COVID-19

Exploring Youth Photography

Wednesday, October 7th, 2020

By Kanoelani Davis, Honeygirl English, Shaye Lauifi — Ahupuaʻa O Molokai; Puni Ke Ola
Susana Helm, Jackie Ng-Osorio, Becka Adolpho — UH Manoa

Puni Ke Ola (PiKO) is a community-based youth program that explores how culture can promote health and prevent substance use among the youths in Native Hawaiian communities. In this afterschool program, the ʻopio will be able to connect to themselves, their ohana, and their community through the use of photography. Led by Kumu Kanoelani Davis, the photo strategy aligned with Hawaiian cultural values has sparked a fun and artistic way for the kids to express themselves. Their photos emphasize culture, health, and positive youth development.…

Free Grab-and-Go Meals for All Youth

Wednesday, October 7th, 2020

HIDOE News Release

The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) Grab-and-Go school meals program will be returning for the fall semester at 203 public schools beginning on Monday, Oct. 12, through Friday, Dec. 18, to provide free meals to children ages 18 and younger. The meals are available to children regardless of whether or not they are enrolled at the distribution site, are public school students, or are eligible for the free or reduced-price lunch program.

On Molokai, distribution sites are Kaunakakai, Kilohana and Maunaloa elementary schools, as well as Molokai Middle and Molokai High School.

Unlike during the summer, meal distribution will be at lunchtime only.…

$5M to Support Small Businesses

Wednesday, October 7th, 2020

County of Maui News Release

If you’re the owner of a small business on Molokai, you may qualify to receive a portion of the $5 million that Mayor Michael Victorino announced for the Maui County Adaptability Fund to help local small businesses recover and survive the impacts from COVID-19.WHY DO I PAY HIGH-RISK FEES FOR MY MERCHANT ACCOUNT? search can answer all your questions related to e-commerce.

Maui Economic Development Board, Inc. (MEDB) is administering the Adaptability Fund, a program funded by the CARES Act.

The grant program started accepting online applications on Sept. 25.

“The purpose of the Adaptability Fund is to provide grants to help Maui County’s small businesses comply with health and safety guidelines, as well as adapt to the ‘new normal’ amid COVID-19,” Mayor Victorino said.…

Virtual Concert Brings Kalaupapa Music to Life

Wednesday, October 7th, 2020

Virtual Concert Brings Kalaupapa Music to Life

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Music has a long history in Kalaupapa — a history of healing, bonding, and yes, quarantine. A virtual concert, “The Music of Kalaupapa,” sponsored by Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa, will bring that music into listeners’ homes on Oct. 17, offering tribute to the settlement’s often-forgotten musicians and composers of the past.

“I have long been amazed at how music has been such a constant thread throughout the history of Kalaupapa, from earliest days to now, and I believe it helped people to heal,” said Valerie Monson of Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa, a nonprofit of Kalaupapa residents, their family members and friends honoring the legacy of those who were exiled to the settlement.…

Molokai Case Increase Slows, Schools Prepare for 2nd Quarter

Wednesday, October 7th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai had one new COVID-19 case last week on Sept. 29, logging a total of 19 cases during the pandemic to date.

Molokai schools are on fall break this week but as the second quarter of the school year begins, some schools will continue face-to-face learning while others will stick with a virtual model.

Kilohana and Maunaloa Elementary schools will continue face-to-face learning into the second quarter. Kualapu’u School will resume with a mix of full day, half day and virtual instruction on Oct. 12 after break. Kaunakakai Elementary, Molokai High and Molokai Middle schools will begin second quarter with fully virtual learning.…

Mahalo for School Cooperation

Wednesday, September 30th, 2020

Kaunakakai Elementary School would like to give a big mahalo to all of our parents, guardians, grandparents, aunties and uncles for all their support in this distance learning situation. It’s awesome to see so many adults helping their keiki with online learning; logging into virtual meetings, helping students follow daily schedules, contacting teachers for tech support, picking up meals at our grab-n-go, bringing students into school for assessments, picking up supplies and learning packets, and much, much more. Our families are doing a tremendous job at home and we are so grateful for the level of involvement, commitment, and patience from our families in this ordeal.…

Hawaii Sustainability Plan Update

Wednesday, September 30th, 2020

HI Office of Planning News Release

Molokai residents wanting to participate in the State of Hawaii Office of Planning (OP) Statewide Sustainability Program will be able to do so in a series of virtual statewide Information Sharing Sessions to inform everyone about the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan (the Plan). The Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan is being updated and revised to serve as the State’s climate and sustainability strategic action plan.

“The people of the State of Hawaii have long understood the challenges of our finite resources and the importance of co-existing with our ʻaina,” said Gov. David Ige. “We are witnessing rising sea levels, temperature rise, and a decrease in precipitation; these climate change hazards require long-term sustainability planning to guide strategic implementation.”…

Keeping Up Appearances

Wednesday, September 30th, 2020

By Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

The phone rings. There is a clattering of high heeled shoes on the tile floor. Then a rather high pitch voice is heard saying, “Good afternoon! This is Mrs. Bouquet, mistress of the housing, speaking.” After a slight pause, the voice resumes, “Oh, it’s you Sheridan dear. How nice of you to call your mother.” We are tuning in to the voice of Mrs. Bucket, a lower middle-class housewife who is intent on climbing the ladder of society and wishes to be addressed as Mrs. Bouquet. She is the star of the 1990s British sitcom, “Keeping Up Appearances” and she acts as though she belongs to the upper class of society.…

One New Molokai Case Last Week

Wednesday, September 30th, 2020

One New Molokai Case Last Week

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai logged one new COVID-19 case last Wednesday, Sept. 23, bringing the island’s total case count to 17.

Despite requests to break down the island’s total and active cases, the Dept. of Health has not yet begun providing that information so it remains unclear how many of Molokai’s cases are active.

Last week, Gov. David Ige signed a proclamation extending the COVID-19 emergency period through Oct. 31, leaving in place the 14-day mandatory quarantine requirement for both out of state and interisland travelers. However, beginning Oct. 15, a pre-travel testing option will allow out of state travelers an alternative to the mandatory 14-day quarantine by providing a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to travel to Hawaii.…

Molokai Up 3 New Cases Last Week

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

After a surge of cases the previous week, Molokai had three new COVID-19 positives last week — two logged on Monday, Sept. 14 and one on Friday, bringing the island’s total to 16 since the pandemic began.

Requests have been made to the Dept. of Health to separate Molokai’s case count by total cases versus active cases but that breakdown is not yet available as of press deadline Sunday. Rep. Lynn DeCoite said the DOH told her “they are working on that” and should have it updated this week.

DeCoite said to her knowledge, none of the recent Molokai cases have required hospitalization.…