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Community

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

Veterans Corner

Wednesday, December 24th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Jesse Church

Aloha all my fellow veterans and residents of Molokai, old Jesse here with all the veterans news and upcoming events. The veterans here on Molokai have begun to receive the new VA Choice Card. If you have not gotten it, you will get in the next few weeks. Approximately three months ago, the U.S. Congress and the President signed into law the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014. What this temporary program does is allow veterans the choice to receive care outside of VA when they qualify, or when wait times for VA health care exceed the standards set by law.…

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Excellence in Spelling

Wednesday, December 24th, 2014

KES News Release

Throughout the month of November, students at Kaunakakai Elementary School (KES) prepared to take part in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Each student grades two through six was given a Scripps National Spelling Bee Study Guide with 100 spelling words to practice for their classroom Spelling Bees. The top two winners from each second through sixth grade classroom then advanced to our School Spelling Bee Championship that was held Tuesday, Nov. 25 in our school cafeteria.

Congratulations to the 22 Classroom Spelling Bee Champions who participated in our School competition: Grade 2: Daviano Ortiz, Kaye Marie Alvarez, Kaia Yamashita, Enzo Kansana; Grade 3: Aiko Kanemitsu, Katelynn Whitted, Kielyn Guzman, Navaehstiny Valdez Luafalemana-Kalauli; Grade 4: Sapphire Puaa-Mae, Lau Asuncion, Kealo Mahina, Meredith Go; Grade 5: KC Alvarez, Akone Manaba, Paige Fukuoka, Kristen Santiago; Grade 6: Dylan Coelho-Kelekolio, Kai`ina Afelin, Reese Raguindin, Kayla Clemens; Spelling Club Reps: Owen Svetin, Teruko Asano.…

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Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child

Wednesday, December 24th, 2014

KES News Release

On Friday, Dec. 12, Kaunakakai Elementary School (KES) held its annual Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child event.  This event is held on campus in the evening and is an opportunity for Kaunakakai School students to come and experience a night of fun and holiday cheer while their parents have free time to enjoy themselves and strengthen their relationships!

We had more than 115 children participate in the event this year where they made Recycled-Paper pencil holders to give as Christmas gifts to their parents, created Origami star Christmas decorations, decorated delicious holiday-themed cupcakes, ate dinner and watched a movie.…

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Arrest Made for May Murder

Wednesday, December 24th, 2014

A Molokai man has been indicted for murder following the death of 20-year-old Molokai resident Koshari Waits in May, according to police. Jeffery Kalani Davis, 39, was arrested two weeks ago on charges of second-degree murder and several firearm violations, following a grand jury indictment.

On the morning of May 20, Waits’ body was found lying on a dirt road along Kamehameha Highway in Mapulehu, spotted by a moped driver. Police reported a suspicious head injury, later saying he suffered a single gunshot wound to the back of his head.

On May 23, Davis was arrested in connection with the murder investigation, but was released the following day.…

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Hunters Discuss Safety Concerns

Wednesday, December 24th, 2014

When the Dispatch published a story earlier this month about a bullet being shot through a west end home, Molokai kupuna and hunter Yama Kaholoaa was concerned for the safety of Molokai residents and called the island’s hunters together.

“[This] is not to make rules and regulations… but to be responsible and teach our children and grandchildren about safety,” Kaholoaa told the group that responded to his request to meet.

The west end homeowner, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Dispatch a bullet had been shot at night through his house at the north end of Papohaku Beach. Being a hunter himself, he said while the incident left him and his wife shaken up, he did not want to press charges but instead hoped the dangerous mishap would raise awareness of hunting safety.…

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Molokai’s Miss Congeniality

Wednesday, December 24th, 2014

Molokai’s Miss Congeniality

This year’s Miss Hawaii Rodeo, Cheyanne Keliihoomalu, made history as the first contestant from Molokai to compete in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant earlier this month. She came home with what she called “an amazingly fun experience” and an award – being named Miss Congeniality, bringing with it a $1000 scholarship.

“It was a very tough week and so far out of my comfort zone,” wrote Keliihoomalu in a letter to the Dispatch. “However, it was an amazingly fun experience and I got to experience it with a phenomenal group of women from all over the country, who I can now call my friends.”…

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Ingenuity on Display in Holiday Expo

Thursday, December 18th, 2014

Ingenuity on Display in Holiday Expo

Trix cereal treats, ceramic fish and studies on legumes in soil—all of it came from the minds and hands of Molokai High students at the school’s Holiday Exhibition last Wednesday. A collaboration between the Fine Arts department and Career and Technical Education (CTE), the exhibition gave the public a glimpse of the projects students are creating to meet needs and solve real-life problems on Molokai.

As part of hypothetical businesses created in class, students offered samples of food, haircut services, jewelry and other products to potential customers passing through the exhibition in the school’s cafeteria. Aliana Eustaquio and Ida Pongmulee invented a business called Molokai Upcycling, taking used clothes and transforming them into newly designed jean shorts, skirts and bow ties.…

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Library of Local Talent

Thursday, December 18th, 2014

Library of Local Talent

Molokai artists ushered in the holidays last week, gathering to share their work at the Public Library in the third annual art show of Molokai Arts Center (MAC) members.

“To me, it’s a chance for the organization to thank individual artists and for them to get some exposure – and to see themselves as professional artists,” said potter Dan Bennett, MAC Treasurer and founding member. “We have to push some to enter because they don’t think their art is good enough, which to me is absurd.”

Art in all colors, shapes and sizes – ranging from the useful to the whimsical – made an appearance at the show, representing at least 30 member artists, Bennett said.…

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Fishing Tensions Headed to Court

Thursday, December 18th, 2014

A confrontation between Oahu divers and Molokai fishermen is headed to court. The incident, in which four Molokai men are being accused of illegally boarding a vessel in state waters, came as a culmination of rising tensions between off-island fishermen known to load up on Molokai catch and island residents who depend on those resources to feed their families.

In May, the four men allegedly threatened a group of Oahu divers fishing off Molokai and were recently arrested on felony charges. Robin Dudoit, 57, Floyd Kapuni, 31, Kaiula English, 28, and Albert Dudoit Jr., 27, were arrested by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the Maui Police Department on Nov.…

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12 Days Adrift: The Story of Ron Ingraham

Monday, December 15th, 2014

12 Days Adrift: The Story of Ron Ingraham

What began as a routine fishing trip to Lanai on Thanksgiving Day turned into a 12-day battle of survival at sea for Molokai’s Ron Ingraham. While his friends planned his funeral and authorities gave up the search, Ingraham lived on fish he caught, bailed all night while 20-foot waves crashed over his boat, and — having nearly given up all hope — “jerry-rigged” his water-sodden radio for one final signal for help that led to his rescue and a reunion with his estranged son.

Sixty-seven-year-old Ingraham wasn’t expecting a mishap at sea, but his lifestyle prepared him for it. He’s a fisherman who lives on his 25-foot sailboat, tied at a slip at Kaunakakai Harbor.…

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