Culture & Art

Nation-Building Process

Wednesday, April 30th, 2014

Nation-Building Process

Community Contributed

Opinion by Kamana`opono M. Crabbe, Ka Pouhana, Chief Executive Officer for OHA

 

With the May 1 deadline to register with the Official Hawaiian Roll fast approaching, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) is moving aggressively to engage its beneficiaries on Molokai in the nation-building process.

We are invigorated by those in the Hawaiian community who tell us that they are ready to begin a process aimed at creating a nation where all Native Hawaiians have an opportunity to thrive.

This nation-building process will begin and end with Native Hawaiians who, for example, believe their children are entitled to an education that allows them to be competitive in the 21st century; believe their families should have access to safe and affordable housing that strengthens communities; and believe we as a people need to become healthier by stepping it up through exercise, a balanced diet and preventive medicine.…

Honoring Hawaii’s First Homestead

Wednesday, April 30th, 2014

Honoring Hawaii’s First Homestead

Beginning in 1921, a selected group of hardy Hawaiian families began building a life in Kalama`ula. They cleared kiawe, constructed homes and infrastructure, planted gardens and raised livestock. It was difficult work, but because of their success, more than 6,000 Hawaiian Homesteaders now live around the state, according to OHA Chairperson Colette Machado.

“They had to make do and… they overcame that and succeeded,” said Machado. “If it wasn’t for the Kalama`ula demonstration, [Native Hawaiians] wouldn’t be where we are today.”

Last week, the descendants of Hawaii’s first 42 homesteaders in Kalama`ula gathered to celebrate 90 years since the establishment of the Kalaniana`ole Settlement, as it was known.…

Sharing the Love of Music

Wednesday, April 30th, 2014

Sharing the Love of Music

Inside the white brick walls of Kaunakakai Elementary School room A-103, the reverberation of melodies fill the air after school Mondays and Wednesdays as keiki, parents and community members tackle playing some of the toughest string instruments to learn.

The students are a part of the Molokai Community Band and the 21st Century Instrumental Music program, an after-school music program for individuals of all ages to receive group music lessons and learn a string or woodwind instrument. The focus is learning how to read music, play an instrument and interact with others in a group environment, said Bob Underwood, a first grade teacher at Kaunakakai Elementary and volunteer string instrument teacher.…

Molokai Student Winners at State History Day

Saturday, April 26th, 2014

Hawaii Council for the Humanities News Release

On April 12, Molokai students presented projects that placed and earned History Day medals, as well as garnered special state awards and prizes from Hawaii organizations at the 2014 Hawaii History Day State Fair. The annual competition involves hundreds of students and teachers from the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Oahu. Hawaii Council for the Humanities again sponsored the state competition, the theme of which is Rights and Responsibilities in History.

Molokai High School student Cendall Manley won a bronze medal for her Senior Performance project titled “Prohibition: A Dilemma Between Individual Rights, Personal Responsibility and Governmental Power” and is a qualifier for the 2014 Kenneth E.…

Aka`ula School Celebrates 10 Years

Friday, April 25th, 2014

Aka`ula School Celebrates 10 Years

Editor’s note: Reprinted here with permission are two student-written articles that originally appeared in Aka`ula School’s newsletter.

By Madison Trenner, grade 5

On Saturday, April 5, Aka`ula School celebrated a decade of “Learning and Leading Together.”  On this beautiful spring day current students opened with the school oli.  Victoria Newberry presented a colorful history of how a group of energetic people came together and started a school.  Towards the end of her speech, we were blessed with a short shower.  Lunch was a plate of tasty tortillas filled with meat and vegetables.  For dessert we had the biggest cake I have ever seen. …

Advocating for the `Aina

Thursday, April 24th, 2014

Advocating for the `Aina

In celebration of Earth Day, hundreds of attendees, young and old, examined taxidermies of the endangered native Hawaiian duck, learned how to check plants for invasive fire ants using peanut butter, and pinpointed areas of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the most remote island archipelago in the world.

The community gathered at Molokai’s 22nd annual Earth Day festival at the Kaunakakai Ball Field last Friday evening to honor the values of aloha `aina and malama `aina. Kupuna Moses “Moke” Kim inspired island youth to malama `aina through the Hana Kupono program at Molokai High and Intermediate School. This year’s theme, “He Wa`a He Moku, He Moku He Wa`a; your canoe is like an island, an island is like your canoe,” is a testament to Kim’s mission to preserve Molokai’s natural and limited resources, according to event organizers.…

Molokai Celebrates Library Week

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014

Molokai Celebrates Library Week

Last week, communities across the country celebrated the impact local libraries have on their neighborhoods during National Library Week. On Molokai, the Alu Like Native Hawaiian Library and the Molokai Public Library both participated in observances by offering special programs.

At Kaunakakai’s public library, the community was invited on an educational journey through space that perpetuated the values of the local library.

“The values libraries instill are lifelong learning,” said Sri TenCate, Molokai Public Library Branch Manager. “We service people from babies to seniors and are so happy to be able to give them the resources that we have, so they may continue to learn.”…

Finding Neverland: Kualapu`u Students Perform School’s Last Musical

Thursday, April 17th, 2014

Finding Neverland: Kualapu`u Students Perform School’s Last Musical

Keiki sent their loved ones flying on a musical journey to Neverland last Thursday evening at Kualapu`u School’s performance of “Peter Pan” and the school’s last theater production.

The overflowing school cafeteria left only standing room for latecomers to watch 35 eager students of all ages sing, dance, and deliver “Peter Pan,” their second musical and fourth annual production. Students performed last week during school for classmates on April 7 and 8 and for their ohana on April 9 and 10 at 6 p.m. Students write, choreograph, and direct an original screenplay as part of a class lesson each year. This year, the unit emphasized self-entitlement with a concept titled, “Who Do You Think You Are?”…

Nurturing `Olelo Hawaii

Wednesday, April 16th, 2014

Nurturing `Olelo Hawaii

Last Saturday was filled with keiki, mele, ono food, and `Olelo Hawaii—the Hawaiian language. Hundreds of Molokai residents congregated at Lanikeha in Ho`olehua, to celebrate the Hawaiian language and culture at Punana Leo O Molokai’s annual Ho’omau event.

Punana Leo O is a Hawaiian immersion preschool committed to reestablishing the native language,`olelo makuanhine, as the first language spoken at home. The school opened its doors in 1991, and now after 23 years, has served about 400 keiki ages three to five and ohana of Molokai.

“Today is to celebrate `Olelo Hawaii,” said event emcee Miki`ala Pescaia. “Our kupuna were [once] punished for speaking [the language].…

Easter Hunts, Services and Celebrations

Wednesday, April 16th, 2014

Easter Hunts, Services and Celebrations

The combination of sunshine, candy-filled eggs, and an early visit from the Easter Bunny attracted hundreds of keiki to the 26th annual Biggest Easter Egg Hunt in Hawaii on Molokai last Saturday.

More than 8,000 multicolored candy-filled eggs covered Kaunakakai Park’s grassy field for a massive egg hunt sponsored by King’s Chapel Molokai. Children aged 3 to 12 charged the field with bright baskets in hand to gather as many eggs as possible, and maybe retrieve one of six golden eggs. The lucky golden egg finders went home with an oversized Easter basket.

“It’s fun to give things away and be a blessing,” said Pastor Robert Sahagun, who leads King’s Chapel Molokai with and his wife, Lani Sahagun.…