Aunty’s Corner
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Add your commentMolokai Boxing Wins Big
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On Feb. 4, Molokai Southside Boxing Club went to Oahu to compete in the Palolo Boxing Club two-day event at the Palolo District Gym. Springsteen Stampson, the first one to fight on Friday night, fought against Steven Wada of Maui Southside Boxing Club. Springsteen made a good effort but came up short on points.
Saturday night was a good night for us. Springsteen fought against Charles Coloma from UPNUP Kauai Boxing Club in the first fight of the night. After losing the first round, he came out more aggressive in the next two rounds and won his fight by points. Jordan Manangan (pictured) fought against Goddhey Jacaine from Pearlside Boxing Club in the sixth fight of the night. Both boys fought hard in every round and got the crowd clapping and cheering. In the end, Jordan won his fight by points.
I would like to thank Paitaka Mawae and his crew for their kokua with our kalua pig plate fundraiser that we had in January. Also a big mahalo to Juan Carlos Paz, Bridget Blair, Nana, Jennifer, Aolani and Randen for their kokua with our ticket sales and to the people of Molokai for your support.
Mahalo,
Tom Manangan
Molokai Southside Boxing Club
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One-Stop Online Shopping
molokaiARTgallery.com News Release
Navigating all that Molokai has to offer has just become more convenient, and more accessible. Local artist and business owner, Linda Johnston has created www.molokaiARTgallery.com. The site is “the go-to website for Molokai” a community-based forum offering a platform for local artists and entrepreneurs to easily share their work and services with the public. It is also an online resource that serves as a guide to island life, offering touring, entertainment and lodging options for residents and tourists. Visitors appreciate reliable information from a long-time resident.
Cuts to Youth Programs Detrimental
Community Contributed
By Marla Spencer, Program Manager
During the past several years, I’ve witnessed firsthand amazing achievements of our young people, many of whom had all but given up on attaining their dreams.
In places like Molokai High, Molokai Middle, Baldwin High, and Kalama Intermediate schools, I’ve seen lives turned around, cycles of poverty broken, and new incredible opportunities created.
As the Maui County program manager for Paxen Huli Ke Alo About Face! Family of Programs, I’ve served with a team of approximately 10 instructors and support staff to provide work-readiness, academic and life skills training and education to more than 250 Maui and Molokai students each year.
Tutu’s Corner
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Community Contributed
Column by Tutu and Me
Colors have a profound effect on our lives. They can bring about emotional responses that trigger sensory memories. Our language is full of colorful connotations. A green traffic signal means to go. Our bank balance can be in the black, meaning that we have a balance, or in the red meaning that we have no balance. We could be feeling blue because we lost our job. Colors symbolize countries, schools, families, cultures and causes.
Color preferences can begin for young children even before the age of one. Babies have been observed reaching for the same color block, book, toy or food item. Young children choose and can name their favorite color between the ages of two and four years.
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At Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool, we add colors and color words throughout the school year in various learning areas, such as Playdough, painting and indoor art. We also strive to correlate color to our thematic focus, such as, red and green at Christmas, and pastels in spring.
Try This at Home:
• Start by finding out what your child’s favorite color seems to be. Teach your child that color name first. It will then be easier for your child to match, and discriminate that favorite color with other colors.
• As your keiki dresses, talk about the colors of the clothes worn for that day. Make sure that your child has clothes in his/her favorite color.
• As your keiki puts a colored food in his or her mouth (e.g., colored goldfish cracker) name the color.
• Play “I Spy” color games with your keiki while walking, traveling, shopping, and waiting in the doctor’s office, etc. Say, “I spy something yellow,” and let your child guess what the object is.
• Buy or borrow picture books on colors. There are many good ones.
• As you plant seeds in your garden with your child, ask him/her to guess what color the plant, flower, fruit or vegetable will be.
• Visit the painting easel every time you come to preschool. Let your child mix primary colors (red, blue, yellow) and discover the world of secondary colors.
Remember, expanding young children’s awareness to the world of colors is a relatively easy process that pays high dividends when they reach formal school age.
Contributions from Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool, a program of Partners in Development Foundation. Tutu and Me is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
A Molokai Wind Farm
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Community Contributed
By Steve Morgan
Why not use solar instead of wind power?
This seems like a reasonable question given the amount of sun that we possess. The simple answer is that solar in considerably more costly. In 2008, a study was done by the Department of Energy to evaluate all alternative energy sources including utility scale solar farms and widespread use of individual roof top solar systems. In regard to both types of systems, the cost was roughly double that of wind. A report demonstrating a comparable renewable energy analysis is expected to be released by the Department of Agriculture in March 2011. This information will also be included in the environmental impact statement (EIS). Nevertheless, solar will play a part of Hawaii’s energy portfolio as tax incentives and net metering encourage the development of independent systems. Furthermore, in the event that an independent renewable energy grid is established for Molokai, solar would be a viable option as one of the components of this system.
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Molokai is being asked to help supply Oahu's growing energy demands. What measurable conservation efforts are being undertaken on Oahu?
Over the last five years, due to a combination of various factors including conservation efforts and a weakening economy, Oahu residential customers have cut their average electric usage by 7.2 percent. From 1996 through 2008, Oahu also saw a reduction in oil consumption of 3.7 million barrels. Recent large scale energy projects on Oahu include a 30 megawatt (MW) wind farm on Oahu’s North Shore and a 110 MW biofuel plant at Kalaeloa. Plans are also in place for a second wind farm on the North Shore (Kawailoa) which will create an additional 70 MW of power.
Will Molokai be able to receive power from the proposed wind farm?
No, even a single windmill of this size would have too much output for Molokai’s electric grid. Assuming the offer to be the same as Lanai, as part of a benefits package, HECO would offer an independent agreement to ensure that our island’s electric utility would be 100 percent “green” by 2020. In the interim, what is being proposed by HECO would be to guarantee electric rates to Molokai at the same rate as Oahu customers. (approx. 50 percent price reduction)
How long would it take to construct the wind farm on Molokai?
According to First Wind, actual construction would be accomplished within a twelve month period. Without complications, land rights, studies and permits would be accomplished by the end of 2012 and engineering completed by 2013. Actual construction would commence in 2014.
Does First Wind have land rights for the windmills on Molokai?
No and the track record thus far has been a resistance from Molokai Ranch to sell land. The tipping point in all of this may be the state itself which is taking a very proactive stance in fulfilling the requirements of HRS 269-92. Peter Nicholas, CEO of Molokai Ranch, recently acknowledged that the pressure from the government is such that if Molokai Ranch refuses to sell, there is a possibility that the state would condemn the necessary Ranch lands through the process of Eminent Domain.
Healthy Alliances
After shutting down construction on its new site two weeks ago, the Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) will be receiving $500,000 in state funds by the end February. The news came via a video message from Rep. Mele Carroll, author of the original $1 million bill which passed in 2009, but have been withheld due to red tape. Although the amount represents half of the center’s appropriated funding, administrators say it is enough to complete initial construction of the seaside facility.
“I assure you I am working with Gov. Abercrombie so that your one million dollars will be released,” Carroll said.
Humane Society Goes Social
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The Molokai Humane Society (MHS) has been setting new goals including more community outreach through the popular social network website, Facebook. One supporter was so impressed MHS reached their goal of 100 new members in one week, she donated $500 through the Shields Animal Foundation to Molokai.
“Facebook is so huge right now as a way to spread information,” said Jenn Harrington Whitted, president-nominee of the MHS Board of Directors. By connecting online, MHS will be able to give updates on the clinic’s progress and seek more volunteers.
MHS runs mainly on volunteer hours and donations, and with this recent donation, the organization was able to add on to the structure of their office. The mobile building along Maunaloa Hwy, notable for the cats and dogs painted on its side, holds the administrative office as well as the veterinarians’ work space.
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MHS will also be providing animal education which includes pet care, and procedures for those who find strays. Whitted said the board will be taking the classes to Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool and into Molokai’s schools.
“The best time to inform people is at a young age,” she said.
For more information, contact Molokai’s clinic at 558-0000. To report animal abuse anonymously, call the Humane Society’s toll-free number 877-TIP-HSUS (847-4787). Don’t forget to check out their Facebook page by searching Molokai Humane Society.
Teacher Expands Music Knowledge
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Updated.
Bob Underwood is on a mission to change lives with a new afterschool music program. It incorporates a number of instruments, including the violin.
“I only do this because I love music,” said Bob Underwood, a first grade teacher at Kaunakakai Elementary School. Underwood is currently offering violin classes through the 21st Century program, and hopes to expand to trombone and trumpet classes soon.
He is joined by bandmate and friend, Rob Stephenson, president of Molokai Chamber of Commerce. Stephenson teaches saxophone, flute and clarinet at Kaunakakai Elementary; Underwood offers his violin classes at Kaunakakai, Kualapu`u, and Maunaloa Elementary. Between the two, there are around 40 students involved, ranging from kindergarteners to senior citizens.
Underwood has been playing bass guitar since his college days and now wants to pass the torch on to his students. He believes that music can further students in other subjects as well.
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“Studies have shown that learning an instrument can tune the ear better, making it easier to hear foreign language,” Underwood said. He also noted a connection to improved science and math scores.
Molokai lost the high school band program in 2004 after the departure of its music teacher. Since then, brass and woodwind instruments have been void in the classroom.
A Legacy
The 21st Century Grant has been stimulating young minds on Molokai since it began in 2001. It has funded programs such as Summer Bridge Math, Robotics, and ‘Connecting Molokai M’s: Me, My Mind, My Mana`o’ - a program which fosters the learning of local heritage.
Underwood wants to thank Kaunakakai Elementary Principal Janice Espiritu for her support. Espiritu was instrumental in bringing the 21 Century Grant program to Molokai.
“We wouldn’t be having these classes if it wasn’t for her,” Underwood
For those who are interested in learning one or more of these instruments, contact Bob Underwood at Kaunakakai Elementary School 553-1730
Putting Water in Local Hands
In the midst of a water permit acquisition and an important-agricultural land designation request by Molokai Properties Ltd (MPL), there are many questions remaining for homesteaders who feel bound to Molokai’s water.
Malia Akutagawa is president of Sust `ainable Molokai, a grassroots organization that educates the public on sustainability through traditional as well as modern methods.
Lately, Akutagawa has been teaching homesteaders about their rights to Molokai’s water. “Why are they [MPL] trying to get a permit to draw the water without a permit to pump it,” Akutagawa asked an audience of about 20 Ho`olehua homesteader s at Lanikeha last Wednesday.
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