Community

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

County Mapping Molokai’s Wetlands

Wednesday, July 12th, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter 

Maui County is seeking to protect wetlands across the county, and to do that, it needs to know where they’re located. In response to a recently passed ordinance, the county is in the process of creating a new map of wetlands on Molokai. 

“The purpose [of the map] is to protect and restore wetlands. You cannot protect and restore something if you don’t know where it is,” explained Shahin Ansari, an ecologist contracted by the county for the project. 

Ansari explained that the new map will offer the public a “functional perspective on a wetland.” 

The project was started in March 2023 and is slated to finish in October of this year.…

‘Olelo Hawaii ‘Oe? Campaign

Wednesday, July 12th, 2023

Kanaeokana, the Kula Hawaii Network, would like to mahalo the organizers, vendors and community for participating in Molokai’s first ʻOlelo Hawaii ʻOe? campaign that was held on Saturday, June 3 at the Kamehameha Day Hoʻolauleʻa at Molokai Community Health Center. The purpose of the campaign was to engage all sectors of the community in using ‘olelo Hawaii for day to day tasks, such as shopping and browsing for food and merchandise at community events. 

Keiki to kupuna who came to the Hoʻolauleʻa to honor Kamehameha Day were encouraged to ‘olelo Hawaii to their best ability with each other and the many vendors at the Hoʻolauleʻa.…

Mahalo for Outpouring of Aloha

Wednesday, July 12th, 2023

On behalf of Cisilia Defang, we would like to thank all those who prayed, donated and supported her.

Born deaf, Cisilia did not let her disability be an obstacle in her daily life. She is a hard-working, determined, loving young woman. We know with her strength, big heart, and the Lord by her side she will pull through and come home. Cisilia is currently receiving medical treatment and at this time, and we ask for your continued prayer. We are truly blessed and can feel the outpouring aloha from everyone.

Mahalo

The George Defang Ohana…

Evelyn Mokiao Naeole

Wednesday, July 12th, 2023

Evelyn Mokiao Naeole

Our beloved mom, Evelyn Mokiao Naeole, was born on May 12, 1928 and left us to be with the Lord on June 20, 2023. Known to some as “Baby Amu” or the “Limu Ele’ele Lady,” she was born to Ah Chew and Francis Yam Mokiao. Mom married our father, Rudolph Akana Naeole, deceased, on March 18, 1950. They had five children Yvonne (Stan) Grance, Carol (Frank) Catian, Mathew (Rudolph, Junior) Naeole, deceased, Brian (Debra Ann) Naeole and Cori (Valerie) Jacobs (Eric “Dutchie” Bush), deceased. She passes on her cooking skills legacy to her 15 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.…

Passing of a Generation: The Last of Molokai’s 442 Veterans

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

Passing of a Generation: The Last of Molokai’s 442  Veterans

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter 

With the recent passing of Robert Goro Uemura, a chapter has eclipsed. It is believed that Uemura was the last living member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team from Molokai. 

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was formed in 1943 and comprised of Nisei, or second generation Japanese Americans, during World War II. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese Americans were subjected to Executive Order 9066, declaring people of Japanese ancestry as threats to the state. This resulted in the loss of civil rights and, in certain areas, internment. Despite this degradation of liberty, when the call went out to form an all Japanese American unit in 1943 — the military still being segregated at the time — thousands of Nisei, mostly from Hawaii, volunteered. …

County to Consider Public Ferry

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

A feasibility study to consider a Maui County-owned ferry system is slated to be completed in the next year. Lanai Councilmember Gabe Johnson, who has spearheaded the initiative, said $300,000 has been budgeted for the study for this fiscal year that will determine options for how ferries between Molokai, Maui and Lanai could be run, how much it would cost, where the funding might come from, and other variables. 

He pointed to how Maui’s public bus transportation is operated, with the buses owned by Maui County and operated under a contract with Roberts Hawaii. He said a similar arrangement for the ferry service might be an option. …

Molokai-Made Hip Hop Album Wins Na Hoku Hanohano

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

Molokai-Made Hip Hop Album Wins Na Hoku Hanohano

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Back in 2020, Molokai resident, educator and artist Maile Naehu got a message from a friend about a curriculum that teaches American history through hip hop. It struck a chord to do something similar, but with Hawaiian history. She “sat” with the idea for a while, as the pandemic brought lockdowns. 

Then one morning, inspiration hit. 

“As soon as I woke up, all the ideas came for this project and what it might look like and I remember I told Hano [her husband], ‘The ideas are coming!’” she said. “Because a lot of times when we have creative projects, it’s like a lightning bolt hits me and I have to sit down and start typing and writing all these ideas out.…

Sustainability Speaker Series

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

Maui County News Release 

The County of Maui Environmental Protection and Sustainability Division will host the second installment of its speaker series “Sustainability Together: Community-led Regenerative Action” on July 10 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Molokai Community Health Center. The event will be streamed live on Akaku Maui Community Media Channel 54.

Panelists at the July 10 event include Molokai Homestead representatives, community organizer and solar energy technician Todd Yamashita, Leilani Chow of Sustʻainable Molokai, Keaʻa Davis of Shake Energy Collaborative and Harumi McClure of Haru Energy.

In the second of the four-part speaker series, participants will gain insights into the household-level impacts of energy insecurity and how different communities have successfully mobilized to build resilience through the use of renewable solar energy.…

County Seeks Feedback on Wetlands Map

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

Maui County News Release

Molokai residents are being asked to weigh in on the creation of a Maui County wetlands map during a public meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 6, at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center conference room in Kaunakakai.

Facilitated by the county’s Planning Department, University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program and consultant H. T. Harvey and Associates, the meeting will gather ideas from the community to help prepare the first draft of the overlay map.

As part of a new county law to restore and protect wetlands, titled Ordinance 5421, planning officials are working on a comprehensive wetlands overlay map that will identify existing and future wetland areas.…

Summer Golf Classic

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

Summer Golf Classic

Community Contributed

The Molokai teachers held their annual Summer Golf Classic at iconic Ironwood Hills Golf Course on Wednesday, June 21. The summer classic is always played in June and 14 golfers teed off from the red, white and blue tees to have an outstanding day of golf and camaraderie. 

Longtime Molokai PE teacher Ponciano Raguindin took both trophies this year with a net score of 75 and a gross score of 67 to win the horns trophy, the jacket for the low gross, and the bowl trophy for the low net. Bob Danner was runner up for the low gross and Rick Schonely was the runner up for the low net. …