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Community

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

National History Day

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

Molokai High School News Release

Please congratulate the following students for all their hardwork on their National History Day projects. Students who are finalists will represent Molokai High at the state competition held at the Windward Community College on Saturday April 17 along with their respective social studies teacher (Pali, Ross, Buller, Peterson, Friel). Winners from the state competition will represent Hawai'i at the national competition held at the University of Maryland at College Park, near Washington, D.C. that is scheduled from June 11-19, 2010.

Semifinalists:

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Lions Roar

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

The Molokai Lions Club has concluded their yearly school vision screening. All elementary children present on the day of screening with parental/guardian permission were screened by one of the three visiting doctors from Maui Optics along with their technician. Molokai Lion volunteers helped make the process run smoothly as well as participate in the chart screening phase. Many thanks from coordinator Lion Jackie Cushman to the following participating schools: Aka'ula-Dara Lukonen, Kaunakakai- Yvonne Friel, Kilohana- Shona Pineda, Kualapuu- Penny Duvauchelle, Maunaloa- Janna Linkee-Espaniola and Molokai Middle- Amber Nakihei.

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Playing Games in Naiwa

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

Playing Games in Naiwa

By Catherine Aki

In our last episode our hero, Kalimahopu is longing for the red-hair beauty, Koa`ekea, who has been chosen to lead an evening of games during the time of Makahiki.  In the meantime she is fulfilling her role as a matchmaker choosing men and women as partners for the rest of the evening.

Koa`ekea is also looking for someone herself. She tells the master of ceremonies, Kalaeloa, that they should walk around together and when she sees the man she wants, she will give him a sign. As they approach our hero, he is standing with his mischievous friend. Since both men are handsome, Kalaeloa is not sure which one our beauty wants. He picks the wrong man. 

The metaphor used was that Kalaeloa had to “find another ship for this captain to man.”  When Kalaeloa selects the correct man, our hero, with the maile wand, Kalimahopu feels lucky she has chosen him. She in turn flings her arms around him and kisses him much to the delight of the watching crowd.

The author of the story then digresses to make a point.  He says, these were the things the ancestors did to multiply the race.  That is why the population was large until the time the Ka-haole-kaukau (white people) came.  In the times of wars many were killed and many were born.  But once the people were mostly monogamous, the race shriveled.  The story served as an illustration or explanation.

Once our beauty and hero become a couple, they had to decide where to go as dawn was on the horizon.  Being that our hero was from Kalaupapa, they go to her grandparents house close by along the road leading to Mo`omomi.  The grandparents welcomed them and began to prepare food.  When her grandmother saw the head lei of ohelo berries woven with red blossoms and green awikiwiki leaves, she remarked that her granddaughter must have been a favorite of the chiefs and is pleased.

What is interesting is how food was cooked.  Making a fire involved rubbing fire sticks and adding the sparks to wood with a few stones.  A chicken was cooked with stones in a closed gourd calabash with ananu, popolo, aheahea greens and a little water.  Poi was made from both sweet potato and pink taro poi from kaioea.  After eating the couple washed their hands and relaxed with full bellies.

While reflecting, our hero says that everything that happened the evening before went well and no one complained.  However, he is ashamed because he has no gift for her.   Our beauty answers that he has nothing to be ashamed about because he has not stolen from nor plundered the people.  They had simply to fulfill their desires in obedience to the voices of the chiefs of the land.

But, our hero has to go.  In our next episode, find out why.

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Big Keiki Turnout

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

Big Keiki Turnout


What a great day was had at our 6th Annual Moloka’i Keiki Expo, held on Saturday, February 7 at the Mitchell Pauole Center.  A set of four books were gladly given to each family surrounding our theme, “Keeping Our Keiki Healthy”.  The titles of the books were “Wash ‘um”, “Brush ‘um”, “Eat ‘um”, and “Move ‘um”.  These books included beautifully illustrated pictures with a local twist, featuring island keiki and a true gift for each family that attended.

Oodles of educational prizes and books were given out and tons of fun activities were made as the crowd rolled in through out the morning.  It was enlightening to watch the little one’s enjoy the hands on activities as well as take on the challenge of the obstacle course while their parents gathered information about the different services/programs they were interested in. 

Congratulations to Azaelah Lavoie-Kahalewai, daughter to Malia & Marlin Lavoie, who was our Diaper Dash winner, taking home a keiki push buggy.  Thank you to all the contestants who participated.

It is our hope that through our efforts we can continue to showcase all of our on island services (early childhood/health/family support/parenting support), to promote literacy, to bring awareness on the importance of early childhood education & services, and to provide a venue for our families to access the many services and programs we have here on our island all at this “one stop shop” annual event.

On behalf of The Moloka’i Keiki Group, we would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude and extend our warmest Mahalo to all those who made our event a huge success.  Big Mahalo to our very generous sponsors who made this event possible: Punana Leo o Moloka’i, The County of Maui-Parks & Rec and staff, Kamehameha Schools, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Queen Lili’uokalani Children’s Center and Rawlins Chevron Service. A Special Mahalo to The Moloka’i Health Foundation who sponsored the set of four books (valued at $16 each set), which every single family who attended received.  It was a huge hit and if you missed the event and wish to order this awesome health book series set at $4 each book, please contact Dana Gorecki at Oahu Head Start www.oahuheadstart.org or you may call 808-847-2400 for more information.

Mahalo to Matthew Helm (our great MC), to our entertainers: Halau Hula o Kilohana, Punana Leo o Moloka’i Preschool, and Becky Takashima & Debs Mapel for the skits, Lohea Audio/Sherman Napoleon, Kawika Crivello, Kanoho Helm, Ron Kimball, Claire Iveson, Kai Sawyer, Kathy Bennett, Miki’ala/Poema/Keoki Pescaia, Michelle/Francis Nae’ole & ‘Ohana (Keiki Jumper), Moloka’i High School Leo Club, Moloka’i High School Teens Who Read Book Club, Kamehameha Schools ATP, Kime Kala Girls Volleyball Club, Sarah Kawa’a and Students, Edrian Apo, Melani Rawlins, Lynn Decoite, Hula Halau o Kilohana, and Punana Leo o Moloka’i for all your kokua.

To all of the services who participated, Mahalo nui!!  Punana Leo o Moloka’i preschool, MEO Headstart, Na Kamali’i Hoaloha preschool, All God’s Children preschool, Keiki Steps, Tutu & Me Traveling preschool, Kamehameha School’s, Kualapu’u School, Maunaloa School, Kaunakakai School, State DOH-Moloka’i Public Health Nurse, Na Pu’uwai: Asthma / WIC, Moloka’i Dental Health Coalition, Moloka’i Community Health Center, Chevron Hawai’i-Keiki ID’s, Moloka’i Early Headstart, IKAIKA Program (MCHC), PATCH, Moloka’i Fathering Initiatives, Na Lei Mamo, Queen Lili’uokalani Children’s Center, Alu Like-Native Hawaiian Library, Read to me, and MHS Business Class. 

If we had missed anyone, e kala mai…and Mahalo nui!!

Mahalo nui once again and see you all at next year’s event!
Lori-Lei Rawlins-Crivello & Becky Takashima

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Kyran Kaiwi Kahokunoweokukahi Place Calairo

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

Kyran Kaiwi Kahokunoweokukahi Place Calairo

Kyran Kaiwi Kahokunoweokukahi Place Calairo was born on February 16, 2010 at 1:26 a.m. at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu.  He was born 7 lbs. 8 oz. and 19 inches long.  Parents are Delvarie Calairo and Charlton Place.  His proud grandparents are Audwin Calairo and Nani Duvauchelle and Belzie and Kaiwi Place.  His great grandparents are John and Maggie Duvauchelle, Thelma Shimaoka, Clara Calairo, Rhinehart and Julie Place, and Annette Aipia.  His Hawaiian name was blessed and given to him by his Aunty Kuulei and Pilahi Arce meaning “The Brightest Outstanding Star”.

 

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A Princely Party

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

A Princely Party

On a wind-swept Saturday morning, a few hundred Molokai residents gathered at Coconut Grove to celebrate one of their own. Although Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole never lived on Molokai, his presence as the first royal-born representative for Congress led to Hawaiian homeland settlements which still exist today. His birthday, March 26, is celebrated every year across the islands; here, March 27 celebrations were hosted by Ahupua`a o Molokai, the association representing Molokai homesteads. The always ono chicken lau lau, mac salad and mochi were available for the crowd, while a few Molokai bands entertained. Pili Pa`a, pictured below, sang many favorites.

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Missing Hikers Found

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Last Thursday, a Molokai High School graduate and two other parties went missing for more than 12 hours while hiking in the Kamakou Reserve, according to the Kaunakakai Fire Department.

Devon Kikugawa went hiking with two friends around noon on March 24, but didn’t return in a timely fashion. The fire department’s search and rescue team was dispatched at 8 p.m. that night, and called off the search at 2 a.m. with no sign of the girls. The search continued at 6 a.m.

“We sent out other units with volunteer civilians and hunters that knew the area, continuing along Forest Road and different roads in the Kawela area,” said Fire Captain Hanale Lindo.

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CFLs at the Dispatch!

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

CFLs at the Dispatch!

The Molokai Dispatch office is now a Go Green & Carbon Clean distribution point! Bring in your incandescent bulbs and we'll exchange, one-for-one, compact florescent lightbulbs (CFLs). It will reduce your energy bill and help out the environment -- and it's FREE!

Come in to the Moore Center, across from Drive-In, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Tuesdays. See you soon!

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Molokai Is a State of Mind

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Molokai is a place of exceptional beauty with spectacular sunrises and sunsets and ever changing ocean views.
Molokai has trash along the roadsides and abandoned falling down buildings.
Molokai has students graduating high school and going on to outstanding universities.
Molokai has students dropping out of high school.
Molokai has people living in large, expensive homes.
Molokai has people who have no homes.
Molokai is a place for leisure beach walks and mountain hikes.
Molokai is a place of barstool regulars.
Molokai is an island with a rich heritage and a culture to be shared with those eager to learn.
Molokai is a place people like to visit but want to change.
Molokai is a place with efficient and compassionate medical care.

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AlohaCare Appoints Molokai Resident to Board of Directors

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

AlohaCare Appoints Molokai Resident to Board of Directors

AlohaCare News Release
 
As the state’s third largest health plan dedicated to serving Hawaii’s most vulnerable populations, AlohaCare has appointed Molokai resident Desiree Puhi, executive director of Molokai Ohana Health Care, Inc to its board of directors for 2010-2011. Other new board members include Sheila Beckham, Executive Director of Waikiki Health Center; Dr. Janet Onopa, Medical Director at Queen Emma Clinic and; Anthony Guerrero Jr., who recently retired late last year as Vice Chairman and Group Manager of Retail Banking Group at First Hawaiian Bank.
 
AlohaCare is a non-profit health plan founded in 1994 by Hawaii's community health centers to serve some of Hawaii's most vulnerable populations. With $180 million in annual revenue and nearly 200 employees located at offices on Oahu and the Big Island, AlohaCare is the 55th largest business in the state, providing health care coverage to more than 70,000 residents statewide. For more information on AlohaCare, go to www.AlohaCare.org

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