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Community

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

Rodeo Celebrates Paniolo Heritage

Wednesday, June 16th, 2021

Rodeo Celebrates Paniolo Heritage

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

A King Kamehameha Day rodeo brought the heat, the crowd and the paniolo passion last Saturday.

“Paniolo has a lot to do with our culture and being a cowboy all my life, I am pretty proud of our culture, our lifestyle,” said Jimmy Duvauchelle, one of the older generation of Molokai Ranch cowboys, at Molokai Ranch’s Maunaloa arena named in his honor. He brought up to the stage a handful of fellow Ranch paniolo to honor them. Duvauchelle began working for the Ranch in the 1960s.

“You either worked pineapple field or you became a cowboy,” he said.…

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Hurricane Season Predicted ‘Below-Normal’

Wednesday, June 16th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Weather officials are predicting a “near-or below-normal” hurricane season this year, which runs June 1 through Nov. 30. Forecasters say to expect two to five tropical cyclones — including tropical depressions, storms and hurricanes — for the 2021 Central Pacific season, and an 80 percent chance of near or below normal season. A near-normal season has four to five tropical cyclones.

“This year we will likely see less activity in the Central Pacific region compared to more active seasons,” said Matthew Rosencrans, NOAA’s lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at the Climate Prediction Center. “Less activity is predicted since ocean temperatures are likely to be near- to below average in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean where hurricanes form, and because El Niño is not present to increase the activity.”…

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A Diverse Class of 2021

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

A Diverse Class of 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

In addition to Molokai High, two other on-island high schools celebrated the graduation of members of the Class of 2021 this year. Ho’omana Hou High School, graduated seven seniors this year, pictured here.

Aka’ula School celebrated four graduates.

Aka’ula School students spent the first half of this year with staggered in-person and virtual classes at their Kualapu’u campus, said Vicki Newberry. In January, the school, which encompasses grades five through 12, went back to full in-person learning.

“Because of the COVID pandemic, you were asked to grow up a little faster than usual and you were asked to make sacrifices in the senior year that you have been looking forward to for a very long time,” Dara Lukonen told this year’s graduates at their commencement.…

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Duane Michael Puaoi Dawson

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

Duane Michael Puaoi Dawson

With grace, Duane “Uncle Duane” Michael Puaoi Dawson left this earth on Sunday May 2, 2021. He was brought into this world by his mother, Juana Hernandez, in Panama January 22, 1956.

Duane was adopted, raised and nurtured by William and Carol Dawson of Killeen, Texas till the age of 18. His brothers are Dean (Jo Ann), Dymon, Danny (deceased) and Dion (Kathy). Duane was hanai by Severino and Corazon Behic of Wahiawa and their children Gwen (Tony), Joe (Elenore), Francis (Laverne), Severino (Maggie), Rex and Marc (Maria). He graduated from Leilehua High School (class of ’74). Duane’s greatest treasures were his wife, Elizabeth Pualani, their children, Duane (Jade), Dayton Kaimikaua, Loraine Lei Ilimalani (Bronson) and David Kaena, and loved by seven grandchildren.…

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Graduation Mahalo

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

The Molokai High School Class of 2021 graduates and advisors would like to thank everyone who gave their time and resources to make this unprecedented Class of 2021 Commencement Ceremony a great success and a special event for the Class of 2021. Once again the Molokai community has demonstrated their aloha and commitment to be there for the ’Opio of Molokai.
There were so many people who helped put this event together with their time and resources.

Thank you to Anoi Lima English, Bahar Yaghoubi and Perry Buchalter for helping with the class of 2021 legacy project. Thank you to the MPD for painting the lines in the MHS student parking lot and keeping the ceremony safe — Capt.Tom,…

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Bayer Makes Molokai Food Donation

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

Bayer News Release

In support of World Hunger Day, Bayer Hawaii donated more than 2,700 pounds of food to the Institute for Human Services (IHS), Maui Food Bank and Molokai Salvation Army on Thursday, May 27.

“Making a positive impact by giving back to our island communities has always been a priority for Bayer Hawaii. And with so many of our neighbors currently struggling in the wake of the pandemic, the need to improve Hawaii’s food sustainability has never been greater,” said Alan Takemoto, community affairs lead at Bayer Hawaii “Mahalo to our employees across Oahu, Maui and Molokai for their generous contributions.”…

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2 MHS Seniors Receive Memorial Scholarship

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

FMHMSF News Release

Two Molokai High School graduates have been awarded $2,000 each, a laptop 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 Ashawna-Leah Bicoy and Hulu Kekahuna Ah Van.

Ashawna-Leah plans to attend Arizona State University and major in social work.

Hulu Ah Van will be attending Bethany College in Kansas majoring in athletic training.…

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And The Shama Thrush Sings To Me

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

By Robyn Labrador

 

Between innocence and waking

Spirits of the ancient ones tell the trees

The songbird is here with joyful calling

We go on creating with our seeds

 

My senses are alive now in my bed

A smile on my lips to hear the shama

Beautifully bring in the day ahead

They sing of joy and Island mana

 

A chorus erupts, all want to be heard

All energy and chatter

Little creatures with purpose

Nature’s garden, with open theater

 

Life’s necessities of survival and connections

The balance we strive to keep

Nature’s perfection can teach us trust

In the Shama’s range of verses

 

We make friends in the garden

I dig and plant, and turn the soil

While the Shama is near

Then comes close to gain from my toil

 

All through the day, I spy the black tail

Or hear the mates calling across the yard

Their song does then regail

Life’s grand and majestic ballad

 

Dusk light is falling

The garden becomes still

Nests are made cozy and all settle in

Then out of the silence a melodious trill

 

The Shama’s last song

Another day is ending

The ancient trees rustle and bend

And the pueo are ready to take their watch…

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Elizabeth Puaoi Dawson

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

Elizabeth Puaoi Dawson

The epitome of hookipa and aloha, Pua or Juju Puaoi Dawson opened her heart and her hale to so many. A Hawaiian culture enthusiast, Pua was a paddler, farmer, teacher, kiai of cultural sites, lomilomi practitioner and akamai with laau lapaau. Blessing and helping ohana and community were her passions on Molokai and in Waimanalo.

She was born on June 18, 1956 to parents John Benjamin Puaoi Sr. and Loraine Puanani Kaimikaua in Honolulu, where she graduated from Kailua High School with the class of 1974.

Juju drifted to heaven on March 19, 2020 in Koolaupoko, Oahu, peacefully joining her parents, sister Kalei and all her angels.…

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Energy Coop Tech Review Continues

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

Ho’ahu Energy Coop News Release

Hoʻahu Energy Cooperative Molokai, a new local entity formed to support community-owned energy projects, invites you to join us for our next virtual workshop on Saturday, June 12 from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

This workshop will be Tech Review Day, Part 2! In May, we learned about some of our options for different solar panel modules to install for our projects. This week we will learn about battery storage technologies and then we will discuss our priorities in selecting which equipment we would install.

The workshop continues the Coop’s work to design solar and battery storage projects for Maui Electric’s upcoming Community Based Renewable Energy (CBRE) Request for Proposals (RFP).…

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