Community

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

Calling Natural Honey Producers Statewide

Thursday, June 28th, 2012

Community Contributed

Big Island Beekeepers Association News Release

The Big Island Beekeepers Association (BIBA) invites natural (raw) honey producers state-wide to participate in the Third Annual Hawaiian Natural Honey Challenge. The challenge was begun in 2010 to showcase the quality of the unprocessed, unfiltered honey produced by local beekeepers statewide.

The challenge consists of two parts — a formal judging and a public tasting. At the formal judging the entries are categorized by nectar source and type (liquid, solid, comb), and evaluated by judges recruited for their refined sense of taste and knowledge of honey. Top scorers by category receive awards in this contest.…

MHS Grad Recognized as Scholar Athlete

Thursday, June 28th, 2012

MHS Grad Recognized as Scholar Athlete

HMSA News Release

A Molokai student took top honors at last week’s HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship program that recognizes scholar athletes around the state. Charisse Manley of Molokai High School was one of our distinguished Kaimana Scholars and took home a $5,000 scholarship.

“The HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program is the only program in the state that rewards academics and athletics as well as sportsmanship and community service,” said Robert P. Hiam, HMSA’s chief executive officer.

The program started in August 2005, recognizes all-around accomplishments by high schools, rewards individual student athletes with scholarships, and supports coaches education. The program is sponsored by HMSA and administered by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association.…

Visiting Artist Ceramic Workshop

Thursday, June 28th, 2012

Visiting Artist Ceramic Workshop

MAC News Release

Molokai Art Center (MAC) is pleased to announce a two-week workshop featuring first-time visiting artist Professor Emeritus Ron Evans, ceramic artist for over 45 years. Ron’s own artwork consists primarily of crystalline glazed wheel-thrown forms and one-of-a kind art pieces. Ron has recently retired as a Professor of Art at the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California, where he taught for nearly 40 years. It was the only college in the U.S. to teach crystalline glazes. Combining science and mesmerizing beauty, crystalline glazes shimmer and shift much like holograms do and are
literally three-dimensional.

Workshops will include clay, studio time, glazes, firing and hands on instruction in crystalline glazes and raku.…

4-H Molokai Livestock Expo

Thursday, June 28th, 2012

Hawaii Farm Bureau News Release

Next month, Molokai youth will have a chance to show off their livestock and agricultural efforts, while community members will enjoy educational demonstrations, live auctions, food and other entertainment. The 4-H Molokai Livestock Expo is slated for Friday, July 13 and Saturday, July 14 at the Kaunakakai Ball Field.

4-H Molokai is partnering with The Hawaii Farm Bureau to educate the youth of Molokai about the many benefits of the 4-H programs established on island and across the U.S.

“Our keiki benefit by broadening their knowledge of good agricultural practices as well as the gaining knowledge of farming in Hawaii, commercially or otherwise” said President Ha`a Kamakana.…

Obituary: Robert “Bobby” Paleka

Wednesday, June 27th, 2012

Obituary: Robert “Bobby” Paleka

Robert “Bobby” Paleka of Ho`olehua, Molokai, died at the age of 72 on June 19, 2012 at his home on Mo`omomi Ave. He was a retired equipment operator for Grace Pacific Corp and Operators Union Local 3. He was born on Sept. 17, 1940 in Ho`olehua.

He is survived by wife Barbara ” Bea” Paleka; son Sonny (Rhonda) Paleka of Hilo; daughters Roberta “Penny” (Mike) Paleka-Steinhoff of Ho`olehua, Shatina (Keala) Paleka of Ho`olehua, and Myra (Nate) Ah Mook Sang of Honolulu; brothers Herman (Joan) Paleka of Kauai, Henry “Bully” (Rosie) Paleka of Kalamaula, and Earl Paleka of Kaunakakai; sister Jamesie “Hunny” (Reuben) Sambajonof Kaunakakai; six grandchildren and one great grandchild.…

Ilia Reyes: Making a Splash

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

Ilia Reyes: Making a Splash

This Thursday morning, Ilia Reyes is hoping he wakes up feeling good. It’s a big day for the Molokai-born swimmer. He’ll be competing in the Olympic trials — a goal not even his family dreamed of when he began swimming at Kaunakakai’s Cooke Memorial Pool at age 8.

“For swimming, you wake up that morning and you either feel good or you don’t,” said Reyes, who graduated from University of Hawaii last fall, where he set state records and proved himself against international competition.

The summer before his junior year at UH in 2009, he broke the Hawaii record for the 50 meter freestyle and qualified for the Olympic trials by making the cut — 23.49 seconds — in the event.…

Connecting Kalaupapa

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

Settlement to receive broadband Internet service in July

Next month, Kalaupapa residents can expect to receive broadband Internet service for the first time in the settlement’s history. Workers and patient residents of the famously remote peninsula have often felt isolated, with little or no Internet, sometimes unreliable telephones, and limited physical access.

“This is a major step forward in communications for Kalaupapa,” said Department of Health Kalaupapa Administrator Mark Miller, who added settlement officials have been trying to get high speed Internet to Kalaupapa for the past four years. Miller said the installation will also mark the first time his office will be able to be connected to the state DOH system, rather than operating largely through the postal service.…

Funds for the Future

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

Molokai organizations present at OHA annual community meeting

Each year, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) offers $12 million in grants spread across the state. Funds are granted for a number of strategic priorities with one crucial qualification –the project must assist or contribute to OHA’s efforts to improve conditions for Native Hawaiians, according to Harold Nedd, OHA Public Relations Specialist. Molokai organizations made their cases for a portion of those funds last week, when OHA held an annual Molokai community meeting. The meetings are held around the state to give residents a chance to make their voices heard.

“Transparency is the most important thing,” said Chairperson of the OHA Board of Trustees, Colette Machado, of the meeting process.…

Reward for Info on Molokai Fires

Friday, June 22nd, 2012

Maui Crime Stoppers News Release

This week the Maui Police Department and Maui Crime Stoppers asks for the public’s assistance in identifying person(s) responsible for three fires that were set in Molokai on June 11 and 12.

On June 11 at about 3:40 p.m., a brush fire was set in the area of Likelike Avenue at Hoomalu Drive in Kalamaula.

The same day at about 3:44 p.m., an abandoned vehicle was set on fire in an empty lot in the area of S.Mohala Street at Seaside Place.

On June 12 at about 11:05 p.m., a wooden shack near the beach at Kamehameha V Highway at mile 11 in Kamalo was burned to the ground.…

Hotel Molokai Fire Causes $650,000 in Damages, Leaves 35 Unemployed

Thursday, June 21st, 2012

Hotel Molokai Fire Causes $650,000 in Damages, Leaves 35 Unemployed

An early morning fire at Hotel Molokai on Tuesday gutted the kitchen, laundry and storage rooms, causing an estimated $650,000 in damages. Now, the Hula Shores restaurant and bar are closed indefinitely, and 35 employees are out of work.

Firefighters responded to the fire just before 3:30 a.m., and found about 75 percent of the bottom floor of the two-story structure engulfed in flames, according to Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga. A Maui fire inspector said the fire’s cause is undetermined but concluded it was accidental. The inspector said it started in the storage room behind the kitchen, which was padlocked when the blaze broke out.…