Community

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

Petition for Open Veteran Records

Wednesday, November 11th, 2020

To Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans Board of Directors and officers:

After four years struggling for transparency, Attorney General investigator Boyd Sakai has finished his work.

Please be advised, Hawaii Nonprofit Corporation Act Section 414 D- 138 states that the Members of a Nonprofit Corporation may remove one or more Directors elected by them without cause. Section (g) states that an entire Board of Directors may be removed under this section of the law . On June 15, 2019, the entire Board and Officers were voted out of office.

Accordingly, this is a 30-day notice of reminder, Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans Annual Membership meeting is to be held in the month of November.…

Veterans Day

Wednesday, November 11th, 2020

Mahalo to our veterans for all their services and sacrifices. To the men and women who were recruited or drafted to sign on that dotted line and trained to defend our country, our home, from enemies, foreign and domestic, while being away from their families, we honor and thank you with this poem:

Veterans Day
By Cheryl Dyson

On Veterans Day we honor all,
Who answered to a service call,
Soldiers young, and soldiers old,
Fought for freedom, brave and bold,
Some have lived, while others died,
And all of them deserve our pride,
We’re proud of all the soldiers who,
Kept thinking of red, white and blue,
They fought for us and all our rights,
They fought through many days and nights,
And though we may not know each name,
We thank ALL veterans just the same.…

Election Brings Record Voter Turnouts

Wednesday, November 11th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Last week’s General Election brought record voter turnouts across the state as well as on Molokai. Despite the fact that Hawaii promoted 100 percent mail-in ballots this year, many voters still chose to vote in person at Voter Service Centers, and long lines as the 7 pm deadline on Nov. 3 approached at many locations, caused delays in results being reported.

On Molokai, 2,824 residents cast their votes by mail, while 538 visited the Voter Service Center at the Mitchell Pauole Center to vote in person.

In the 2016 General Election, Molokai voter turnout in all precincts hovered just under 30 percent, while in 2018, it averaged in the low 20 percent range.…

DHHL to Offer Its Own Internet

Wednesday, November 11th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

With Molokai homesteaders struggling with faulty internet service under Sandwich Isles Communication, the Department of Hawaiian Homelands is poised to deliver its own internet to homestead communities. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved applications for DHHL to bring wireless broadband to Molokai, Lanai, Maui and Kauai, which is anticipated to be operational by 2022.

Slow internet has been plaguing Molokai homesteaders for some time but has been exacerbated by the pandemic, as students attempt to study remotely, employees work from home and small business owners bolster their online marketplaces.

“Anger, frustration, you can’t even get through to a live body to talk about what the situation is, or negotiations of how they can have their bills paid, or you can transfer over to another carrier,” Rep.…

Animal Control Services for Molokai

Wednesday, November 11th, 2020

Opinion by Laura Peterson

There is an unfilled position on Molokai, that of the Animal Control Officer, and this petition is sent to Maui County Mayor Mike Victorino and the County Council. Not only is this a solid job for a resident of Molokai, but it is key for the humane treatment of our lost, hurt, and abandoned pets on-island. Would no animal control be tolerated on Maui? No. Then why is it accepted on Molokai?

Ideally, the Animal Control Officer works in partnership with the medical services provided by the Molokai Humane Society (MoHS), temporarily houses and cares for dogs in the county shelter, and arranges safe transport to Maui to adoption facilities.…

Dorothy Leimomi Kong

Thursday, November 5th, 2020

Dorothy Leimomi Kong

Dorothy Leimomi Kong went to be with the Lord on Oct. 23, 2020. She was born on Sept. 7, 1938 on the island of Oahu to John Kekoa Kalamau and Dorothy Wong. She is survived by her children Luana K. Kamai (Charles) Wanda Kong, William Billy Kong, Shawn Seri (George) Alan Kong (Mili) Cheryl Kong; 11 grandchildren Sean Alan Kamai, Shaynna Ann Seri Sheldeen Kamai, Kekoa, Ameron, Anna Nicole Madela, Moana, Maunalani, Ekolu (Cowboy) Maile Manintin, Alanna Kong Kalamau; 28 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. Dorothy has now joined her husband, Soloman Aloan Kong, who is with the Lord.…

‘Done Deal’ Being Investigated

Thursday, November 5th, 2020

Four years ago, many Molokai veterans were not aware of a public meeting that was being held in the name of our organization. And instead of this public meeting being held at Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans Center, at our invitation, it was held at Kulana ‘Oiwi, and hosted by our DHHL caretakers, Group 70 International, Inc. and our elected State Representative Hawaiian homesteader, as our “done deal” everything is in place. Board of Directors proudly sat in the front row, wearing the colors “KOA KAHIKO.”

We have been patiently waiting, since June 15, 2019, knowing their self-created blunder and shameful arrogance, in their denial with the vote of 38 yes, and the only “no vote” to show up was the “Commander” himself.…

Virtual Vet Services

Thursday, November 5th, 2020

I would like to share some exciting news that would benefit our island pets. Ali’i Animal Hospital on Oahu provides telemedicine services for pets with a licensed veterinarian seven days a week. Their hours are Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.Their caring staff will arrange an appointment time and the doctor will Spacetime to help with your needs. The fee for this appointment is $31.00 plus $1.80 tax. For information, phone Ali’i Animal Hospital 808-234-3441.

Elliott the cat on Molokai had his first virtual telemedicine appointment this week for a centipede bite that caused swelling and infection.…

Free Molokai Community Testing Event

Thursday, November 5th, 2020

County of Maui News Release

Mayor Michael Victorino announced that free, COVID-19 community testing for Molokai will be offered on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center.

Residents do not need to have insurance or meet any criteria to get tested for free. Minit Medical is administering the program sponsored by the County of Maui.

All participants must pre-register by visiting minitmed.com/pre-register-maui-covid-19.

If you have any problem pre-registering, please call (808) 667-6161 ext: 7, for help and more information.

“With the recent outbreak on Lanai, it’s critically important that we continue to provide testing for our residents – especially in our rural communities that have limited healthcare resources,” Mayor Victorino said.…

Renewable Energy Cooperative Workshop

Thursday, November 5th, 2020

Shake Energy Collaborative News Release

On Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., we will host a virtual public meeting to further our progress on designing renewable energy on Molokai to be locally owned and operated by a newly forming Cooperative.

At this meeting, we will host second round interviews for energy development companies that are interested in partnering with the cooperative and co-developer, Shake Energy Collaborative. We interviewed six companies at our last meeting on Saturday, Oct. 24. After review, we invited the best fit companies back for a more in-depth conversation on Nov. 7.

If you would like to attend this virtual public meeting, please reach out to Ali Andrews, CEO of Shake Energy Collaborative, at ali@shake-energy.com.…