the HallowHim Festivals of past years, the 2.5-hour venue provided keiki big and small the opportunity to play a variety of games. With each opportunity to play, win or lose, kids were rewarded with a sweet treat or prize to fill their bags, buckets or pockets.…

Growing and Cooking with Family

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

Growing and Cooking with Family

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

Now in its fourth year, `Ohana Garden and Grindz teaches kids ages 8 and up about gardening, cooking and sustainability. It provides keiki the opportunity to work with their families to create a meal from dirt to dinner plate. 

The `Ohana Garden and Grindz project, recently awarded a USDA Rural Health and Safety Education Grant, grew out of meetings with Molokai homestead families. Families wanted to pass along a love of agriculture as well as educate children in kitchen safety and practice, explained `Ohana Garden and Grindz facilitator Heather Greenwood, an extension agent for the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the principal investigator for this most recent grant. …

Molokai Tropical Fruit Growers Awarded

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

Molokai Tropical Fruit Growers Awarded

HTFG News Release 

The statewide Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG) named the recipients of its annual appreciation awards today at the 32nd Annual Hawaii International Tropical Fruit Conference at the Royal Kona Resort. The conference returned to an in-person format after two years of virtual gatherings due to COVID.

The annual awards honor individuals who advance—through research, education and practice—the use of tropical fruits to support a sustainable, local food industry. In addition, this year’s accolades include service awards chosen by each island chapter and “Dirty Fingers” Awards.

“The new award format is a way for each island chapter to offer recognition to one who has dedicated themselves to the HTFG mission of promoting all aspects of growing and marketing tropical fruit in Hawaii,” explained HTFG Executive Director Ken Love.…

Halloween Round-up

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

Halloween Round-up

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

After the pandemic hiatus, Halloween was back in full force on Molokai this year. Keiki and parents alike gathered to celebrate the occasion. Molokai Baptist Church’s HallowHim event was crowded with costumes, games, music and food on Monday. Earlier in the day, Molokai High School’s Lion’s Club helped run a costume contest outside the Molokai Public Library. The contest winners were awarded in the categories of cutest, scariest and most original in all age groups. Earlier the previous week, the Adolpho ‘ohana hosted their annual Haunted Homestead event, featuring a lighted walk through their fully-decorated homestead.…

That’s a Lot of Candles

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

That’s a Lot of Candles

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

On Nov. 5, Marie Yamashita celebrated her 102nd birthday. That’s not something many people can say. In fact, staff at the Molokai Department of Health believe her to be the oldest person on the island.  

The longtime Molokai resident “spent most of her lifetime getting to know our community through Molokai’s youth, many of whom are grandparents and great-grandparents these days,” explained Todd Yamashita, one of Marie Yamashita’s three grandchildren. 

Raised in Waikiki, she was the first of her family born in Hawaii. In Kumamoto Japan, her mother Kikue Shikada had worked with their aunt as a local temple-keeper.…

PALS Winter Program Registration Open

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

Maui County News Release 

Online registration for the PALS Program Winter 2022 session begins today and continues through Nov. 15, the Department of Parks and Recreation announced.

The program is open to children ages 5 to 12 years old and will be conducted from Dec. 20 through Dec. 30, 2022. This will be the only registration period for the PALS Program Winter 2022 session on Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

For more information or to register for the PALS Summer 2022 session, go to mauicounty.gov/589/PALS-Program.

For more information, contact the PALS office at (808) 270-7404.…

George Kuznecovs

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

George Kuznecovs

George Kuznecovs passed away peacefully at Queen’s Hospital on Oct. 18, 2022, with family at his side.  Born on Oct. 28, 1941, in Germany, of Latvian heritage, he immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 10, eventually settling in San Diego.  

He came to Molokai in 2001 after a varied career including beach lifeguard, TV news photographer and resort manager.  He loved the ocean and was a passionate free diver and spearfisherman best known for hand carved spear guns and shooting large fish throughout the world.  His interests were varied from rebuilding and driving classic Porsches, Formula 1 racing, paddling canoes, making award winning movies, traveling around the world,  wood carving, etc.…