Community

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

Pot and Plant Sale

Friday, November 29th, 2013

MAC News Release

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) will be having an Open House and Pot and Plant sale at the Arts Center located in Kualapu`u, behind Coffees of Hawaii, on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m.  to 2 p.m. After nearly two years in this location, the artists are all excited to share their space and talents with the island.

Everyone has been busy creating planters for the sale which is a fundraiser for the Center. There are pots of all sizes, some with plants, and some without. In addition, other items will be offered for sale including bird baths, ceramic plant tags, ornaments, garden luminaries, bird houses and even gift memberships for that hard-to-buy-for person on your Christmas list.…

Service of Feeling Good

Friday, November 29th, 2013

Service of Feeling Good

American Cancer Society News Release

Twice yearly, Haunani Kamakana, patient navigator at Molokai General Hospital, organizes the American Cancer Society’s “Look Good…Feel Better” class for Molokai ladies undergoing cancer treatments.  On Nov. 19, Haunani surprised class instructor, Suzette Kahana, with a special coffee hour attended by 15 former and current cancer patients of Molokai.

Anna Mayeda, senior pepresentative of community engagement for the American Cancer Society, presented Suzette with the Look Good…Feel Better four-year Service Award for her dedication to helping women with appearance-related side effects of cancer treatments.  Suzette hopes to continue volunteering for this program for many more years as Molokai’s only certified Look Good…Feel Better facilitator.…

Ag Producer Development Opportunities

Friday, November 29th, 2013

Kuha`o Business Center News Release

The Kuha`o Business Center invites you to come talk story with representatives of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s Market Development Branch on Thursday, Dec. 5. The event will take place in the OHA Conference Room from 1 to 4 p.m.

Discuss issues regarding growing and producing on Molokai and why value-added products are something to consider. Learn how to collaborate with others and about opportunities for grants, branding, tradeshows and organic certification reimbursement.

After the event at 4 p.m., meet Jennifer Young, Food Technology Center Director and Kenneth Yamamura, County Office of Economic Development Ag Specialist of the Maui Food Technology Center.…

Labor of Love

Friday, November 29th, 2013

Labor of Love

Every morning, at six o’clock sharp, Emma Velasco said she hears a rustling outside of her Home Pumehana cottage–“But ah, it’s only Irwin,” she said smiling.

Some call him Irwin, others call him “Urban,” but either way, Irwin Millspaugh, is regarded by residents as one of the most devoted residents in Home Pumehana. Every day he quietly pushes his cart, quickly shuffling along the sidewalk, as he plucks rubbish from the ground and sorts recyclables at Home Pumehana.

“Let me tell you something about that guy,” said resident Gwendolyn Gaspar. “I’ve watched that man every day and he picks up all the garbage in the park, he sorts through all the trash, I hear he even cleans washers downtown—and he always says good morning to everyone he passes.”…

Stones with Stories

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

Stones with Stories

Archeologist tells Molokai’s history through rocks

On the windy, rocky coastline of northwestern Molokai, Dr. Marshall Weisler picked up a stone. But it wasn’t just any rock; this stone, like many in the Molokai Land Trust’s Mokio Preserve, has a story.

Weisler is an archeologist and professor at Australia’s University of Queensland. He’s no stranger to Molokai — he’s been coming here at least once a year for the past 35 years to study the island’s many historic sites and piece together a picture of how ancient Hawaiians lived.

To the untrained eye, the rock Weisler held in his hand looks like any other scattered in this arid landscape.…

County Seeks Input for Home Business Bill

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

There are currently 355 registered business owners on Molokai and most of them are home based, according to Jennifer Hawkins, small business specialist at the Kuha’o Business Center. These businesses are regulated by the Maui County Council under a bill currently up for revision. But when the council visited Molokai last week, asking for feedback on how to best tailor these standards and encourage small businesses, many Molokai business owners revealed they never knew the ordinance existed.

“I feel very unprepared as do most of us [home-based business owners] here to speak on this,” said local business owner Brenda Kaneshiro before the council Wednesday evening.…

Hot Hawaiian Chile Peppers

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, UH County Extension Agent

For many local folks, chile pepper water is an indispensable addition to a meal, and can add pizazz to meat, fish, and soup dishes. There are many variations of this condiment combining water, shoyu, different kinds of vinegar, and even garlic with lots of chiles. Columbus misnamed chiles as peppers, mistaking them for black peppers due to their “heat.” The name “peppers” or “chile peppers” stuck with this plant, and is commonly used today.

Capsicum fruitescens is the Latin name for Hawaiian chiles, introduced to Hawaii around 1815. It was called “nioi” by the Hawaiians, a generic name given to all chiles with second names based on its shape such as nioi kamakahala for round or “eye shaped” types.…

Year of Faith in Kalaupapa

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

Community Contributed

By Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

When I first learned that Pope Benedict had called us to a special Year of Faith, my initial thought was, “What is this? Aren’t we called to live the Faith every year?” Perhaps it is the son of a farmer in me that tells me that a farmer’s work is every day of every week of every year. So every year for the Christian Catholic should be a Year of Faith. Then of course it dawned on me that Pope Benedict intended that this Year of Faith is meant to renew the entire People of God in the Faith and to challenge us ” to share our Faith boldly with others,” as our own Bishop Larry Silva said in his letter to us at the beginning of this Year of Faith.…

Engineering Services Wanted

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

DHHL News Release

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is seeking qualified engineering firms to provide engineering services for the Kapa`akea Flood Mitigation Improvements for five homesteads in Kapa`akea, Molokai, Job PS-14-LDD-008.

DHHL is seeking design engineering services to prepare bid plans and specifications for construction of flood mitigation measures to protect the 5 homesteads from flooding. These homesteads are identified as TMK (2)-5-4-07:09, 10, 11, 24 and 25. The scope of work will also include preparation of any required environmental assessment documents, plans, and specs and a bid package for flood protection improvements, obtaining necessary permits and services during construction.…

Giving in the Wake of Disaster

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

The Molokai Filipino Community Council (MFCC) is collecting donations to send to the Philippines after devastating Typhoon Haiyan hit there more than two weeks ago. With a large Filipino population on Molokai, some locals have relatives or friends affected, said Benny Piros, MFCC president.

“Everybody can see on TV what’s happening and we’re just doing what we can to help,” he said.

The typhoon brought fierce winds and tsunami-like storm surges. The death toll is now more than 5,000, and more than 1,000 missing. It has been called one of the strongest typhoons on record.

The MFCC is asking for monetary donations as well as dry goods like clothing and canned food.…