Health

Electric Walk-in Payment Centers Permanently Close

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020

Hawaiian Electric News Release

Hawaiian Electric’s walk-in payment centers in Honolulu, Kahului, Hilo, Kona and Molokai, closed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, will permanently shut their doors due to declining use and customers adapting to other payment options.

The company is encouraging customers to enroll for online services through its Online Customer Service Center or mobile app. Online, customers may start, stop or move service requests, request payment arrangements through an authenticated channel, report payment, submit billing inquiries, schedule one-time or automatic bill payment, as well as report and check status on outages.

The payment centers were closed in mid-March to keep customers and employees safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they have remained closed.…

Kalauapa Gets First Case, 3 More for Topside Molokai

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Kalaupapa recorded its first COVID-19 case last week, after being reportedly the last county in the U.S. without the virus. Separately, Molokai had three additional positive cases, bringing the island’s total to 22 since the pandemic began, not including the Kalaupapa case.

On Dec. 8, the Dept. of Health reported the three Molokai cases today as household contacts. One person had travel history, but it is unclear whether the transmission of the virus was from the traveler of as a result of community spread. The investigation is ongoing as of last week, according to the DOH.

In the Kalaupapa case, the individual received their positive test result after returning on a local flight to the Kalaupapa settlement and was in self-isolation with no symptoms, the DOH reported on Dec.…

Lighting Up the Holidays

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020

Lighting Up the Holidays

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Though the annual Christmas light parade was cancelled this year due to the pandemic, many businesses and residents have lit up the holidays with elaborate, glowing decor. Pictured here, Molokai Community Service Council erected a giant tree structure and rooftop display. Paleka’s shave ice stand, which serves funnel cake some nights, is also decked out for the holidays.…

Mahalo for Thanksgiving Lunch Success

Wednesday, December 9th, 2020

Topside UCC Churches Community Thanksgiving Drive-Thru Lunch feeds nearly 400! We thank God and all the earthly angels that made this years’ lunch a success despite the restrictions put upon us by COVID-19. Aside of people driving thru to pick up lunches, we also delivered to homebound friends. We pray it was ‘ono and satisfying for all who came to get a lunch.

We thank all the following for monetary, food and service donations: Misaki’s, Mrs. K’s, Claire Iveson, Penny Martin, Louise Miguel, Janice and Rick Ogoshi, Pualani Akaka, Earline Iaea, Dara Lukonen, Dan and Hi’ilei Bernabe, Loke Ramarama, Helena Puaa, Crystal Egusa, Jaty Spencer, Lanakila Hussey, Otto, Lisa Willing & Family, Kai Hodorawis, Jim Stone, Cynthia and Jim Kiyabu, Zessica Apiki, Kauwela Kalawe, Panui Tollefsen, Judy Davidson, Norman Levi, Tina He, and forgive me if I forgot to name you.…

Overpopulated Deer Dropping Dead

Wednesday, December 9th, 2020

I am writing as a concerned absentee condo owner on the west end of Molokai. My concern is the proliferating deer herds on the island which are experiencing heavy die-off due to lack of water and vegetation. Shared photos and videos reveal herds are decimating yards, gardens and grounds in daylight hours, unafraid of people, and still they are not able to sustain themselves, as evidenced by their bony, skeleton-like bodies.

Consequently, deer are dropping dead everywhere. Roadsides are punctuated with carcasses which only indicates the number that must be lying in the fields and forests of the island. It is said that hunters are shooting them nightly for sport, leaving the bodies to rot because their freezers are already full.…

Two New Molokai Cases

Wednesday, December 9th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Two new COVID-19 cases on Molokai last week brought the island’s total cases to 19 since the pandemic began, as of Sunday. A case was confirmed by the Dept. of Health on Monday, Nov. 30, with another on Saturday, Dec. 5. Contact tracing took place and there were no further details available.

On Dec. 4, the DOH announced that it is reducing the mandatory quarantine period for those exposed to COVID-19 from 14 days to 10 days. The Department said this is to improve compliance without significantly increasing the risk of transmission in the community, based on updated recommendations from the CDC last week.…

Visitor Industry Gives Rice

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020

MHLA News Release

The Maui Hotel and Lodging Association (MHLA) distributed 25,000 pounds of rice throughout Maui County in November.

The annual “Rice for the Holidays” program began in 2009 when MHLA partnered with Jim Coon of Trilogy Excursions in their annual giveaway of turkeys to the residents of Lanai by adding a five-pound bag of rice with the turkey.

Since then the program has expanded to provide rice for food distributions on Maui and Molokai. In 2011, Hana was added to the distribution. The rice was distributed on Lanai and Molokai Saturday, Nov. 21; and will be distributed in Hana on Friday, Dec.…

Census Followup

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020

My name is Napua Burke and I served as minister to the Hawaiian Congregational churches (Topside Molokai UCC Churches) from 2013 to 2016. At the end of 2016, I returned to Hilo to care for my mother and I continue to be grateful for the kind words and messages I received at the time of her passing.

My husband and I have continued to maintain a home in Molokai because we love this island and its people. We have not visited Molokai since the beginning of the pandemic for obvious reasons. Recently though, I began working for the Census and I have volunteered to come over to Molokai in December to conduct what are called Post Enumeration Surveys, which is basically a method of verifying that accuracy of the information received during the census.…

Support the Arts

Wednesday, November 25th, 2020

MAC News Release

Molokai Arts Center (MAC) started 2020 celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Plans to expand classes and activities, helping to intensify MAC’s commitment to the Molokai community, was waylaid by COVID-19 and frequently changing safety protocols.

The mission of the only non-profit arts education organization on Molokai is to provide art classes, youth and kupuna programs, as well as studio and gallery space for adults, children, residents and visitors to this rural island. We believe that everyone in the Molokai community, from the professional artist to the novice, deserves the opportunity to develop their creative gifts.

Today, this means servicing less people in light of social distancing requirements and canceling all activities which normally gathered more than ten people.…

Virtual Floating Lantern Ceremony

Wednesday, November 25th, 2020

Since 2013, Hospice Molokai (now known as Navian Hawaii), along with the Molokai Guzeiji Soto Mission, has hosted the Annual Floating Lantern Ceremony. The event provides our Molokai Community the opportunity to come together in a safe and familiar space reminding us that we are not alone and to honor our loved ones that have died.

Due to COVID-19 we were unable to hold the seventh annual live event on Nov. 14, so a Virtual Video Event was created for you — “Holding Space to Honor Our Loved Ones.” It can be viewed at any time on YouTube at youtube.com/watch?v=57asQuS4yQk “Molokai Floating Lantern.”…