Community

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

Sust’ainable Molokai Kicks Off Friday Nite Market

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

Sust’ainable Molokai Kicks Off Friday Nite Market

By Maria Angst, Community Reporter 

Following the noteworthy success of the inaugural farmers market in March, Sust’ainable Molokai launched a new series on Friday, Oct. 13: the Friday Nite Market. This market, held in the evening, caters to weekday workers by letting them join after work without disrupting their weekend family time, unlike the traditional morning market.

An open invitation was extended to all local farmers and producers on Molokai, whether they were Sust’ainable Molokai Mobile Market producers or not. Multiple vendors were present with a consistent crowd of about thirty attendees coming in and out throughout the two hours, at 589 Maunaloa Highway. …

Football Clinches Title, Volleyball Prepares for Tournament

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

Football Clinches Title, Volleyball Prepares for Tournament

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

Molokai Farmers Football won their seventh consecutive Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) eight-man title with a 59-34 win over Hana on Oct. 7. 

David Kalilikane put up big numbers with three rushing and three passing touchdowns, punctuated by two decisive rushing touchdowns to end the game. 

Christian Nip also had three touchdowns including a massive 72-yard kick return in the fourth quarter. 

Likewise contributing with touchdowns to the strong offensive performance were Clarence Tanabe, Kinohi Kaupu and Jonah Dudoit, who ran back a 68-yard punt in the third quarter. 

The Farmers ended the year 5-0 in division play, with two games left in their season. …

Opioid Abuse Awareness Exhibit

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

Opioid Abuse Awareness Exhibit

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

Correna Pawn Simao is continuing her work combating substance abuse on Molokai with an informational exhibit at the Molokai Public Library. 

“If we don’t educate the community, how are they going to know?” said Simao. Substance abuse “hits every home, I bet.” 

Simao was a participant in the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) workforce development program, which ran earlier this year until August. As a conclusion to the program, participants were asked to create interactive programs educating the Molokai community on the dangers of drug abuse. Some participants worked with organizations like Alu Like and the Molokai Hunting Club to design board games or PowerPoints. …

Revitalizing Agroforestry

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

Hawaii Edible Landscaping News Release 

The public is invited to attend “Revitalizing Hawaii with Agroforestry”, a free evening presentation, on Friday, Oct. 27, 5:30-7:00 p.m., at Lanikeha Community Center in Hoolehua. 

Dave Sansone, owner of Hawaii Edible Landscaping, LLC on Hawaii Island will be sharing how agroforestry practices can help cultivators meet their needs while protecting and revitalizing the health of the land and water. Looking for a Greensboro landcaping contractor? Contact Ground Scapes for expertise in implementing sustainable landscaping practices that nurture both your garden and the environment.

“Agroforestry is a set of sustainable agriculture practices with ancient roots that can increase production, beat the weeds naturally, and improve the soil,” Sansone explains.…

Helen Joao Apana

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

Helen Joao Apana

Helen Joao Apana, 97, passed away peacefully at her home in Kapaakea, Molokai, on Oct. 4.  She was born Nov. 9, 1925 in Kualapuu, Molokai.

Helen was preceded in death by husband Donald Wah Bung Lau Apana, parents Raymond Francis Joao Sr. and Gussie Maikani Iaea Joao, maternal grandparents Reverend Isaac Daniel Iaea and Hannah Keahi Pakamia Iaea, and paternal grandparents Manuel Farinha Joao and Julia Correa Joao. She was the last survivor of her seven siblings and last surviving grandchild of Manuel and Julia. 

She is survived by her five daughters – Linda Reyes Napoleon, Beverly Mapuana Apana, Abegale Kilani  (William) Akutagawa, Dawn Aloma  (Ken) Nakayama and Nola Haunani (Daniel) Reilly, 16 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great-grandchildren, and many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.…

Joseph Kumauna Ah Fu Chong

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

Joseph Kumauna Ah Fu Chong

Joseph Kumauna Ah Fu Chong, 81, passed away Aug. 18, at home in Waimea, Hawaii with his family by his side. 

Brother Joe as he was lovingly called was born Feb. 5, 1942, in Kalamaula, Hawaii to George Kuala’au and Sarah (Kahawai) Chong.   

He attended school on Molokai and graduated from Molokai High School in 1960.  He married Gertrenda Irene Hall on Sept. 11, 1971.  Joe loved Trenda dearly for 52 years. He always enjoyed her vegetarian cooking and was so thankful for the time she devoted to taking care of him.   

Joe was a talented and creative carpenter. He built homes, tree houses, aquaponic gardens and so much more. …

Molokai Youth Summit

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

Community Contributed

By Ric Ornellas

The Molokai Youth Summit on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the MHS gym is looking for dialogue and solutions to a big question: how do we make everyone feel welcome? Diversity, equity and inclusion.  

Adults often forget the hurdles of growing up: searching for personal identity, finding self-worth, being accepted by peers, learning to move and dress a developing body, among other obstacles. Beyond academic work, all Molokai educators and administrators tackle these important student questions on a daily basis.

HSTA, the Hawaii state teachers’ union, the HSTA Human Civil Rights Committee, and the HSTA Molokai Chapter, 109 teachers strong, are all working to consider these student concerns which were asked previously at the Social Justice Youth Summit Molokai 2019.…

Belonging

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

Community Contributed

By Paxton Moore, MHS 10th Grade, WIN Writer 

I am a 15-year-old boy. I was born in Honolulu, and I lived there with my mom and dad. My memories as a child will always be the happiest, because we were a family of three, and we shared a deep love for each other. I was 14 years old when my family made a decision for me to continue my high school education on Molokai. I found a quote by Bojan Krkic, the Spanish-Serbian footballer that helped me adjust to my move: “it is important to find a place where you feel trust, you feel belonging and stability.”…

The Small Scale Farm

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

Community Contributed 

By Kyle Franks, CTAHR, DHHL Jr Extension Agent

There is momentum building toward small farms as more and more people see the need for locally produced foods and products. With the events of the past three years, supply line weaknesses have been highlighted and these weaknesses, coupled with being an island community, have helped show how we as individuals and as a community are all affected by even the smallest ripples within a centralized supply chain. 

Here in Hawaii, we have the blessing of a year-round growing season, and yet currently Hawaii’s population is hugely dependent on centralized supply chains for 85-90 percent of the population’s food-needs.…

The Adze Quarries of Kaluako‘i

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023

Community Contributed 

By Marshall Weisler, Archaeologist

If there was ever a perfect name for a piece of land, then surely Kaluako‘i is it. The name means “the adze pit” and the 50,000 acres encompassing this leeward region of west Molokai contains more stone adze quarries than the rest of the Hawaiian Islands combined. The rolling hills and slopes fronted by the rocky coastlines are dominated by the nearly 1,400 foot high, 1.7 million years old Maunaloa volcano. 

Why is Kaluako‘i important? Well, imagine life without your mobile phone. Most people would be at a loss without this essential modern “tool.”  Hundreds of years ago, stone adzes were the most common tools in ancient times.…