Culture & Art

Kiawe Beans Pods Not Just Food For Livestock

Monday, October 28th, 2013

Kiawe Beans Pods Not Just Food For Livestock

Community Contributed

By Mercy Ritte

As you know, our kiawe trees produce an abundance of bean pods every year. Not only is it a nutritious food source for livestock, but also for people. In its native lands, dried kiawe bean pods ground into meal or flour is considered a staple food. It is very delicious and adds a sweet nutty taste to breads, pancakes, muffins, cakes and cookies. It is also gluten free, GMO free, highly nutritious, diabetic friendly and can be used to make syrup, jelly, tea, milk, and wine. Unlike wheat that digests within one to two hours, kiawe takes four to six hours to digest, resulting in delay of hunger pangs.…

Norman DeCosta Cd Release Party

Saturday, October 19th, 2013

Norman DeCosta News Release

Molokai’s own Norman DeCosta is celebrating the release of his debut CD, “Pohai Na Mele,” with a night of music at Paddlers’ Inn on Nov. 2.  Initially conceived as an archival assortment of his favorite Hawaiian song for members of his ‘ohana, it quickly developed into a much more meaningful project.

Pohai Na Mele showcases all that makes Norman DeCosta’s music so special and appealing — his clear, pure voice, his tender styling, and his respect for the vivid musical storytelling that typifies the island culture.  Come celebrate with Norman DeCosta and The Brown ‘Ohana at Paddlers’ Inn Nov.…

61st Crossing Paddled by More Ages and Nations

Wednesday, October 16th, 2013

61st Crossing Paddled by More Ages and Nations

The morning of the 61st crossing of the men’s Molokai Hoe canoe race to Oahu dawned muggy and windless at Molokai’s Hale o Lono Harbor. With calm ocean comes few swells to surf and carry the 99 canoes from around the world across the Ka`iwi Channel, and some feared it might be a slower and more arduous race than usual. But the winning team actually crossed the finish line Sunday in four hours 53 minutes — 17 minutes faster than last year.

Some aspects of this year’s race brought no surprises. That winning team — Shell Va`a from Tahiti — claimed their eighth title in nine years.…

A Return to Konohiki

Thursday, October 10th, 2013

Community-based proposal to manage Hawaii’s resources

Last month in Kalaupapa, the state-mandated Aha Moku Advisory Council presented a plan that could change the way natural resources are managed in Hawaii. The plan calls for a return to the konihiki system, in which those knowledgeable about the ways of the ocean set guidelines for marine food gathering using traditional Hawaiian methods.

“The Aha Moku is set up to look at evolving power back to the communities as far as resource management,” said Sen. Kalani English, who was among a handful of legislators who attended the Kalaupapa gathering. “How do we do that within state law… that’s what we’re figuring out.”…

Inspired and Fired

Wednesday, October 9th, 2013

Inspired and Fired

Ceramic Show a Hoot

A lively mix of music, talk and laughter radiated from The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) last Saturday night as artists, art lovers, friends, and families gathered to celebrate the opening of MAC member Kathleen Mendes’ first solo exhibition of ceramic works entitled, “Inspired and Fired.” Live jazz music as well as hors d’oeuvres and a wine bar set the stage for the warm evening.

The exhibition, which features an array of ceramic techniques and subject matter, will run from Oct. 5 through the 18 at the He `ike Lihi Showroom, behind Coffees of Hawaii. Mendes’ work will also be available for purchase until the last day of the exhibition.…

Celebrating Kalo

Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013

Celebrating Kalo

In the ancient days of Hawaii, each of the islands’ estimated 500,000 people would eat one seven- to nine-pound kalo plant per day, according to Alton Arakaki, a Molokai extension agent with the University of Hawaii College Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR.) Ancient Hawaiians carefully selected more than 300 kalo varieties to ensure food security and successful growth in many environments. Today, only about 70 of those varieties still exist — and without vigilant cultivation, that number may dwindle.

Last weekend, Molokai residents got the opportunity to select among more than 50 kalo varieties to grow in their own gardens, helping to carry on a tradition that can yield health, cultural understanding and economic benefits.…

Aka`ula Art Show

Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013

Aka`ula Art Show

Friends, family, community, students and staff of Aka`ula School gathered last Friday evening to celebrate art as the sun set over Kalae`s cool hills. The annual event, held for the past seven years at the home of Bronwyn and Rikki Cooke, featured a lively display of student work as well as pieces donated by Aka`ula staff and board members and local artists — all on sale to support the school.

Dara Lukonen, teacher and head of school, said the show represents the work of about two dozen of the school’s 35 students in grades five through 12. This year’s theme was sand art, guided by art teacher Paul Riel.…

Channel Riders

Wednesday, September 25th, 2013

Channel Riders

Wa`akapaemua Canoe Club’s Team Boomski wahine paddlers placed 10th out of 69 crews at the 35th annual Na Wahine O Ke Kai race last Sunday. Paddling 42 miles from Molokai to Oahu against top teams from around the world, the open women’s Molokai crew crossed one of the most difficult channels in the state in 6 hours 46 minutes 11 seconds. They met their goal of placing in the top 10, improving from last year when they finished 14th.

“The biggest struggle is trying not to hit the wall,” said Team Boomski paddler Teon Simmons. “You cheer on your teammates and you try to get into your Zen mode–whatever you got to do to get it done.”…

Defending the Departed

Wednesday, September 25th, 2013

More than 20 years ago, the state approved the creation of island burial councils, to give Native Hawaiians a voice to protect their iwi kupuna, or ancestral remains, after plans to build a Maui Ritz Carlton at Honokahua had uprooted 1,100 unmarked graves.

“There is a connection between our [kupuna] and us. We’re not who we are without them.” said Opu`ulani Albino, a past Molokai burial council member. “You should never, ever have iwi [bones] in the sun. That’s the highest desecration you can do to iwi in our culture.”

Each island has a council made up of community members and land developers who decide whether remains found on a development site must be preserved in place or relocated.…

Inspired and Fired Art Show

Wednesday, September 25th, 2013

MAC News Release

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) will present an exhibition of new works by local artist Kathleen Mendes from Oct. 5-18 at the He `Ike Lihi Showroom. Called “Inspired and Fired by Kathleen Mendes,” the exhibit will feature ceramic pieces composed with a variety of techniques, including slab, coil, and wheel.

When Molokai’s master potter Dan Bennett opened his studio doors in 2007 to those eager to explore ceramics, Mendes had the opportunity to pick up a ball of clay and turn it into a useful object.  Since then she has been working with this medium, discovering all the exciting possibilities it holds for the artist. …