Community

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

A Time to Remember

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021

Community Contributed

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

I threw on my Savers dark dustcoat, stepped out into the rain, and headed for my Paddy Wagon. I must have looked like Wyatt Earp or Doc Holliday on the way to the O.K. Corral that morning, but I was not heading to a corral, not even the mule corral. By this date the topside Molokai mules had been “on furlough” since the bridge on the Kalaupapa trail had collapsed at Christmas due to a landslide. This was before the pandemic and I was actually on my way to our Kalaupapa “International” Airport to meet Bishop Larry and his 26 pilgrims.…

2,000 Pounds of Food Distributed

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021

2,000 Pounds of Food Distributed

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Those in need on Molokai received more than 2,000 pounds of food in a distribution at the Maui Economic Opportunity office last Thursday. Every third Thursday monthly, MEO runs distribution of the federal surplus food, which is a part of SNAP. The Maui Food Bank ships food over to the island, along with fresh produce grown by farmers on Molokai and Maui. 

Pictured here, Nani Maikui helped with the drive-thru distribution of more than 1,100 pounds of nonperishable food items and about 1,000 pounds of fresh items, which included fruit, veggies and cheese. Additionally, more than 50 boxes of food were given to kupuna. …

Free Bike Giveaway and Repair Event

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021

Free Bike Giveaway and Repair Event

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Get ready to get riding! Krank Cycles Maui, a bike sales and repair business in Makawao, is coming to Molokai this Saturday to repair and give away dozens of bicycles for free. It’s part of their Maui Bike Mission, an idea Krank owner Aaron “Moose” Riechert had to use his business to help folks during the pandemic. His team has traveled to communities around Maui, as well as Lanai, to repair and donate bikes and now they’re headed to Molokai on Sept. 25. 

“We’re going to be repairing and giving away as many bikes as we can,” said Riechert.…

31 New Cases Last Week

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021

31 New Cases Last Week

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Last week was a high case-count week for Molokai, with between one and six new COVID positives each day for a total of 31 new cases between Friday, Sept. 10 and Friday, Sept. 17. Friday, Sept. 10, the Dept. of Health reported five new cases for the island, Saturday had two, Sunday had five, Monday had three, Tuesday had four, Wednesday had one, Thursday had five and Friday closed the week with six new cases. The island is averaging four cases per day, according to DOH, with a total of 202 cases since the pandemic began, as of last Sunday. …

Irene Kimie Iwane

Thursday, September 16th, 2021

With great sadness and love, the family of Irene Kimie Iwane announces her passing on Sept. 6, 2021. 

Her life was a blessing, her memory a treasure forever in our hearts.…

Elmer Kaihehau Chu

Thursday, September 16th, 2021

Elmer Kaihehau Chu was born Nov. 1, 1930 on the Kaai Homestead in Kalamaula, Molokai. He passed peacefully in Los Angeles on July 21, 2021. Elmer was the oldest of five children of Lihue Kaai Chu and Arthur K. Chu, DDS.  After attending Holomua School he attended Kamehameha School for Boys and graduated in 1948. He and his friends enjoyed caring for their horses and spending free time roaming Kalamaula Homesteads, Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove and the shoreline of Kalamaula. He spoke of exciting and enjoyable days working in the pineapple fields as part of the teen “hoe Hana” gang under Grandpa David Kaai’s supervision each summer.…

The Cost of Water

Thursday, September 16th, 2021

It will cost you $15,000 for a glass of water on Molokai. Believe it or not, it’s true and it’s a shame. Anyone in our community that is unaware of this cost, if you want to get a water meter put in, then the cost to you is $15,000. 

Why is that? What’s the reason for the excessive cost? Who decided this amount?

Call and ask the County of Maui Water Department or maybe our county elected delegates, even the state delegates for Molokai. Somebody should explain to all of us in our community the reason for this cost. 

One very important thing to remember is after all is said and done, the County Water Department owns the water meter, you don’t own anything!…

Open Letter to Congressman Kahele

Thursday, September 16th, 2021

As one of many Molokai residents who voted for you to represent us in Congress, I’m sad to hear that you not only voted for the nearly three quarters of a trillion-dollar FY 2022 U.S. military budget but also to increase it by an additional $24 billion. With so many issues facing Molokai and every island, I’m sure your voters could think of far better ways to use those funds. Don’t let the good work you’re doing for Hawaii be overshadowed by indebtedness to weapons manufacturers. You can win elections without them. Please learn from Afghanistan, Iraq, etc., a lesson we should have learned from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia: no amount of money spent on instruments of death can translate into victory of any sort beyond Wall Street.…

Lā Hoʻohanohano

Thursday, September 16th, 2021

Lā Hoʻohanohano

Na Alaonalani Puailihau

Editor’s note: This article, written by a Hawaiian language immersion student at Molokai High School, honors Queen Lili’uokalani. 

Ma ka lā 2 o Kepakemapa makahiki 1838 ua hānau ʻia ʻo Lydia Liliʻu Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamakaʻeha ma Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. Ke keiki a Analea “Annie” Keohokālole lāua o Caesar Kaluaiku Kamakaʻehukai Kahana Keola Kapaʻakea, a ke keiki hānai a Abner Kuhoʻoheiheipahu Pākī lāua o Laura Kanaholo Kōnia. I ka makahiki 1842, i kona makahiki he ʻehā, ua hoʻomaka ʻoia i kona aʻo ʻana ma ke Kula Kamāliʻi o nā Aliʻi. I kona wā i aʻo ai ma ia kula ua aʻo ʻia ʻoia pehea e ʻōlelo paheʻe i ka ʻōlelo Pelakānia a loaʻa mai i nā papa mele.…

Don’t Like the Noise? Make Your Voice Heard

Thursday, September 16th, 2021

Don’t Like the Noise? Make Your Voice Heard

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai residents have been complaining for years about the noise caused by military training flights over the island, particularly from Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, which can adjust their rotors to fly like either a helicopter and fixed-wing plane. Now, with more people staying at home during the pandemic, complaints are coming in from around the state, Honolulu Civil Beat reported. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) has opened up a comment questionnaire available for Hawaii residents to air their grievances about military aircraft noise as part of an initiative to address high-disturbance areas. The comment period is open until Oct.…