Culture & Art

St. Marianne Relic Visits Molokai

Wednesday, November 7th, 2012

St. Marianne Relic Visits Molokai

The newly canonized St. Marianne Cope “came home” last week, in the words of many Molokai parishioners, as her relic visited the island where she served Hansen’s disease patients in Kalaupapa for 30 years. Accompanied by Catholic dignitaries, bishops and Franciscan sisters, the relic — a bone fragment of St. Marianne — made several stops on Molokai last Friday. Prayer services were held at Our Lady of Seven Sorrows and St. Joseph’s chapels on the east end, with a mass at St. Damien Church in Kaunakakai followed by time for personal veneration.

“Today is a very special moment in our history as we welcome St.…

Opinion: Haste Makes Waste for Big Wind

Wednesday, November 7th, 2012

Community Contributed

Opinion by Kanohowailuku Helm, President of I Aloha Molokai

To Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz, State Energy Administrator Mark Glick and staff, members of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) , and Carl Freedman, IRP facilitator:

Today, three processes regarding our energy future are running on parallel tracks: (1) the Integrated Resource Planning (IRP), which involves 68 officials, experts and interested parties, (2) the Hawaii Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy, and (3) HECO’s request for proposals (RFP) to build an undersea cable. Together, these efforts could result in a smart, affordable state energy plan with public support — but only if they are carefully synchronized.…

NOAA Seeks Community Monk Seal Feedback

Wednesday, November 7th, 2012

With only a little more than 1,000 left in the world, the Hawaiian monk seal is one of the rarest marine mammals. Studies have shown that there are approximately 200 seals living on or around the Main Hawaiian Islands, with about 40 on Molokai. Even though their numbers are dwindling, their presence has caused conflict with divers and fishermen near shore, some of whom believe the seals are competing with them for fish. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries aims to not only protect endangered species like the Hawaiian monk seal, but also to conduct research in hopes of furthering understanding in communities in which they live.…

Exchanging Cultures

Monday, November 5th, 2012

Exchanging Cultures

Students from Tahiti visit Molokai

Molokai High School (MHS) students were happy to learn how to dance like Tahitians when students from Ra`apoto High School in Tahiti performed traditional song and dance in an assembly held at the Barn on Thursday. A group of 38 students performed three different types of dances –the otea, with rapid hip-shaking motions, the aparima, a more lyrical dance which tells a story using hand movements, and the haka, or warrior dance. During their performance, Molokai students were invited to come to the front and share in Tahitian dance, song and culture.

Ra`apoto students have visited Molokai four times as part of a cultural exchange program that began in 2006.…

Taking the Paniolo Tradition by Stampede

Monday, November 5th, 2012

Taking the Paniolo Tradition by Stampede

When most people think of Hawaii, cowboys aren’t the first thing to come to mind. Yet the paniolo tradition has been ingrained in local culture since the reign of King Kamehameha III in the early 1800s. On Molokai, Kapualei Ranch is helping to keep the tradition alive through their annual Stampede Rodeo, celebrating its sixth year this weekend.

“[Paniolos are] really a dying breed throughout the whole state,” said Saucie Dudoit, who manages Kapualei with her husband, Goat. “We do ropings to perpetuate the culture and lifestyle of cowboys.”

The Stampede Rodeo draws contestants of all ages from around the state for nine events, including team roping, barrel racing and dummy roping for kids.…

Molokai Arts Center First Annual Art Show

Thursday, November 1st, 2012

Molokai Arts Center First Annual Art Show

MAC News Release

Creating works of art from all types of media including pottery and jewelry, the artists at Molokai Arts Center (MAC) have been busy since the Center’s opening in March. Now everyone is excited as they choose one or two of their favorite pieces to display in the First Annual MAC Art Show to be held from Nov. 4 through 16 at the Molokai Public Library and continuing in the Ike Lihi Gallery the Molokai Arts Center until December 8.

The Molokai community will have an opportunity to view a small sample of the original and creative work completed over the first full year of operation of the MAC by many of the volunteer artists that have helped to make it a success.…

Photo Slideshow –Festivals of Aloha 2012

Sunday, October 14th, 2012

Photo Slideshow –Festivals of Aloha 2012

Another eventful year of culture, fun and festivities as Molokai celebrated the 2012 Festivals of Aloha this weekend.  For the full story, visit here. Photos by Catherine Cluett and Laura Pilz.…

Festivals Flourish with Aloha

Sunday, October 14th, 2012

Festivals Flourish with Aloha

Whether it’s the coronation of the royal court, the procession of pa`u units riding atop lei-draped horses through town or the chaotic teamwork of the bed race, the annual Festivals of Aloha is all about pride, color and tradition. Every year, the three-day event draws large crowds to participate in fun activities that also perpetuate traditional Hawaiian culture. The theme of this year’s Festival was “E kupuohi I ke Aloha –- Flourish with Aloha,” as symbolized by the Kamehameha butterfly, one of two butterfly species native to Hawaii.

“The point of the festivals is to carry on the heritage of Hawaiians,” said Moana Dudoit, who has been organizing the festivals on Molokai with her sister Raquel Dudoit for the past three years.…

How to Say E Komo Mai

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

How to Say E Komo Mai

 

 

While it is pau hana time for most teachers, Kumu Manuwai Peters and a few of his students are at Ho`olehua Airport getting ready for a busy afternoon. Holding an ukulele in one hand, Peters straightens a student’s kukui lei, all the while reminding the four student-volunteers to be professional, smile and engage visitors coming off the plane. By the time the next plane touches down, Peters and his band of students are already at the arrival gate, instruments, lei and smiles ready. As soon as the door opens, the group breaks into a traditional Hawaiian mele, or song, welcoming visitors and residents to Molokai.…

Molokai Hoe 2012

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

Molokai Hoe 2012

Just before 100 canoes started launching from Hale O Lono Harbor Sunday morning, Wa`akapaemua team captain and steersman Bozo Dudoit hugged each of his teammates, one by one. While neighboring teams had loud chants and practiced slogans, the men’s open team from Wa`akapaemua Canoe Club gathered their hands in the middle and shouted just one word –Molokai. They picked up their six-man outrigger canoe and departed for the 41-mile legendary Molokai Hoe course to Oahu.

“We’ve trained mentally and physically,” said Dudoit a day before the race. “But I’ve never paddled 40 miles directly into the wind, so it’ll be an interesting experience.”…