Community

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

Children’s Theatre for Fall Break

Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

Molokai Arts Center News Release

Molokai Arts Center announces a new Fall School Intercession program Oct. 6-9 all about the art of theatre performance.   The Hana Keaka theatre classes, with Kumu Maile Naehu, will be for kids ages 5 to 11, held at the Molokai Arts Center studio, located at the beautiful Coffees of Hawaii location in Kualapu`u.

In four days, the Hana Keaka classes will introduce students to acting storytelling and movement, voice exercises, and end the series with a final family performance.  Children will be welcome to stay during the lunch hour to help with painting a backdrop for the final performance. …

Farmers Beat Pine Lads in Lanai Football Debut

Friday, September 19th, 2014

Farmers Beat Pine Lads in Lanai Football Debut

The Farmers eight-man football squad played a historic game against Lanai last weekend, winning 33-0. It was the first home game for the Pine Lads since 1953, marking the Lanai team’s eight-man debut in the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL).

Molokai’s Alden Abafo scored the two touchdowns in the first quarter, followed by 20-yard touchdown pass by Kaimana Kahale from John Michael Mokiao-Duvauchelle. Kayson Castro-Wallace caught a two-point conversion from Keoni Makekau, and in the second quarter, William Dela Cruz scored another 20-yard touchdown pass from Mokiao-Duvauchelle.

In the fourth quarter, Jaymen Baagay-Cenal (pictured here) finished the game with an 85-yard run.…

Lending a Hand to Puna

Friday, September 19th, 2014

Lending a Hand to Puna

Last month, Tropical Storm Iselle struck the Puna district of Hawaii Island, knocking out power to thousands. Downed trees from heavy winds and downpours blocked roads, cutting off many areas of the rural district. In a response to the devastation, Kawika Crivello and Lori-Lei Rawlins-Crivello of Rawlins’ Chevron gas station organized the Aloha Puna Chevron Gas Card Drive which resulted in the Molokai community joining together to kokua Puna.

“That could have been us,” Crivello said. “Even though the ocean separates us, we’re connected. We saw families in need of help and that’s why we decided to do this drive.”

For five days, from Aug.…

Volleyball Maintains Undefeated Season

Friday, September 19th, 2014

Volleyball Maintains Undefeated Season

The Lady Farmers Volleyball team didn’t lose a set in a pair of home games against the Lanai Pine Lasses last weekend. With a 4-0 season record, the Molokai team is currently ranked first place in the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Division II volleyball standings, according to The Maui News. Pictured here, senior Rebecka Adolpho spikes the ball, assisted by sophomore Precious Rawlins, during last Friday night’s three-set victory, 25-20, 25-18, 25-16.

Saturday, the Lady Farmers again came out on top, 25-17, 25-21 25-21. The team will face Seabury at the Barn this Friday at 7 p.m. and noon on Saturday.…

OHA Opens Grant Process

Thursday, September 18th, 2014

OHA News Release

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs today announced it is making $8.9 million total in grant money available to community-based organizations that can help address key priorities of improving conditions for Native Hawaiians.

Starting Wednesday, Sept. 17, community-based organizations will be able to apply for between $100,000 and $500,000 in grant money to fund any one of six specific priorities meant to help enhance OHA’s efforts.

The deadline to apply for an OHA grant is Dec. 17, 2014; the grants would fund a two-year period between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2017. For those on Molokai interested in applying, there will be an orientation meeting held on-island on Thursday, Sept.…

Shifting Gears in Kalaupapa

Thursday, September 18th, 2014

Community Contributed

Father Pat Killilea, St Francis Church, Kalaupapa

I turned the ignition key and without hesitation my Paddy Wagon began to purr in anticipation of the ride. Then I put the shift lever in forward and suddenly something snapped in the gear box. What a time to have this happen when I was about to take my young college visitors on a tour to Kalawao! Still, it was providential that it happened here in Kalaupapa town rather than on the way. Saints Damien and Marianne were surely watching out for us. Then along came Meli and Randall Watanuki, like the Lone Ranger and Tonto riding to the rescue.…

Kawela Bridge Dedication Ceremony

Thursday, September 18th, 2014

Kawela Bridge Dedication Ceremony

The Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT) celebrated the completion of the Kawela Stream Bridge Replacement Project last Wednesday with a dedication ceremony on Molokai’s Kamehameha V Highway.

State-contracted construction company Goodfellow Bros., Inc. Assistant Regional Manager Todd Svetin said he pursued a career in construction for the sense of pride he feels when a project, like the replacement of the Kawela Bridge, is completed.

“Everyone involved in this project should feel that same pride,” Svetin said. “…I’d like to thank the Molokai residents and neighboring property owners for their patience during the construction.”

According to the DOT, the $6 million project replaced the original bridge, constructed in 1940, with a new bridge that meets modern standards.…

Keeping an Eye on the Algae

Thursday, September 18th, 2014

Keeping an Eye on the Algae

On a fishing trip along Molokai’s south shore in late July, fisherman Clay Ching noticed something strange. Huge masses of thick seaweed blanketed the shallow flats near Coconut Grove, protruding from the surface and covering hundreds of square yards in several large patches. As owner of local charter fishing company Hallelujah Hou Fishing and having spent decades trolling the area, Ching called it “epic proportions of growth” and said he’d never seen anything like it.

The algae invasion concerned him so much that he notified the Department of Land and Natural Resource (DLNR)’s Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR).

“[I don’t want] this situation to progress to the point of no return for our precious reef ecosystem which us Molokaiians depend on for food, etc.,”…

Gold and Silver at Pailolo Challenge

Wednesday, September 17th, 2014

Gold and Silver at Pailolo Challenge

Molokai paddlers celebrated top finishes at last weekend’s Pailolo Challenge. The 25-mile channel race from Maui to Molokai is tagged as “the world’s funnest canoe race” and features a downwind course for six-man teams in a variety of divisions. Molokai’s Team Boomski swept the women’s open unlimited division with a first place finish at Kaunakakai harbor in three hours 55 minutes. Wa`akapaemua men also won the men’s open in three hours seven minutes, while the ladies of Wa`akapaemua (pictured here) earned second in the women’s 50+ division with a time of four hours 17 minutes.…

Week of Defeat and Victory for Alex Mawae

Wednesday, September 17th, 2014

Week of Defeat and Victory for Alex Mawae

Community Contributed

By Clare S Mawae

It was quite the week for Molokai’s 12-year-old Alex Mawae. It all started and finished at Lahaina harbor, with disappointment after his final heat at the Lahaina Surfa’s Stand Up Paddle (SUP) contest, and finishing the week with eyes sparkling joy from the NSSA SUP surf event. After competing in the Lahaina’s Surfa’s SUP contest on Aug. 30, Alex went on to win the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA)’s SUP division on Sept. 5.

At the Surfa’s SUP, Alex won his heat in the first round, showing that he was in contention for the top three places.…