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Community

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

Making Middle School Feel Like Home

Wednesday, August 29th, 2012

Community Contributed

By Kalei “Pumpkin” Moss

When I was in sixth grade, the thought of entering middle school was quite intimidating. This summer, Molokai Middle School (MMS) tried to make the transition for students a little bit easier with a summer program funded by the 21st Century grant program.

The summer program, open to current MMS students and incoming seventh graders, offered classes in academics, physical fitness and arts and crafts.

MMS strove to increase student achievement this summer by challenging learners in various areas of education, especially math and science. Students learned how to properly create a science project, review the scientific process, complete experiments and document research.…

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Bio-Logical Capital Agrees to Buy Hana Ranch on Maui

Sunday, August 26th, 2012

Hana Ranch Partners signed a sale agreement last week to pass ownership of its cattle ranch on Maui to Bio-Logical Capital, the land development company that teamed up with Pattern Energy last year and formed joint venture Molokai Renewables to study the feasibility of developing a 200-megawatt wind farm on Molokai.

Guy Kaulukukui, Bio-Logical Capital’s senior vice president, said the company plans to preserve and possibly expand Hana Ranch’s cattle operations.

“We are truly humbled to take on the kuleana of this remarkable ranch,” said Kaulukukui in a news release. “It is at once a privilege and a great responsibility… [Hana has] the potential to become a model for sustainable ranching and farming practices in the state.”…

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Deer Smugglers Reprimanded

Sunday, August 26th, 2012

Helicopter pilot Thomas Leroy Hauptman pleaded guilty to illegally transporting axis deer from Maui to the Big Island, on Monday. He could be sentenced to over $10,000 in fines and up to a year in prison.

The alleged animal smugglers flew four axis deer from Maui to the Big Island to be used by hunters as living targets, and brought back about a dozen mouflon sheep from the Big Island to a Maui hunting ranch back in 2009.

The owner of the ranch, Jeffrey Scott Grundhauser, is also facing possible jail time for selling wildlife without the proper permit.

Because axis deer and mouflon sheep are not native species to Hawaii, their presence has damaged fragile native ecosystems and farms on the islands where they’ve become established.…

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Two New Midwives at Hospital

Sunday, August 26th, 2012

Two New Midwives at Hospital

MGH News Release

Molokai General Hospital (MGH) would like to officially welcome two new certified Nurse Midwives, Jennifer Baumstark and Katie Bussard. They bring to Molokai a plethora of education, knowledge and experience. We are confident that they will meet and exceed the expectations of the patients they serve here at the Women’s Health Center.

Jennifer Baumstark graduated from Illinois State University with a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry. She continued her education at Mennonite College of Nursing, after which she received her master’s degree from the University of Illinois-Chicago. Over the past 20 years, she has worked in all areas of midwifery.…

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Ranch Sells Land to UH Molokai

Sunday, August 26th, 2012

Ranch Sells Land to UH Molokai

The University of Hawaii (UH) Maui College, Molokai Education Center will be able to expand their facilities and services now that Molokai Properties Ltd., also known as Molokai Ranch, sold them a 3.2-acre parcel of land surrounding the current campus in Kaunakakai. The final purchase price has not been disclosed, though the Dispatch reported in 2011 an agreement had been made for $500,000

Donna Haytko-Paoa, site coordinator for the college, said the land will offer the opportunity to expand the campus to include such possible additions as a natural science and marine center, a large amphitheater and additional lecture spaces.

The newly-purchased area is located west of the campus towards Duke Maliu Park.…

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Looking Back, Moving Forward

Sunday, August 26th, 2012

MHS assesses achievement and areas for improvement

Classes are back in full swing at Molokai High School (MHS) as students returned to school on July 30. While last year saw monumental improvements in student achievement and academic success, there is still room for students, staff and teachers to grow, according to MHS Principal Stan Hao.

No Green Hair for Hao
At the start of last school year, Hao promised students that if they made the state Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards this year, he would dye his hair green and spike it. MHS failed to meet the benchmark this year, in large part due to a technical error, according to Hao.…

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DMV Hires Two Employees from Molokai

Sunday, August 26th, 2012

DMV Hires Two Employees from Molokai

Those who are frustrated by long wait times at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office on Molokai to renew vehicle registration or drivers licenses may see improvement by the end of this year. The Department plans to extend hours of local operation, and hired two new employees who are residents of the island. Mahie McPherson and Candace Otsuka began training last month and are scheduled to begin work in November. Companies looking to grow their teams efficiently might also consider partnering with a sales recruitment firm USA to find skilled candidates quickly.

Training for the new employees at Fully-Verfied takes about three months at the Kahalui service center on Maui.…

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AARP Speaker Educated on Fraud

Friday, August 24th, 2012

AARP Speaker Educated on Fraud

AARP Molokai News Release

Adele Ching, representing the Senior Medicare Patrol, traveled from Oahu to tell AARP members on Molokai about their program at a well-attended meeting recently. They are part of the State Executive Office on Aging, and are charged with empowering seniors to prevent healthcare fraud. The program is federally funded and has been operating in Hawaii since 1997.

They have volunteers statewide and provide group presentations and one-on-one counseling in the basics of Medicare and Medicaid, fraud schemes, and how to combat errors, abuse and fraud.

If anyone is interested in the free training and certification to become a volunteer, call toll free 1-800-296-9422, or email laurel.paleka@doh.hawaii.gov.…

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Kalaupapa Gets New Cardiac Monitors

Friday, August 24th, 2012

Hawaii Life Flight News Release

Hawaii Life Flight donated a LifePack Cardiac Monitor to the Kalaupapa community on Molokai. This vital instrument that administers patient care and cardiac outcomes was received on July 30.

“We understand how valuable it was to have access to a cardiac monitor particularly in a remote area of Molokai,” said Dawn Guillermo, Hawaii Life Flight program director. “We are especially happy to be able to provide this equipment to this community.”

The request came from Carol Franko, Kalaupapa Care Home Supervisor, stating that the two cardiac monitors they were using expired and needed to be replaced.…

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Input Sought on County Budget

Friday, August 24th, 2012

County of Maui News Release

It’s that time of year when the County of Maui is proposing its budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year and looking for your input. Mayor Alan Arakawa and his administration will host a series of community meetings in September and October to take public testimony. Citizens with an interest in the county budget are encouraged to attend a meeting on Molokai Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 5:45 p.m. at the Mitchell Pauole Center.

Residents are invited to offer testimony, either as individuals or on behalf of an organization. Both written and verbal testimonies will be accepted.

The community meetings are designed to provide an opportunity for members of the community to present what they believe is needed for their area.…

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