Community

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

Molokai Resource Page

Thursday, April 23rd, 2020

Kuha’o Business Center News Release

The County of Maui is sponsoring a new website with information and resources for residents and businesses at COVID19MauiNui.com. The website now includes a “Molokai News and Updates” page. The website includes information and assistance from state and federal agencies as well as highlights community initiatives and programs.

During this time of heightened public health risk and community concern over the coronavirus disease of 2019 (“COVID-19″), it is important to know you are not alone and there is help and resources available.

The website also includes a link to the program OurKupuna.com, a community initiative project that connects our kupuna with volunteer sponsors, also available on Molokai.…

‘Ohana by Hawaiian Offers Free Food Transport

Thursday, April 23rd, 2020

‘Ohana by Hawaiian Offers Free Food Transport

Hawaiian Airlines News Release

When Kristina Gomez learned her elderly parents on Molokai were impacted by the abrupt closure of a main grocery store in the town of Kaunakakai due to COVID-19 cases, she wanted to find a way to help. A Hawaiian Airlines guest service agent in Honolulu, Gomez reached out to our leadership team late last week, suggesting we set up a transportation service between Oahu and Molokai to assist the rural island’s residents.

Teams with Hawaiian Air Cargo and ‘Ohana by Hawaiian – our turboprop operations offering passenger service to Molokai – worked through the weekend discussing requirements of the proposed service, consulting with local government officials, and obtaining necessary TSA approvals.…

Those Masked Marvels

Thursday, April 23rd, 2020

By Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

Many of you readers grew up watching the Lone Ranger fight for justice. Some of you may have thrilled at the exploits of Batman as he nabbed all types of crooks and criminals. More of you marveled at the feats of the Green Hornet. As for myself, I was drawn to the swashbuckling but sometimes reckless Zorro. Indeed, I once dressed up as that mystery man, complete with sword and whip and concealed behind a mask, at a parish country fair in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. All of these fought for justice behind the mask.…

Stores Reopen, School to Remain Closed

Thursday, April 23rd, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai remains at two COVID-19 cases after two large-scale testing events in the past two weeks. The county reported that 400 people during the April 7 drive-thru testing and nearly 100 people during last week’s event. Though neither the Mayor’s office nor state officials could provide confirmation, sources say all results have been negative so far.

Statewide, there were 580 cases as of Sunday, 414 of which have been released from isolation; there have been 10 deaths in the state linked to COVID-19.

After more than two weeks closed following two employees testing positive, Friendly Market Center reopened their doors on Monday.…

Health Center Gets COVID Funding

Thursday, April 23rd, 2020

Health Center Gets COVID Funding

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) received $550,535 in emergency federal funding to assist in COVID-19 response.
The funding was part of $10,037,995 given to 14 health centers statewide by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) which funds health centers across the country. The coronavirus money was part of President Trump’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act.

“This federal assistance to our community health centers can be used by the centers for staffing, personal protective equipment, screening, testing, and prevention or other means to fight the pandemic,” said Congressman Ed Case.…

Hawaii Beaches Closed

Thursday, April 23rd, 2020

DLNR News Release

Governor David Ige issued a Fifth Supplementary Proclamation to his Emergency Rules. This one includes limitations on activities outside homes or places of residence and closes all beaches on Molokai and statewide. It became clear that many people are continuing to access beaches, waters, and trails for social and recreational activities without proper social distancing during the COVID-19 crisis. Such activity contributes to the risk of spread of coronavirus across the state.

Under these new rules, all beaches are closed, which means no sitting, standing, lying down, lounging, sunbathing, or loitering on beaches and sandbars. People can still cross beaches to access the ocean for outdoor exercise like surfing, solo paddling and swimming as long as social distances are maintained.…

National Guard Assists on Molokai

Monday, April 20th, 2020

National Guard Assists on Molokai

Last week, seven members of the Hawaii National Guard arrived on Molokai to perform thermal screenings at the airport and assist the Maui Police Department during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guardsmen are unarmed and “all local boys just trying to serve their community,” said Staff Sgt. Laurence Kimoha’e Puailihau, Jr., who is from Molokai and now lives on Oahu with his family.

Puailihau joined Councilwoman and Molokai High classmate Keani Rawlins-Fernandez in a virtual talk story last weekend to answer questions and clear up “the uncertainty and anxiety that people feel when they hear the National Guard is coming,” said Rawlins-Fernandez.…

Ualapue Shaft Tested Positive for E. Coli

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

County of Maui News Release

The Maui Department of Water Supply detected E. coli bacteria in the Ualapue Shaft on Molokai on April 7, in a water sample collected the previous day. E. coli testing takes 18 hours to complete. It is important for residents to note that this detection was in the shaft itself and not in the water source.

A resampling of water from the Ualapue Shaft the following day, April 8, was confirmed to meet federal Environmental Protection Agency and state Department of Health water quality standards. It did not contain any traces of E. coli contamination.

The water in the Ualapue system remains safe to drink, because it has been disinfected, and no E.…

Rotary Scholarships Available

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset News Release

The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset is awarding two $2500 academic scholarships to two graduating seniors who live in West Maui, Hana or Molokai and attend a Maui or Molokai high school. The students should demonstrate superior academic abilities, involvement in school activities and a winning character profile and must be pursuing a field of study that will benefit the environment.

The scholarship highlights the club’s commitment to support the educational goals of local youth.

“Knowledge is power and we are thrilled to help a senior student reach his or her educational goals,” said Erica Gale, Youth Service Chair.…

Cendall Manley is 4-time National Wrestling Champ

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

Cendall Manley is 4-time National Wrestling Champ

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter

The Manley ‘ohana of Molokai is famous for wrestling. For many years Randy, along with his wife Louise, has coached Molokai wrestling at the high school and club level and their five children were all were coached by their father and had great success. Sons Colton, Clinton and Caele, and daughters Charisse and Cendall have all wrestled for the Farmers of Molokai High School.

In 2016, Cendall won a Hawaii State Wrestling Championship in her senior year and continued her wrestling career at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Last month, she won her fourth straight National Collegiate Wrestling Association Championship in Allen, Texas and was named the women’s tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.…