Culture & Art

Celebrating Energy Alternatives

Friday, January 18th, 2013

Celebrating Energy Alternatives

In the Ocatillo region of southern California, the Quechan tribe of Native American Indians has lived for thousands of years. The bones of their ancestors are buried in that ground, and it’s that earth that holds the prayers of their elders. So when Pattern Energy wanted to build wind turbines there several years ago, tribal leaders came together and decided to fight to protect the land.

At last weekend’s Energy Festival hosted by I Aloha Molokai, several Quechan tribe members were honored guests and panelists. They shared a story with local attendees of their experience with Pattern Energy, the same company currently proposing wind turbines for Molokai — a story many Molokai residents say sounds all too familiar.…

St. Marianne Honored at Home

Monday, January 14th, 2013

St. Marianne Honored at Home

After a week of rain and wind, last Saturday’s sunny dawn was an auspicious start to a special day in Kalaupapa. Hundreds of friends and dignitaries from across the country, as well as community members, gathered to celebrate the sainthood of St. Marianne Cope. While festivities have been held in her honor around the world since her canonization in October, this event brought the celebration home to the place St. Marianne served exiled Hansen’s disease patients for 30 years.

“This day was a surprise,” smiled patient resident Gloria Marks, referring to both the weather and the reason for celebration. “This day is important because she [St.…

Agreement Marks Peaceful Conclusion to Yacht Conflict

Monday, January 14th, 2013

Agreement Marks Peaceful Conclusion to Yacht Conflict

This time last year, a group of Molokai residents greeted the Safari Explorer yacht with protest signs, while the state called for a security zone to ensure the vessel’s safe docking. Last week, the ongoing conflict was peacefully resolved, not only allowing continued visits from the 36-person yacht, but also designating Molokai as future home port of operations for the company.

Amid smiles and hugs, former protesters, state officials and American Safari Cruises staff signed an agreement that’s been called the first of its kind in the state. It’s a positive conclusion to more than a year of struggles that involved community members, yacht company American Safari Cruises (ASC), the state and federal government and local business owners.…

Ua Mau Ke Ea: Sovereignty Endures

Sunday, January 13th, 2013

Alu Like, Inc. News Release

Molokai’s Native Hawaiian Library is sponsoring an Open House and Event, Ua Mau Ke Ea: Sovereignty Endures on Thursday, Jan. 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. The library is located on the hill behind Lanikeha and the Ho`olehua Fire station.

The event will be revisiting the history of the 120 years since the overthrow of the Hawaiian government. A guest speaker, Dr. David Keanu Sai, will be doing a PowerPoint presentation from 5 to 6 p.m. The presentation will be based on historical documents to educate the public. (Views expressed by the speaker do not represent the views of the organization.)…

Rising Vocalist Kuana Torres Kahele on Molokai

Friday, January 11th, 2013

Rising Vocalist Kuana Torres Kahele on Molokai

MACC News Release

Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s (MACC) Artist-in-the-Community Program is pleased to present a special show with vocalist Kuana Torres Kahele on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 7 pm in Kulana `Oiwi Halau on Molokai. Admission is free.

Kuana Torres Kahele was born on the slopes of Mauna Kea and began composing, arranging and playing traditional Hawaiian music at an early age. In 1995 with Kehau Tamure, Kuana formed the multi-award winning duo, Na Palapalai, who earned critical acclaim for reviving Hawaiian classics as well as for original compositions. Last year, Kuana’s highly anticipated solo release, “Kaunaloa,” excited the hula world and re-ignited passion for Hawaiian music from everyday fans, garnering him multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.…

Kalaupapa Exhibit at St. Damien Church

Sunday, January 6th, 2013

Kalaupapa Exhibit at St. Damien Church

Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa News Release

A historical exhibit developed by Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa opened this week at Saint Damien Church in Kaunakakai, where it will remain through Feb. 3. The exhibit, “A Source of Light, Constant and Never-Fading,” emphasizes the strong relationship between the people of Kalaupapa and the Royal Family of Hawaii, a chapter of the history of Kalaupapa not often told.

A presentation about the work of the `Ohana in reconnecting families to their Kalaupapa ancestors will be held Thursday, Jan. 10 beginning at 6 p.m. at the church. Light pupus will be served. The public is welcome.…

Poetry Reading: Ariana Nash

Monday, December 10th, 2012

Poetry Reading: Ariana Nash

Friends of the Molokai Public Library News Release

The Friends of the Molokai Public Library is pleased to present a reading by acclaimed poet Ariana Nash on Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 6 p.m. at the Molokai Library. Ariana will read poems from her just-released book “Instructions for Preparing Your Skin” which won the 2011 Philip Levine Prize in Poetry. She is also a recipient of a Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Prize and a MacDowell Colony Residency.

Ariana’s poems are precise and frank, measured and uncompromising. She has the ability to illuminate the intimacies of human connections, and while doing so, she demonstrates an eye for textures, spaces, and metaphoric images.…

Ku Ka Lau Lama 2012

Monday, December 10th, 2012

Ku Ka Lau Lama 2012

Under the spreading branches of the banyan tree at the Molokai Community Health Center, Aka`ula School parents and supporters enjoyed a prime rib dinner during the school’s annual Ku Ka Lau Lama fundraiser. The event raises money needed for purchasing school supplies and equipment, as well as funding the financial aid program for Aka`ula students. One of several annual fundraisers for the school, it also featured a large collection of silent auction items and the opportunity for guests to donate school supplies to the giving tree.

“It’s a challenge for nonprofits and schools across the board, so we’re extremely grateful that the community is willing to help support educational choice,” said Victoria Newberry, one of the founding teachers.…

A Christmas for Kupuna

Monday, December 10th, 2012

A Christmas for Kupuna

This year’s Senior Christmas Gala was a night full of food, music and dancing. The celebration last Saturday, hosted at Mitchell Pauole Center, marked the sixth and final Senior Gala dinner, due to budget cuts from the county, according to Barbara Haliniak of the Molokai Island Foundation, which organizes the event. For the first time this year, Molokai High School (MHS) athletes from the girls’ volleyball team volunteered to serve the kupuna dinner. Photo by Caylee Ledesma.…

Why We Must Save Paradise

Thursday, December 6th, 2012

Why We Must Save Paradise

Community Contributed

By Mike Bond

Hawaii has changed much in recent years. Places on the Big Island that were narrow country roads in my youth are now four-lane highways. What were taro fields and home gardens on Maui are now parking lots and air-conditioned shopping centers.

Even Molokai is threatened. Mainland energy companies, working with Molokai Ranch, want to turn thousands of beautiful Molokai acres into an industrial zone and construct high voltage cables through Molokai reef and the whale sanctuary. They would bring in hundreds of foreign and mainland workers, and ruin our culture and our aina forever.

So we have to protect what’s left, and malama Molokai, our culture and our greater ohana – which is everyone who loves and tries to protect Hawaii.…