Community

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

Health Center Begins CEO Search

Wednesday, March 18th, 2015

The Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) is in search of new leadership.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Desiree Puhi stepped down last Friday after seven years at MCHC, leaving for “a mellower part-time job” and to take care of her father.

“I am happy to pass the baton and let the younger generation build the future,” said Puhi. “I believe all nonprofit CEOs should leave after five to ten years to infuse new ideas and energy into the company.”

In the meantime, MCHC’s Board of Directors has chosen Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Andrea Trenner to fill in as interim CEO of the organization, which opened in 2003 and offers multiple healthcare services, including medical, dental and behavioral health.…

Man Camp Called Off

Wednesday, March 18th, 2015

When California resident Bryce Anderson visited Molokai in February, he thought it was the perfect place to get away from the city.

Anderson runs a company called Man Skills Academy (MANSA), a San Francisco-based organization built on developing men’s real-life skills and social relatability that Anderson feels are lost to technology. Wanting to hold a back-to-the-basics nature retreat for MANSA, Anderson created Man Camp Molokai and began promoting the island and the event to group members.

“Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime on the coolest island in the entire world??!” he posted on the social planning site meetup.com.…

Molokai Wildfire Protection Plan

Friday, March 13th, 2015

Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization News Release

The Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, in collaboration with the Molokai Fire Task Force, will hold community input meetings to help develop a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) for Molokai.  The meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Kulana `Oiwi.

Wildfires have great impacts on Molokai residents and natural resources, affecting daily life like road closures, evacuations, post-fire flooding and tax payer dollars. Fires affect human health and safety, such as creating dust and smoke, impacting water quality and resident and firefighter safety. They also affect the ecosystem including watersheds, forests, coral reefs and fisheries.…

Veterans Corner

Thursday, March 12th, 2015

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 Marine Times has reported that Lt. General Lewis B. Puller, better known as “Chesty,” has received another honor. On Feb. 17, the Navy christened the mobile landing platform afloat forward staging base the Lewis B. Puller. The ship is the Navy’s third mobile landing platform but the first afloat forward staging base variant. The Puller boasts a flight deck, space for fuel and equipment storage, maintenance area and can berth 250. Lt. Gen. Puller is the most decorated Marine in history, the only Marine to have earned the Navy Cross five times, and had 14 personal combat decorations, plus campaign medals and unit commendations.…

Molokai Fitness: Ready for Paddling Season?

Thursday, March 12th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Ayda Ersoy

Do you know how you can improve your endurance? Yes, you need to do cardio. But more than that – you need to work on your core, your lower back and especially you need to stretch your spine and improve your strength. If you’re a paddler already or want to get started, here are some ideas to get ready for the season. If not, these are also helpful suggestions for getting back in shape.

First you need a plan, and you need to write it down. Why? This will keep you motivated, and you’ll be able to see how you improve after each training. …

New Leadership for Group Home

Thursday, March 12th, 2015

ARC of Maui County News Release

The ARC of Maui County Board of Directors is pleased to announce Robert Lane as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer.  He joins ARC with a vast knowledge of the developmental disabilities community with experience ranging from Executive Director for Special Need Camps to Administrator of a 64 bed ICF/IDD facility in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Rob joins ARC at an exciting time with the recent licensing from the State Department of Health for our newest group home on Molokai.  This five bedroom home is the first state licensed domiciliary home on the island.  Residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities will receive 24-hour support from staff who are trained to meet the needs of each individual resident. …

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.…

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.…

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.…

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.…