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Community

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

3 New COVID Cases for Molokai Last Week

Wednesday, January 13th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

The new year brought new cases to the island, with an influx of three last week, bringing Molokai up to a total of 25 COVID-19 cases, as of Sunday, since the pandemic began.

One new case was reported by the Dept. of Health last Wednesday, Jan. 6, with two more joining the tally Friday.

Statewide, Thursday, Jan. 7 saw the highest number of cases in a single day since August, with 322 new cases across the state. In Maui County, numbers were also concerning to officials, with 56 new cases reported in the county last Thursday. Because the vast majority of cases are in households throughout all regions of Maui island, officials in the Maui District Health Office believe the spike stemmed from holiday gatherings.…

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Golf Wins

Wednesday, January 13th, 2021

Golf Wins

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter

Two golf tournaments at the iconic Ironwood Hills Golf course got three residents wins recently.

The 2020 Molokai Teachers’ Winter Classic was held Dec. 21. Congratulations to Bob Danner for winning the low gross Horns Trophy and Jacket and Scott Hemenway for winning the low net Bowl Trophy. Big aloha to the leader of Farmer nation and the tournament organizer, Lee DeRouin!

David Spencer is the January 2021 monthly Ace winner for the Hui O Kukui Golf Club. After shooting 82 (42-40) and with his 19 handicap, his net 63 got him the first Ace of the new year!…

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MPD Reflects on Blessings

Wednesday, December 30th, 2020

As 2020 comes to a close, let us not reflect on the challenges we faced but on the blessings we received. Many organizations, businesses, and neighbors on Molokai stepped in to assist those in need, evident by the many food distributions, PPE donations, free inter-island cargo shipping, as well as the countless people who offered assistance to those afflicted by COVID-19. We were able to keep our COVID count low, due to everyone doing their part in helping to stop the spread of this disease.

We appreciated those that kept traditions alive, like PK Enterprise and Misaki Store, spreading holiday cheer from their annual floats.…

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Island’s First COVID-19 Vaccine

Wednesday, December 30th, 2020

Island’s First COVID-19 Vaccine

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Last Tuesday, the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines arrived at Molokai General Hospital via Kamaka Air. The first vaccine was administered shortly afterward, with the first recipient being Jeanette Oshiro, Manager of the Paul G. Stevens MD Outpatient Clinic, administered by Nicolette Montizor, RN. The hospital says it vaccinated more staff last week. Only healthcare workers will receive the COVID-19 vaccines at this time.…

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Star of Wonder

Wednesday, December 30th, 2020

Star of Wonder

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

“O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright.

Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.” -John Hopkins Jr. in 1857

I am not exactly known as a star gazer but I do recall times in my high school years when, during class time, I caught myself looking out the window, either because I was desperately looking for inspiration or was just plain bored in class that day. Still I have looked toward the heavens on a few occasions in my time, be that to forecast the weather or to check out a twinkling star or an approaching unidentified flying object.…

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MHS Alum to Finish College Football Career

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020

MHS Alum to Finish College Football Career

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter

Molokai High alumnus Makani Kaneaiakala will continue and finish his college football career at Western New Mexico University in Silver City, NM. He began playing at Eastern Arizona College as a freshman in 2017, before enrolling at Tabor College in Kansas two years later. Since then, he has had some bumps in the road but is now back to the game.

“After being in the NCAA Transfer Portal for some time I can finally say I’ll be returning to action at Western New Mexico University,” said Kaneaiakala. “I’m beyond thankful and blessed for another opportunity after all the struggles I’ve gone through this year; it was such a tough stretch with COVID-19, school, work, training, a potential career-ending injury which healed, eligibility paperwork that required navigating specifics like New Mexico sports betting regulations to ensure compliance, and I made some very tough sacrifices along the way to embrace this fresh start in a state rich with unique athletic and cultural landscapes.”…

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Molokai Kumu Develops Online Keiki Program

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020

Ka Hale Hoaka News Release

Ka Hale Hoaka, an online Hawaiian learning school, is pleased to announce its Keiki Program.

The 16-module program is targeted to students ages 5-11 and teaches Hawaiian language, music, chant, hula, arts, and crafts. The Keiki Program is designed to be implemented into the existing distance learning curriculum of elementary schools statewide.

The Keiki Program is taught by co-founder Maile “Kumu Maile” Naehu, a Kumu, Native Hawaiian educator, performer, artist, and community organizer from the island of Molokai. Naehu has taught Hawaiian immersion for Kamehameha Schools and is a resource teacher for the DOE.

“We founded Ka Hale Hoaka as a creative way to connect keiki to the rich, timeless teachings of Hawaii, especially as schools transitioned to online curriculum,” said Naehu.…

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It’s Never Too Late

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020

By Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

Just a few minutes ago, I walked across the street to check my mail box, just in case I had received a million dollars to benefit St. Francis Church. The sign on the window as well as on the door read, “Closed 12/7; Open 12/8.” Today is 12/8 and this was my third trip today to the USPS of Kalaupapa. I will probably stop there again later. After all, this is Kalaupapa and it’s never too late here.

It has been three weeks plus since I last used our landline to make a call.…

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Christmas in Kalaupapa

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020

Christmas in Kalaupapa

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

The annual Kalaupapa Lion’s Club Christmas celebration is normally the settlement’s “event of the year,” with a big party at McVeigh Hall that includes a feast, decorations, lucky number prizes, gift exchanges, friends and live music. But this year, as with so many things, the festivities looked a little different. Instead of a party, the Lion’s Club hosted a drive thru candy cane lane for community members, with a candy cane decorating contest, Christmas light decorating contest, raffles and gifts bags for everyone.

“There have been no events at all since March when the settlement closed to visitors and the Christmas Lion’s Club party is the event of the year for the Kalaupapa community,” said Ka’ohulani McGuire of the National Park Service.…

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Last Workshop of the Year for Energy Coop

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020

Shake Energy Collaborative News Release

On Saturday, Dec. 19, from 9 to 10:30 a,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 Molokai Renewable Energy Cooperative.

This will be our last meeting of the year as a group and it will be a fun one! We will review our progress to date including physical project design, partner company selection and coop formalization and naming.

We will also join in a couple of fun design activities! If you want to receive a design kit, please contact us as soon as possible.…

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