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Community

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

Music in the Air

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2021

Music in the Air

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

A church full of Molokai residents enjoyed a winter concert played by musicians of the Molokai Instrumental Music Education (MIME) Program last Wednesday, Dec. 15. The program is led by Bob Underwood and financially sponsored by the Molokai Arts Center. The young string musicians shared festive pieces at the St. Damien Catholic Church in Kaunakakai. 

A highlight of the concert was “Palehua,” written by Amy Hanaialiʻi Gilliom and William Kahaiali’i, sung by Keaka Kaiama and featuring percussionist John Aki. The group also performed pieces including the first two movements from Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik,” “Ave Maria” by Schubert, “Postcards from Russia” by Carrie Lane Gruselle, and “Mambo” from West Side Story. …

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COVID Cases Rising Again

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai has seen a recent increase in COVID cases this month, logging 14 so far in December, according to the Dept. of Health as of Sunday. One new case was reported on Dec. 8, seven on Dec. 9, three on Dec. 10, two on Dec. 13 and one on Dec. 14. 

The DOH is urging residents to exercise caution and celebrate the holidays safely as COVID-19 is surging as a new COVID variant known as Omicron spreads into Hawaii and cases are already on the rise. Last Friday, the DOH reported 797 new COVID cases, the highest case count in more than three months.…

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Inspiring Eco-Champions

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2021

Inspiring Eco-Champions

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Over the last year, students from Kualapu’u and Kaunakakai schools in grades four through six showcased coastal ecosystems, climate change, stewardship suggestions and a strong sense of place through digital storytelling. Participating in a program called Champions of Coastal Resilience (CCR), the students learned virtually about Molokai’s coastline areas, creating short video snapshots of a place that’s important to them and their ‘ohana. CCR was funded as part of the 21st Century afterschool program and since COVID, students worked independently to produce their educational videos. Last week, families, students and supporters of the program gathered for the first in-person CCR Film Festival held at Lanikeha to view the students’ work, which was also livestreamed on Zoom. …

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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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