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Community

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

Computer Science Innovation at Kaunakakai School

Wednesday, February 8th, 2023

Computer Science Innovation at Kaunakakai School

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

The students in Kawika Gonzales’ fifth grade class at Kaunakakai School are excited about learning two subjects that aren’t often studied together: computer science and Hawaiian culture.  Thanks to a three-year grant from the University of Hawaii, Gonzales is teaching a program he believes has led to substantial progress in computer science education. 

The grant focuses on the role of culturally relevant computing by combining aspects of computer science with Hawaiian history and traditions. 

Dan Hoffman, one of the University of Hawaii faculty members directing the grant, explained that “the grant is designed around the idea that ‘curriculum is not enough’”. …

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Farmers Finish Seasons Strong

Wednesday, February 8th, 2023

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

Farmer pride rose throughout the islands of Hawaii, Maui and Molokai last week. The Lady Farmers Basketball team traveled to the Division II HHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament games in Hilo, and the Swimming and Wrestling teams gave it their all at competitions on Maui – all while Farmers’ friends and family supported them from home. 

The Lady Farmers drew some fire from Kilauea while on Hawaii Island for their last games and played fiercely. After traveling the 141-mile distance, Molokai’s first game in the tournament was against Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA). The girls played hard, but HPA took the win with a score of 68 to 44.…

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Temporary Water Shut-Off for Hoʻolehua

Wednesday, February 8th, 2023

DHHL News Release 

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), through its contractor Goodfellow Bros., will install new valves on the Hoʻolehua Water System on Molokai during the evenings of Feb. 21 and Feb. 23, weather permitting.

Water service is scheduled to be shut off from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on both dates for customers in the Hoʻolehua area, including businesses and Kualapuʻu School.

Affected customers are asked to store water and adjust schedules accordingly. In the event of technical difficulties or unforeseen conditions such as weather, potable water trucks will be placed near the Lanikeha Center and the DHHL baseyard for community use. …

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Soup ‘R Bowl is Coming

Wednesday, February 8th, 2023

MAC News Release 

It’s that time of year again! Get your tickets now for the 2023 Molokai Arts Center (MAC) Soup ‘R Bowl. The 13th annual fundraiser event will be held at Lanikeha Community Center in Ho’olehua on Saturday, March 11. Tickets are being sold online at bit.ly/3JE5Mos. 

What happens at the Soup ‘R Bowl? A ticket gains you entrance to tables lined with over 300 ceramic bowls (and a few Molokai mugs) handcrafted by artisans at the Molokai Arts Center. Redeem your ticket for a bowl or mug of your choice as well as a hearty soup meal. Make it a night out with your family or friends.…

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Ricky C. Agbuya

Wednesday, February 8th, 2023

Ricky C. Agbuya

Ricky C. Agbuya, age 52, of Kaunakakai, Molokai, passed away surrounded by his family on Jan. 21, 2023.

Ricky was born in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines on Nov. 10, 1970. He attended Saint Louis College from 1983 to 1987. In 1991, he graduated from Lorma College with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After nursing school, he worked at Ilocos Regional Medical Center for 10 years. Ricky made the island of Molokai his home in June 2001, where he worked as a caregiver for CareResource Hawaii for 20 years. He also worked as a dialysis technician at Molokai Dialysis since 2005.…

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Storm Causes Massive Flooding, Damages

Wednesday, February 1st, 2023

Storm Causes Massive Flooding, Damages

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Heavy rains drenched Molokai starting last Saturday morning, causing massive flooding not seen in decades. 

Resident reports on social media showed cars stuck in treacherous mud and churning water across the highway, homes flooded in the Kawela and Kapa’akea areas, yards underwater, and homeowners wading through knee-deep, fast-moving water in an attempt to gather belongings and animals from the flood. As state and county workers attempted to clear roadways with tractors, rocks and mud were piled high on either side to make a passable path. Muddy water rushed downstream from the mountains, causing massive erosion and destruction on its way to the ocean or low-lying areas.…

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Legal Battles Over Well 17 and Kawela Stream Continue

Wednesday, February 1st, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

Two long disputed water resources, Well 17 and Kawela Stream, are gradually making headway towards resolution. A panel of lawyers from Native Hawaiian and environmental legal firms, hosted by Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez and other Molokai residents, shared updates and legal avenues for resolution with a huge group of community members two weeks ago at Mitchell Pauole Center. 

Molokai Ranch has been withdrawing water from Well 17 for decades without a permit, while diverting water from Kawela Stream for nearly a century in what has shown to be in significant excess of the Ranch is actually using. …

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Rains Abundant for Ka Molokai Makahiki

Wednesday, February 1st, 2023

Rains Abundant for Ka Molokai Makahiki

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff  

This year’s Ka Molokai Makahiki celebration, the planned to be first community-wide observances in three years, kicked off last Thursday with Ka’ahele a Lono traversing the footsteps of the kupuna starting in Halawa Valley. Shouldering the 40-pound lei-draped banner of Lono, Molokai residents embarked on a planned four-day march across the island to Hale O Lono. 

“After two long years, the games are finally back!” wrote Ka Molokai Makahiki committee on their Facebook page. “As we reflect on the lessons learned during the pandemic and forge our way into this new era, we re-focus our energies this makahiki season back to our piko, our Molokaʻi ʻ ōpio, and dedicate this year to growing our community.…

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Bissen Introduces Mayoral Agenda to Molokai

Wednesday, February 1st, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

On Jan. 24, Molokai greeted its new mayor Richard Bissen with song, lei and a wide selection of residents and representatives. 

Bissen, a former judge, accompanied Maui County Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez to her Molokai townhall meeting at the Mitchell Pauole Center. 

The evening was both an opportunity to “warmly embrace our new mayor” and to outline new mayoral policies and information, explained Rawlins-Fernandez. 

These townhall gatherings, started by Rawlins-Fernandez back in 2019, “make sure that information is being shared and that there is a two-way dialogue” between government officials and the community, she said. 

Bissen used the opportunity to concisely lay out his department and agenda. …

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New Land Designations Proposed for Ilio and Waikolu

Wednesday, February 1st, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

Molokai’s Ilio Point and Waikolu Valley are up for possible re-designations that Dept. of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) staff say would allow more focused funding and management. 

Currently managed by the Land Division, a broad department which maintains state lands, the DLNR is proposing a re-designation of the areas as Natural Area Reserves. 

Natural Area Reserves were “established to preserve in perpetuity specific land and water areas which support communities, as relatively unmodified as possible,” according to the DLNR website. 

“The purpose of that would be that we could do more focused management in those areas,” explained Molokai DLNR representative James Espaniola. …

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