Community

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

Strokes Ahead

Sunday, September 16th, 2012

Strokes Ahead

Wa`akapaemua Canoe Club continues a strong season

While Molokai is an island rich with skilled paddlers, members from one canoe club in particular –Wa`akapaemua –has been making quite the splash this season. Last weekend, both the men’s and women’s teams competed in the annual Pailolo Challenge, which spans the 26-mile channel between West Maui and South Molokai. The men took first in the Men’s open division and a close second in the overall race with a time of 2:55:33, while the women came in seventh in the Women’s open division with a time of 3:46:33.

Molokai Canoe Club also competed in the Men’s open division, finishing with a time of 3:40:42.…

Boxing in the Home Ring

Sunday, September 16th, 2012

Boxing in the Home Ring

First sanctioned amateur event on Molokai this weekend

For the first time in over 30 years, young Molokai boxers will be able to slip on their gloves and hear their name chanted as they face off in front of friends and family on their home island. Old timers remember the last boxing matches held on Molokai in the early 1980s, but this weekend, the Molokai Southside Boxing Club will host the first USA Boxing-sanctioned amateur event on the island that anyone can recall. The event is drawing fighters ages 8 to 24 from around the state for 21 confirmed bouts.

For Molokai youth, the Molokai Southside Boxing Invitational is a chance to compete on their home turf and gain valuable experience in the ring, which is limited because traveling to off-island sanctioned events is so expensive.…

The Hike of a Lifetime

Sunday, September 16th, 2012

The Hike of a Lifetime

Molokai resident hikes 2,184 mile-long Appalachian Trail

Every year, about 2,500 people venture to hike the Appalachian Trail, a 2,184-mile long path along America’s east coast that begins at Springer Mountain in Georgia and ends at Mount Katahdin in Maine. Only 20 percent of these hikers actually finish the trail from end-to-end, becoming thru-hikers, or long distance hikers. Among these, Molokai resident Fred Clews, 66, who completed the trail earlier this year.

Clews, whose nickname amongst fellow hikers was “Granddad,” started the hike on March 3 at Springer Mountain in Georgia and reached the finish at Mt. Katahdin on July 10.…

Sust`ainable Molokai Named Finalist in National Program

Friday, September 14th, 2012

Sust`ainable Molokai News Release

Local nonprofit Sust`ainable Molokai has been selected as the only finalist from Hawaii in the Tom’s of Maine “50 States for Good” program. That means it now has a chance to win up to $50,000 in support of a community project that will engage student and community volunteers to plant 5,000 trees to heal our aina (land) and recharge our single source aquifer.

Through a online public vote at Facebook.com/TomsofMaine now through October 9, local residents can help bring the funding to Molokai with the click of a mouse.

The “50 States for Good” program seeks to uncover local nonprofit groups that address urgent community needs and engage volunteers to get the work done.…

West Molokai Association Opposes Big Wind/Undersea Cable Project

Thursday, September 13th, 2012

West Molokai Association News Release

The Board of Directors of the West Molokai Association (WMA), representing the owners of 811 West Molokai properties, has unanimously declared its “resolute opposition” to the proposed Big Wind industrial wind project and Hawaii Inter-Island undersea cable, and stated it will take whatever steps necessary to halt the project.

The project would cover 17 square miles of Molokai with industrial wind turbines 47 stories tall. It is being planned by HECO, Molokai Ranch, Pattern Energy and Bio-Logical Capital, and is backed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

Noting that the project would “dramatically alter and irreversibly change West Molokai’s rural character and pastoral environment,” the Board’s resolution added that it would also result in increased electrical costs for Hawaiian residents, already among the highest in the United States.…

Baking for the Masses

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

Baking for the Masses

By 6 a.m. on most weekdays, Valerie Dudoit Temahaga already has her booth set up along Ala Malama Ave. in Kaunakakai and the smell of fresh-baked goods is wafting down the street for early-morning workers who come from as far as Molokai’s east end. Since the temporary closure of Kanemitsu Bakery’s operation earlier this year, many Molokai residents have turned to Temahaga’s pastries as a source for their baked goods.

“When the bakery closed, people asked me to bake and sell here,” said Temahaga, who started baking over 30 years ago. “I never expected it to get this big though. It was really exciting for us when people started buying from our back doors [at Lanikeha] like they did at hot bread lane.”…

Celebrating Two Years

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

A Light from Heaven News Release

For the month of October, between the 1st and 27th, come join A Light from Heaven in celebrating our second year of being open. A Light from Heaven supplies Molokai’s camping, hunting and fishing needs. Promotions include buy one item and get the second 10 percent off, buy two items and get 20 percent off entire purchase, and buy three items to receive a free gift. See Facebook for additional deals at www.facebook.com/alightfromheaven. Also check out our website at alightfromheaven.co.

The store is located at 40 Ala Malama St. Suite 201, above American Savings Bank.…

Molokai Artist’s Work on Display

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

MAC News Release

“Miyako Yamazaki, 1987 – 2012 — A Retrospective” will be on display in the ‘Ike Lihi Gallery at the Molokai Arts Center (MAC) from Sept. 21 to Oct. 21. An opening and birthday celebration will be held on Sept. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Miyako is a Contemporary Artist from Tokyo, who has been living on Molokai since 2004. She has worked in oil, acrylic, video and photography, as well as publishing two books; LOVE SPEAKS, 1999, Kourinsya, Kyoto, Japan, Out of Print, and Gift from Molokai, 2007, Sangyo-hensyu Center, Tokyo, Japan, and one DVD, Heavenly Brights, 2001, now on media, Tokyo, Japan.…

One Sweet Bzzzness

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

One Sweet Bzzzness

Family operation produces honey with a wide reach.

The Kaneshiro family knows the value of hard work — and so do their bees. The saying “busy as a bee” is not just a cliche.

“It takes the lifetime of 12 bees to make one teaspoon of honey,” said Brenda Kaneshiro, whose family operates Molokai Meli, the only commercial apiary, or collection of bee hives, based on the island. “Every drop of honey is like gold.”

What began in 2004 as a hobby to produce enough honey for their son’s salad dressing business turned into commercial operation producing over one ton of Molokai honey annually at its peak just three years later.…

Night of Aloha

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

Night of Aloha

Kaluapapa’s annual Night of Aloha is an evening of festivities fit for royalty. Patient residents Boogie and Ivy Kahilihiwa were king and queen of the ceremonies (pictured during their dance), joined by a full court in honor of Hawaiian tradition. The event, held last Wednesday, for the first time in the newly-renovated Paschoal Hall, also featured a full pa`ina feast and a host of entertainment.…