Community

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

Bayer Scholarship and Grant Available

Wednesday, April 21st, 2021

Bayer Hawaii News Release

Applications are now being accepted for two education funding opportunities through Bayer, the 2021 Bayer Hawaii Life Sciences Scholarship and the Bayer Hawaii Science Education Fund.

The Bayer Hawaii Science Education Fund grant program is open to public schools serving students at the intermediate, high school and college grade levels on the islands of Oahu, Maui and Molokai.

Established in 2005, the Bayer Hawaii Science Education Fund helps provide Hawaii public schools with programs, tools, supplies and equipment to enhance science education in the schools, and encourages today’s students to consider a future career in the sciences.…

New Case, J&J Vaccine on Hold, Canoe Races Cancelled

Wednesday, April 21st, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

One new Molokai COVID-19 case was reported by the Dept. of Health last week, bring the island’s total to 35 cases since the pandemic began.

The Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) had anticipated offering the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine starting last week but those plans came to a halt when the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended pausing administering of the the J&J nationally following six cases being reported of rare and severe side effects. Out of the 6.8 million people in the U.S. who received the J&J vaccine, six women between the ages of 18 and 48 developed blood clots, with symptoms occurring six to 13 days after vaccination.…

Molokai Robotics to Compete in World Championship

Wednesday, April 21st, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Despite many setbacks and navigating the obstacles presented by the pandemic, a Molokai robotics team has qualified for the VEX Robotics Remote World Championship and will compete virtually against hundreds of teams worldwide. Setting the bar high and proving that distance robotics is possible, the team has once again shown that Molokai is always up for a challenge.

The four students — eighth graders Maesilyn Yuen and Kalau’ihi Kaai, and seventh graders Genesis Nakihei and Mark Ragonton — coached by Edwin Mendija, learned and constructed their robots remotely, passing the robots between their families as they were developed.…

Kalaupapa’s First Seal Pup of Season

Wednesday, April 21st, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Kalaupapa welcomed its first Hawaiian monk seal pup born this season earlier this month. The baby was born to first-time mom RG18, herself born in Kalaupapa in 2015.

The Kalaupapa National Historical Park shared the news on their Facebook page, reminding the community to give new moms and pups plenty of extra space, with no swimming advised if they’re present on the beach.

Kalaupapa’s quiet coastline is a popular spot for monk seals to give birth each year, usually beginning in late March or early April. Pups are born with black fur and their coats later change to dark gray or brown.…

Mahalo Molokai

Wednesday, April 21st, 2021

The Molokai Dept. of Health-Public Health Nursing staff would like to extend their aloha and mahalo to the residents of Molokai for their patience and understanding during these first few months of 2021. Mahalo to all those who came to get their vaccinations at the Dept. of Health vaccine clinics and deepest apologies to those that they were not able to be vaccinated at their clinics. A special mahalo to the following community partners in helping with the Molokai DOH-Public Health Nursing COVID vaccination clinics:

Molokai Fire Department, Molokai AMR, Molokai’s County Parks and Recreation, Molokai Drugs, Inc, Arelene DeRouin, Rhonda Kahalewai, Thyra Habon, Tiffany Rapanot, Dr.…

April Ace

Wednesday, April 14th, 2021

April Ace

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter

Jennie Makaiwi is the April Ace winner for the Hui O Kukui Golf Club. Jeannie shot 48-46 for a gross score of 94 at iconic Ironwood Hills Golf Course. With her 28 handicap, her net score of 66 got her the victory.…

Charter Commission Seeks Molokai Input

Wednesday, April 14th, 2021

County of Maui News Release

The Maui Charter Commission is seeking input from members of the Molokai community at its next scheduled virtual meeting on, April 15 at 6 p.m.

The Charter Commission is formed every 10 years to study and review the operation of the government of the county of Maui under the amendments or new charter and to propose amendments or to draft a new charter for voter’s consideration at the next general election.

Interested members of the public may submit written testimony and/or provide oral testimony at the meeting. When submitting testimony, please consider addressing these two questions: What are you recommending be changed in the charter?…

Molokai Taro Field Day Going Virtual

Wednesday, April 14th, 2021

UH CTAHR Molokai Extension News Release

Despite the pandemic and all its restrictions to keep us safe, the annual Molokai Taro Field Day will take place, just in a virtual way. The virtual Taro Field Day will be held on Thursday, April 15 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Registration is now open online at eventbrite.com/e/molokai-virtual-taro-field-day-tickets-149113571707. Once registered, you will receive a link to the event.

This year’s event will include mo’olelo, along with spotlighting of several taro varieties. There will be an update on the Lunar Response in Kalo Project, and for those for who have questions about what’s happening at the UHMC/UH Applied Research and Demonstration Farm, we will provide an update on that as well.…

Helping Molokai Get Firewise

Wednesday, April 14th, 2021

Paniolo Hale News Release

As one of 15 communities across the State of Hawaii to be recognized as a certified NFPA Fire-wise USA Community, Paniolo Hale is partnering with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm ® in helping communities take steps toward safety with the national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day event on Saturday, May 1.

Preparedness Day encourages people and organizations to come together on a single day to take action to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risks. Individual and community actions remain a key component to reducing wildfire risk around homes and neighborhoods. In an effort to mitigate fire fuels for Molokai, the Division Manager of the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management Environmental Protection and Sustainability Division has helped Paniolo Hale to compile a list of items that the Molokai landfill will accept.…

Health Center Gets Funding

Wednesday, April 14th, 2021

MCHC News Release

Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) is one of 14 Hawaii Community Health Centers to receive American Rescue Plan funds to expand operations in response to COVID-19 vaccinations, increased testing, preventive and primary care expansion, direct transportation for patient care, including improving physical infrastructure and adding mobile clinic services.

Molokai Community Health Center has been awarded $839,500 of the $31,969,250 American Rescue Plan funds allocated to Hawaii Health Centers.

To further support this work, in late March, The Hawaii Community Foundation has also awarded MCHC $222,500 towards increased COVID-19 vaccination efforts and mobile clinic services to reach patients who are homebound, lack transportation to get to their appointments or seek care, or who may not have adequate broadband or device capability in their neighborhood to receive care by telehealth.…