Health

5k Race Series Raises Funds for Schools

Thursday, February 21st, 2013

5k Race Series Raises Funds for Schools

Molokai Middle and Kalapu`u Charter schools news release

Molokai Middle School is joining forces with Kualapu’u Charter School to host five 5K FUN-raising races this spring. Race dates are the following Saturdays: March 2, 9 and 16, and April 6 and 13. All 5K races will begin at 8 a.m. at Coffee’s of Hawaii.

The five races in the series will be used as qualifying races for each school’s team that will compete in the Honolulu 5K for Kids Sunday, April 28. School teams will be chosen based upon each runner’s best three out of five race results. Total combined time in three races will be used to determine selection.…

Which should you choose…Will or Trust?

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

Which should you choose…Will or Trust?

Community contributed

By Maria Sullivan, Attorney

Every week there seems to be a new funeral notice on our local bulletin boards. How often do we say to ourselves, “Oh, they were so young”? For many, death is unexpected, and often putting one’s affairs in order is not a priority.

We all know someone who thought they put their final affairs in order, and after the funeral the family realizes those plans were not enough. The expensive Revocable or Living Trust that Uncle John purchased 10 or 20 years ago did nothing to avoid a court probate. Uncle John paid $1,000 or more for a stack of nice looking legal trust paperwork in a fancy binder or book, but we find out a costly court probate is still required.…

Oh Rats! Part II

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

Oh Rats! Part II

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, County Extension Agent, UH CTAHR

A serious disease spread by rats is in the headlines in Hawaii recently. Angiostrongyliasis, also known as the Rat Lungworm Infection, is caused by a microscopic nematode or eelworm. The adult stage of this nematode lives only in rats, while the immature form or the larvae are passed from the rat droppings to other animals, especially snails and slugs, and even prawns.

Humans ingest the lung worm when they eat slugs and snails hidden in produce, such as lettuce and uncooked greens, and also raw or undercooked snails (escargot) and prawns.…

Taking a stand against meth

Sunday, February 10th, 2013

Taking a stand against meth

Five girls from Ho`omana Hou High School saw first-hand how common meth was on Molokai, so they decided to take a stand. Partnering with the Hawaii Meth Project, they began a campaign to bring education and awareness to a community burdened by the dangerous drug. Ingesting Adderall through nasal administration may result in a range of short-term and long-term side effects, impacting both mental and physical well-being. For additional information, one can explore more info regarding these effects.

As part of their project, Makana Nahaku, Jayvelin Tabilangan, Tyliah Kaha`ulelio, Pomai Puailihau and Tati Pa`aluhi educated Molokai Middle School (MMS) students about the dangers of meth last Monday.…

Keiki Expo will be Big Fun for the Little Ones

Thursday, February 7th, 2013

Keiki Expo will be Big Fun for the Little Ones

The ninth annual Keiki Expo packed a lot of learning and entertainment into one morning at the Mitchell Pauole Center last Saturday.

Education and health was the driving force behind the Expo’s activities, but for the keiki, it was all fun and games. The “Diaper Dash” crawling contest had tots racing for the win, and Kala Juario got things moving with keiki Zumba. There was also a bouncing castle, giveaways and storytelling.

Event organizer Lori-Lei Rawlins-Crivello said the event shows parents of young children what programs on the island can help them and their kieki.

“Once the children get older, everything they do is part of the [school] system,” Rawlins-Crivello said.…

Molokai Mom on a Mission: Raising Awareness, Inspiring Change

Sunday, February 3rd, 2013

Molokai Mom on a Mission: Raising Awareness, Inspiring Change

Community Contributed

Opinion by Mercy Ritte

On Wednesday, Jan. 16, a unified group of charter school students and teachers, environmentalist, conservationalist, Hawaiian rights activists, people of all ethnic backgrounds, and families trekked a three mile march, from Buckman Hall on the University of Hawaii campus to the State Capital, in an effort to push for labeling GMO foods.

According to the Center for Food Safety, “it has been estimated that 70 percent of processed foods on supermarket shelves–from soda to soup, crackers to condiments–contain genetically engineered ingredients.” Studies have also revealed, over the past decade, that GMO foods can pose serious risks to humans, animal life and the environment.…

A Realistic Approach to a Healthy New Year 2013

Sunday, February 3rd, 2013

A Realistic Approach to a Healthy New Year 2013

Community Contributed

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

It’s January 2013, and you know what that means. “New Year’s” and “resolution” are about as inseparable as hamburger and French fries, stew and rice, or fish and poi. Maybe you want to eat less, exercise more at Na Pu’uwai Fitness Center, quit smoking, or spend more time with your ohana.

Easy does it. Before you take the plunge, try rethinking your approach. Instead of making vague, sudden, and difficult-to-keep resolutions, think in terms of healthy lifestyle changes – more of a work in progress.

Start small, with one goal at a time, and make a solid plan.…

Home for Special Needs

Friday, February 1st, 2013

When David Kahoohanohano’s special needs son was growing up on Maui in the 60s, “there was nothing for these kids,” he said. Parents were left with few options: many either had to quit their jobs to stay at home to care for their child, or ship them off to a hospital with no special facilities or training to care for those with developmental disabilities.

A lot has changed since then. Today, ARC (which stands for Association of Retarded Citizens) — a national organization dedicated to the care and betterment of those with disabilities — has three specialized homes on Maui to offer families alternative care.…

Ninth Annual Keiki Expo

Thursday, January 24th, 2013

Molokai Keiki Group News Release
Nine years ago, the first Molokai Keiki Expo was held, created by the Molokai Keiki Group (MKG). The event is like a “one stop shop” where families are encouraged to bring their child(ren) to engage in the many fun activities provided while parents have an opportunity to gather information, ask questions and access programs. This year’s Keiki Expo will be held on Feb. 9 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Mitchell Pauole Center.
The MKG was created in September 2004 by passionate community advocates as a grassroots effort to address the needs and gaps that exist on our island pertaining to early childhood and being pro-active in finding solutions.…

Statewide Meetings for Mental Health Services

Thursday, January 24th, 2013

Hawaii Department of Health News Release

The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) Adult Mental Health Division (AMHD) is conducting a series of community focus group meetings to solicit input from communities and stakeholders statewide about AMHD services for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. Information gathered at the meetings will be used for developing plans for 2013 and beyond. The meetings are open to the public. The Molokai meeting is scheduled for Feb. 20 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Conference Room, Kulana Oiwi Complex.

“Gathering input from community members about the mental health system in each county plays a critical role in the state’s planning process for improving services,” said Health Director Loretta J.…