Community

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

Virtual Ohana Garden and Grindz Program

Thursday, May 6th, 2021

UH CTAHR Molokai Extension News Release

Do you and your ohana love gardening? Do you love cooking? Do you love eating healthy food? If you answered yes to all three, then you should consider registering for our Molokai Ohana Garden and Grindz Program. Space is still available for the program, which is open to ohana (parents, grandparents, keiki) with youth ages 9-13 and teaches gardening skills, safe food handling skills, kitchen skills and more. Due to COVID-19, the program went virtual. We now garden together, cook together and eat together in a virtual setting so you can join all from the comfort of your own home.…

4-H Virtual Cooking Challenge

Thursday, May 6th, 2021

HI 4-H News Release

Hawaii 4-H Cooking Challenge is open to youth in grades five through 12. Molokai youth can participate in this virtual event, and do not need to be a current 4-H member to participate.

Compete by submitting a five to seven minute video featuring a local commodity (plant or animal) that demonstrates the successful completion of a healthful recipe.

Entrants will participate in a county-level competition and county winners will be selected to compete in a state competition. The state round of the contest will feature the youth showcasing their food photography skills.

Youth will learn food safety, kitchen skills, nutrition facts, and presentation skills.…

New Incentives to Get Vaccinated

Thursday, May 6th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

No new Molokai cases were logged last week, while vaccination efforts are ramping up, with Molokai General Hospital offering incentives for those who get vaccinated at the hospital.

MGH announced last week it has resumed vaccinations by appointment after hours at the Outpatient Clinic, this time with extra enticement. The hospital is offering free $10 gas cards for all those who get vaccinated at MGH between April 22 and July 31. Additionally, two drawings will be held to win a trip for two to Las Vegas. The first drawing was held on May 3 for the first 1000 individuals that received their vaccine at MGH between Jan.…

Energy Coop Seeks Local Contractors

Thursday, May 6th, 2021

Ho’ahu Enery News Release

Hoʻahu Energy Cooperative Molokai, a new local entity formed to support community-owned energy projects, seeks interest from individuals and companies based on Molokai with qualifications relevant to energy development.

As a locally-led cooperative of Molokai residents, we are committed to supporting local people and economic development on Molokai. Our energy development partners, Shake Energy Collaborative and Mana Pacific, are equally committed to hiring locally and we collectively put out this call for interest.

We are looking for Molokai people interested in participating in the design, construction and operation of energy projects at this time for several upcoming projects.…

All About Avocados

Thursday, May 6th, 2021

All About Avocados

By Dayanti Karunaratne, Community Reporter

It’s looking to be a banner year for avocados, as farmers from Kalae to Waialua are seeing clusters of flowers in bloom. Upon walking amongst their trees, however, a curious realization occurs: some trees are full of fruit, while others are just beginning to flower. That’s because avocados have the longest flower-to-fruit times of any tropical fruit.

And that’s just the beginning of the marvelous world of avocados. In speaking with people who have spent years tending avocado trees, it’s clear that the diversity, especially in Hawaii, is so huge that some don’t care to talk about the type of tree.…

May Ace

Thursday, May 6th, 2021

May Ace

By Rick Schonely

Richard Felkins is the May Ace winner for the Hui O Kukui Golf Club. Richard shot 45-50 for a gross score of 95 and with his 27 handicap his net score of 68 secured the victory.…

Molokai Music Students Release CD

Thursday, May 6th, 2021

Molokai Music Students Release CD

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

A group of Molokai musicians of the first ever cohort of students in the University of Hawaii Maui College Institute of Hawaiian Music have released a CD and celebrated with a live streamed concert at Hiro’s ‘Ohana Grill last week.

Over the last two years, the group remained intact through the pandemic and their compilation CD, called Awaiaulu ‘Ia E Ke Aloha No Molokai (Bound Together By Love For Molokai), features nine recordings, seven of which are original compositions by the students.

Natalie Sambajon, Kelly Kaawa Richardson, Lehiwahiwa Ritte, Valerie Temahaga, Po’okela Napoleon, Keakaokalani Kaiama, Daniel Pelekai, Jr.,…

Energy Coop Seeks Local Contractors

Thursday, April 29th, 2021

Ho’ahu Energy News Release

Hoʻahu Energy Cooperative Molokai, a new local entity formed to support community-owned energy projects, seeks interest from individuals and companies based on Molokai with qualifications relevant to energy development.

As a locally-led cooperative of Molokai residents, we are committed to supporting local people and economic development on Molokai. Our energy development partners, Shake Energy Collaborative and Mana Pacific, are equally committed to hiring locally and we collectively put out this call for interest.

We are looking for Molokai people interested in participating in the design, construction and operation of energy projects at this time for several upcoming projects.…

Car Crash Caused Power Outage

Wednesday, April 28th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Last Thursday, a car hit a utility pole in Kamalo, causing a power outage to the east end that lasted more than five hours.

“Around 8:10 a.m. on April 22, about 400 customers in the East End of Molokai experienced a power outage when a vehicle hit and damaged a utility pole along Kamehameha V Highway,” said Shayna Decker, a Hawaiian Electric spokesperson.

The car flipped over, knocking down the pole across the road and blocking traffic for several hours. The driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, left the scene unassisted, eyewitnesses reported.

Power was restored around 1:40 p.m.…

Maunaloa Garden Will Grow Learning, Food and Dreams

Wednesday, April 28th, 2021

Maunaloa Garden Will Grow Learning, Food and Dreams

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Something special is sprouting in Maunaloa. Last week, Maunaloa School students, staff and community joined in a groundbreaking and blessing of a new school garden with its roots set in a vision of hands-on learning through cultivation and community partnerships. The $50,000 project, called Maunaloa Mala, has a landscape design that will encompass about 23,000 square feet on school grounds and form the basis for a new curriculum that school leadership hopes will inspire students to see their full potential. A landscaping project of this scale is best completed with the help of a commercial landscaping company and local suppliers that offer gravel delivery services.…