Community

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

Data Science to Help Revitalize Fishponds

Wednesday, January 25th, 2023

Purple Mai’a News Release 

Three local organizations — Purple Maiʻa Foundation, Kuaʻaina Ulu ʻAuamo, and Hohonu, Inc. — are launching the Loko Iʻa and Coastal Monitoring Project that will kokua up to 30 Hawaiian Fishpond restoration groups across the state. The project engages local communities in the design process and will work with them to gather insights on the biggest barriers to fishpond restoration for food production.

Hawaii’s fishpond practitioners, coastal communities and local government will have access to real-time environmental data that will support biocultural restoration, climate change monitoring, resilience planning and mitigation. In addition to providing operational support, the sensor and data tools deployed can serve a broad audience for educational outreach and workforce development activities.…

HMSA Kaimana Scholarships

Wednesday, January 25th, 2023

HMSA News Release

The Hawaii Medical Service Association is celebrating the 18th year of its Kaimana Awards and Scholarship Program, which honors Hawaii high school seniors and their schools for excellence in academics, athletics, community service, healthy activities and sportsmanship. Applications are now available online and are open to graduating high school seniors, including those on Molokai. 

HMSA will award up to 15 students $5,000 scholarships each. To be eligible, applicants must graduate from a Hawaii high school in 2023 with a 2.75 or higher GPA, which is verified by a school transcript that is submitted by a school faculty member. Participation in at least one Hawaii High School Athletic Association league-sanctioned sport during one or more of their high school years and involvement in community service projects in addition to school activities is required.…

Noa Emmett Auwae Aluli

Wednesday, January 25th, 2023

Noa Emmett Auwae Aluli

Noa Emmett Auwae Aluli, M.D., age 78, passed away Nov. 30, 2022 at Kaunakakai, Molokai. Born on Oahu in January 1944 and raised in Kailua, he graduated from St. Louis College ʻ62 (St. Louis High School) and Marquette University ʻ66. Dr. Aluli taught at Damien High School and Kailua Intermediate before graduating in the first class at the University of Hawaii Medical School ʻ75 (John A. Burns School of Medicine, JABSOM). 

Dedicated to the health and well-being of Native Hawaiians, Dr. Aluli was a family practice primary care physician at the Molokai Family Health Center (46 years), a Medical Director of Molokai General Hospital and an Adjunct Assistant Medical Professor at JABSOM.…

Air Force Lease Expires on DHHL Parcel

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

More than 300 acres of land in the Ho’olehua and Pala’au areas of Molokai that had previously been used by the U.S. Air Force was returned to the Dept. of Hawaiian Home Lands last week. 

The USAF leased the lands from DHHL under a 25-year lease at $40,270 annually, which expired on Dec. 31, 2022. The USAF used the lands for radio and communications equipment, installation and maintenance, according to a press release from the governor.

Gov. Josh Green announced last week what he called a “long overdue” transfer for Molokai homesteaders. 

“This day is long overdue for the beneficiaries and residents of Molokai,” said Green in the press release.…

Shared Solar Projects Moving Forward

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Two renewable energy projects on Molokai are set to move forward in what represents the state’s first community-owned and -designed solar plus battery projects. In a partnership between Ho’ahu Energy Cooperative Molokai and Hawaiian Electric, the projects are anticipated to meet more than 20 percent of the island’s energy usage and serve about 1500 Molokai households. Both are expected to be operational in mid-2025. 

Pala’au Solar and Kualapu’u Solar projects will be the first on the island in a shared renewable energy program under Hawaiian Electric known as community-based renewable energy (CBRE). Molokai subscribers to the program, particularly renters who cannot install their own rooftop solar panels, will benefit from lowered electric bills, according to Ho’ahu. …

Making a Difference with the Climate Crew

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

From September to December 2022, three of Molokai’s young women strived to make an impact and create awareness for Hawaii’s climate policy and clean energy. Kirakai Yamazaki-Gray, Kayla Holm and myself, Sage Yamashita, were picked to join Blue Planet’s Cohort called Climate Crew with eight other Maui County high school students. Through the cohort, the students completed multiple climate actions, meetings, and workshops, helping the Climate Crew’s work to reach more than 1500 people. 

“I was really impressed with the Molokai girls that joined the Maui County Climate Crew,” said Griff Jurgens, Blue Planet’s education director.…

Sports Roundup

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

The Barn had a double header last week for Farmers Basketball, with the boy’s team competing against Maui Preparatory Academy and the girl’s team taking on Seabury Hall. On Maui, Farmer paddling, swimming and wrestling teams competed. 

Molokai High’s basketball teams showed great sportsmanship during their games this week. The games were back to back starting with the boy’s first game Friday evening which closed with a score of Molokai 62, Maui Prep 39. Following the boy’s victory, the girls won Seabury with a score of Molokai 40, Seabury 11. The next morning, each of the four teams faced on in rematches.…

MHS Prepares for Ka Molokai Makahiki

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

MHS Prepares for Ka Molokai Makahiki

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

It’s a new year and the annual Makahiki games are right around the corner. In a time of joy and prayer, friendly competition will excite Molokai’s community. Last Thursday, Molokai High School students prepared with their own Makahiki games to find their representatives for the upcoming community games on Jan. 28.  

“Since we started academies this year, we wanted to kind of have our academies build that sense of belonging and that teamwork, that idea of teamwork,” said Vice Principal Tilana Roberts. “So each academy actually finds the champions.” 

According to Roberts, freshmen to seniors are in academies of community service and sustainability academy (CSS) or innovation and business technology (IBT).…

Imua Family Services Opens at New Molokai Location

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

Imua Family Services News Release 

Imua Family Services invites you to join them in celebrating their newly relocated office location in Kaunakakai! In celebration of this new move, Imua Family Services has planned two free programs on Saturday, Jan. 28. The first is a special activity called Play Imua for preschool-age children and their families at the Molokai Public Library starting at 11:30 a.m. The parent-child program will include an interactive arts activity and story time.

That same day, Imua Family Services will also be offering free developmental screenings and evaluations for keiki between 2 months old and 5 ½ years of age at their new office location at 130 Kamehameha V Hwy in Kaunakakai.…

Kanikapila Group Therapy Returns

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

Kanikapila Group Therapy News Release

For those of you who fondly recall the days when Kanikapila was at the Coffees of Hawaii site in Kualapuu, let it be known that it has returned! It was named Kanikapila Group Therapy because so many people who showed up for it would comment that they felt so good afterwards. 

If you don’t know what the word “kanikapila” means, it is a style of Hawaiian music produced in an impromptu jam session. The term comes from “kani,” which means sound, and “pila” which means any string instrument in the Hawaiian language.

Kanikapila Group Therapy (KGT) meets the first and third Tuesday of every month from 10a.m…