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Community

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

Go, Baby, Go!

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Go, Baby, Go!

During Molokai’s 6th Annual Keiki Expo, a contest known as the ‘Diaper Dash’ saw proud parents cheer for their babies as they crawled on all fours over the finish line.

Winner of the ‘Diaper Dash’ was 10-month-old Azaelah Lavoie-Kahalewai (pictured below), daughter of Malia and Marlin Lavoie. The fast-moving Azaelah won a toy push-buggy, while the other contestants received gift certificates.

Among the six contestants were babies ranging in age from six to 14 months. Lori-Lei Rawlins-Crivello, Keiki Expo organizer, said the babies had to crawl from start to finish, without standing up or receiving assistance from their parents.

“One keiki took off,” said Rawlins-Crivello, “and then halfway through, decided to go back to the start line.”
 

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New Kalaniana’ole Hall Opens its Doors

Friday, February 26th, 2010

New Kalaniana’ole Hall Opens its Doors

Upon completion of Kalaniana'ole Hall's restoration efforts, several Molokai community members gathered to witness its blessing on Tuesday, Feb. 9 in Kalama'ula.

Plans to renovate the historic building were first brought forth in 2003. The organization Friends of Kalaniana'ole immediately jumped on board with financial support, mustering grants from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and the Molokai Enterprise Community (EC), as well as help from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, Lokahi Pacific and other groups.

is going to be used for meetings and funerals," Venenciano said. "It's what it was used for in the past, so we need to stay close to that and retain that value."

Originally, the historic Kalaniana'ole Hall, built in 1937, was used for funeral services, overnight vigils and 'ohana viewings, as well as parties, weddings, hula contests and weekend movies. In 2003 its significant history was addressed when the state recognized the hall in the Hawaii Register of Historic Places.

Since its opening, the hall has already been used a few times by the community. On Jan. 7, Kalaniana'ole Hall was used by the USDA Rural Development during its roundtable discussion with Molokai residents regarding the economy. Stacy Crivello, a member of the EC Governance Board, said in a statement that it was appropriate for the USDA to utilize the hall because of its contributions to the renovation.

As for its future, Venenciano sees it as a refreshing continuation of a historical entity.

"It is a celebration of our history," he said.


Special Mahalo To:
 
Ke Aupuni Lokahi Board of Directors and Staff; Hale O Na Ali'i O Hawaii Halau O Kawananakoa; Board of Trustees, Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Mr. Albert Tiberi, Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Mr. William Akutagawa, Friends of Kalaniana'ole; Mr. Hardy Spoehr, Community Development Pacific; Mr. Glenn Mason, Mason Architects; Mr. Lester Delos Reyes, Hawaii National Guard; Ms. Kamaile Sombelon, Lokahi Pacific; Mr. Fred Bailey and Sons Electric, Contractor; Mr. Sandy Stein, Contractor; Ms. Irene Lam, USDA Rural Development; Mr. Darrel Yagodich, DHHL, Planning Department; Mr. George Maioho, Mr. Larry Sagario and DHHL Staff; Mr. Steven Arce, COM, Public Works; Mr. Peter Nicholas, Molokai Properties Ltd., Mr. Adolph Helm, Mycrogen Seed Company; Order of Kamehameha, Maui Chapter; Kalama'ula Homestead Association; Mr. Richard & Mrs. Kanani Negrillo & O'hana; Mr. Henry & Mrs. Rose-Allen Paleka; Mr. Brent Davis, Davis & Sons; and Mr. Dolphin Pawn, Akamai Tree Trimming.

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Road Closure: Mock-car crash

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Friday, March 05, 2010, Farrington Ave and Lihi Pali Ave will be closed from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Molokai High School gym). 

A mock-car crash will be staged and filmed.  SRO, Michael McCutcheon, Driver Education Instructor, Malia Lee, and MHS Senior, Kaili Levi have been collaborating this year to create a film (similiar to Shattered Dreams) for awareness of teens and (distracted and alcohol induced) driving. 

Kaili Levi's senior project is to establish beliefs and behaviors among teen drivers and passengers that promot safe drivng habits by informing them of the high driving risks and consequences associated with distracted driving. 

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Molokai Is…Week 1 — Voting Over

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Molokai Is…Week 1 — Voting Over

UPDATE -- Last week, we asked you to define Molokai in your own words. Surprisingly there were as many entries from off-island as there were locally. So who won this week’s competition? It’s up to you. Vote for your favorite response in the comments below. Vote now for Ko`i, Donald, Derek or Marvalee. The winner will be announced in next week’s paper. Voting ends Fridays at midnight.

Marvalee Leilani Wright Lin Kee, Maui
Moloka’i is….home
Home is where your heart can rest,
And feel the peaceful love….
Home is where Ohana gather,
to praise the Lord above….
Home is where we lay our head,
And feel the love surround….,
Home is Moloka’i,
Its equal not yet found….


Want to share your ideas about what Molokai means to you and potentially win $50 to the Kualapu`u Cookhouse? The contest continues… One winner per week selected by Molokai Dispatch readers. Each submission must include the full name, phone number, and photo of the contestant. Kids, ask your parents or teachers for permission. The Molokai Dispatch reserves the right to edit and print all submissions. Submit entries via email (Editor@TheMolokaiDispatch.com), in person at our Kaunakakai office (Moore building suite 5 – we can take your photo), or by snail mail (PO Box 482219, Kaunakakai, HI 96748). Mmm, mmm – thanks Kualapu`u Cookhouse!

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With a Song to Share

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

With a Song to Share

Community Contributed

By Diane Abraham

We are indeed blessed on Molokai. The natural beauty all around us is only sweetened by the people who call this `aina their home. Lono, with his musical talent and mana`o, is one such person.

Recently, the fourth graders of Kualapu`u School have been graced by his generosity. Crowding 62 nine and ten-year old haumanu into Ms. Abraham’s classroom, the keiki have learned a mele about our favorite monk seal, KP2. KP2, which stands for Kauai Pup Two (Pup one from the same mother was likewise abandoned at birth and died shortly thereafter), has properly been given a Hawaiian name: Ho’ailona.

Lono’s song about this punahele pup has filled our hearts, our ears, our voices and our class.

Mahalo to this awesome man who shows that one person can make a difference: in this case, in not just one life but in the lives of 62 young people, and no doubt, their three teachers!

There’s even a sweet touch: at a presentation in Honolulu of Ho’ailona, Lono played the recording he made of the children singing the chorus (hui) while he sang the verses. The audience and moderators were brought to tears by the sweet singing of the Kualapu`u haumanu. The recording has been aired on the radio (FM 102.3)…keep listening! How wonderful that Lono has opened this opportunity for the young people of Molokai to express themselves in song. One never knows what the future holds; we can only do what Lono has done: seize the moment and let Akua chart the course.   

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Invasive Diseases

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Invasive Diseases

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, County Extension Agent, UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources

The term ‘invasive species’ usually conjures up images of a new weed choking out our native forests or a new animal like the coqui frog chirping and keeping you up at night, but there are also diseases that if allowed to enter Hawaii can create havoc on our crops. One such disease has arrived, but not yet on Molokai.

The Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus or TYLCV in one of the most devastating diseases of tomato and was first found in the Mediterranean. It has since found its way to the US via the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Florida, and California. In Hawaii, it was recently found on North Shore, Oahu and Wailuku, Maui. Most likely, TYLCV arrived with an infected plant. The disease causes stunting of the plant and leaves, and causes a yellow curled or wrinkled edge on leaves. The leaf margins will curl upward, giving them a cup-like appearance, but the worst of all is the flowers will drop off before maturing. Without flowers, you have no fruit.

TYLCV is spread by two species of whiteflies, the sweetpotato and silver leaf whitefly, both of which are already found on Molokai. Once whiteflies feed on an infected plant, they’re able to infect plants for their entire life, and are known to move in the wind. Many members of the tomato family, including eggplant, pepper, and potato can be infected but remain healthy in appearance. Beans are also a host and will sometimes display symptoms.

Management of TYLCV usually involves removing diseased plants, and controlling weedy members of the tomato family, including popolo or night shade, kikania, and apple of peru, among others. Controlling whiteflies in crops is also important. With the early discovery of this disease, many TYLCV resistant varieties have been developed and are being tested in Hawaii. Some of the seed companies developing TYLCV resistant varieties including BHN Seed, Golden Valley Seed, Sakata Seed, Seminis Seed, and Israeli seed companies Hazera,  Zeraim Gedera, and Nirit Seed. For more information, you can download a free publication on disease at UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources website.

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Molokai LEOs Recognized for Commitment of Service

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Molokai LEOs Recognized for Commitment of Service

The Molokai High LEO Club has won first place in the state in the Small LEO Club category for 2009-2010. This is the first time the MHS LEO club has received this recognition.  LEO Club stands for Leadership, Experience, Opportunity, and is a youth division of the International Lion’s Club. The criteria the board considered was amount of community services done, the quality of the projects, and the amount of participation in state LEO committees. This year the MHS LEO Club’s theme was “LEOs standing not behind you or in front of you but by your side.”  The MHS LEO club focused on starting a recycling program at the high school.  Congratulations to the following members:

Abigail Adachi, Akona Adolpho, Abbigale Adolpho, Isreal Adolpho, Chenoa Ahuna-Kaai, Petrisha Alvarez, Herbert Antolin, Crystalene Antonio, Dohna Bicoy, Camille Borden, Rebecca Carpenter, Christina Carpenter, Jamie Duvachelle, Lesley Escobar, Francine Feig, David Gomes, Durand Jones, Katherine Kendall, Michael Kikukawa, Charisse Manley, Healani Mawae Mollena, Kerianne Mokuau, Melody Ocampo, Mike Onofrio, Candice Pauole, Crystal Puaoi-Kawai, Kawena Puhi, Cristina Rabino, Mahailia Rapanot-McGuire, Kesha Reyes, Denichel Ruiz, Darianne Ruiz, Susan Smith, Michal Torres-Umi, Louisa Torres-Umi, Kalani Wainwright, Tarren Wakuta, Aloha Will, Joe Yamamoto.

Julie De George and Malia Lee, Club Advisors.

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Me ke aloha pumehana

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

The Hui Makua o Punana Leo o Molokai would like to thank the following families for their treless support of our program in assisting with our annual Hulihuli Chicken Sale: `Ohana Jerry Mina, `Ohana Dennis Kamakana, `Ohana Roger Apuna, `Ohana Brian Naeole, Hotel Molokai – General Manager Mike Drew, `Ohana Bob Alcon, `Ohana Na`ehu/Simms, `Ohana Kaleo Bishaw, `Ohana Pa-Kala, `Ohana Irene Tancayo, Kualapuu School Kitchen Krew; and of course our own Hui: `Ohana Kamalu Purdy, `Ohana Na`iwa Pescaia, `Ohana Nai`a Nae`ole-Starkey, `Ohana Bodhi Auchenbach, `Ohana Makakoa Lu`uloa, `Ohana Hokuao Arce, `Ohana Miliopuna Davis, `Ohana `Aina Galam, `Ohana Teaho Peopeo, `Ohana `Ohi`aku Ritte-Camara-Tangonan, `Ohana Kamalua Arce, `Ohana Laiku Davis, `Ohana Kalamaku Han, `Ohana Kekai Simms, `Ohana Ka`oli

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Kale`a Jade

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Kale`a Jade

Proud parents Frank Keoni Castro and Kekai Tapuro, her twin brothers, Kekoa and Kaiea, welcome their new sister, Kale`a Jade, on January 28, 2010. she weighed 6 lbs 12 oz, 19 inches long. Her grandparents, Frank Castro and Joyce Woolsey and Josedino and Malia Tapuro of Maui also welcome the bundle of joy. Tutu Marshelle Castro of Molokai is grateful for her first granddaughter after five grandsons, Tre, Ryder, Rhys, Kekoa and Kaiea.



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Church Awaits Verdict

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Church Awaits Verdict

As St. Sophia’s Church continues to be investigated for the Feb. 10 fire that gutted its interior, the cause still remains “undetermined,” though electrical has been ruled out, according to Darrin Almeida, Maui Fire Department lead investigator.

As parish priest Clyde Guerreiro continues to hold church services at the Molokai Community Health Center, he says their goal to spend Christmas Mass 2011 in the new Saint Damien Church (slotted to be built once St. Sophia’s is demolished and building permits are processed) has now become reality.

“We’re set to finish ahead of schedule,” Guerreiro said. “Possibly three months ahead, or even more.”

Guerreiro said they’re currently awaiting demolition permits from Maui County as well as bids from license contractors to begin the process of taking down St. Sophia’s.

Currently, the adjacent building known as the Damien Center (previously Stanley’s Coffee Shop) is being used as the church’s office.

Guerreiro said all three buildings (the church and both adjacent buildings used for administration and religious education) will be demolished to make room for the new Saint Damien Church, and eventually accompanied by a book shop and Saint Damien museum.

Although the core of the church was charred and masked in soot and ashes, the tabernacle – a safe-like box at the front of the church – was still intact and would be incorporated with the new church.

Guerreiro said the church is receiving great amounts of support with expediting the rebuilding process, especially from the mayor’s office of Maui County and Diocese of Honolulu.

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