Health

Heal Yourself With Music and Aloha

Friday, January 22nd, 2016

Heal Yourself With Music and Aloha

Community Contributed

By Ayda Ersoy

I am hugely grateful to be a part of the amazing Tuesday Kanikapila jam group up at Coffees of Hawaii. It had such an effect on me, seeing how much joy and aloha is shared by such a beautiful group of people just getting together to make music, that I had to write about it!

The group’s founders Waipa Purdy, Roy Horner and Bill Perdue kindly shared their interpretations of Aloha, and I wrote the article for my Huffington Post blog.

Here’s a short excerpt, you can read the full article online, and see photos and a short video of the group, at huffingtonpost.com/ayda-ersoy/

Addressing Drugs on Molokai

Wednesday, December 16th, 2015

With a recent drug-related shooting fresh on people’s minds, Molokai residents are gathering for a revitalized call to action to address the island’s drug problems head on. More than 40 community members from church representatives to police officers, recovering addicts to government officials, gathered last Friday for a workshop led by Toni Bissen, executive director of Pu`a Foundation, a nonprofit that has created a framework for healing trauma within prison walls. “You look back and we’ve had murder suicides, suicides, domestic violence,” said county council member Stacy Crivello. “We act and then we stop. It’s just our culture, because you know that person and you don’t want to talk about it.…

Celebration Through Donation

Wednesday, November 25th, 2015

Celebration Through Donation

For 80 years, Molokai Drugs has doled out over-the-counter remedies to thousands of island residents. This year, however, the island’s only pharmacy is tending to the health of a unique customer: Molokai High’s ailing fleet of school buses.

To celebrate their milestone anniversary, the owners of Molokai Drugs donated a new 14-passenger bus to the high school, which spent nearly $15,000 last year in bus repairs alone.

The brand-new vehicle, which will be used on Maui, is a start to replacing a collection of buses that over the years have cost the school thousands of dollars, delayed numerous trips and limited the number of students and equipment that teams can take off island.…

Flu Season Is Here

Friday, November 20th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Jon Mikami, RPh, and Kelly Go, RPh, Molokai Drugs

The flu can hit senior citizens fast and furious! That’s because their immune systems weaken with age. If you’re over 65—or care for someone who is—keep the following in mind as we head into the flu season.

As for the rest of you? We have a message or two for you, as well.

A better match. Last year, seniors really bore the brunt of the flu season. Sixty percent of flu-related hospitalizations and nearly 80 percent of deaths were among those 65 or older. One problem was that last year’s main strain of flu (H3N2) wasn’t included in the vaccine.…

Child Abuse Prevention

Friday, November 13th, 2015

Consuelo Foundation Molokai News Release

In conjunction with the Sex Abuse Treatment Center of Kapi`olani Women and Children Hospital, the Molokai Child Abuse Prevention Pathways wants to encourage everyone to be an advocate for respect.

Respect means to show regard or consideration for the following situations.

Sexual Violence is non-discriminatory, it happens to anyone of any age, sexual preference, social/economic class, it does not care who you are. However, friends and family members can have an open discussion about the respectful ways to respond to someone who discloses sexual abuse.

Here are reminders to go by that are respectful:

Believe the victim Remind and encourage the “victim” that it is not his/her fault Encourage the victim that there is help available when they are ready

Kids, always remember if a friend or family member is in serious danger, tell a trusted adult as soon as possible.…

Molokai Fitness: Heal yourself with your diet

Friday, November 6th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Ayda Ersoy

What if you can heal yourself just by changing your diet? I don’t think anyone needs to tell you that you should lose weight, or exercise, or start following a diet. You know exactly what you need to do. Am I right?

If you look around Molokai, a large amount of the population has diabetes and is overweight. In the U.S., 21 million people have diabetes, another 8 million have it but are as yet undiagnosed, and an astonishing 86 million are pre-diabetic. The numbers are increasing every year.

So what are we doing wrong? What has changed in the last 20 or 30 years to make this problem get so big?…

November Events for Veterans

Thursday, November 5th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Longie Dudoit, MVCV Vice Commander

Our Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans (MVCV) have a lot of activities for our veterans and community for the month of November.  On Thursday, Nov. 5, our state VA Counselor, John Condello, will be at our center from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for appointments only by calling (808) 433-0420.

On Friday, Nov. 6, at our center will be holding our general membership meeting from 10 a.m. to noon for election of board officers and directors for the next two years.  Our nomination committee chairperson, Jeanette Kahalehoe, is currently accepting interested veterans for all positions. …

Wellhead Protection Project

Friday, October 23rd, 2015

County Dept. of Water Supply News Release

The Maui County Department of Water (DOW) Supply initiated the “Wellhead Protection Project” in order to protect the quality of our community’s drinking water wells. The land areas that could contribute water and pollutants to our drinking water sources have been mapped as “Wellhead Protection Areas.” If pollutants are spilled or discharged in these land areas, they could filter through the soil to the groundwater and be drawn into a drinking water well. The DOW, in collaboration with the community, developed a protection strategy and drafted a Wellhead Protection Overlay District Ordinance.

The DOW will hold an informational meeting on this project and the proposed ordinance on Tuesday, Nov.…

Grief Support Group

Friday, October 9th, 2015

Hospice Hawaii Molokai News Release

When a person experiences the death of a loved one, their life is forever changed and the journey can be an emotional roller coaster. Knowledge about grief can help a person understand the emotions and know what is normal grief and mourning. A grief support group through Hospice Hawaii Molokai is for anyone in the Molokai community who has experienced the loss of a loved one.

The new closed support group begins Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and every Wednesday for 12 weeks at the Hospice Hawaii office (next to Dave’s ice cream).…

Child Abuse Prevention Scenarios

Friday, October 9th, 2015

Consuelo Foundation Molokai News Release

Though Molokai is a small community, we’re not immune from child abuse. Education is an important step in prevention. Parents, don’t be afraid to talk to your children about staying safe and healthy. Here is an activity to do with your children ages 5 to 10, but it can be discussed at any age.

Talk about grown-ups they trust. Have your child think of several trusted grown-ups, they are comfortable talking to. Along with your child, identify and draw pictures of three grown-ups who will help if they have a problem. It is important to make sure to communicate with these adults about their role as a trusted person.…