Community

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

Hula Shores Renovations to Begin in 2013

Sunday, October 14th, 2012

Hula Shores Renovations to Begin in 2013

Four months after a fire in June destroyed Hotel Molokai’s kitchen, rebuilding is scheduled to begin in January, according to the hotel’s General Manager Michael Drew. The Hula Shores restaurant has been closed since the fire, which caused approximately $650,000 in damages and left 35 unemployed. Since then, staff and crews have been busy with demolition and clean-up of the building’s charred remains and drafting plans for the new construction. A trusted demolition contractor was brought in to ensure the site was cleared safely and efficiently, paving the way for the upcoming rebuild, as there are many great options for this and trying services like demolition company lexington ky could be a great choice for this job.…

‘A Sweet Victory’

Sunday, October 14th, 2012

‘A Sweet Victory’

With most of the sell-out crowd at Hilo Civic Center cheering for their hometown hero and defending champ Pono Kuikahi, few expected Molokai mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Nate Harris, 25, to bring home the belt at the Unorthodox Industries Championships (UIC) event in Hilo earlier this month. But he did.

After fighting in three three-minute rounds, Harris, who has been training with Molokai’s Relentless MMA for the past four years, claimed the UIC welterweight championship belt for the 170-pound weight bracket. He won by definitive judge’s decision. The win brings his amateur record to 4-1.

“I think I dominated the fight,” said Harris.…

Festivals Flourish with Aloha

Sunday, October 14th, 2012

Festivals Flourish with Aloha

Whether it’s the coronation of the royal court, the procession of pa`u units riding atop lei-draped horses through town or the chaotic teamwork of the bed race, the annual Festivals of Aloha is all about pride, color and tradition. Every year, the three-day event draws large crowds to participate in fun activities that also perpetuate traditional Hawaiian culture. The theme of this year’s Festival was “E kupuohi I ke Aloha –- Flourish with Aloha,” as symbolized by the Kamehameha butterfly, one of two butterfly species native to Hawaii.

“The point of the festivals is to carry on the heritage of Hawaiians,” said Moana Dudoit, who has been organizing the festivals on Molokai with her sister Raquel Dudoit for the past three years.…

Corps Values in Health

Sunday, October 14th, 2012

Molokai is one of 12,000 communities in the country – over 10 million people –that are considered medically underserved, according to the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Every year, the NHSC enlists medical, dental, mental and behavioral healthcare providers to these communities to provide primary health care to those who may not be able to afford it. Last Thursday marked Corps Community Day that recognizes the efforts of almost 10,000 NHSC members nationwide who are caring for underserved communities — four of whom serve on Molokai, according to Catherine Sorenson of the Hawaii Department of Health.

One of those members is Dr.…

Molokai Internet Survey – How’s Your Speed?

Sunday, October 14th, 2012

Molokai Internet Survey – How’s Your Speed?

The State of Molokai’s Broadband Internet

High speed Internet can allow residents of rural areas like Molokai to participate in economic and civic life far beyond the geographic boundaries of our shoreline. Broadband technology can eliminate logistical constraints of regionally-based business, foster greater social interaction, and allow quick transmission of news and information. However, these economic and social advantages depend on the reliability and speed provided by Molokai’s limited Internet service providers.

In the spirit of community-building, The Molokai Dispatch is polling local customers of a variety of broadband providers to find out the quality and user satisfaction of Molokai’s Internet service.…

Molokai Power Outage Explained

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

The island-wide power outage Sunday night that left thousands without electricity for approximately eight hours was caused by a pole fire at the Pala`au Substation, according to a statement issued by Maui Electric Company (MECO).

Shortly after 10 p.m. on Sunday evening, Molokai’s three primary electric generators operated by MECO tripped offline. This was caused by a fire at the top of a pole at the power plant that appears to have started from a contaminated insulator, stated MECO.

“Over time, insulators that hold the electric line to the pole can become soiled by salt spray and dust,” said MECO spokesperson Kau`i Awai-Dickson. …

Natural Honey Challenge Open to Beekeepers

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

Big Island Beekeepers Association News Release

The third annual Hawaiian Natural Honey Challenge (HNHC) will be held in conjunction with the Hilo Harvest Festival on Saturday Nov. 10, in downtown Hilo, Hawaii.  This year’s Hilo Harvest Festival is dedicated to honeybees and beekeeping.  Beekeepers from throughout the state of Hawaii are encouraged to submit entries of their favorite liquid, solid, and/or comb honeys for judging at this event.

The deadline for submissions to the Challenge is Friday, Oct. 26.  The requirements to be considered a Hawaiian Natural Honey include samples must be collected and bottled by the contestant from apiaries located in the state of Hawaii, no heat may be used in the extracting or bottling process, no additives, seeding or flavoring may be used and honey should not be processed in any way such as “creaming,” “spinning,” “churning,” or other manipulations.…

County Begins Deer Harvest Cooperative

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

Molokai explores similar options.

Imagine higher agricultural yields, fewer invasive species, and a new economic product that’s as versatile as it is plentiful: venison. That was the vision of the founders of the Maui Axis Deer Harvesting Cooperative (MADHC), a new initiative organized by the County of Maui. Its goal is to help farmers, ranchers and landowners control invasive axis deer on their property while addressing food security with zero waste. MADHC members are a group of certified, trained, hunters who can provide harvesting services to those receiving damage from axis deer. The meat will be shared between hunters and landowners, and in some cases, local slaughterhouses will process meat for resale.…

How to Say E Komo Mai

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

How to Say E Komo Mai

 

 

While it is pau hana time for most teachers, Kumu Manuwai Peters and a few of his students are at Ho`olehua Airport getting ready for a busy afternoon. Holding an ukulele in one hand, Peters straightens a student’s kukui lei, all the while reminding the four student-volunteers to be professional, smile and engage visitors coming off the plane. By the time the next plane touches down, Peters and his band of students are already at the arrival gate, instruments, lei and smiles ready. As soon as the door opens, the group breaks into a traditional Hawaiian mele, or song, welcoming visitors and residents to Molokai.…

Molokai Hoe 2012

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

Molokai Hoe 2012

Just before 100 canoes started launching from Hale O Lono Harbor Sunday morning, Wa`akapaemua team captain and steersman Bozo Dudoit hugged each of his teammates, one by one. While neighboring teams had loud chants and practiced slogans, the men’s open team from Wa`akapaemua Canoe Club gathered their hands in the middle and shouted just one word –Molokai. They picked up their six-man outrigger canoe and departed for the 41-mile legendary Molokai Hoe course to Oahu.

“We’ve trained mentally and physically,” said Dudoit a day before the race. “But I’ve never paddled 40 miles directly into the wind, so it’ll be an interesting experience.”…