Community

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

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. …

Molokai Fitness

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Molokai Fitness

Community Contributed

By Ayda Ersoy

I’m thrilled to share a bit more about my journey with you. My name is Ayda Ersoy, and I hail from the vibrant city of Istanbul, Turkey. Growing up, I immersed myself in various sports, and that passion eventually led me to a career in fitness. About two decades ago, I embarked on the path of becoming a personal trainer, sports nutritionist, and circular strength training instructor—a discipline focused on joint mobility exercises. A great way to aid recovery is regular light exercise, so swapping the car for a ladies bike with basket can make nipping to the shops part of the recovery process.…

Fruit Growers Featured Farmer

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Fruit Growers Featured Farmer

HTFG Molokai Chapter News Release

Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG) is a statewide nonprofit organization, dedicated to tropical fruit research, education, marketing and promotion. The Molokai Chapter is made up of members that are gardeners, farmers and interested community members who meet monthly to share ideas about promoting products, skills and agricultural opportunities. Meetings are held the first Monday evening of every month at Lanikeha Center, Ho`olehua. The next meeting is Feb. 3 at 5:30 p.m.

This month’s featured farmer is HTFG’s member Nannette Walters. She is the delightful face of Mahana Gardens in Ho`olehua who commits her support to commercial producers for the return of Molokai to become the bread basket of the islands and for Molokai residents to restore functional, edible gardens to feed their families.…

Grassroots Benefit Keiki Design Contest

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

2014 Grassroots Benefit Committee News Release

A Second Annual Grassroots Benefit event will be held on Saturday, July 5 at the Kaunakakai Ballpark. This family oriented, educational, community event raises funds for the Ho`ola Hou Community-Based scholarship  — 100 percent of ticket proceeds are donated to the fund. The event also promotes local, organic farmers, and emphasizes healthy environment, lifestyle, food, and families – from keiki to kupuna.  This year’s theme is Aloha `Aina.

The purpose of the 2014 Grassroots Benefit – Keiki Design Contest is to inspire keiki to express and demonstrate an understanding of the Hawaiian concept “Aloha `Aina” through art, and to establish a theme design for the 2014 Grassroots Benefit event.…

Patient Portal Puts Patients at Forefront

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

MCHC News Release

The Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC), in an on-going effort to provide patient-driven care, has spent the past year investing in the development and implementation of the best technological tools to better service our patients.

Initially, our Electronic Medical Records (EMR) were introduced to provide a quick and efficient way for our providers to access patient information as well coordinate services with other Providers on behalf of the patient.

With this same focus in mind — to provide quality care based on quality information — MCHC would like to announce the newly developed Patient Portal designed for the patient’s needs first.…