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Community

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

Keiki Fest with a Cause

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018

Keiki Fest with a Cause

 

Molokai’s first Keiki Fest brought a crowd to Mitchell Pauole Center last Saturday for games, food, educational booths and services. It also raised awareness for a special cause. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and organizers of the first annual event — who wore blue in honor of the nationally recognized month — said the festival’s goal is to both celebrate keiki and raise awareness of the cause.

“We’re trying to take away the negative [connotations of prevention] and bring the positive,” said Tylor Tanaka, one of 12 members of the Community Action Team that organized Keiki Fest.

Tanaka said the event drew even more attendance than expected and its success will help them plan for an even bigger event next year.…

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Drawing the Line on Sea Level Rise

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018

Drawing the Line on Sea Level Rise

By Audrey Newman, Community Reporter

A team of committed students, teachers and community members participated in the statewide Blue Line Project to “draw the line on climate change” and raise community awareness of sea level rise projections for Molokai last Saturday.   Sust`aina ble Molokai helped volunteers create a temporary blue line of ocean images and climate change messages along Kamehameha V Highway in front of Duke Maliu Regional Park to show the area vulnerable to permanent flooding in the next 40 years.  

“We chalked in a blue line to show where the new shoreline will be if we don’t take drastic measures [to address] climate change, sea level rise, and carbon emissions,” explained Vicki Newberry, team leader for Aka`ula School. …

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Kamehameha Schools Funds Aka`ula Scholarships

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018

Kamehameha Schools Funds Aka`ula Scholarships

 

A new agreement between Kamehameha Schools (KS) and Molokai’s Aka`ula School will allow more children to attend Aka`ula through financial assistance provided by KS. The agreement was signed last week and the scholarship, called Ho`okahi Ka `Ilau (“wield the paddles together”), will offer tuition assistance and other support for Molokai students demonstrating financial need to attend the small, independent school for students in grades five through 12.

“Today is going to be a game changer for our school,” said Dara Lukonen, Aka`ula School principal, in a KS press release last week. “This partnership with Kamehameha Schools is going to allow us to offer opportunities to students we have not been able to reach yet.”…

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Kaunakakai School Stage

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018

 

With a little luck, some good weather, and the help of volunteer community members, Kaunakakai School will have a new outdoor stage in time for its May Day celebration on May 11. The 800 square foot raised permanent stage area, constructed with concrete and sod, will serve as a platform for school and community events like May Day, promotion and other celebrations and activities.

School Principal Daniel Espaniola said the project has moved forward thanks to a generous donation of materials from the Kanemitsu family whose daughter, Aiko, is a sixth grader at the school.

“Last year, I asked my mom if we could have a permanent stage outside our school,” Aiko told Molokai Planning Commissioners last week.…

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Molokai Earth Day

Thursday, April 19th, 2018

TNC Molokai News Release

This Friday, April 20, the 26th annual Molokai Earth Day will be celebrated at Mitchell Pauole Center from 5 to 9 pm. The 2018 Molokai Earth Day celebration theme aligns with the Polynesian Voyaging Society and Hokulea post worldwide voyage, “Pae`aina O Hawaii, Collectively taking care of Hawaii.” 

Come and see the many exhibits that can show how you can help take care of Molokai and Hawaii.  The 2018 Malama Kuleana Honua Award recipient is Billy Akutagawa, someone who has been taking care of Molokai all his life. There will be great stage entertainers, `ono food, Earth Day T-shirts and many learning experiences for your entire family. …

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Mule Ride Evicted

Thursday, April 19th, 2018

Mule Ride Evicted

The Molokai Mule Ride has been evicted from the Kalae barn that served as the business’ base for more than four decades. Last Saturday morning, state sheriffs, Molokai police and representatives of R.W. Meyer arrived to carry out the eviction, leaving the barn’s entrance chained up.

“We are only leaving this place under duress,” said Molokai Mule Ride co-owner Kalehua Sproat-Augustiro in a live video of the eviction she streamed on Facebook. Rising tensions were caught on camera, including a sheriff’s threat to place Sproat-Augustiro under arrest. Her father, the legendary muleskinner Buzzy Sproat, operated the family business for more than 40 years and his wife and children carried it on after his death.…

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UH Volleyball Comes to Molokai

Thursday, April 19th, 2018

UH Volleyball Comes to Molokai

 

The Molokai community got the opportunity to experience top notch volleyball at their doorstep last weekend, when the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Volleyball team came to the island. They held clinics for youth players on Friday, and invited to the public to a practice and intra-quad scrimmage at the Molokai High gym on Saturday.

Head Coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, a decorated three-time Olympic volleyball player from Oahu, attended UH herself before her Olympic career and previously served as assistant coach for the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team.

“It’s great that we get to bring our girls here to experience this different culture,” she said of Molokai.…

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Molokai High Wins FAFSA Challenge

Friday, April 13th, 2018

 

Molokai High School blew away the competition when it came to percentage of students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The statewide organization Hawaii P–20 Partnerships for Education held a Cash for College Challenge for FAFSA completion to help promote postsecondary education. Molokai High finished in first place with a whopping 73 percent of students in the senior class completing the funding application. FAFSA is a required step in applying for federal grants, loans or work-study opportunities, and helps students and families identify their financial aid eligibility.

Not only did Molokai High come in 23 points above the state average for FAFSA completion, it also saw the greatest increase in the state over applications last year — 14.5 percent.…

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Proposal for Ranch Purchase

Friday, April 13th, 2018

A company called Lamplighter Energy has proposed the purchase Molokai Ranch to grow and export hibiscus to South Korea. Lamplighter CEO Andre De Rosa said wood pellets from the hibiscus is a renewable substitute to burning coal, and his energy company has the investors and contract with an organization in Korea to sell the product.

Molokai Ranch, owned by Singapore-based land holder owner GL Limited, went up for sale last September at a price of $260 million, and its 55,575 acres represents one third of Molokai.

De Rosa sat down with a small handful of residents last month, filmed by Akaku, and shared his plans, which he says he has been doing on a one-on-one basis with the community.…

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Proposed Forest Reserve Rules

Thursday, April 5th, 2018

DLNR News Release

In light of evolving natural resource concerns and the needs of managers and people, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) is proposing updates to rules regulating activities within Hawaii’s Forest Reserve System.  DOFAW is now inviting input and comments. 

The Forest Reserve System consists of 55 reserves across the state covering approximately 678,000 acres.  Regulations for the system were first established in 1943 and the last comprehensive update was in 1993. Proposed changes and updates will allow DLNR to streamline and clarify existing rules, improve enforceability, and update allowed uses and activities based on conditions currently facing the forests and their users.…

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