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Community

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

Ho’olehua Brushfire

Thursday, May 4th, 2023

Ho’olehua Brushfire

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Fire personnel continued to battle a fire in wooded areas of Ho’olehua last week after it was first reported on Sunday, April 16. The small fire was located about two to three miles north of the Ho’olehua Cemetery, according to Fire Services Chief Rylan Yatsushiro of the Maui Fire Department. 

The fire was in an area inaccessible by vehicle, so the department utilized air support to make water drops by helicopter. Initial efforts contained the fire but there were many spots that continued smoldering, said Yatsushiro.  

“Because much of the smoldering spots were located under the ironwood canopy, we airlifted crews to the scene where they were able to conduct much needed mop-up operations,” he said. …

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MHS Graduation

Thursday, May 4th, 2023

MHS News Release 

The Molokai High School Class of 2023 will be honored through a traditional ceremony on Saturday, May 20 at 4 p.m. in the MHS gymnasium. The community will be invited to join in-person or via livestream online on Akaku, channel 54, the Akaku app called “Maui Stream,” akaku.org, as well as the Maui/Molokai Akaku Facebook pages.

At the gymnasium, the doors will open at 3 p.m. and close at 3:55 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes for the graduate processional. Please be inside and seated prior to 3:55 p.m.

There are no COVID-19 restrictions, however there are no signs, tubes, balloons or air horns allowed in the gym.…

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Teoraroa Molokai Showcases Tahitian Dance

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

Teoraroa Molokai Showcases Tahitian Dance

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter 

Color, sound and movement filled Lanikeha Center last Saturday night. To the quickening beat of the drums, Tahitian dancers and musicians of Teoraroa Molokai put on a memorable show. 

“My goal is to be able to boost the confidence of our kids,” said Teoraroa Molokai Ra’atira, or Director, Chelsea Tanaka. 

“A lot of [the kids] are shy,” said Tanaka. “They’re back there nervous, but they’re building each other up.” 

Founded in 2018, but shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic the following year, the group was back in full force Saturday night with more than 40 dancers and musicians participating. …

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Restoring Molokai Wetlands

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter 

An alliance of local, state and federal organizations have teamed up to form the Molokai Wetlands Partnership (MWP). Established in 2020, the MWP recently completed a pilot program to study 11 Molokai wetland sites. 

Pulama Lima, a Molokai resident and partner with MWP, explained that this study was meant to start a community conversation around wetlands and restoration. 

In conjunction with the MWP slogan of “re-imagining Molokai wetlands,” Lima explained that “we haven’t defined restoration. We feel that’s something for the community to decide how those spaces should be restored and to what degree.” 

The MWP pilot study examined 11 sites on Molokai’s southern shore, gathering information on vegetation, soil, hydrology, native plants and birds, sea level rise and more. …

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Fresh Veggies a Hit with Molokai Students

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

Fresh Veggies a Hit with Molokai Students

By Paul Hanley, Community Reporter

A small group of fifth and sixth grade students assemble outside the gate of the school garden in Maunaloa. They chant an oli written specifically for the ahupua’a of Kaluako’i. Their kumu, Wendy Espaniola, responds, inviting them to enter.

The students, each holding a clip board, scatter around the garden and sit down to begin their kilo. Taking their time, sitting in silence, they look up, down, and around and record their observations. They then assemble to share often subtle reflections, about cloud patterns, the color of the sea, the movement of insects, and the need to weed the garden.…

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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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