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Community

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

A Hui Hou

Wednesday, June 8th, 2022

A fond farewell and safe travels to Aunty Teri Waros as she moves to the states. They say that knowledge is power. There is certainly plenty of knowledge contained in a book. Thank you for sharing countless books with this community for more than a decade. Running a small business is never easy, let alone an independent bookstore in Kaunakakai. We are so grateful to have met and gotten to know you and to have shared many cups of coffee and lunches with you under the shade of the kukui trees in the backyard of the bookstore. We know that the past few years haven’t been easy on anyone, especially you, but we’re so happy you made it through those difficult days.…

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Maunaloa School Garden Blooms

Thursday, June 2nd, 2022

Maunaloa School Garden Blooms

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Since dreaming of a Maunaloa School garden for years and digging their shovels in the ground for the first time in a blessing of the space just over a year ago, the Maunaloa Mala – the school’s garden — is now flourishing. Each class spends time in the garden twice a week, incorporating lessons into hands on learning under the outdoor hale. At a fourth quarter Ho’ike to celebrate their progress in the garden last week, the school community enjoyed lu’au stew made with kalo grown by students, while keiki presented their recent work to ‘ohana and friends.…

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Farewell to Colette Machado

Thursday, June 2nd, 2022

Farewell to Colette Machado

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Molokai’s Colette Machado, a former Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee of two decades, Hawaiian advocate and community leader died on May 23, officials said. At the age of 71, she passed away at Queen’s Hospital after an extended stay, though her passing was unexpected by many who knew her.

“We are shocked and saddened by today’s news of the sudden passing of former Office of Hawaiians Affairs Board Chair Colette Machado,” said OHA Board Chair Carmen “Hulu” Lindsey in a statement on May 23. “Colette proudly served the Molokai and Lanai communities for 24 years as a dedicated and committed trustee.…

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Memorial Scholarships Awarded

Thursday, June 2nd, 2022

FMHMSF News Release

Two Molokai High School graduates have been awarded $2,000 each and a Da Kine backpack by the Kukui Malamalama Scholarship program in memory of Kekuhaupio Likua.  The scholarship award is administered by the Friends of Molokai High and Middle Schools Foundation (FMHMSF).  The Kukui Malamalama Scholarships are funded by local residents that are interested in seeing more of our students continue their education after high school.

This year’s recipients are Steven Arce and Dianthe Kaili.

 Steven plans to attend Hawaii Community College and major in national resource management of our forests ecosystems and agroforestry.

Dianthe Kaili will be attending college to pursue a degree in art.…

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Tracking COVID Trends

Thursday, June 2nd, 2022

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Molokai logged 18 new COVID cases in the week between May 18 and May 25, according to the Dept. of Health. That’s down from 26 the previous week, and 40 the week before that, May 4-11. However, officials suggest that the tally is likely five to seven times what’s officially reported, due to the influx of home COVID tests, which go unreported. By that calculation, last week’s Molokai cases probably range between 90 and 126 new cases. 

Between May 17 and May 26, Molokai Middle School reported eight new COVID cases and Molokai High School had two, according to the DOE weekly COVID report.…

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Free Summer Meals for Youth

Thursday, June 2nd, 2022

HIDOE News Release 

The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) announced that 83 public schools will serve meals free of charge over the summer to children ages 18 years and younger, regardless of public school enrollment status, through its summer food service program. Three schools on Molokai are participating in the program.

Beginning in early June, the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) program will serve meals at select schools Monday through Friday, with the exception of June 10 (King Kamehameha Day) and July 4 (Independence Day). SSO is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and was established to ensure that children continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer. …

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Exchange Students Seeking Host Family

Thursday, June 2nd, 2022

Exchange Students Seeking Host Family

Community Contributed

By Vicki Boswell

Molokai has the opportunity to make the world more united in love and accepting of cultural diversity.  The International Hospitality Center (IHC) in Honolulu that places foreign exchange students are looking for host families who will consider sharing their home and welcome two new students to Molokai for the 2022-2023 school year. A host family can be a single adult, couples, or a family with children/teenagers.

Host families are volunteers and are not financially compensated.  The host family’s lives are enriched as they malama these young students who have a great desire to learn and grow.…

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Mahalo from an Exchange Student

Thursday, June 2nd, 2022

This is Johnson Harris and you probably know me as the kid who rides his bike all around.  Well, I am from Liberia. I came to Molokai as part of the American Government Culture Exchange Program for this past school year.  I was hosted by the James and Vicki Boswell for the past school year while attending Molokai High School as a junior.

Living on Molokai has been a wonderful experience!  Thank you for befriending me, teaching me the culture of Hawaii and also of America.  I am writing this to extend my appreciation to the people of Molokai. You enriched my Hawaiian experience by your friendliness and generosity.…

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Exemptions Will Help More Disabled Veterans

Thursday, June 2nd, 2022

This year, the Maui County Council made positive changes to homeowners exemptions resulting in tax relief for many, however, a 1980s era law allows only 100 percent disabled veterans to qualify for a disability exemption. This law is limiting and does not address the needs of other severely disabled veterans.

With this in mind, Maui County Council colleague Gabe Johnson and I are co-sponsoring legislation in the County Council that will lower the qualifying percentage to 70 percent. This would allow more of our disabled veterans on Molokai, Lanai and Maui to become eligible to receive this important exemption and will be retroactive for widows of veterans with 70 percent or more, service-related disability as well.…

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Noe Ornellas Cluney

Thursday, June 2nd, 2022

Noe Ornellas Cluney

Noe Ornellas Cluney, 98, of Hoolehua passed peacefully on December 9, 2021. She was born on Oct. 5, 1923 in Honolulu.

Aunty Noe was a Ho’olehua homesteader for 72 years and was employed by the Hawaii DOE serving as the school secretary at various times over 32 years at all of the public schools on Molokai. An often-repeated story from her days at Maunaloa School was when truant children were found at home and led to school in line behind an officer on horseback.

Lydia Kamakanoe Paikuli Ornellas Cluney is survived by her sons William “Billy” Ornellas, Richard “Ric” Ornellas and Fred Ornellas, deceased; stepson Raymond Ornellas; and stepchildren Loy Cluney, John Cluney, Mark Cluney, Sarah Cluney and Will Cluney, deceased.…

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