Community

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

Wild West End: Molokai Ranch Heritage Rodeo

Wednesday, April 29th, 2015

Wild West End: Molokai Ranch Heritage Rodeo

As the bullriders packed up their protective gear and the last riders led their horses out of the Molokai Ranch arena, cowboy Maka Augustiro beamed with quiet pride. His 14-year-old son Chevy had just braved several long seconds in the ring with a madly bucking bull and won uproarious cheers from the crowd for his efforts. For the Augustiros and many other Molokai families, last Saturday’s Molokai Ranch Heritage Rodeo was a chance to admire each other’s grit and talent – and sometimes compete against each other.

“It gives us a time to come and have what we call a playdate for us, a time where we can make a sport of the work we do on the ranch,” said long-time paniolo Jimmy Duvauchelle.…

Makani Kai Adding Maui Routes

Wednesday, April 29th, 2015

Makani Kai Adding Maui Routes

Starting June 1, Makani Kai Air’s single-prop Cessnas will be heading east. The company plans to offer flights to Maui, after repeated requests from Molokai residents who enjoyed their services, said airline owner Richard Schuman.

Currently, Makani Kai operates between Ho`olehua, Kalaupapa and Honolulu. In June  the airline will add six daily round trips between Molokai and Kahului and two weekly between Kalaupapa and Kapalua, according to P.J. O’Reilley, the company’s director of sales and marketing.

Makani Kai will kick off the new routes with introductory online fares of $39  one way and $78 round trip between Maui and Molokai. The flights, which will be available online starting May 1 , must be booked by July 1 for travel by September 1.…

Five-Year Grant Kicks Off

Wednesday, April 29th, 2015

Five-Year Grant Kicks Off

Students and community members learned and created side-by-side at last week’s Molokai LIVE Family Fair. The event at Molokai High School celebrated the start of the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, which Aka`ula School, Molokai High and Middle Schools received this year.

The five-year grant that covers up to $200,000 each year will allow the schools to offer free courses to students and the community through the Molokai LIVE program, which is short for “Learning, Investing Vigorously Everyday.” The program is meant to enrich overall student learning as well as to engage the community, said Lyn Bonk, after-school coordinator for Molokai Middle School.…

Kalaupapa General Management Plan

Friday, April 24th, 2015

KNHP News Release

The Kalaupapa National Historical Park (KNHP) Draft General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement is now available for public review.

“This draft plan is the culmination of years of planning and engagement with the public,” said KNHP Superintendent Erika Stein Espaniola. “We are thrilled to present the draft plan on the eve of the National Park Service’s Centennial in 2016. We are now asking for feedback on the draft plan we can make the best long-term decisions for Kalaupapa in partnership with the State of Hawaii agencies, many stakeholders and the public.”

The purpose of the KNHP Draft General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement is to articulate a vision and overall management philosophy for Kalaupapa that will guide decision-making by current and future management teams during the next 15 to 20 years.…

Denim Day

Friday, April 24th, 2015

Consuelo Foundation News Release

April 29 marks Denim Day in recognition of sexual assault awareness. Since 2001, the month of April has been nationally observed as Sexual Assault Awareness Month to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate the community and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.

In Italy in 1992, an 18-year-old girl was raped by her 45-year-old driving instructor. The driver was convicted, but the case made its way to the Italian Supreme Court where it was overturned and dismissed.

The Supreme Court stated that “because the survivor wore “very, very tight jeans,” she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape but consensual sex!…

Employment Opportunity at Kaunakakai Elementary

Friday, April 24th, 2015

KES News Release

Kaunakakai Elementary School (KES) is looking for a qualified individual to fill its Parent-Community Networking Center’s (PCNC), School Parent Facilitator’s position.

The PCNC role is an important one within our school. The primary focus of the PCNC position is to help schools and families build student esteem and achievement by creating a sense of community with partnerships among students, parents, teachers, and the community.

The PCNC, under the general direction of the Principal, develops, coordinates, and implements programs and activities which meet the assessed needs of the school/community. The PCNC will also be expected to direct, instruct and conduct appropriate learning experiences for parents, teachers, and other members of the school/community as related to program goals; coordinate and train all volunteers; participate in the development and preparation of the school and PCNC budget and serve on faculty committees as assigned; and be responsible for the use of PCNC facilities, equipment and supplies.…

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.…