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Health

Weathering the Storms

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

 

A look at disaster planning on Molokai

Hurricanes, tsunamis, flooding – catastrophes like these can quickly go from bad to worse in a place as isolated as Molokai. In the midst of disaster, the island will rely first on its own – a small team of dedicated responders who are doing their best at planning for the worst.

When a tsunami hit Hawaii three years ago, 25 out of the 29 damage cases in Maui County were from Molokai, according to the Red Cross. Though these cases didn’t qualify as a disaster, the aftermath brings with it fear of what will carry Molokai through a time of need.…

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Priceless Healthcare

Wednesday, June 12th, 2013

Priceless Healthcare

Four-year-old Zooey Akutagawa stepped up to the scale to be weighed and measured. Around her were Molokai residents of all ages and backgrounds, receiving healthcare from military medical personnel. It was all part of program called Tropic Care, which brought free medical services to Maui County as part of a rapid deployment exercise.

“They have this down to a tee,” said Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa, who was at Kaunakakai Elementary School on June 7 for the opening of the four-day operation on Molokai. Residents were lined up outside the door to receive free health, dental and vision aid. As of Saturday, the health professionals had already provided 280 individual services on Molokai.…

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Island Legend: Paramedic Mel Paoa

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Island Legend: Paramedic Mel Paoa

He has helped to save countless Molokai lives. He is the longest serving, active paramedic in Maui County. He is Melvin “Mel” Paoa, Jr., the island’s first certified paramedic to serve on Molokai. And on May 30, he retired after 35 years of service.

“This is not a job, this is a love for the community and the people,” said Paoa. “I have mixed emotions on retirement. I’m not ready to divorce myself from the people.”

Paoa’s career in medical services began in 1975 as a lifeguard for the County of Maui’s Cooke Memorial Pool. While there, a county official asked if he would like to take a first aid class, which he did.…

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Campaign Against Tobacco

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Campaign Against Tobacco

Community Contributed

By Michelle Magdirila

Since I was a teenager, I have been involved in tobacco control. Currently I’m a young adult leader and Molokai organizer for a statewide youth movement called REAL: Hawaii Youth Movement Exposing the Tobacco Industry. During my six years with REAL, I’ve advocated for laws, trained hundreds of youth about what the tobacco companies are doing to recruit the youth generation as customers, and helped organize big tobacco control youth events. One of the most incredible things I’ve ever done was travel to New York City to demonstrate at the annual Philip Morris Shareholders Meeting two weeks ago.…

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Free Health, Dental and Vision Care Today through June 10

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Maui County News Release


Free health, dental and vision care will be offered to residents of Molokai over the next four days. The program will be held on Molokai at Kaunakakai Elementary School from June 7-10. June 7, the clinic will be open from noon to 5 p.m., June 8-9 open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and June 10 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Performing the health care services will be approximately 400 uniformed personnel including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, ophthalmologists, dentists and others from active and reserved ranks of the armed forces around the U.S. The military personnel will be participating in a rapid deployment exercise named Tropic Care 2013.…

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Veterans Center: Fight to Finish

Thursday, June 6th, 2013

Veterans Center: Fight to Finish

 

Seven years after Molokai veterans began the process to construct a center to call their own, the building is finally nearing completion. The group was granted a County of Maui building permit in May 2011 after years of permitting delays, lawsuits, protests and jumping through bureaucratic hoops. With the permit finally in hand, frustration turned to relief — but little did veterans know that two years later, the building still would not be complete.

“Many veterans will not have the chance to be able to see the Veteran Center,” said Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans Commander Larry Helm, who has spearheaded the effort to build the new center.…

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Na Mea Pono Learning Series

Thursday, May 30th, 2013

Na Mea Pono Learning Series

Community Contributed

By Roberta Cross and Zelie Duvauchelle

Zelie Kuliakaikanu`u Duvauchelle invites all those interested to a learning series called “Na Mea Pono” (Pono Things) starting June 2. Duvauchelle and the group will explore Hawaiian ways and cultural concepts.

In keeping with the oral tradition, Duvauchelle will encourage the group to try a new/old approach – a Hawaiian way of learning, listening and sharing.

“I’m really excited about this series,” said Duvauchelle. “What I see as part of my kuleana is being a bridge between people and cultures. I do this through music, facilitating groups, and consultations with individuals.”

The first session is on kuleana — responsibility to yourself, your family and community.…

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Register for Molokai Relay for Life

Thursday, May 30th, 2013

Register for Molokai Relay for Life

 

Molokai Relay for Life News Release

It’s time to rally for the relay! Molokai Relay for Life will be held this year on Friday, August 9 at the Baseball Park from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Please come out and help support Molokai’s relay, proceeds from which help support research to find a cure and assist so many of Molokai’s cancer patients in the fight.

If you are a club, sports team, business, organization, group of friends/ colleagues or family who would like to participate and put a team together, register now to get the best spot at the event.…

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Hale Connects People to Land and Sea

Monday, May 27th, 2013

Hale Connects People to Land and Sea

At Ka Honua Momona (KHM) Ali`i fishpond, workers take breaks in the shade of a large traditional thatched hale, where it is cool even on the hottest days. Office workers can look out at the hale and 30-acre pond from the windows of the sustainable office building where administrative work supports KHM’s mission of sustainability.

KHM hasn’t always had these amenities. The office and hale are the newest addition to the Ali`i fishpond, which nine years ago was overgrown with mangrove and knee-deep in mud. Today, because of the efforts of staff and volunteers eager to preserve the site’s ancient heritage, the Ali`i and Kalakoeli fishponds serve as a place for learning, sharing and restoring.…

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Sheltering the Strays

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Sheltering the Strays

Molokai’s four-legged residents could soon have a new place to take shelter thanks one woman’s love for the island and for animals.

Kathleen Shields, a frequent visitor who planned to retire on Molokai, left funds and a request in her will for a fully-functioning, open-admission animal shelter on the island. In 2009, a year after she died, her friend Debi Buechel formed the Shields Animal Shelter Foundation.

Buechel, executive director of the foundation, and two other foundation workers are making the move to Molokai to make Shield’s wish a reality.

“We’re three people working seriously and sincerely in every respect for the community,” said Buechel.…

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