Culture & Art

Kamakou: 30 Years of Preservation

Friday, April 12th, 2013

Kamakou: 30 Years of Preservation

High in the mountains of Molokai, nature and history grow together in a forest that echoes with the riches of ancient Hawaii. A narrow boardwalk trails through depths of vivid green. Drops of water rest upon leaves and moss, and stillness is interrupted only by the occasional bird or damsel fly.

Kamakou Preserve appears to be effortlessly pristine, an abundance of native life remained untouched since ancient times. But the prese
rve as it appears today is a result of 30 years of human determination. It represents an effort to reverse the effects of invasive species, restore native qualities and maintain a connection between culture and nature.…

Tradition of Adaptive Management

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013

Community Contributed

By Aha Kiole O Molokai

When it comes to the land and ocean, we are aware that laws have been created and maintained by the State of Hawaii, with the intent to help regulate the usage and continuity of the resources. It has become evident that the management system long-used in Hawaii has not served to keep Hawaii’s resources healthy and abundant. One of the key differences between our current state practices and traditional Hawaiian resource practices — and why the system of the past worked — is that each island and moku division based their management decisions on the environmental conditions of their own areas.…

Managing the North Shore

Sunday, April 7th, 2013

Traditional fishing practices along Molokai’s north shore could soon be supported by law if a new proposal is approved by the state.

The Mo`omomi area, which provides food for Ho`olehua homesteaders through its ocean resources, is closer to receiving official state designation as a community-based subsistence fishing area (CBSFA). Conservation group Hui Malama O Mo`omomi organized the official proposal for the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)  and has presented it at a series of meetings with fishermen, homesteaders and the public. After the group has allowed time to receive public comments and questions, they will present it to the DLNR at a public hearing.…

Molokai High Artists Earn District Honors

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard News Release

High school students through Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District competed in an arts competition sponsored by the district’s congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard. All three Molokai High School students who were among 16 finalists received honors in the contest, Gabbard announced last week. MHS’ Kierstyn Esteron earned third place, while she and fellow MHS students Rizpah Torres-Umi and Eliana Kalilikane-Garces won the “People’s Choice” contest on Gabbard’s Facebook page.

Eighty contest entries were received from high school students throughout the district. Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives.…

Health Practitioners Share ‘Talking Circle’

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

Health Practitioners Share ‘Talking Circle’

“Close your eyes,” began Molokai Kahupono Francis Wong.

Young and old, patient and practitioner followed suit and allowed Wong to guide them in an exercise to empty their minds and let go of their problems.

Wong explained that our emotions guide us throughout our day and it’s important to calm that emotion sometimes to prevent injury to yourself and others.

Hawaiians have long believed that thoughts and words can become a reality, manifesting in our daily lives and affecting those closest to us. Wong’s exercise was a lesson in meditation and ho`oponopono, a Hawaiian practice used to restore and maintain good relationships within a family or group.…

Future Scientists Get a Sense of Our Past

Friday, March 29th, 2013

Future Scientists Get a Sense of Our Past

Community Contributed

By Bradford Duval

Every few years, science teacher Erron Yoshioka along with 15 eager science club members and two other teachers travel to Molokai from Moanalua High School on Oahu. During their spring break, they take in Molokai and gain a shared sense of history and perspective on some of the old ways and how it relates to their scientific lessons and explorations.

Sharing knowledge with those willing to learn is a specialty of 2013 Umu Kai Award winner Uncle Mac Poepoe’s, and on the students’ recent trip to Mo`omomi, learn they did.

Starting at the main pavilion, the students were able to learn about pono fishing techniques, and how traditional Hawaiian practices tie in to the science of fishery management.…

Prince Kuhio Day

Thursday, March 28th, 2013

Prince Kuhio Day

Homesteaders and Molokai residents celebrated Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole’s birthday Saturday on the island where his Hawaiian Homes Commission Act was first put into practice.

“If it weren’t for the success of homesteads on Molokai, the [Hawaiian homestead] program wouldn’t still be around,” event organizer Kammy Purdy said. Prince Kuhio’s 132nd birthday was honored with food, music and a ho`okupu at the Lanikeha Community Center.

Prince Kuhio was next in line for the throne when the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown in 1984. He later became a congressional delegate and championed for the rights of Native Hawaiians. His 1920 Hawaiian Homes Commission Act provided homelands for the people he represented.…

Artist Brings Turtles to Life

Thursday, March 28th, 2013

Artist Brings Turtles to Life

Artist and Molokai resident Linda Hogan is inspired by turtles. So much, in fact, that that’s all she’s been creating for the past seven years. As a scuba diver, she has spent hours watching and swimming with honu, which motivated her to develop a technique to form life-sized turtles as works of art.

“[Honu are] peaceful, serene, ancient, magical… there’s something about them,” said Hogan.

Now, her pieces of art are sold across Hawaii and in several galleries around the country, including in Molokai’s own Art from the Heart in Kaunakakai. She typically creates honu in three sizes, with the largest about the size of a full grown turtle and weighing about 25 pounds.…

Moana Dudoit: A legacy of love, culture and ohana

Monday, March 25th, 2013

Moana Dudoit: A legacy of love, culture and ohana

“One of the best friends I ever had.” “Always helped everyone.” “A legacy of unconditional love.” “Always dreamed big.” “Spiritually strong.” These are just a few of the ways one of Molokai’s most beloved kumu hula, Aunty Moana Dudoit, is described by family and friends.

For more than 40 years, Dudoit’s halau has taught and supported about 300 people ranging in age from 4 to 90-something. Traveling around the world to share the aloha spirit, Hawaiian culture and love of family, Dudoit has touched not only those on her native island of Molokai, but also those on the mainland, and in Japan, Europe and the South Pacific.…

Celebrating Coffees

Sunday, March 24th, 2013

Celebrating Coffees

Coffee, keiki and good causes brought the crowds up to Kualapu`u this weekend as Coffees of Hawaii celebrated 20 years of harvests in the area and 200 years of coffee in Hawai`i.

“She was pretty much abandoned when I came here ten years ago,” Coffees of Hawaii owner Mike Atherton said about the plantation, adding he was proud that he was able to keep the company harvesting coffee through the years.

March 16 was declared Coffees of Hawaii Day at the opening ceremonies Friday. The event led into an afternoon parade and evening festivities, including Project Runway: Plantation Style, where teams competed at the Kualapu`u Center to create the best fashion piece out of burlap and plastic paper without sewing.…