Community

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

Keiki Expo Celebrates 10 Years

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014

Keiki Expo Celebrates 10 Years

From sand to sea, Molokai’s keiki were entertained by ocean-themed activities while parents learned about family resources in our own backyard during the Keiki Expo’s 10th anniversary Saturday morning.

“It really takes a whole village to raise a child,” said event volunteer Liz Luan. “This has been an awesome highlight our great resources here on Molokai.”

The family event, brought to the community by the Molokai Keiki Group, was held at the Mitchell Pauole Center and featured more than 25 organizations focusing on educational, health and safety programs for young children, prenatal to five years old.

“[Over the last 10 years] our focus has been kept strictly to services we can get on island and also provide an activity for the kids,” said Keiki Expo co-organizer Becky Takashima.…

Storytelling and Paintings of Molokai

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014

MAC News Release

Molokai Arts Center (MAC) is pleased to announce Storytelling and an Exhibit of Paintings of Molokai by Donald Sunshine, FAIA, Professor Emeritus of Architecture, Virginia Tech, an award-winning architect, artist and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.   In addition to technical writing and 16 volumes of travel sketches, he previously authored a memoir, “Recollections of an Urban Refugee,” as well as three books about Molokai.   Professor Sunshine and his artist/collaborator wife live on their family farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and on the island of Molokai, where his latest books, “Life’s Moments,”  and a book of poetry, “Here ‘N There,” were written.…

Retina Screening Gives Vision

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014

WE News Release

Together we can have a greater impact on improving the health of our neighbors and the island community we love.  That is the philosophy of a large group of health professionals and volunteers who will be on Molokai during the first week of February.    The purpose is to reduce preventable blindness and assist the community in identifying approaches and strategies which can lead to better health and longer, stronger, happier  lives.

Retina screening is a free service provided by a partnership between Molokai’s Lions Club, Project Vision Hawaii and WE… a hui for health.  Retina screening is offered as follows:

Grace Episcopal Church, Kualapu`u Thursday, Feb.…

Visitors Clean Up Beach

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014

Community Contributed

By Al Wickheim

I am a visitor from Vancouver Island, Canada who visits your beautiful island every couple of years with my growing family for a couple or three weeks. Each time, we spend an afternoon doing a bit of good for the land that provides us with such enjoyment. Our task of choice is cleaning garbage off the large beach just west of Mo`omomi. Each time, we have gathered about 300 pounds, bagged and dragged to the road access and camp spot and contacted the Nature Conservancy, and although they don’t get back to us, evidently the garbage is picked up.…

Entrepreneurs Receive 3 Years of Resources

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Entrepreneurs Receive 3 Years of Resources

Molokai’s creative thinkers have a tough job when turning their hobbies into businesses. Learning the ins and outs of permitting processes, bookkeeping, and developing a customer following can be a daunting learning curve. But over the next three years, a series of small business workshops, webinars and other resources are set up to make it a little easier.

“You need to have a tough skin and it’s not always easy,” Veronica Hix, executive director of the Oregon Native American Business and Entrepreneurial Network Inc. (ONABEN), told Molokai entrepreneurs last Friday. More than a dozen seasoned and immerging business owners attended event, which marked the kick-off a series of Native Hawaiian entrepreneurial workshops and training.…

Molokai Athletics Welcomes New Assistant Director

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

With high goals set to bring more sports tournaments, more games and to build the athletics program on the island, the Molokai High School Athletics Department welcomes new Assistant Athletic Director, Joannie Espiritu-Tanabe, to the team.

“Having an assistant alleviates a lot of stress for me,” said Hoku Haliniak, MHS athletics director. “[Espiritu-Tanabe] is very organized and can step in whenever I need help.”

She said much of Espiritu-Tanabe’s job involves helping her at sporting events, taking care of traveling arrangements, scheduling, and making sure coaches have correct paperwork and students are eligible to play. That will leave Haliniak more time to bring more sporting events to the island, she said.…

Holomua Junction Open for Business

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Holomua Junction Open for Business

“Holomua” means progress or successful advancement, and that’s just what owners and tenants of the Holomua Junction business and office complex hope for the newly-renovated space. Located at the corner of Maunaloa and Kalae Highways, Holomua now holds two retail businesses — the Tobacco Shack and Beach Break — with more than half a dozen more spaces available to rent, according to land owners Diane and Larry Swenson.

Almost 30 years ago, the Swensons purchased 11 acres of property from Patterson Construction. The land has been previously home to the Holomua School in the mid-1900s. When the Swensons acquired the acreage, the building that now serves as the office for Swenson Real Estate occupied the property, and they built a warehouse for Larry’s Swenson Construction.…

Celebrating the Chinese New Year

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Mel Chung Gunsmith News Release

We will be having a Chinese New Year Celebration and Historical Gun Exhibit at Shop2 / Mel Chung Gunsmith in Kaunakakai on Friday, Jan. 31 from noon to 6 p.m.

Our shop will be decorated to celebrate the coming “Year of the Horse,” which begins on Jan. 31.  Chinese snacks will be available for sample and for sale.  A historical gun exhibit will also be put on by Mel Chung – Gunsmith. The theme of the exhibit is “Chinese and other Military Mauser rifles.”   Under-aged children must be accompanied by an adult for safety reasons.

This event is being presented to perpetuate Chinese culture on Molokai.…

Navigating Your Child’s Education Plan

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Hawaii Disability Rights Center News Release

A workshop called “Navigating Through Your Child’s Individual Educational Plan” will be held on Thursday Jan. 23 on Molokai to assist parents of children with disabilities become more active participants in their children’s education and rights.

Assisted by Hawaii Disability Rights Center advocate Verna Waikiki, the workshop will teach parents about Individual Education Plans (IEP), parental safeguards and parent’s rights, the importance making a transition plan as children get older, and the transfer of rights when youth reach adulthood. Waikiki will also explain the “service grid” (who’s going to do what and for how long) and other important information for parents of children with learning disabilities, such as how to access services.…

First Book-Molokai Shares Magic of Books

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

First Book-Molokai Shares Magic of Books

First Book-Molokai News Release

First Book-Molokai has awarded book grants to All God’s Children Preschool, Maunaloa Elementary School, Kaunakakai Elementary School Fourth and Fifth Grade Classes, and Aka`ula School.  First Book-Molokai provides new, high quality books to children to start their own home libraries.  They also receive bookplates on which to place their names celebrating the importance of book ownership.

The $5,000 book grant we received from the Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc. has enabled our program to give thousands of enticing new books to the children we serve on an ongoing basis.  The Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc. provides needed funding for Hawaii’s nonprofit organizations that benefit women, children, youth, and needy programs. …