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Community

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

Designed to Shine

Friday, May 6th, 2011

Designed to Shine

Although Molokai High School has a mascot, a motto and a crest, they’ve never had a branded logo. So as a part of his senior project, Kaoli Place created a logo he hopes will stick around – with the help of several products for students and community to enjoy.

Place, with the help of classmate Eesha Dudoit-Alapai, created the Logo Store at the school, selling several products with Place’s logo design.

“It started to increase school pride and spirit,” Dudoit-Alapai said. They began last semester with small items – pencils and coffee mugs – while Dudoit-Alapai and their teacher Lisa Takata researched how to stock bigger items like bags and t-shirts.

Takata said with the help of a 21st Century grant, she’ll be opening up a print shop this summer to do their own printing – “keeping money on-island.” Eventually, Takata said she hopes to incorporate Place’s design into the school’s uniforms.


Place created a logo that integrates images of the school’s slogan – “Farmers of the Land and Sea” – into the text itself.

“It just came to me somehow,” he said. Place used a fishing pole with a fish and a taro plant as inspiration.

He spent time on weekends and during spring break to clean up the student activities room, which serves as the classroom for Takata’s leadership class, and now houses the Logo Store. He said he plans to study graphic design after he graduates.

Community members as well as students are welcome to shop during the lunch recess (around 12:15 p.m.) Monday-Friday, to browse through t-shirts, tank tops, bags, lanyards, license plate frames, sweatshirts and notecards.

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Ferry Increases Price Again

Friday, May 6th, 2011

Those who travel by car or truck aren’t the only victims of the high gas prices – skyrocketing oil rates have forced Sea Link Hawaii, who runs the Molokai Princess between Maui and Molokai, to raise their ferry fares yet again.

The increased fuel surcharge brings up a one-way adult fare to $63.60, from $59.36, effective May 1. They last increased their rates effective in January 2011.

“Our base prices remain the same,” said Dave Jung, general manager of Sea Link. “We hate to do it, that’s just how it has to be – if fuel goes up, makes it harder and harder for people to travel.”

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Adult Day Care Receives Grant

Friday, May 6th, 2011

Na Pu`uwai News Release

Na Pu`uwai is pleased to announce that its Adult Day Care Center, the Senior Enrichment Program located at Home Pumehana’s senior living facility, is the recipient of a $100,000 community grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA).  This award will support our kupuna who attend the adult day care and who participate in its range of activities. 

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Food and Fellowship

Friday, May 6th, 2011

Food and Fellowship

Every Monday night, several families and kids from the Molokai Youth Center make their way to Kaunakakai Baptist Church. The big lawn, swing set, and most of all, fried rice, spaghetti and hamburgers draw them in.

The church hosts Aloha Night for any community member who wants or needs a free meal on Monday nights, and recently celebrated their 10th year of sharing.

“[We] let the community know this is a safe place they can come, have something for eat and talk story,” said Frank Lawelawe, one of the event’s founding members.

The church gets anywhere from 30 to 140 people at the weekly event, starting around 6 p.m. Lawelawe said the church allocates around $8,000 a year for Aloha Night, but they also receive a lot of donations –fish, deer, utensils and help cooking and cleaning up.


“Every Monday is a combination of kitchen impossible and dinner with Jesus,” said volunteer Scott Schaefer.

Healing Partnerships
Former Pastor Paul Cantrell began Aloha Night in 2001, and Lawelawe was there from the beginning. He started volunteering with the church when he began his drug recovery, and now works as a substance abuse counselor at Ka Hale Pomaika`i, a rehab center on the east end.

“Before, I was poisoning the community,” he said. “I was selling drugs through people, now I’m giving back to the people.”

Lawelawe, now 13 years sober, is the main cook for Aloha Night, but is training more volunteers to help while he works at the rehab center and goes to school for his associate’s degree, to become a certified counselor.

Kenneth Takenoushi, who has also been volunteering his time since Aloha Night began, said a dinner at the beginning of the week is a big help to families.

“If you’re new and don’t know anybody, this is a good place if you need help,” he added.

The church members and volunteers also have the help of the Molokai Youth Center. Kids from the youth center come down for some community service – helping clean up afterward – as well as play with the younger kids. Travis Ritte and Alii Kaholokula are youth specialists, and leaders of the center’s leadership groups, Na Ki`a Ku Pono and
Mana Wahine.

“We appreciate this place so much,” Ritte said. “There’re not too many places to go to service the community…in a pleasant, safe atmosphere.”

Lawelawe would like to thank Kaunakakai Baptist Church, the Molokai Youth Center, Ka Hale Pomaika`i, and Queen Lili`uokalani Children’s Center for all their support of Aloha Night.

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See What A Little Can Do

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

See What A Little Can Do

Community Contributed

By Taycia Florendo

On a beautiful evening in Friendly Market Center’s back parking lot, the handsome voices of Molokai’s own OOF (Only On Friday) band performed live on last Saturday for a “cause.”  

“Cause we care!” said the employees of Friendly Market Center.  Carnation Harris at 20 years old is battling cancer and was given only a few months to live.  Her significant other, Keoki Gramberg works here at Friendly Market Center. Together they were blessed with two beautiful daughters. Being told the devastating news, I shared it with my family over dinner, and my son inspired me to help Keoki and Carnation. I could not leave their hurt left on the dinner table,  I had to wipe it up!  I am a mother of two wonderful children and I wanted to show to them what happens, that if everyone gave a little, it’ll help out a lot.  

Giving myself just a week and half, it began with an idea of a dinner plate sale that would help alleviate the burden and stress of this battle from Keoki and Carnation.  I did not believe that the plate sale alone would prove to my children that it was the right way of giving.  So it inspired me to hold a rummage sale where each and every one of my employees that works here be able to donate and sell their treasures to benefit the cause.  Molokai, we are truly blessed.  You have sewn a gigantic lei of prayers for Carnation, and on that beautiful Saturday evening showed you truly cared.  From donations far and wide we all did this together. 

I would like to give my utmost thanks and great appreciation to my employers Jeff, Crystal and Judy for their generous support in making this possible.  To my Friendly Market Center `ohana, you are one of a kind! All our kind hearts put together made this a great evening to remember.  As for my beautiful Molokai community, we are unique, and through Carnations fight we’ll be able to grow in peace and harmony.  Let me remind you all that it wasn't me who did this, we all did! To our dearest Carnation this is our gift of love to you.  To the many love ones battling cancer, our prayers are with you.  

 

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Find Your Family Tree

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

Community contributed by Gladys Brown

Genealogy and family history search is the fastest growing hobby in America.  Come join us for a free workshop on this fascinating pastime on Saturday May 14, 2011, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Latter Day Saints Family History Library in Kalamaula.

Susan Shaner, Hawaii State Archivist, is the keynote presenter who will speak on "Hawaii State Archives Records."  Learn how to access these public documents.

Alex Haley, author of “Roots,” wrote, “All human beings belong to some family that has ancestry and a native land.  The need for knowing who you is is universal."  If a descendant of slaves could find his ancestors in Africa, we, too, can find our roots and branches.

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Aunty’s Corner

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

Column by Kathy ‘Kapua’ Templeton

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Molokai Featured on Hawaii Goes Fishing

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

Molokai Featured on Hawaii Goes Fishing

Molokai's own Capt. Clay Ching of Hallelujah Hou Fishing has been featured on the TV program, Hawaii Goes Fishing. Check out his videos on YouTube (and below), and more videos, pictures, and contact info at his website, HallelujahHouFishing.com

Flyfishing Part 1

Flyfishing Part 2

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MCC’s Biggest Loser

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

MCC’s Biggest Loser

Along with getting a higher education, some students at the University of Hawaii Maui College-Molokai, formerly known as MCC, also tried their luck at losing a few pounds this past semester during UHMC’s first-ever “Biggest Loser” competition.

Professor Donna Haytko-Paoa, the coordinator for the event,  was inspired by her favorite TV show “the Biggest Loser,” a reality series which helps people lose weight. She and her staff partner, Kelley Dudoit, reeled in twenty students to participate in the weight loss program, and awards for biggest losers were handed out last Friday at the college’s campus.

First-place winner, April Maddela, won a volleyball and the respect of her classmates after the 10-week event. She  lost 26 pounds during the Biggest Loser competition.

wasn’t about losing weight,” she told the program’s graduates. “It was about changing your lifestyle, so you wouldn’t go up and down and be unhappy with yourself, so you can have confidence.”

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Molokai-Made at Merrie Monarch

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

Molokai-Made at Merrie Monarch

Visitors flowed in and out of last week’s 48th annual Merrie Monarch hula fest in Hilo, Hawaii Island, exploring the ancient art of hula and showcasing the state’s best dancers. At an event where tradition mixes with a mercantile mart, local shoppers and visitors alike are able to see and buy unique, home-made Native Hawaiian crafts.

Several Molokai crafters were on-hand, selling delicate jewelry and sustainably-made clothing among many other items. The Dispatch talked with Valerie Dudoit-Temahaga of ` Ohana Creations, Ameron and Haunani Madela of Lokikai o Molokai, and Jaime, Ane and Hina of Kealopiko.

MD: What brings you to Merrie Monarch each year? Is it difficult?
Ohana Creations: Coming to Merrie Monarch is more like a vacation to get away and being around the people and seeing the different crafts and getting ideas.
Kealopiko: It costs a lot to get here – shipping, freight and flight costs are ridiculous. (Ane) feels the nice thing about this fair is that the cost is more reasonable for us.


Ohana Creations: Over 10 years ago I was amazed by the talent of the crafters at the Merrie Monarch Craft Show. One particular craft that inspired me was flowers made of Fimo Clay. My journey of creations using clay started. I first worked with Fimo Clay; as I progressed, I was introduced to Deco and Hearty Air Dry Clay which is what I now use. By going out and selling whatever it was that I had made, word got around and soon people were asking for my business card. Next came invitations to craft shows.

Thanks to Kanoe Davis for the interviews at Merrie Monarch.

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