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Community

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

Maui County Gets Nearly $100M in State Funds

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Nearly $100 million in capital improvement projects (CIP) and grant-in-aid appropriations, including Molokai projects, were included in the final version of the state budget, voted on in conference committee last week. Assistant Majority Floor Leader Lynn DeCoite of Molokai, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, announced the funding. 

Several Molokai projects received CIP funding. The Molokai Irrigation System was given $2,000,000 for improvements. The Hoʻolehua Veteran’s Cemetery received $650,000 for upgrades and site improvements for fiscal year 2024 and 2025. The Kalaupapa Settlement received $540,000 for remediation of hazardous materials, also over the next two years. …

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Police-Involved Shooting Fatality

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

A Molokai man died after being shot by police last Sunday, April 30. 

Officers responded to a report of a temporary restraining order violation at about 7:40 a.m. in Wailua near mile marker 18.5 on the east end, according to the Maui Police Department. 

When they arrived, two officers encountered a 40-year-old man with a weapon, according to MPD. 

“The male advanced toward the officers, at which time one officer deployed his taser, which proved ineffective before both officers discharged their weapons,” the police report states. 

Officers performed life-saving measures until medics arrived. The man was transported to Molokai General Hospital, where he later died. …

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Wildfire Preparedness

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

Paniolo Hale Firewise Committee News Release 

Several wildfire preparedness events will take place on Molokai in the month of May. On May 4, 10 a.m. at the Molokai Public Library, Maui County’s Department of Fire and Public Safety Chief Lindo and Community Wildfire Ambassador Erin Peyton will be sharing simple steps you can take to best prepare your homes and families in case of structural fire or wildfire.

Other events include a virtual “Ready, Set, Go!” from 12 to 1 p.m., instructing on protecting your home yard and family from wildfires. Register at tinyurl.com/29wcktyp.

Additionally, for the month of May, Pacific Eatery will offer Hawaii Prevents Wildfire coloring placemats.…

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Marie Mariye Yamashita

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

Marie Mariye Yamashita

Marie Mariye Yamashita, 102, of Kaunakakai, passed peacefully with family on the morning of March 30, 2023. She was born on Nov. 5, 1920 to Mariano Araullo and Kikuye Tanemura. 

Marie is survived by her son Bruce Yamashita; and grandchildren Lisa, Lori, Jon, Winston, Nelson, Todd, Matt and Tami. 

Marie was born and raised in Waikiki where her mother immigrated to from Kumamoto, Japan in 1918. After graduating from University of Hawaii at Manoa, she moved to Kilohana, Molokai in 1943. She met and married Henry Yamashita in 1944 and welcomed his two sons Raymond and Kenji. Marie and Henry welcomed their son Bruce, born in 1947.…

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Paul Jiro Yeda

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

Paul Jiro Yeda, age 88, passed peacefully in his Wailua home on April 4, 2023. He was better known as “Uncle Paul” to much of his family, friends and caregivers.

Uncle Paul was born on Oct. 6, 1934 in Kamalo, Molokai to Shujim and Tsuru Yeda. He is survived by brothers Walter (Nellie) and Albert (Nancy) and predeceased by siblings Ruth (Fujiichi Nakata), Joe (Kikue), Rose (McKenna), Doris (Socho Nishihira), and Barbara (Jules Dudoit). 

Uncle Paul attended Kilohana Elementary before moving to Kailua, Oahu, where he raised swine and worked at a service station. He was later recruited into the Army and after serving in the military, Uncle Paul joined the local union 675 as a pipefitter where he spent most of his life until retiring.…

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Tropical Pumpkins

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, UH CTAHR Extension Agent

Tropical pumpkins, known by its Latin name, Curcurbita moschata, are among of the strongest and most resilient members of the cucurbit family that includes watermelon, cantaloupe, zucchini, cucumber and squash. It is known for its high yield, great nutritional value, good storage life and its ability to ship long distances. Native to Mexico and Central America, it’s been grown for over 8,000 years and is believed to be one of the oldest crops grown before corn and beans and carried with native people throughout the Americas. 

Many North American varieties were developed by ancient tribes such as the Seminole of Florida, Iroquois of New York, Cherokee of the Appalachians, and Lakota of the Sioux nation.…

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A’o Aku; A’o Mai: What I Learn, I Teach

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

A’o Aku; A’o Mai: What I Learn, I Teach

Community Contributed

By Sara Jane Larkin, Teacher

First graders at Kilohana are studying fresh water on Molokai. We are learning about where it comes from, where it goes and why it is so valuable — waiwai.  Our Project Based Learning goal is to have outdoor hand washing stations that reclaim the water used for handwashing to water our grass and our gardens.  We are calling our project the Waiwai Wai Project.…

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Earth Day Celebration Returns

Wednesday, April 26th, 2023

Earth Day Celebration Returns

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter 

For the first time in three years, Molokai residents gathered at Mitchell Pauole Center to celebrate Earth Day as a community. 

To the backdrop of the Kalaupapa Backyard Band and smells of laulau, residents visited booths hosted by dozens of organizations. These exhibits ranged from clean energy projects to health and wellness to sustainable hunting. Taxidermy birds, erosion run-off demonstrations and more adorned the tables and engaged residents. 

“Look at all the groups here…to me, this is the glue that really defines us as a community,” said Ho’ahu Energy Cooperative Advisor Todd Yamashita. 

Throughout the night, Molokai residents were able to share with each other both a love of Earth Day and their own specific knowledge. …

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Hazard Mitigation Plan Seeks Local Feedback

Wednesday, April 26th, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter 

The State of Hawaii 2023 Hazard Mitigation Plan is being created right now. Representatives from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) are seeking input from Molokai residents on the types of hazards they would like identified in the plan. 

Updated every five years, the hazard mitigation plan aims to “protect communities against the threats of flooding, hurricanes, wildfire, tsunamis and other hazards,” by “taking action now, before the next disaster,” according to a recent news release from HI-EMA. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will use the state plan to create a list of projects requiring funding.…

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Baseball and Volleyball MIL Champs

Wednesday, April 26th, 2023

Baseball and Volleyball MIL Champs

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter 

For the ninth straight year, the Farmers are Maui Interscholastic League Division II Champions in baseball. The decisive victory came Saturday, April 22 with a 11-2 win over Seabury. The Farmers will head to the state tournament to contend for the state title. After falling to Seabury 16-2 on Friday, the Farmers were faced with possible elimination from the state tournament and their first MIL D-II pennant loss since 2012. Ho’olei Arce pitched a complete game in the turnaround win. 

Boys’ Volleyball team completed its regular season in style with a win over Lani on Friday. The Farmers finished the season with a perfect 9-0 record and the MIL D-II title for the first time since 2018.…

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