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Community

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

Heroes Among Us: Speedy, Pineapple and Russo

Wednesday, March 11th, 2015

Heroes Among Us: Speedy, Pineapple and Russo

Molokai veteran Samuel Kealoha sat quietly on an airport bench on a blustery Ho`olehua morning. Lei in hand, he looked for a pair of faces out on the airstrip.

He remembered the names clearly: Melton Gonzalez, a California native. Raymond Russo, from Florida. But the faces would be different. The last time he’d seen these faces 45 years ago, they were obscured by the thick jungle foliage of Cambodia. On Feb. 14, for the first time since they left Southeast Asia, Kealoha was about to be reunited with fellow Vietnam war veterans Gonzalez and Russo, thanks to the detective-like efforts of Russo’s wife and friends.…

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Urgent Care Comes to MCHC

Wednesday, March 11th, 2015

Urgent Care Comes to MCHC

The Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) has added services that they hope will lower patients’ healthcare costs and reserve the island’s only emergency room for more acute patients. On March 1, the health center began a one-year pilot program that offers urgent care-like services to the community.

Since MCHC doesn’t have an official urgent care designation, they will offer “urgent care-like” services and will consider getting an official certification if the program does well.

“Urgent care is a little bit above primary care, which is what most walk-in clinics do, and a lot below the emergency room,” said Dr. Christina Economos, MCHC’s medical director.…

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Hot Soups Hit the Spot

Wednesday, March 11th, 2015

Hot Soups Hit the Spot

After a week of torrential rains and whipping winds, island residents cozied up to steaming bowls of homemade soup at the Molokai Arts Center (MAC)’s fifth annual Soup’ R Bowl event last Saturday night.

Nearly 20 artists of all levels crafted ceramic bowls for the hundreds of people who showed up at the event, held at the Molokai Community Health Center. Guests could choose from 578 different bowls to eat soup from and later take home.

“One of the things that I appreciate about ceramics as an art is that it’s really functional,” said MAC Development Director Helen Kekalia. “I think this event highlights the functionality of art.…

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Rawlins Named Exceptional Small Business

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

Rawlins Named Exceptional Small Business

At an elegant dinner event overlooking panoramic views of Maui last Thursday, Rawlins Chevron was honored among Maui County businesses as the Exceptional Small Business of the Year in the 11 to 35 employees category.

With eight other nominated businesses from Maui in that category at the 2015 Mayor’s Small Business Awards, the multi-generational family service station with 20 employees in Kaunakakai took top honors. They were one of two Molokai businesses represented as nominees at the event.

“We’re blessed to do what we do in the community each and every day in our community,” said Lori-Lei Crivello after accepting the award.…

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Molokai Meth Dealer in Prison

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

A man described as “at the pinnacle” of methamphetamine distribution on Molokai was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison last week. On Feb. 23, 35-year-old Jon Hans Kaapuni, Jr., also known as “Hanzy Boy,” was taken into custody following the sentencing in U.S. District Court in Honolulu.

In September, Kaapuni, Jr. pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess, with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. At last week’s hearing, U.S. District Attorney Florence T. Nakakuni said evidence showed Kaapuni, Jr. was a manager and supervisor of a long standing methamphetamine conspiracy on Molokai involving at least five members.…

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Putting Faces to Financial Aid

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

Putting Faces to Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid can be a daunting process, said Kelley Dudoit of the University of Hawaii Maui College, Molokai (UHMCM). That’s why the college is trying to make the process as personable as possible. Last Friday, representatives from 28 different organizations gathered at UHMCM to help students discover available financial aid both on and off island.

“A lot of times students are wary or scared about applying for financial aid,” said Dudoit, Institutional Support at UHMCM. “So we thought that if we brought faces to Molokai … that maybe that would make [students] a little more comfortable with the whole financial aid process.”…

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Students Set Sights on International Fair

Friday, February 27th, 2015

Students Set Sights on International Fair

At Molokai High, young scientists are doing groundbreaking studies to solve problems in their own backyards.

One group of students is turning invasive seaweed on the island into a profitable resource. Another is researching the destructive effect mangroves will have on Molokai’s coastline, finding that the trees have invaded over 60 percent of the island’s fishponds. These two projects won top honors at the Maui County Science Fair, and were chosen to represent Molokai and Maui County at the international level competition this spring.

“March of the Mangroves,” by Lily and Sarah Jenkins and “Investigating Agar Extraction” by MHS classmates Alexandria Simon, Amber Afelin and Kea`aokahonua Davis earned first and second place respectively at the county event on Feb.…

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Dementia Education Workshop

Friday, February 27th, 2015

Na Pu`uwai News Release

On Wednesday, March 11, Na Pu\`uwai Senior Enrichment Center Adult Day Care (ADC) will be sponsoring a workshop for family caregivers and paraprofessional nurse aides who provide in-home and respite care, focusing on dementia and the impact this disease has on their loved ones. Dr. Michael Cheang, a University of Hawaii gerontologist, and Ms. Daria Gray, a speech-language therapist based in Oregon, will lead the session. They will discuss dementia in depth, providing effective tools and strategies to help caregivers cope with the challenges of caring for someone with dementia. Additionally, they will cover important techniques for supporting those afflicted by the disease, all while promoting health and well-being for both caregivers and those they care for.…

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Return to Youth in Kalaupapa

Friday, February 27th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

They were waiting for me in the clearing at the foot of the Kalaupapa trail when I drove up in my Paddy Wagon. It had taken these young people and their adult adviser a casual hour and a half to hike from topside Molokai to Kalaupapa. It was obvious that this quintet of teens and their adviser, Mr. Edgar Alvarez, from St. Damien Parish in Kaunakakai were excited about their visit to our unique settlement, the land of Saints Damien and Marianne.

Shortly thereafter back at the parish house, I learned that a couple of the girls were members of the Farmers’ Basketball team who represented Molokai High School so honorably on the court in recent weeks.…

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Preventing Child Sex Abuse

Friday, February 27th, 2015

Consuelo Foundation Molokai News Release

One out of four girls, and one out of five boys are sexually abused.  Research suggests primary prevention education can increase your child’s ability to self-protect, report, and seek help..

In partnership with the Hawaii Sexual Abuse Treatment Center (SATC), Consuelo Foundation’s Molokai Child Abuse Prevention Pathway (MCAPP) currently offers a series of lessons at a few Molokai schools on personal safety, respecting boundaries, recognizing unsafe situations and getting help.

Call us at 660-2619 for more information about primary prevention education for your child.…

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