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Culture & Art

‘Molokai Is’ Round 3 – VOTE NOW

Monday, March 8th, 2010

‘Molokai Is’ Round 3 – VOTE NOWBig congrats to last week’s contest winner David Nanod, whose cleverly worded entry reminds us that Molokai is but a reflection of our own judgments – simple but deep indeed. See his entry, and others, at www.TheMolokaiDispatch.com.

David, along with ten-year-old Ko`i`ula who won the week before, will be enjoying $50 towards the fine food at the Kualapu`u Cookhouse. But don’t be jealous, you can be a winner too.

Share your ideas about what Molokai means to you. One winner per week selected by Molokai Dispatch readers. Each submission must include the full name, phone number, and photo of the contestant and no more than 150 words. Kids, ask your parents or teachers for permission. The Molokai Dispatch reserves the right to edit and print all submissions. Submit entries via email (Editor@TheMolokaiDispatch.com), in person at our Kaunakakai office (Moore building suite 5 – we can take your photo), or by snail mail (PO Box 482219, Kaunakakai, HI 96748).


Molokai Is – Round 3
With such great entries it’s safe to say that we are dealing with some inspired people this week. Is it fair there can only be one winner? Probably not, but it makes for a good contest. So whose inspired entry deserves the $50 prize to Kualapu`u Cookhouse. That’s up to you. Vote online now at www.TheMolokaiDispatch.com or call 808-552-2781 and leave us a message.

Molokai Is All of These Things
By Lee Mott

Molokai is, Sunday with smoke and smells coming from beach gatherings, fish, food and family.

Molokai is, ancient Hawaiian fishponds, stone walls, heiaus, and modern Hawaiians looking into the future.

Molokai is the North Shore with waterfalls and cliffs, Mana’e, the reef, the West End with those beaches.

Molokai is, barking deer, chickens, and bugs. 

Molokai is, the barge, downtown, off island, and coming home.

Molokai is, leaving your keys in the car, not locking your doors at night, and knowing there is always help on the road. 

Molokai is, baseball, flat bottom boats, rodeos, rust, and red dirt.

Molokai is, a great place to grow up, a great place to be from and a great place to come home to.

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The Nine Sides of Father Damien

Friday, March 5th, 2010

The Nine Sides of Father Damien

While a picture is known to be worth a thousand words, for some it can also be worth a thousand memories. For her latest mixed media artwork project, Molokai born and raised Paula Mondoy Scott relied on personal experiences from her childhood and plenty of research to create nine original pieces. The works of art represent different aspects of Father Damien and Kalaupapa.

Scott grew up in Kalae, just a few miles from the peninsula, and while she didn’t visit until the required age of 16, she was connected to the history-rich settlement from birth. Her father, John Mondoy, would often go down to play music for the patients, and she had some aunties and uncles work at the settlement.

One New Year’s Eve, “I was dancing all night with the patients,” she said. She also met Richard Marks, who was “instrumental” in patient advocacy.

,” she said.

Scott said her key points of inspiration were the children Saint Damien worked with; his advocacy – “even to the point of becoming unpopular with the diocese” – and his work as a healer.

Scott is well-researched in the life of Saint Damien, which led her to know a little about another famous Kalaupapa healer – Mother Marianne Cope. When visiting Hawaii last month for her father’s birthday, Scott was in Oahu for the dedication of a Mother Marianne statue.

“I’m getting a nudge from the universe to do a body of work on Mother Mary,” Scott said

Scott created a blog many years ago called Molokai Girl, to broaden her audience for her artwork. All her work, including the process of making her Father Damien series, is available at her blog.

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Aunty’s Corner

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Aloha Aunty Here,
I am continually impressed by the Leo Club at the high school.  They come around to our doors at Home Pumehana every holiday with either goodies or hand made cards.  It really makes my day.  No matter what people say about teenagers, these kids are a great example for our future.  Mahalo, you made an ol’ aunty happy.

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Molokai Is…Week 2 — VOTE NOW!

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Molokai Is…Week 2 — VOTE NOW!

We have our first winner for the Molokai Is… contest: Ko’i’ula Davis! The 10-year-old Kualapu’u School student received the most online and call-in votes for her short and sweet essay about her home island. Congratulations to her, and to all the contestants; everyone submitted unique and motivating pieces.

This week we have four more entries, including mana’o from the kindergartners of Kaunakakai Elementary. Vote for your favorite by logging in to www.TheMolokaiDispatch.com, emailing to editor@TheMolokaiDispatch.com, or leaving a message at 552-2781. Voting ends on Friday, March 5, at midnight.

Remember, if you’d like to enter your own ‘Molokai Is…,’ submit poetry or other writing in 150 words or less, photography or another piece of art that defines this island for you. Include your full name, phone number, and a photo, and submit to editor@TheMolokaiDispatch.com, in person at our Kaunakakai office (Moore building suite 5 – we can take your photo), or by snail mail (PO Box 482219, Kaunakakai, HI 96748). Mmm, mmm – thanks Kualapu`u Cookhouse!

Joseph Barno

If aloha was a place, it would be called Molokai. The beauty of the land and the beauty of its people is beyond compare. It is the smile on the faces you pass on the street, the hand waving as you pass on the road. It is the ‘talk story’ at the Friendly Market checkout line and no one gets impatient. We are all a big family, different races, different family combinations but still a family, a loving brotherhood of people. Thank God for Molokai!

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Ingrid Toth, Lono headline book signing

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Ingrid Toth, Lono headline book signing

Molokai musician Lono strummed his guitar as passerby flowed in and out of the Art from the Heart gallery last Wednesday, waiting to meet Ingrid Toth, author of “Light within Despair.”

The book and CD signing was a collective event that not only included Toth and Lono, but also featured Donald Sunshine, a longtime Molokai resident and author.

“Light within Despair” is Toth’s first published novel that tells the story of a woman’s struggle to fit within a male-dominated society in 20th century Europe.

Toth, along with Sunshine and Lono, drew in a buzzing crowd that saw anyone from art and literature aficionados, to curious members of the community.
 
“This is what keeps Molokai going,” said Annie Van Eps, owner of Art from the Heart gallery. “These are the kind of things that we need.”

Jack Geng, husband of Toth, would like to give a big mahalo to Van Eps for opening up her gallery and making this event possible.


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New Kalaniana’ole Hall Opens its Doors

Friday, February 26th, 2010

New Kalaniana’ole Hall Opens its Doors

Upon completion of Kalaniana'ole Hall's restoration efforts, several Molokai community members gathered to witness its blessing on Tuesday, Feb. 9 in Kalama'ula.

Plans to renovate the historic building were first brought forth in 2003. The organization Friends of Kalaniana'ole immediately jumped on board with financial support, mustering grants from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and the Molokai Enterprise Community (EC), as well as help from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, Lokahi Pacific and other groups.

is going to be used for meetings and funerals," Venenciano said. "It's what it was used for in the past, so we need to stay close to that and retain that value."

Originally, the historic Kalaniana'ole Hall, built in 1937, was used for funeral services, overnight vigils and 'ohana viewings, as well as parties, weddings, hula contests and weekend movies. In 2003 its significant history was addressed when the state recognized the hall in the Hawaii Register of Historic Places.

Since its opening, the hall has already been used a few times by the community. On Jan. 7, Kalaniana'ole Hall was used by the USDA Rural Development during its roundtable discussion with Molokai residents regarding the economy. Stacy Crivello, a member of the EC Governance Board, said in a statement that it was appropriate for the USDA to utilize the hall because of its contributions to the renovation.

As for its future, Venenciano sees it as a refreshing continuation of a historical entity.

"It is a celebration of our history," he said.


Special Mahalo To:
 
Ke Aupuni Lokahi Board of Directors and Staff; Hale O Na Ali'i O Hawaii Halau O Kawananakoa; Board of Trustees, Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Mr. Albert Tiberi, Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Mr. William Akutagawa, Friends of Kalaniana'ole; Mr. Hardy Spoehr, Community Development Pacific; Mr. Glenn Mason, Mason Architects; Mr. Lester Delos Reyes, Hawaii National Guard; Ms. Kamaile Sombelon, Lokahi Pacific; Mr. Fred Bailey and Sons Electric, Contractor; Mr. Sandy Stein, Contractor; Ms. Irene Lam, USDA Rural Development; Mr. Darrel Yagodich, DHHL, Planning Department; Mr. George Maioho, Mr. Larry Sagario and DHHL Staff; Mr. Steven Arce, COM, Public Works; Mr. Peter Nicholas, Molokai Properties Ltd., Mr. Adolph Helm, Mycrogen Seed Company; Order of Kamehameha, Maui Chapter; Kalama'ula Homestead Association; Mr. Richard & Mrs. Kanani Negrillo & O'hana; Mr. Henry & Mrs. Rose-Allen Paleka; Mr. Brent Davis, Davis & Sons; and Mr. Dolphin Pawn, Akamai Tree Trimming.

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Molokai Is…Week 1 — Voting Over

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Molokai Is…Week 1 — Voting Over

UPDATE -- Last week, we asked you to define Molokai in your own words. Surprisingly there were as many entries from off-island as there were locally. So who won this week’s competition? It’s up to you. Vote for your favorite response in the comments below. Vote now for Ko`i, Donald, Derek or Marvalee. The winner will be announced in next week’s paper. Voting ends Fridays at midnight.

Marvalee Leilani Wright Lin Kee, Maui
Moloka’i is….home
Home is where your heart can rest,
And feel the peaceful love….
Home is where Ohana gather,
to praise the Lord above….
Home is where we lay our head,
And feel the love surround….,
Home is Moloka’i,
Its equal not yet found….


Want to share your ideas about what Molokai means to you and potentially win $50 to the Kualapu`u Cookhouse? The contest continues… One winner per week selected by Molokai Dispatch readers. Each submission must include the full name, phone number, and photo of the contestant. Kids, ask your parents or teachers for permission. The Molokai Dispatch reserves the right to edit and print all submissions. Submit entries via email (Editor@TheMolokaiDispatch.com), in person at our Kaunakakai office (Moore building suite 5 – we can take your photo), or by snail mail (PO Box 482219, Kaunakakai, HI 96748). Mmm, mmm – thanks Kualapu`u Cookhouse!

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Hula Babies and Kupuna Dance Together

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Hula Babies and Kupuna Dance Together

Moana Dudoit shared something her mother told her over 50 years ago. “Remember, you didn’t get your talent from me, or your dad – you got it from God,” Moana said to the crowd of over 800 on Saturday night, gathered at Mitchell Pauole Center for her annual hula halau fundraiser. “Share your talent for free.”

And so Moana shared. She began a hula halau for her family, but it soon evolved into a group that anyone could join. Over 100 of her dancer’s came back to the stage, some from off island, for last Saturday’s annual dinner and dance fundraiser, performing ancient chants, hula, and the always show-stopping Tahitian-style dancing.

Missed the performance? While it might not be as extravagant as last week’s performance Moana’s Hula Halau performs every Wednesday night at Hotel Molokai, free of charge.

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With a Song to Share

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

With a Song to Share

Community Contributed

By Diane Abraham

We are indeed blessed on Molokai. The natural beauty all around us is only sweetened by the people who call this `aina their home. Lono, with his musical talent and mana`o, is one such person.

Recently, the fourth graders of Kualapu`u School have been graced by his generosity. Crowding 62 nine and ten-year old haumanu into Ms. Abraham’s classroom, the keiki have learned a mele about our favorite monk seal, KP2. KP2, which stands for Kauai Pup Two (Pup one from the same mother was likewise abandoned at birth and died shortly thereafter), has properly been given a Hawaiian name: Ho’ailona.

Lono’s song about this punahele pup has filled our hearts, our ears, our voices and our class.

Mahalo to this awesome man who shows that one person can make a difference: in this case, in not just one life but in the lives of 62 young people, and no doubt, their three teachers!

There’s even a sweet touch: at a presentation in Honolulu of Ho’ailona, Lono played the recording he made of the children singing the chorus (hui) while he sang the verses. The audience and moderators were brought to tears by the sweet singing of the Kualapu`u haumanu. The recording has been aired on the radio (FM 102.3)…keep listening! How wonderful that Lono has opened this opportunity for the young people of Molokai to express themselves in song. One never knows what the future holds; we can only do what Lono has done: seize the moment and let Akua chart the course.   

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Keiki Rhythm

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Keiki Rhythm

Community Contributed

By Alison Place

The rhythmic sound of Tahitian drums echo throughout the cafeteria at Kaunakakai School on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Upon closer inspection one can see several adults and children smiling, perspiring, and laughing while they dance to the beat of the drums. Welcome to the Tahitian Dance Exercise class, which is taught by Tere Neuhart.

Neuhart has danced most her life, including professionally on Oahu at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Hawaiian Hut and Paradise Cove. Upon returning home to Molokai to raise her family, she joined Moana’s Hula Halau where she has danced for the past 16 years.

Neuhart’s passion for dance and the rhythmic music combined with the drum beats inspired her to teach an exercise class in that venue. Judging by the popularity of the class many share this passion. “I think many of the girls and ladies enjoy dancing to music from another culture while learning basic Tahitian movements. They also get a really good cardio workout from dancing and moving to the music.”

The class is funded by the 21st Century Community Learning Center Program and is therefore free to participants. If you are interested in joining in the fun, register with Joshua Adachi (553-1730). There are two classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. All are welcome.

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