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Community

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

Eliza Haunani Ignacio

Thursday, April 1st, 2021

Eliza Haunani Ignacio

Eliza Haunani Ignacio passed away on Jan. 7, 2021 surrounded by her loving family at the age of 53.

She was born on June 12, 1967 to Richard and Kanani Negrillo in Molokai. She is survived by her husband Nathan Ignacio; sons Nahe Ignacio (Pilahi) and Brandon Ignacio (Diamond); daughter Rory Torres-Umi (Jireh); brothers Richard Negrillo Jr (Rhonda), Nelson Negrillo (Sidney) and Tony Negrillo; sisters Noella Negrillo, the late Bernadette Puhi (Keawe), Lynette Dudoit (Dukie), Roberta Delos Reyes (Lester); and 12 grandchildren.

Liza was a loving wife, a proud mother and an awesome grandma. She embodied a loving and caring spirit, someone her family looked up to and could rely on.…

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Mahalo for Soup ‘R Bowl Support

Thursday, April 1st, 2021

Mahalo for Soup ‘R Bowl Support

The Molokai Arts Center held its 11th annual Soup ‘R Bowl on March 6. Themed “Reimagined,” the fundraiser event featured 492 soup bowls and mugs created by Molokai artists. MAC reimagined the usual sunset under the banyan tree dinner fundraiser and created a COVID-compliant walk-through, take-out experience that was enjoyed by all.

Mahalo Molokai for supporting Molokai’s only nonprofit arts education program. Special thanks to Lanikeha Community Center, Rosie Davis, Molokai Homestead Farmers Alliance, Take’s Variety Store (Garrick Kanemitsu, Clyde Len Wai, Frank Maniago, Aiko and Kimmy Kanemitsu), and Halawa Tropical Flower Farm (Kalani and Joanie Pruet) for your in-kind donations.…

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Health Center Vaccinates 300 During Public Clinic

Thursday, April 1st, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

In the first round of COVID-19 vaccines available on Molokai to all residents over the age of 18, Molokai Community Health Center held a vaccine clinic last Thursday and Friday with about 1100 Moderna vaccines available. Approximately 300 of those doses were administered during the two-day event, with about 100 in the first hour on Thursday.

“With Maui positivity cases on the rise last week combined with the emergence of the more virulent variants in the state, this was a feel good event for our team to be able to offer the vaccine to our whole community at a time that we are seeing yet another uptick in the County,” said MCHC CEO Helen Kekalia Wescoatt after the clinic.…

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Diane Mokuau Wins National Librarian Award

Thursday, April 1st, 2021

Diane Mokuau Wins National Librarian Award

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

“Never in my wildest dreams” did Molokai High School librarian Diane Mokuau believe she’d be the winner of the prestigious national School Librarian of the Year award.

“Just the fact that you say I qualify for this is enough — there’s no way I’m going to win this,” Mokuau said she told Molokai Public Library Branch Manager Cynthia Delanty, who nominated her.

But win it she did, along with a middle school librarian teacher from Louisiana.

“I am deeply humbled and greatly honored to receive this prestigious award,” said Mokuau. “This highlights the wonderful things that are happening in our schools and our communities and especially spotlights our tight-knit community on Molokai.…

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COVID Cases Increase on Molokai, in State

Thursday, April 1st, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai COVID-19 cases continued to increase early last week, with three new cases between March 19 and March 26, and six active cases in the previous 14 days as of last Sunday. The island has 34 total cases since the pandemic began.

Statewide, Hawaii hit a week-long string of triple digit daily cases, ranging from 102 to 119 cases each day since last Tuesday. It was the first time since early February daily counts reached more than 100.

The County of Maui continues to enforce face mask regulations requiring everyone, whether fully vaccinated or not, to wear masks in public areas.…

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Nominate a Volunteer Hero

Wednesday, March 24th, 2021

County of Maui News Release

Do you know a volunteer hero on Molokai? Now is the time to recognize them! Nominations are being accepted for recognition of outstanding community volunteers, the County of Maui Department of Housing and Human Concerns’ Volunteer Center announced. The center will hold its annual Volunteer Heroes Celebration of Service in April.

The application deadline is at noon Thursday, April 1. To submit a nomination online, visit HandsOnMaui.com. The direct link to submit a nomination is handsonmaui.com/volunteer-hero-nomination-form/.

Individuals volunteering with a nonprofit, private or government volunteer program on Molokai, Maui and Lanai are eligible to be nominated; one application per organization will be accepted.…

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Farmworker Jobs Program

Wednesday, March 24th, 2021

MEO News Release

Maui Economic Opportunity’s National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP), an educational, employment and training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, is accepting applications across Hawaii, including Molokai.

NFJP is 100 percent federally funded and serves farmworkers who meet federal poverty income guidelines and selection criteria. Those who receive federal assistance, such as SNAP, TANF or SSI, are categorically eligible.

Other eligibility criteria include being a paid farmworker for at least 30 consecutive days within the two years prior to the application date. Family members of the farmworker may be eligible for services as well. NFJP also can assist farm employees, who recently have been laid off due to the end of harvest season or are part of a separation package for laid off employees.…

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Molokaians Are Hurting

Wednesday, March 24th, 2021

…and the local, state and federal governments ought to step in.

When inter-island travel has become prohibitively expensive, controlled by just one airline… the government ought to step in. It is incomprehensible and unacceptable when one person or a family has to travel to Maui or Oahu for a locally non-available medical or dental procedure and has to pay close to $200/person round trip every time they travel. We need subsidized travel by air/boat made available to all Molokai residents.

When one company controls the shipment of goods to Molokai and has raised their rates by 60 percent… the government ought to step in.…

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The Last Farewell

Wednesday, March 24th, 2021

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

“There’s a ship lies rigged and ready in the harbor, tomorrow for old England she sails
Far away from your land of sunshine to my land full of rainy skies and gales
And I shall be aboard that ship tomorrow, though my heart is full of tears at this farewell
For you are beautiful and I have loved you dearly, more dearly than the spoken word can tell.”
For those of you who were into the hit songs of the 70s, “The Last Farewell” is one of them, sung by the great Kenyan-Englishman, Roger Whittaker, in 1971.…

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Funding for Deer Management

Wednesday, March 24th, 2021

County of Maui News Release

The County of Maui Department of Housing and Human Concerns has awarded six grants to assess and manage feral animal populations, including axis deer, throughout Maui County.

“Maui County’s axis deer population has become much more than a nuisance. This invasive species is a threat to the livelihoods of our farmers and ranchers,” said Mayor Michael Victorino. “They also cause traffic accidents and damage yards and backyard gardens on Lanai, Molokai and Maui. Left unmanaged, axis deer will suffer and die from starvation and disease. These grants will help to assess the scope of the problem and employ humane ways to keep deer populations in check.”…

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