Health

How To Tell A Conference

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

By Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

I played around the monitor screen with my mouse and fiddled and diddled until I heard a voice, a familiar voice, the voice of Bishop Larry. Then the video screen began to fill up with the priests of our Vicariate. I had reached the advertised Get To Meeting and there was Bishop Larry speaking to his priests by teleconference on the subject of COVID-19 and its consequences. I continued to fiddle and diddle like I was blind until I heard the bishop tell the group that Pat Killilea was on audio. I had unintentionally requested to speak and now I was on the spot.…

Focused on Food: Residents adapt to new grocery routines

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

Focused on Food: Residents adapt to new grocery routines

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

As Molokai residents struggle to settle into routines of a new normal amid stay at home orders, shopping for food has proven a challenging task for many on the island. With Friendly Market’s continued closure anticipated until April 20, and the other main stores limiting customers to placing orders for curbside pickup, lines for food have been hours long.

Many residents reported attempting to reach Misaki’s two phone order lines hundreds of times. Car lines for shopping at Kualapu’u Market often extended to Molokai High School. Both stores have limited the amount of items each customer can purchase.…

Testing Implemented, National Guard Requested

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai positive COVID-19 cases remained at two as of Sunday, with no additional cases officially confirmed by the Dept. of Health following a large testing event last week. Statewide, the confirmed case count rose to 499 as of Sunday, with nine deaths linked to COVID-19 in Hawaii.

Last week Tuesday, Dr. Scott Miscovich and Dr. Kaohimanu Akiona brought more than a dozen medical staff to do a drive thru COVID-19 screening and testing event at Mitchell Pauole Center for Molokai residents. They brought nearly 500 tests available on a first-come first served basis, and completed a second testing event this week Tuesday.…

Life Sciences Scholarship Deadline Extended

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

Bayer News Release

In response to hurdles posed by the difficult coronavirus situation, the application deadline for the Bayer Hawaii Life Sciences Scholarship has been extended to May 15. The previous deadline was April 1. Molokai students have previously been awarded this scholarship.

According Alan Takemoto, community affairs manager for Bayer Hawaii: “Over the past few days, we’ve heard from students and counselors that school closures related to COVID-19 have created challenges to completing scholarship applications. Our hope in extending this year’s deadline is that more students statewide will be able to apply for scholarship funds to help further their education.”…

Holy Week Live Streaming

Wednesday, April 8th, 2020

St. Damien Catholic Parish News Release

Due to the pandemic spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu has given directives that all churches and satellite missions throughout the state be closed until April 30 or until further notice. All liturgies and sacraments will also be cancelled through April 30 which includes Holy Week. This includes Molokai’s St. Damien’s Catholic Parish.

The Diocese has made available a live stream schedule for daily mass and masses throughout the Holy Week. The live stream can be viewed on the Facebook page for the Cathedral of Basilica of Our Lady of Peace.…

Make Your Own Face Mask

Wednesday, April 8th, 2020

SOL News Release

If you want to make your own face mask, Seed of Love (SOL) WAHINE will help. We will provide cut fabric and/or pattern, sewing notions and instructions. A sewing machine is not necessary, we’ll teach you how to stitch the mask by hand if you want. Great out-of-classroom and community project! All folks on island should have at least one mask. Contact us if interested at seedoflovehawaii@gmail.com.…

Filing for Federal Business Funding

Wednesday, April 8th, 2020

By Phil Pendergraft, President, The Molokai Dispatch

Last Friday, just after 10 a.m., The Molokai Dispatch filed its application for assistance under the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) of the CARES Act. The filing was accepted by the Bank of Hawaii and assigned a reference number. We learned some things through the application process we think might be helpful for fellow Molokai businesses.

The PPP is designed to provide assistance to small businesses, generally defined as having less than five hundred employees, in meeting payroll and other key costs through this diffi-cult time. If a business keeps its staff through the eight weeks following the loan, then the amount of the payroll costs during this period will be forgiven and the loan balance re-duced.…

Micro Business Loan Program

Wednesday, April 8th, 2020

County of Maui News Release

Mayor Michael Victorino announced the launch of the Micro Business Loan Program to help business owners impacted by COVID-19 on Molokai, Lanai and Maui.

The County of Maui is committing $1 million for the program, which will be administered by the Maui Chamber of Commerce, to support economic viability.

“This loan program is designed to help our smallest businesses applying for a loan online with 10 or fewer employees,” Mayor Michael Victorino said. “We are so grateful to all those who are supporting the health of our people by staying at home. Through this partnership with the Chamber of Commerce we can help them cover their finances during this difficult time.”…

Small Business Assistance on MEDB Website

Wednesday, April 8th, 2020

County of Maui News Release

Federal programs for small businesses on Molokai as well as step-by-step instructions on how to apply for assistance due to impacts from COVID-19 are available on Maui Economic Development Board Inc.’s (MEDB) website at medb.org.

The information and assistance is part of a joint effort between the County of Maui, Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and MEDB.

“We’re trying to stay up-to-date with the federal legislation and programs so we can continue to help our local businesses,” said Leslie Wilkins, President and CEO of MEDB. “We have a dedicated team, led by Business Development Director Gerry Smith, answering questions and will be updating our website with more resources and information.…

Hawaii Emergency Laulima Partnership Applications

Wednesday, April 8th, 2020

County of Maui News Release

Applications are now being accepted for financial assistance though the Hawaii Emergency Laulima Partnership (H.E.L.P.) program. The County of Maui allocated $2 million in general funds to the program to assist families with members who have lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The H.E.L.P. program offers financial assistance for Maui County residents with essential needs such as food, personal hygiene, medicine, rent, mortgage, utility services, phone or internet services, car payments, and other necessities.

The program is being administered through a partnership with Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. (MEO).

“The health and well-being of our residents are our top priority,” Mayor Michael Victorino said.…