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Community

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

Be Buji-fied

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2021

Be Buji-fied

By Catherine Cluett Pactol 

Tylor Tanaka has worked almost every job on the block – cashier, Macy’s sales representative, Hawaiian Airlines Lanai station manager, preschool educator, administrative assistant, State laborer and maintenance technician, bartender, auto parts store manager, County small business specialist and others. Now, the 2008 Molokai High alum has launched his own brand and opened a shop that offers both online and storefront sales to local entrepreneurs. 

The Buji-fied Store is now open at Lanikeha Center in Ho’olehua. Though he didn’t plan to open a storefront, Tanaka said his expanding business, which started as a school assignment in January of this year, outgrew its original model. …

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Business Planning Course

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2021

MEO News Release

MEO’s Business Development Center presents Core Four Business Planning Course for the month of January, 2022.  Classes will be held on Tuesdays  — Jan. 4, 11, 18 and 25 — and Thursdays – Jan. 6, 13, 20 and 27.  To register, email lily.napoleon@meoinc.org or call (808) 553-3270.…

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Volleyball Competes at States

Wednesday, December 15th, 2021

Volleyball Competes at States

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

The girls of the Molokai High Volleyball team are walking away from the season with their heads held high. They made it to the state level and won two games, bringing them the title of Consolation Champs and seventh in the state. 

“We worked hard day in and day out in hopes of making a name for ourselves,” said senior player Lia-Chae Meyer. “Our hard work paid off and we made it to states, now it was time for us to step up our game and give it all we had. As a senior, this is an unexplainable feeling, being a kid from a small island making it to the big dance was amazing.…

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Sust’ainable Molokai‘s New Leadership

Wednesday, December 15th, 2021

Sust’ainable Molokai Board of Directors News Release

In 2021, Sust’ainable Molokai celebrated our 11th year of serving our island as a nonprofit. The organization has seen major growth in recent years. Today, we have nearly 20 employees operating a multitude of programs including a Food Sovereignty initiative that trains new farmers and brings locally produced food to the community through a weekly Mobile Market as well as monthly Food Bank distributions. Another blossoming program is our Energy Sovereignty initiative that is currently facilitating a community-led renewable energy plan and also responsible for Hui-Up energy-star appliance exchanges. We are also supporting the sustainability and protection of the environment through work related to climate change adaptation and planning, invasive limu management and education, and community stewardship of land.…

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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.…

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Ann Misako Fontes

Wednesday, December 15th, 2021

Ann Misako Fontes, 78, of Pahala, died Nov. 22, 2021 at Hilo Medical Center. Born March 3, 1943, in Kalaheo, Kauai, she was a former resident of Kaunakakai, Molokai and had worked at Molokai High School and retired from the University of Hawaii at Hilo Extension Services/U.E.

She was preceded in death by husband, Franklin “Mac” Fontes and son, Derek Fontes. She is survived by granddaughter, Cherish M. (Jesse) Kailiawa of Pahala; great-grandson, Ke’ao Kailiawa of Pahala; great-granddaughter, Anelalani Kailiawa-Quinn of Pahala; brothers, Owen (Gail) Yamaguchi of St. Louis, Mo., Howard (Joan) Yamaguchi and Dennis (Madeline) Yamaguchi of Kauai; nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.…

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Soul of Compassion

Wednesday, December 15th, 2021

Community Contributed

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

At a recent convocation, the speaker told a story about two Irish priests who were out for a stroll one day in the Irish countryside. They came to the River Shiven and there standing on the riverbank, looking across the shimmering water, was a lovely young woman. She had long golden hair and a figure like an hourglass. It was clear to the two priests that she wished to cross the shallow river but she did not want to get her dress wet. So, one priest said to the other, “The compassionate thing to do would be to carry her across.”…

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‘Aina Kupuna Bill

Wednesday, December 15th, 2021

County of Maui News Release

Mayor Michael Victorino has signed Bill 118 — the ʻAina Kapuna bill — that establishes a mechanism to provide long-time Maui families with tax relief for inherited real property in a Special Management Area. Introduced by Maui County Council Vice-Chair Keani Rawlins-Fernandez of Molokai, the bill intends to protect kamaʻaina from being taxed out of family land due to real estate speculation by outside investors.

“I am in strong support of tax protection for our long-time Maui families,” said Mayor Victorino. “At the same time, I am recommending further review of the Maui County Code to determine if there are unintended consequences that may threaten the viability of this tax relief program.…

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Storm Brings Heavy Rain, No Severe Damages for Molokai

Wednesday, December 15th, 2021

Storm Brings Heavy Rain, No Severe Damages for Molokai

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Torrential rains last Sunday night into Monday caused flash flooding, cancellation of Molokai public schools on Monday, flight cancellations and delays, and roadways to be dangerous due to flooding. The “Kona low” weather conditions across the state brought overnight power outages to Honolulu, downed trees, home damages and dangerous flooding, and Gov. Ige declared a state of emergency for Hawaii. However Molokai only experienced brief power outages and moderate flooding but no severe damages. 

A cargo container blew into two Mokulele planes while they were tied down for the night in Honolulu, causing delays in addition to those caused by poor weather conditions.…

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Monsanto Pleads Guilty to Illegal Pesticide Use

Wednesday, December 15th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Last week, Monsanto company agreed to plead guilty for previous charges including illegal pesticide storage on Molokai and using banned pesticides on Maui, along with new charges of knowingly using pesticides inconsistent with its labeling on Oahu, according to the U.S. Dept. of Justice. Court documents filed last Thursday in United States District Court in Honolulu include a deferred prosecution agreement related to a felony count of unlawfully storing an acute hazardous waste at its Molokai facility in 2013-2014. Monsanto will pay more than $22 million in fines. 

Monsanto admitted to spraying a glufosinate product sold under the brand name Forfeit 28 in 2020 in Haleiwa “a manner inconsistent with its labeling,” according to court documents.…

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