Community

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

Library to Get More Space

Sunday, March 25th, 2018

Library to Get More Space

A growing collection of books and programs at the Molokai Public Library is causing its historic building to burst at the seams. If a proposed expansion is approved, the library would get some much-needed additional space. The proposal includes a new, stand-alone 1,875 square foot building behind the existing facility that would cost over $3 million, funded by the state Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS).

The new building will be connect to the back of the existing staff room by a breezeway. The facility will provide a meeting room, workroom for staff, and two restrooms additional space for books, as well as.…

Setting Sights on the Stars

Wednesday, March 21st, 2018

Setting Sights on the Stars

“Shoot for the stars” is advice often given to youth, but three Molokai High School students have earned the chance to take the phrase literally. They were awarded a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe the stars through the one world’s best telescopes atop Maunakea.

Sunni Chow, Taye Mowat and Skylar Kuahuia are Molokai’s first Maunakea Scholars, a program run by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) that allows students observatory time based on research proposals they submitted. The ever-expanding program, started a few years ago, currently includes 10 Hawaii high schools.

“The program you’re in has never been done before and it’s unique worldwide… because we have the telescopes on Maunakea and no other kids in the world have that in their backyard,” said Doug Simons, CFHT executive director.…

National Wrestling Champ Cendall Manley

Friday, March 16th, 2018

National Wrestling Champ Cendall Manley

 

Molokai High School Wrestling alumnus Cendall Manley won the National Collegiate Wrestling Association 170 pound National Championship last weekend in Allen, Texas. Manley, the number two seed this year, wrestles as a sophomore at Liberty University.  She defended her title, pinning top-seeded Saydie Kala of Southwestern Oregon in 4 minutes, 50 seconds in the final.

“I was very blessed to represent my school, my state, and my island, and God this weekend!” said Manley. “Wrestling has been such an amazing part of my life and I’m so thankful for my Molokai family who was cheering me on and praying for me the whole time!…

Laps for Love

Friday, March 16th, 2018

Laps for Love

In its second year, the Molokai Cancer Fund’s Walk for Ohana drew hundreds of community members to raise money for island cancer patients last Friday night. With a country paniolo theme, 21 teams honored family and friends affected by cancer: survivors, those currently fighting the disease, and those who lost the battle. All money raised stays on Molokai to assist local cancer patients with travel and other expenses related to treatment.

Starting the evening with a lap dedicated to survivors, community members of all ages walked a track at the Kaunakakai Ball park, participated in line dancing, warmed up from the night’s chill with hot food and drinks and lit lanterns in honor of loved ones passed.…

Choosing Molokai’s Energy Future

Friday, March 16th, 2018

Choosing Molokai’s Energy Future

Maui Electric has identified a four-way fork in the road to Molokai’s energy future. Last week, the utility presented several options to reach the goal of 100 percent renewable energy for the island in a series of island-wide community meetings.

A large-scale solar project with battery storage, proposed by Molokai New Energy Partners, a division of Half Moon Ventures (HMV), figures largely into those options. The project includes 37 acres of solar panels to be located next to Maui Electric’s Pala`au Power Plant. An agreement between HMV and Maui Electric was recently reached, and Maui Electric submitted the proposal to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for review last week.…

Students Spend 3 Days at Pearl Harbor

Wednesday, March 14th, 2018

Students Spend 3 Days at Pearl Harbor

Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor News Release

For many students from the remote island of Molokai, traveling to Oahu for a three day field trip was something new and exciting. But imagine spending two nights at a “sleep over” on a battleship or climbing into a cockpit of a fighter jet. The action packed itinerary included hands-on aviation-related STEM activities and visits to historic World War II sites including Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, USS Bowfin, USS Missouri, and USS Arizona Memorial.

Pacific Aviation Museum recently hosted 22 fifth and sixth graders from Maunaloa and Kilohana elementary schools, and five accompanying teachers and chaperones.…

How to Reach Renewable Energy Goals

Monday, March 5th, 2018

Maui Electric News Release

Maui Electric Company will host community meetings to share possible options based on feedback collected from the Molokai community on how to achieve 100 percent renewable energy for the island. The meetings will start at 5 p.m. with light refreshments, followed by updates from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

Tuesday, March 6: Kilohana Community Center Wednesday, March 7: Maunaloa Community Center Thursday, March 8: Mitchell Pau`ole Center

“We’re working toward accelerating clean energy plans for Molokai, and this includes continuous dialogue with all of you – the island’s residents and businesses throughout this process,” said Sharon Suzuki, president of Maui Electric.…

The Pink Lady Goes Home: Remembering Elizabeth Kahihikolo

Monday, March 5th, 2018

Community Contributed

 

By Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

The cortege left St. Francis Church grounds to the strains of an Elvis Presley song and headed up the hill past the movie house toward Staff Row. The procession was led by Kahohulani in her truck, bearing the casket containing the body of our friend and long-time resident, Elizabeth. We passed the burned-out site of the former state kitchen where she had enjoyed many a meal with her friends over the years. Then we passed McVeigh Hall where she had participated in many celebrations. Next we slowed down as we passed her house as well as that of her sister, Gertrude, where her sister had fed all the cats in the neighborhood.…

Mesmerized by Moana’s 

Thursday, February 22nd, 2018

Mesmerized by Moana’s 

Moana’s Hula Halau’s annual fundraiser dinner show once again dazzled a captivated audience under the banyan tree at the Molokai Community Health Center last Saturday night. Now under the guidance of Kumu Raquel Dudoit, the halau has been dancing for more than 60 years, according to founder Kumu Moana Dudoit’s grandniece, Zhantell Dudoit Lindo.

The show featured Moana’s wahine, kane and keiki as well as fire dancers from Po`ohala Productions of Maui. One of the evening’s numbers was a dance honoring Aunty Moana written by musician Kuana Torres. The hula referenced her bus service and described her as the “ambassador of aloha,” said Dudoit Lindo.…

Kualapu`u, MHS Robotics Take Home Awards

Friday, February 16th, 2018

Kualapu`u, MHS Robotics Take Home Awards

Community Contributed

By Edwin Mendija, Robotics Coach

Both Kualapu`u School’s Robotics Team and the Molokai High School VEX Robotics Team competed at the 2018 Hawaii State VEX IQ Championship on Jan. 13-14.

Three teams from Kualapu`u school competed: Team 1037A — Felix Kehano, Matthew McGuire, and Kamau Pali; Team 1037B — Alice Alvarez and Chevy Bush; and Team 1037C — Shazen Bush and Anthony Naia Starkey.

All three teams performed strongly in the qualification rounds, landing them all in the finals which consisted of the top 18 scorers. The finals were nail-bitingly close, as second through fifth place all scored within one point of each other.…