COVID-19

Virtual Veteran Benefits Counselors

Wednesday, August 26th, 2020

MVCV News Release

Aloha veterans and families, according to the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Counselors have not traveled to Molokai and are now doing virtual interviews. This is due to the COVID -19 cases in the state. To make an appointment, please do the following:
1. Email the Honolulu Public Contact (PC) mailbox at: pctc.vbahon@va.gov
2. Call the Honolulu PC office and leave message at (808) 433-0505
3. Include the following info:
a. Your email and phone number
b, First and Last name
c. Reason for contact
For security reasons, do not include social security number in email/phone call.…

Reading Program Makes a Difference in Mana’e

Wednesday, August 26th, 2020

Reading Program Makes a Difference in Mana’e

By Marina Lafaele

During this pandemic, we can all agree that COVID-19 has taken a toll on our state, our community and mainly our keiki who are still adjusting to numerous changes. Some of those changes are hard to adjust to, but with help from a dedicated teacher and inspiring advocate, Cynthia Luafalemana, the best is yet to come.

Mrs. Luafalemana’s efforts align with the collaboration of Gary O. Galiher Foundation and Kilohana Elementary School to preserve the Kilohana Surf Reader Program. This innovative program has been dedicated to the Kilohana Elementary School pre-K to sixth grade students for over 20 years.…

Our Lives Are Special

Wednesday, August 26th, 2020

Humble, careful conversation. Let’s all support, love, care and use the word aloha to help get rid of this deadly coronavirus disease. Say to yourself, “My life, family, community. All our lives are very valuable and special. I’m going to follow and do the right thing to save all of our lives.”

The beach, the park, is not going to disappear. Alcohol will always be here, but more lives will disappear if we all don’t follow and care. If we go to the beach or the park, be aware what we all supposed to do. Put on your mask, keep your distance.…

Young Brothers Granted 46% Rate Hike

Wednesday, August 26th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

In the latest in a saga of Young Brothers barge troubles, the company was granted a 46 percent rate increase, with conditions. The increase, approved last week by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC), will be effective Sept. 1. YB must fulfill several mandates as part of the rate hike, which has been granted on a emergency basis for 12 months.

“We understand that Young Brothers is the only carrier required to serve all islands and discontinuation of service would discontinue all service to Molokai and Lanai,” said Molokai Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez in an informal virtual community meeting she held to dis-cuss the rate increase last Thursday.…

Kalaupapa’s Annual Barge

Wednesday, August 26th, 2020

Kalaupapa’s Annual Barge

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Barge Day in the remote Kalaupapa settlement has always been filled with excitement — it only comes once a year, after all! Often referred to as “Christmas in July” for residents, there is just a narrow window of calm, summer weather that allows the barge to safety dock at the settlement’s small harbor to unload a year’s worth of essential and large items. This year’s shipment was a little delayed — and complicated by strict COVID-19 protocols to keep at-risk residents safe.

“Once a year a barge brings in all of our bulky items, like appliances, vehicles, fuel, materials to repair buildings, and items considered hazardous to fly in on an airplane, like certain batteries,” the Kalaupapa National Historical Park Facebook page reported.…

New Molokai COVID Case

Tuesday, August 25th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

A new COVID-19 case was confirmed on island last Friday, according to officials. The resident contracted COVID while on Oahu before the interisland quarantine was reinstated on Aug. 11, said Molokai Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez in a social media announcement.

“The person’s name will not be released to the public. The person has given contact information for those who could have been exposed. Contact tracers are trying to get a hold of those people on Molokai now,” said Rawlins-Fernandez Friday.

The state Dept. of Health had yet to publicly acknowledge the case as of Sunday.

This is the third case for Molokai; the other two were in April, linked to a Friendly Market Center employee who traveled to Las Vegas.…

Library Suspends Computer Use, Offers Wifi

Wednesday, August 19th, 2020

Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the state, the Hawaii State Public Library System (HSPLS) will temporarily suspend computer time at all library branches statewide from Aug. 16 to 31. However, using their library card, patrons will be able to access the HSPLS’s WiFi network from outside the library buildings during public service hours, including the Molokai Public Library.

Public libraries will continue to offer Library Take Out services at all branches statewide, except at the Liliha, Kahului and McCully-Moiliili Public Libraries, which are closed for renovation. Library Take Out allows patrons to pick up hold items that are ready for them at their favorite library branch.…

Beneath The Banyan Tree

Wednesday, August 19th, 2020

By Father Pat Killilia, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

Legend says that “trees are the record keepers of the earth. They are busy gathering information and holding volumes of wisdom and knowledge. Branches layer themselves with information and their leaves capture your words and actions as you walk by them.” It is also written that “the banyan tree represents a time of going within and becoming self-aware through reflection, meditation, silence and a quieting of one’s mind. In the stillness of our awareness, we can begin to hear the voice of our soul’s calling.”

It should be no surprise then that on the morning of Aug.…

Schools Back in Session, Amid Last Minute Changes

Wednesday, August 19th, 2020

Schools Back in Session, Amid Last Minute Changes

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Monday brought a return to school for some campuses on Molokai under various blended learning models, while two schools, Kaunakakai Elementary and Molokai High, announced over the weekend they will implement 100 percent virtual learning for the first several weeks.

Two weeks ago, the Dept. of Education announced Oahu schools would start the year with four weeks of distance learning, due to continued a rise in COVID-19 cases. Last week, a second announcement extended distance learning to all schools in the state, except those on Molokai and Hana.

“The decision to move ahead with Molokai’s reopening plans was community-driven,” said Nanea Kalani, a spokesperson for the DOE, explaining why Molokai schools were among the only in the state to return to campus on Aug.…

New HI Case Record, Molokai Hospital Prepared

Wednesday, August 19th, 2020

New HI Case Record, Molokai Hospital Prepared

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

The state reached a new record last Thursday with 355 new COVID-19 cases reported in a single day. On Maui, 71 cases have been reported in the last 30 days, as of last Friday, and county officials expect that number to grow. Molokai confirmed cases remain at two.

“We would like to commend the community on their efforts to keep us COVID-19 free,” said Janice Kalanihuia, president of Molokai General Hospital. “We know it has been a long five months, but now is not the time to let our guard down. There have been a lot of visitors from other islands to Molokai over the past month so it is best for us to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, keep socially distant and wear a mask when out in public.…