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Community

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

Damien Mosaics a Labor of Love

Wednesday, March 25th, 2015

Damien Mosaics a Labor of Love

Community Contributed

By Maria Sullivan

Four mosaics, depicting Father Damien and his life’s parallels with Jesus’s life, were recently installed next to the front door at St. Damien of Molokai Church in Kaunakakai. They were created by Sister Dorothy Santos during a long and spirit-filled journey and as a labor of love and devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the order to which both she and St. Damien belong.

In 2011, Saint Damien Parish former pastor Father Clyde Guerrero was in the homestretch of supervising the construction of the long awaited Saint Damien of Molokai Church. Aware of her work in making beautiful mosaics of Father Damien and other holy persons, Father Clyde asked Sister Dorothy if she would create the mosaics.…

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Prom Dresses Without the Price

Wednesday, March 25th, 2015

Prom Dresses Without the Price

Last year when the prom dress she’d rented online failed to arrive, Molokai High student Giesha Nunez had to travel to Maui to buy a gown—on the day of prom.

This year Nunez and dozens of other banquet and prom-bound teens got to browse formal dresses on Molokai. All were available for free in the island’s first Bella Project Prom Dress Giveaway, hosted by Child and Family Services (CFS) last Wednesday.

“Molokai has a lot of extra assistance to help the kids,” said Molokai High parent Cheri Rivera, who feels that’s a unique trait of the island. “It’s a blessing to have … for the girls, to feel extra special on this special night.”…

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Warming Laps and Hearts

Wednesday, March 25th, 2015

Warming Laps and Hearts

A group of kupuna received a cozy gift last week when members of the Molokai Museum Handcrafters Guild presented them with colorful, handmade quilts.

Wilma Pratt, who founded the guild in 2008, said the eight members gather to quilt and create crafts together once a month. It took them about a year to sew about a dozen lap quilts, and Pratt said they decided to donate the finished products to the kupuna at Na Pu`uwai’s Senior Day Care Center, a program that offers care and activities for the elderly.

Their warm and colorful gifts brought smiles and words of gratitude last week.…

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Youth Group Lifts Kupuna’s Spirits

Wednesday, March 25th, 2015

Youth Group Lifts Kupuna’s Spirits

Although youth-directed and youth-inspired, Molokai’s suicide prevention group is focused on the emotional health of all ages. Last week, student members of Suicide Prevention Around Molokai (SPAM) stopped by Home Pumehana to lend a hand and “put a smile” on the faces of kupuna residents.

Seven students made the rounds through the Kaunakakai nursing home complex, offering to help with any household tasks residents needed.

“Kupuna, especially in nursing homes, they get depressed at times,” said SPAM Youth Coordinator Kealoha Hooper, whose family operates the Consuelo Foundation, which funds SPAM. “[We decided] it would be nice to go put a smile on their faces.…

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Financial Woes May Suspend Ferry Route

Sunday, March 22nd, 2015

Financial Woes May Suspend Ferry Route

In the face of falling ridership, the Lahaina Cruise Company (LCC) is planning to suspend the Molokai Ferry’s daily round trip between Molokai and Maui, pending approval from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), according to the company’s President and Senior Captain David Jung.

“What’s happening with the ferry right now, is that we’re hemorrhaging money because of low ridership,” said Jung. “We’re trying to come up with a solution right now, but in the meantime we [plan] to cut back one trip a day. It’s better to have reduced service than no service.”

The route, which departs from Kaunakakai Harbor at 5:15 a.m.…

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The Art of the Short Story

Friday, March 20th, 2015

MAC News Release

There will be an eight week creative writing course from March 24 to May 12 taught by internationally bestselling author and Molokai resident Brandon W. Jones, sponsored by the Molokai Arts Center (MAC).  This class will meet once a week at Kaunakakai School to learn and discuss the mechanics of effective story writing, with the goal of producing one short story by the end of eight weeks.

Brandon will be available to give individual guidance and feedback, and there will be optional group critique sessions.  While the course is designed as an eight-part whole, each class will focus on a fundamental element of the craft and can be taken on a drop-in basis. …

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Bright Ideas for Saving Energy

Friday, March 20th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Maya Lima and Gaby Miguel, Kilohana sixth graders

Did you know that you can save a lot of energy and money by simply flicking off a light?   On Feb. 18, Kilohana School held an Energy Expo for their school community.   At the expo, Kilohana’s fifth and sixth graders gave presentations on how to save energy and money at home.  Parents and students walked from station to station to learn about energy conservation.

One of the student presenters, Gabrielle Miguel told audience members, “One cool way to save energy is to wash your clothes with cold water and buy Energy Star appliances.”  …

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Heritage Rodeo Ropes in the Fun

Wednesday, March 18th, 2015

Heritage Rodeo Ropes in the Fun

Molokai Ranch News Release

Molokai Ranch will be hosting the Molokai Ranch Heritage Rodeo on Saturday, April 25 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Molokai Ranch, located on the west end of Molokai.  As one of the largest rodeo events of its kind in the state, the Heritage Rodeo attracts professional riders and rodeo enthusiasts from all over Hawaii to share in the cultural heritage that demonstrates island style hospitality.

In addition to the wide range of rodeo festivities, there will be a special live performance by Hawaii music icons and Grammy Award-winning artists Henry Kapono, John Cruz, and Brother Noland, who together call themselves the “Rough Riders.”…

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Community Plan Update Begins

Wednesday, March 18th, 2015

A group of 13 Molokai residents has begun the process of planning for the island’s next 20 years. The Molokai Community Plan acts like a blueprint for development, goals, policies and actions. Normally updated every 10 years, the belated update process got officially underway with the Community Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC)’s first meeting last week.

The first Molokai Community Plan was adopted in 1984 and was updated last in 2001. The community plan guides much of the large-scale decision-making through 2035. It includes complete descriptions of existing conditions on the island and explains land use designations, details on future development, projected effects of that development and infrastructure improvements.…

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Season’s First Pup

Wednesday, March 18th, 2015

Season’s First Pup

This black-coated baby is the first Hawaiian monk seal of the season born on Papaloa Beach, Kalaupapa last week.  Researchers don’t yet know whether it’s a boy or a girl. The mother, named RV06 by scientists, was also born in Kalaupapa in 2005, said Diane Pike, Molokai response coordinator for the Monk Seal Foundation.

Last year, RV06’s pup died after three days, but so far this year, mother and pup seem to be doing fine, Pike said.

Hawaiian monk seals are highly endangered, with only about 1,100 individuals alive today. Scientists believe the Hawaiian monk seal, along with the Hoary Bat, are the only two species of mammals indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands.…

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