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Community

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

A Different Kind of Spelling Bee

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

A Different Kind of Spelling Bee

Everyone knows Molokai students are multi-talented, and their wide variety of skills and attendance in competitions is getting attention. Last week, three Molokai High School students competed in a HOSA – Health Occupation Students of America – event in Oahu. While the events varied among interview and CPR skills, a large part of the competition is health-related spelling.

Senior Candice Pauole competed in human growth and development, junior Edwin Mendija in medical spelling, and sophomore Nika Mendija in dental spelling. Nika was a part of the first Molokai team to attend last year and came in second in the same category, but placed fifth this year. Her brother Edwin placed sixth, and Pauole placed seventh.

are a way to get out into real world and build self-esteem,” he said.

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Road Maintenance Hitting Barriers

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Road Maintenance Hitting Barriers

As the only road that leads to her home and business, Maunaloa Highway is an essential link for realtor Jill McGowan and other area residents. But in the past few years, part of the highway has started to deteriorate at mile marker 13.

The problem is erosion, said Tammy Mori of the state Department of Transportation Community Affairs office. Drainage, or lack thereof, and soil erosion on both sides of the road are causing it to sink into the ravine.

soils are more prone to erosion than most areas of Hawaii, use of other measures would be needed.  To be cost-effective, methods to re-establish grass cover would be favored over more traditional engineering solutions,” she added.

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New Veterinarian Fills the Gap

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

New Veterinarian Fills the Gap

Leianne Lee Loy isn’t sure what brought her to Molokai. After working at a clinic in Oahu for the past 12 years – the island she was born and raised on – she heard about the Molokai Humane Society and its constant need for veterinary care.

“I’ve had Molokai clients fly over, and that got the ball rolling,” said Lee Loy, of Hawaiian ancestry, from the Humane Society trailer located east of Elia’s Corner along the Maunaloa Highway.

Diving In
Lee Loy jumped right in when she began flying to Molokai in February. Her services range from routine vaccinations, patching up cuts and scrapes, parasite control, skin problems, “a variety of surgical growths,” to eye problems.

, get the experience and volunteer.”

She said she’s been bitten and scratched, and yelled at by pet owners – although she doesn’t know which is worse.

She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and did her post-secondary degree at the University of Missouri – Columbia, where she earned her doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM). After working in Missouri for eight years, she moved back to Oahu, near her parents, and lives with her two dogs and a cat.

“I’ve been very fortunate in life,” Lee Loy said. “I just hope I’m giving back to the community.”

Clinic Hours
Tessa Reich is at the Humane Society Clinic from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. She recommends calling first at 558-0000 to make appointments and verify hours.

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Aunty’s Corner

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Aunty’s Corner

Aunty here,

I had to go to Honolulu this week.  While waiting at the airport I met this wonderful young lady named Makamae.  She is a nurse that was given a scholarship for her last two years of college and is working at Molokai General.  Her scholarship is with Native Hawaiian Health which works with the under served Hawaiian population.

While I was in Honolulu I decided to walk to my doctor's appointment and took the scenic route.  I ended up in Chinatown and asked all kinds of directions with shop keepers coming out to tell me to go "thata way".  I finally made it.  It's fun to go to the big city but very confusing.  Love to shop in all the fancy stores.

I also attended Uncle K Beamer's celebration of his life held at the St. Andrew's Cathedral.  What a huge place.  It was packed.  The Princess was there and all kinds of old-time hula dancers and singers.  Uncle Mahi played his piano.  I then went with my niece to the fundraiser for my grand-niece Laua'e.  Laua'e wanted me to tell everyone that even though the stats say that this population or that population only gets cancer two percent or five percent not to believe it because breast cancer is there no matter what the race.  I was able to meet my great-grandniece, Hailialoha, who is seven weeks old.  She is so pretty and was smiling so much even though everyone wanted to see her and hold her.  

There were all kinds of musicians playing and singing, a magical night!  They held a silent auction that included three rides on the Hokule'a.  I wish I could have bid on that.  All this week I was taken to dinner at California Pizza, lunch at Zippy's and then for breakfast at Victoria Inn.  I'll need to diet forever!  I was given a ride up Palolo Valley where I'd never been before and then past Makapu'u where I learned to body surf a hundred years ago.  A very nice four days.  It's wonderful to be home again. E O Moloka'i!
Aunty

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Illuminating the Town

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Illuminating the Town

It’s true. The bulbs are here. And upon their arrival were a few Molokai students eagerly waiting to roll up their sleeves and begin the process of distributing and educating.

“With the help of Blue Planet, our goal is to have everybody on Molokai using fluorescent bulbs,” said Luke Kikukawa, a seventh-grade student at Aka`ula School.

The shipment of 44,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) arrived at the Kaunakakai Wharf last Thursday and will be making its way through Molokai as distribution through various schools and businesses begins tomorrow and will continue through May 31.



Keiki have already started campaigning for a more energy-efficient Molokai – and even got their first customer as they were unloading the bulbs.

Last Saturday, three students – Kikukawa and Sarah Jenkins from Aka`ula School, and Moriah Jenkins from Molokai High School – set up shop in front of Friendly Market, distributing bulbs and educating passerby on the harmful effects of carbon emissions.

“We’re passing out flyers and educating people about global warming and carbon emissions,” Kikukawa said. “I’ve learned a lot about how fluorescent bulbs can save you money and energy.”

Seventh-grader Sarah Jenkins added that coordinators of the project are in talks with Councilman Danny Mateo to replace all bulbs in county buildings to help lower the costs for taxpayers.

Kikukawa, Sarah and Moriah, along with various elementary school students, will be out campaigning for the next five Saturdays – until May 1 – urging people to stop by, have a listen and exchange some bulbs.

Participating distribution locations are Molokai schools and businesses – a full list and more information can be found at greenmolokai.org.

The exchange is “one-for-one,” meaning participants must bring in their old light bulbs in exchange for new Energy Star CFLs. Up to 30 light bulbs per household are allotted for exchange.

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Fishing Woes

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Some Molokai fishermen are not happy with proposed changes to the state’s bottom-fishing regulations, claiming they lack research and pose a slew of inconveniences.

“It’s as if it’s a done deal thing already,” one fisherman said in a public hearing last week. “But there’s no concrete evidence showing the regulations actually help.”

In recent weeks, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) held informational meetings and public hearings on the pending bottom-fish amendments. Molokai was one of the last islands to speak on the subject at Mitchell Pauole Center on March 23.

Playing by the Rules

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Molokai Chamber of Commerce Update

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

MCoC News Release

The Molokai Chamber of Commerce would like to thank everyone who attended our March 24 Membership meeting at Hotel Molokai. Each of you contributed to its resounding success. A very special thank you goes out to the following individuals: guest speaker James Tollefson, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; Lawrence Lasua, Molokai Community Federal Credit Union for the generous donation; Maria Holmes, Coffees of Hawaii for providing the speaker gift; Daniel Emhoff, AKAKU Television, for recording the event; Michael Drew and the Hotel Molokai staff for the elegant setting and delicious food; and Dawn Bicoy, for volunteering her time with event administration.

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Full Throttle Basketball

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Full Throttle Basketball

The 2010 molokai menehune basketball champs, ‘we goin full throttle,” went to Maui on March 4-7 to play in the menehune tournament and played four awesome games.
Coach Ron Rapanot Sr. and assistant coach Scot Rapanot Sr. took only seven players: David Rapanot, Noah Caparida, Kilo Gonzales, Rayden McCutcheon, Likehe Shonley, Jarvin Namauu and Kamekona Pelekani. Several comments were made in Maui that they would call themselves the Super 7 Kids, because of the way they played.

We were the only team that had seven players while the rest of the teams that they played against had 12-15 players. Their first game played against Kahului Bays, and lost 29-31, because the referees called 18 fouls to Molokai and Kahului only had four. Our boys left robbed and really disappointed, but they lifted their spirits and surly did not let those officials keep them down for like their team shirts says, “we goin’ full throttle” and believe me, they did exactly that.

The second game was played against Kihei I, and again they played hard with seven of our boys against 12. This time we came on top with 41 points and Kihei 38. David had 22 points, Noah 13, Kalei two, Keke had two and Brayden had two points.

Even at this point, our boys had more speed and condition, out ran and surely out smarted a lot of plays with determination to win and show them what Molokai is made of.
The third game was played against Kihei II, and Molokai came on top with 35 points and Kihei 31. The final fourth game against Pukalani, molokai won 36 to Pukalani 27.

Special clinics should be set up for referee training, especially for the younger and 13-14 year group tournaments. It should be fun and exciting for the teenagers to participate and not have to wonder if the referees are going to call the games again. All in all, the team enjoyed themselves, took the consolation bracket and represented Molokai proudly.

So the Maui County, Molokai district superiors Mike Salas, recreation technician Gerard Starkey, and Ryoko Victorino thank you for making it possible for us to participate in Maui. To the county of Maui – a special thanks to Aunty Jackie for seeing that we were comfortable and allowing us to stay in the wrestling room and using the facilities.
Mahalo! Last but not least, we would like to send a special thanks to Catlin Kaahanui for helping us with transportation and lunch.

Gladys Rapanot

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And the Dear Friends Have to Part

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Community Contributed

By Marie Yamashita

Sunday, Feb. 28, at 1:00 p.m. The weather was foul.  All morning the heavy rains and piercing cold winds continued.  It was not a time to be outdoors.  Still one hoped that there would be a break in the weather because there was a farewell party at the Molokai Museum that one really wanted to attend.  It was for David and Dorothe Curtis who were moving to Maui, and how could one miss this last opportunity to get together with them and bid them aloha.

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Winter Wonderland

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Winter Wonderland

Community Contributed

By Kevin Tensfeldt

As summer turned to fall, the landscape painted itself with rich colors of crimson and scarlet. The cool breeze and shortening of days reminded us that winter would soon be here.  Those of us who have had to endure winters working on the aircraft out on the flight line know of the impending hardships.

Every passing day the temperature drops is a reminder that frost is just around the corner.  It’s all leading up to the scraping of car windows and de-icing of the aircrafts.  To our surprise, the first day of December brought the first frost of winter, unlike previous years where it came much earlier.  The week prior to Christmas brought snow with the power to transform flight lines into huge frozen blocks of ice due to the constant melting and re-freezing.  Every step was taken with the utmost caution. 

With planes flying nearly every morning, there was a continuous battle with the de-icing truck; always breaking, hardly ever being properly serviced and with qualified operators nowhere to be found.  As always, we push though the struggles and come out on top.  Finally, one more day of work before we have a few days off to enjoy the holidays, we come in to stand by for a gunship returning to the states as a precaution (if it needed to be de-iced).  Somehow a three-hour work day turned into 10 due to an unseen fuel leak on one of the other aircraft.  The few days we have off for the holidays are much deserved and needed.  There are days that an eight-hour shift will be completely spent out on the flight line in the cold, rain, snow, wind; yet work never seems to end.  Through everything, rain or shine, I love doing my job. 

As we gear up for our trip to Norway for training in the below- freezing temperatures, I take pride in everything I do because I know what I do differentiates me from my peers that I grew up with.  It is my defining factor; the one thing that, ironically, makes me special.  As soon as winter comes, it melts, and there is always the first rain of spring to look forward to.

Senior Airman Tensfeldt is on RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom.

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