Community

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

Veterans Corner

Friday, April 24th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Jesse Church

Aloha to my fellow veterans and residents of Molokai, this past Friday April 10, became the most holy of Veterans Days when the Veterans of Molokai received their certificate of occupancy for the new Veterans Center. What started as the dreams of Molokai Veterans about eight years ago, has finally come to fruit. It began as a dream of veteran Patty Bird who now lives in the state of Washington, and the late Commander, Larry Helm of the Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans. My greatest wish would have been for Larry to have lived to see his dream finally come true.…

Hawaiians, Know You Are Royalty Today

Friday, April 24th, 2015

Community Contributed

Opinion by Harrie Ann Aki and Gavin Pelekane Tamashiro

Our group is proposing a plan to recognize our Maoli Kingdom, to the Hawaii legislature and our people who live in Hawaii.  If you agree and support our proposal, please go to change.org or go to Molokai Fish and Dive and sign our proposal petition.

This proposal could make a great impact for everyone to get out of suppression in Hawaii. It’s time to protect and malama what we have left for our children’s generation, before we lose it all to state of Hawaii, Department of Hawaiian Homelands, Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Kana`iolowalu and others.…

Waikiki Kupuna to Explore Molokai

Thursday, April 23rd, 2015

Waikiki Community Center News Release

Jeff Apaka, the Community Relations Director of the Waikiki Community Center (WCC) has been escorting kupuna on neighbor island excursions for 23 years. On April 27-29, Apaka will be escorting his seventh WCC kupuna excursion to Molokai.

“A trip to Molokai is always an adventure for both me and our kupuna group,” said Apaka. “They are on an exciting adventure — and I’m revisiting my childhood!”

As a keiki growing up in Waikiki, Apaka said to him, Molokai was the “babysitting island.” When his parents were leaving on another tour or extended engagement, he recalls being driven to Honolulu airport to meet his grandma Keahi Aholo Afat and grandfather Alfred.…

Veterans Meeting

Thursday, April 23rd, 2015

MVCV News Release

The Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans (MVCV) center has finally got its Certificate of Occupancy, and will be having a general membership meeting on Friday, April 24 at 10 a.m. at our new veteran center going down to the Kaunakakai pier.

We will be discussing our Veteran Center’s dedication/opening and looking for watch commanders at our center for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Our secretary, Allen Diorec, will be taking reservations for anyone interested in using our certified kitchen.  For more information, call our center at 553-8387.

Also mahalo to all for supporting our blue cards, the Friendly Market Center Kokua Card Program.…

Earth Day Offers Environmental Education

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

Earth Day Offers Environmental Education

Molokai’s natural resource managers, biologists and those engaged in preserving Molokai’s environment turned their projects into fun and engaging information to share with hundreds of attendees at Molokai’s annual Earth Day Celebration last Friday.

“I’ve always said, our science is only valuable if shared with others,” said Jim Jacobi, an ecosystems research biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) who has been participating in Molokai’s Earth Day celebration for more than five years. “I tell people, ‘If you want to go to Earth Day, go to Molokai!’ People here are relaxed and interested. We need to make science understandable.”

That was the goal of dozens of organizations that showcased their work at the event’s booths.…

After 11 Years, Molokai Dances in Merrie Monarch

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

Molokai hula dancers and vendors spent months rehearsing and crafting with a specific purpose in mind: sharing the stories of Molokai at the 52nd Merrie Monarch Festival.

After a decade-long absence from hula’s premiere annual event, Moana’s Hula Halau traveled to Hilo for the weeklong hula and cultural festival from April 5-11, along with 10 Molokai businesses. Twenty-four halau from Hawaii and the mainland came to compete in solo and group competitions, bringing their own unique take on Hawaii’s renowned method of storytelling.

“It’s not about being pretty,” said Kumu Hula Valerie Dudoit-Temahaga of Moana’s Hula Halau. “… It’s not about the beauty of being on the stage.…

Keiki Learn Conservation

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

Keiki Learn Conservation

Molokai youth don’t have to wait till they’re older to make a difference in the environment. At Keiki Earth Day last Thursday, elementary students from around the island learned how they can save energy, use natural resources and be on the lookout for invasive species.

“It’s important to know because plants and animals need to stay alive to help our native forests and to help our plants,” said Kilohana third grader Waimoku Pale.

This year’s Earth Day theme, Mai Ke Kupu Mole Hawaii, means “All is found in the Source.” Hokule`a crewmember Mahina Hou Ross said a similar theme applies while voyaging.…

Paniolo Round Up for Rodeo

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

This Saturday, 80 paniolo from around the state will gather at the Jimmy Duvauchelle Arena for the first annual Molokai Ranch Heritage Rodeo, to celebrate a colorful slice of Hawaiian culture that was born to counter an environmental problem in mid-1800s Hawaii.

At that time, with newly introduced cattle threatening native crops and people, according to hawaiihistory.org, Kamehameha III realized the need to round up the rampaging livestock. He invited Mexican cowboys to the islands to instruct Hawaiians in horse riding and cattle herding, creating the paniolo and ranching lifestyle that is still a way of life for many in Hawaii.…

Shriners Hospitals Brings Services to Molokai on Tuesday

Friday, April 17th, 2015

Shriners Hospitals News Release

Shriners Hospitals for Children — Honolulu will be holding an outreach clinic for prospective and current orthopaedic patients on Molokai. Patients will be seen by pediatric orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Pellett, who is the 2014 Healthcare Association of Hawaii Physician of the Year. The clinic will be held on Tuesday, April 21 at Molokai Public Health Nursing Office in Kaunakakai from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The Shriners Hospital team conducts clinics on Molokai twice a year. Children up to the age of 18 are eligible for care at Shriners Hospitals for Children if the physician determines that a child can benefit from care at the hospital. …

Community Workday

Friday, April 17th, 2015

Sust`ainable Molokai News Release

Sust`ainable Molokai and FoodCorps are hosting a community workday.  Join us Saturday April 25 at our perma-farm at the Molokai High School (entrance directly across the Lanikeha center) from 9 a.m. till 12 noon.  We will work the aina while talking story about the importance of agriculture, local food, and our keiki’s well-being.

We will be having a potluck lunch so we encourage attendees to bring their favorite healthy dish to share.  Seeds and starters will also be available for volunteers. For more information please contact Harmonee Williams at harmonee@sustainablemolokai.org or call us at 560-5410.…