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Community

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

Baring Arms for the Cause

Thursday, February 4th, 2021

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

Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, is credited with many witty sayings, most of which I dare not quote here, but this one I can. It goes, “Man who wears short sleeved shirt supports right to bare arms.” He has also been quoted as saying, “He who sits on needle gets the point.” Now I believe that most people would agree that getting a needle in the seat would not be something to look forward to, unless absolutely necessary. However, there are millions of people on our earth today who are looking forward to baring their arms and inviting some lovely young nurse to give them a shot or needle in the arm containing the COVID vaccine.…

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Join Hoʻahu Energy Coop’s Next Workshop

Thursday, February 4th, 2021

HECM 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, Feb. 6, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

At this workshop youʻll have a chance to hear about the Coop’s progress in designing a solar and battery storage project for Maui Electric’s upcoming Community Based Renewable Energy (CBRE) Request for Proposals (RFP). We need your input on important upcoming decisions about our project proposal including project financing and and our path to community ownership; and subscription model benefits — how to distribute the financial benefits of the project to Molokai residents.…

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Homestead Group Gets Grant to Continue COVID Relief

Thursday, February 4th, 2021

DHHL News Release

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) has announced eight recipients of the Native Hawaiian Development Program Plan, who will each receive a portion of $1 million in grants. The Molokai Homestead Farmers Alliance received $200,000 to support its existing COVID-19 relief program to distribute food, produce, hot meals, supplies (masks, sanitizers, etc.), and certificates for drugstore/prescription purchases. The goal is to serve 800 beneficiaries on the island of Molokai.

In October, the Hawaiian Homes Commission approved the Native Hawaiian Rehabilitation Fund (NHRF) grant funds for the current fiscal year. The allocation included $500,000 to support COVID-19 relief efforts within the native Hawaiian community and $500,000 toward Regional Plan Priority projects on the homelands.…

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No Passenger Weight Limit for Mokulele

Thursday, February 4th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Mokulele Airlines, the only air carrier left serving Molokai, has removed their weight limit for passengers, when previously, those weighing more than 400 pounds were restricted from flying on their aircraft. For those interested in alternative travel experiences, you might also consider luxury overnight trains in Vietnam for a unique and comfortable way to explore the country.

“In response to the need to fly passengers-of-size, Mokulele has worked with engineers to provide a special double-seat, capable of carrying a passenger weighing over 400 pounds,” stated in the airline in a press release last week. “The seat is twice the size of normal seats and will be installed prior to each flight on an as-needed basis.”…

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Makahiki March

Thursday, February 4th, 2021

Makahiki March

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

As with everything else over the last year, 2021 Ka Molokai Makahiki looked different. There were no traditional games played or roaring crowds to cheer on favorite competitors in hukihuki, kukini, uma or haka moa. Instead, a small group of dedicated and masked Hawaiians carried the banner of Lono on foot from one end of the island to the other, starting on Jan. 25.

“For the first time in 39 years, due to the pandemic, the Ka Molokai Makahiki Games were canceled… the Lono banner was carried for five days from east Molokai at Halawa to west Molokai at Hale o Lono in celebration of the closing of the season of peace,” wrote one of the event’s organizers, Walter Ritte, on social media.…

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Kalaupapa Gets Vaccinated

Thursday, February 4th, 2021

Kalaupapa Gets Vaccinated

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Residents and employees in Kalaupapa received COVID-19 vaccines last week delivered to the settlement.

Dr. Glenn Wasserman, chief of the Communicable Disease and Public Health Nursing Division of the Hawaii Department of Health, and two DOH public health nurses flew to Kalaupapa Airport last Monday.

“It is gratifying to be able to protect our Kalaupapa patients and community with these vaccinations. Our patients are elderly with significant comorbidities that make them especially vulnerable to COVID-19,” said Dr. Wasserman. “We’ll be back in four weeks to administer a second dose of the Moderna vaccine to those who have now received their initial inoculations.”…

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46,000 Pounds of Debris Removed from Beaches

Wednesday, January 27th, 2021

46,000 Pounds of Debris Removed from Beaches

TNC News Release

Despite travel and gathering limitations due to COVID-19, The Nature Conservancy’s Hawaii Chapter (TNC) and partners removed more than 46,000 pounds of marine debris from Molokai’s remote beaches at Mo‘omomi in the last quarter of 2020.

“We started cleaning the beaches more than 20 years ago,” said Wailana Moses, TNC’s Molokai field coordinator. “This year, we were still able to remove a lot of marine debris in spite of COVID-19, thanks to our partners and community pulling together and doing the work in a safe, physically distant way.”

TNC’s Mo‘omomi Preserve and its adjoining beaches are home to rich coastal marine life, culturally-important fishing grounds on which local families rely, and some of the most important green sea turtle nesting habitat in the main Hawaiian Islands.…

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Health Centers Statewide Get $1.3M for Telehealth

Wednesday, January 27th, 2021

HCF News Release

Fourteen Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) across the state, including Molokai Community Health Center, received $1.3 million in grant awards, the Freeman Foundation and Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF) announced. With guidance from Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA), the grants aim to increase access to and delivery of telehealth services at a time when such services are in greater demand due in part to stay-at-home orders and limited in-person appointments, and more people are relying on these centers overall for their medical needs.

“Throughout our work in the U.S. and Asia, we’ve seen how basic technology can facilitate connections and improve daily lives,” said Graeme Freeman, president of The Freeman Foundation.…

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Keiki Artist Winners

Wednesday, January 27th, 2021

Keiki Artist Winners

MAC News Release

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) Member Art Show 2020 showcased Molokai’s keiki artists. Two keiki classes are held every Saturday: Session 1 from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. and Session 2 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The MAC also hosts classes for Molokai Middle School (HLIP and Dolphins), Kualapu’u School 21st Century Program, Aka’ula Summer Session and other workshops as requested by agencies and schools. Congratulations to our young artists who submitted and won awards!

Most Innovative – Taua Lima-English “Tik Tak Toe Animal Set”
Most Whimsical – Laule’a Ledesma “Kookie”
Most Expressive – Keawe Koko Chong-Kalima “Kia’i”
Best in Self Expression – Odinn Moore “Fish Kitty Football”
Most Enchanting – Patience Purdy “Peach Blossom Elephant”
Most Delightful – Kolbie Kalima Ledesma “Turtle Turtle”
Best Island Aesthetic – Kaedyn Chong “Blue”
Emerging Artist – Kaizyn Chong “Stego”

Photos are posted on the MAC’s Facebook page.…

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James “Kimo” Ioane Paleka, Sr.

Wednesday, January 27th, 2021

James “Kimo” Ioane Paleka, Sr.

James “Kimo” Ioane Paleka, Sr., one of Molokai’s well known musicians, passed away on Jan. 11, 2021 at the age of 73. He was born on April 10, 1947 to Herbert and Elizabeth “Haahaa” Paleka, Sr. of Ho’olehua. He was a graduate of Molokai High School and at a very young age learned to sing and play guitar with his mom. While working for Hawaiian Airlines for many years, he would spend his evening with his mom and best friend Waipa Purdy serenading guests at the former Sheraton Hotel. Guests loved requesting favorite songs and in response to their request, Waipa, grandma, and dad would leave the stage, walk to the guests table and welcome them with their music and Molokai’s aloha.…

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