Community

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

Temporary Water Shut Off of Hoʻolehua Water System

Wednesday, January 11th, 2023

DHHL News Release 

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), through its contractor Goodfellow Brothers, will conduct improvements to a main water line of Molokai’s Hoʻolehua Water System beginning on Jan. 16.

As part of these improvements, water service is scheduled to be shut off from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Jan. 17 and 18.

Residents in Kalamʻula are advised to conserve water. Upon reactivation, customers may experience low water pressure until the system is fully pressurized. Affected customers are asked to store water and adjust schedules accordingly.

The temporary water service interruption is a portion of DHHL’s $37 million capital improvement project to upgrade Molokai’s 80-year-old Hoʻolehua Water System.…

Kilohana School Finalist in STEM Competition

Wednesday, January 11th, 2023

Samsung News Release 

Molokai’s Kilohana School is among 300 public schools across America have been named State Finalists in the 13th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national competition, announced Samsung Electronics America. Representing the cream of more than 1000 competition entrants, each state finalist has won a package of $2,500 in technology and school supplies. Kilohana was one of five schools in Hawaii that became finalists. These finalists advance to additional stages of the competition that will culminate in three schools being selected in May as national winners, and receive $100,000 prize packages. 

The annual Solve for Tomorrow competition challenges public school students in grades 6-12 to explore the role science, technology, engineering, and math (the core STEM subjects) can play in addressing some of the biggest issues in their local communities.…

$2.7M Awarded for Small-Scale Agriculture

Wednesday, January 11th, 2023

HDOA News Release 

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has announced the award of 579 grants, totaling $2,684,350, for small-scale agriculture; including home gardening, herding and livestock operations in areas that are food insecure.

More than 7,400 applications were received this fall under the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP). The applications and project proposals were evaluated and ranked by HDOA’s Market Development Branch (MDB) and final approval was received last week from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Funding for this grant program is provided by the USDA under the 2018 Farm Bill. Grant amounts ranged from $750 to $5,000.…

Kupuna Receive $50 Gift Cards

Wednesday, January 11th, 2023

MEO News Release 

More than 400 lower income kupuna on Maui, Molokai and Lanai received a special holiday present – a $50 gift card to markets on their islands – through a $20,000 AlohaCare donation that was distributed by Maui Economic Opportunity.

The 415 gift cards were mailed or hand-delivered by MEO over the holidays and are redeemable at Foodland on Maui, Misaki’s and Friendly Market on Molokai and Pine Isle and Richard’s Markets on Lanai.

A Foodland discount supplemented the number of gift cards.

“Our goal this holiday season was to partner with nonprofits to make the holidays brighter by giving back to our community, with a special focus on keiki and kupuna,” said Francoise Culley-Trotman, AlohaCare CEO.…

Golf Ace and Teacher’s Game

Wednesday, January 11th, 2023

Golf Ace and Teacher’s Game

Community Contributed

By Rick Schonely

Retired dentist and Molokai pro golfer Dana Takashima scored a hole-in-one on Dec. 17 at Iconic Ironwood Hills golf course. It was the number one hole and the first shot of the day for Takashima with his 7-iron from 135 yards. The new golf ball picker upper makes retrieving balls from the course quick and easy. Takashima was just hoping that it would not hit the tree in front of the first green, but it got by and rolled true to the pin and dropped in
for an ace. It’s his second ace. The shot was witnessed by Molokai golf pros Bob Danner, Rodney Reyes, Zachary Helm Greg Len-Wai, Jeff Egusa and Ponciano Raguindin. …

Bradford Winston Kaahanui

Wednesday, January 11th, 2023

Bradford Winston Kaahanui

Bradford Winston Kaahanui — Winston, as he was known by most — died on Nov. 29, 2022 surrounded by his ohana. He was a hard-working man who loved his family.

Winston has been preceded in death by his parents William and Olga, and siblings Lila, Donna, Josephine, Luana, and Korina. He is survived by wife Nadine; children Tisha (Kari), Bradford (Janeen), Peter (Kayla) and Max; grandchildren Nainoa, Ilika, Ayden, Ilona and Kaikanoa; siblings Olga, William Jr., Harold, Kanoe, Curtis and Eunice; and many nephews and nieces. …

‘So We Can Live In Paradise’

Wednesday, December 28th, 2022

‘So We Can Live In Paradise’

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

Molokai resident Jayson Mizula has published a book of poetry entitled “So We Can Live In Paradise: Poems by an American Settler in Occupied Hawai’i.” The poems are the culmination of seven years of work and intend to reflect the reality of life in Hawaii, especially for Native Hawaiians. 

The collection is inspired by Mizula and his wife Bahar’s time as caretakers for Moke Kim’s homestead in Ho’olehua. 

“As we helped Uncle grow kalo and other things to share with friends and neighbors, we were horrified by the barrels and barrels of black plastic we’d pull from the soil every time we’d plant a new area,” said Mizula.…

Molokai Students Attend Court Oral Arguments

Wednesday, December 28th, 2022

HI State Judiciary News Release

For the first time in three years, the Hawaii Supreme Court resumed in-person oral arguments at a high school for its Courts in the Community program.

“We are thrilled to be at Lahainaluna High School today to conduct oral argument and provide the students with this unique opportunity,” said Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald. “During the pandemic, students participated by Zoom, but nothing compares to being in person. This was an exciting day for everyone involved.”

Molokai High School students watched the oral argument, along with those from Lahainaluna High School, Kamehameha Schools Maui, King Kekaulike High School, and Lanai High and Elementary School..…

Molokai Students Sponsored for Workforce Readiness

Wednesday, December 28th, 2022

ClimbHI News Release 

Hawaii workforce development nonprofit ClimbHI announces the donation of nearly $18,500 by businesses and organizations throughout Maui County this year, sponsoring 233 students in grades 9-12 on Maui, Lanai and Molokai so they can earn ClimbHI Service Excellence Certificates.

The Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau recently donated funding to sponsor 120 students participating in the program at King Kekaulike High School, in addition to sponsorships for the school by the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort and Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui.

Other Maui County donations include sponsorships by the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association for students at Molokai High and Middle School; The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, for students at Lahainaluna High School and Lanai High and Elementary School; and the Four Seasons Resort Maui for students at Maui High School.…

Christmas Carolers

Wednesday, December 21st, 2022

Christmas Carolers

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Kaunakakai School students toured businesses in town last week to bring holiday cheer and sing Christmas carols to appreciate audiences. 

The Molokai Community Choir, led by Leah Aquino, and the Molokai Instrumental Music Education group, instructed by Bob Underwood joined to offer a Christmas concert at Grace Episcopal Church’s Saturday Market last weekend. …