Catch You Later
New lunar calendar tells Hawaiians when not to fish.
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Sports
Add your commentLocal Surfers Shred it Up
Friendly Isle rippers medal at state tournament.
By Dispatch Staff
Molokai surfers represented at the season finale for the Hawaii Surfing Association, On Oahu on June 4, 5, and 6. Kaoli Kahokuloa, Taoa Pou, and Mark Shima competed against more than 270 surfers from around the state.
All three Molokai competitors duked it out in the shortboard divisions in nearly perfect surf at Ala Moana Bowl, on Magic Island.
Molokai grown Kahokuloa took third place in his division and won $150, a stuffed prize bag and a huge trophy.
Taoa Pou competed fiercely but didn't advance out of his first round heat.
Shima, as seasoned veteran, slashed his way to a second place finish in his division for the second year in a row. Shima said he’s thankful to surfing legend China Uemura for the hospitality and to Molokai local Steve Morgan for shaping “incredible surfboards that help keep me in the game.”
The Valley of Sufficient Life
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“How can you know if you do not ask, if you are not from here,” he says with his heart.
Some malama Halawa as families once did, but the rainforest of today has conquered the lo`i of yesterday. Nature and man have changed the `aina, but the story Pilipo tells has not changed, passed down from countless generations of Halawa kupuna.
He says, things are not secret, they are sacred. Pilipo’s ultimate message is respect – to care for the valley he believes one must know what it was before and to understand the ultimate sense of place. Nana i ke Kumu, “seek the source.”
His tutu kane, David Kapuwai Akina, once told him to share the mo`olelo of Halawa, so people can know and respect where they live and where they are.
“When?” Pilipo asked.
“When you feel it, burning in your soul – that is me, and you know the time is right,” was the message his tutu kane left.
Pilipo may not be here tomorrow. He is one of the last of the unbroken generations of Halawa farmers still in the valley. He asks all to look at Halawa as a whole, spiritual and physical, to obtain a greater sense of place. Mana is found in the knowledge and respect of the ahupua`a.
The sun has journeyed across the valley once more, and as it readies for sleep behind the Western cliffs, shadows cast from the dominating forest grow long. The mo`olelo is there, hidden by the forest but not darkened by the shadows.
“Feel the spirit of Halawa and the ancestors that gave it life,” he asks. “The kupuna of Halawa are alive; like Haloa, they are everywhere.”
Pilipo Solatario is a master storyteller and a Kumu of the Halawa mo`olelo. After many years as the cultural director of Molokai Ranch he has returned to his birthplace. Blow the pu, Pilipo makes time to talk story to all who inquire.
“I speak to educate so all who listen can respect, otherwise our people will be overgrown like the Halawa of today.” This is Pilipo’s hope. This is Pilipo’s message.
Outrigger Races Begin
By Laura Petersen
Kukui `o Molokai canoe club hosted the first regatta of the 2008 season this past Saturday. The day was full of excitement and enthusiasm from both spectators and participants; the entire wharf was lined with cars in support of the event.
The community came together to make the event happen. Some were racing, some cheering, and others were helping out in the water, behind concession stands, taking times or just keeping the music going.
“Our literal club meaning is first canoe on the beach which has a hidden meaning of taking care of your responsibility first,” Kim Markham, a member of the Wa’akapaemua Canoe Club said. “Our philosophy is building the club from the ground up.”
The club starts kids as early as eight years old, so by the time they’re eligible to race they have had much practice.
The Wa`a’s philosophy truly showed during this regatta, as the team finished first place in all events, except one in the Girls and Boys category.
“I remember learning good values such as laulima (working together), kokua (to help), and ha`aha`a (to be humble),” Wa`a club member Penny Martin said, remembering her experiences as a child.
Aunty Penny has taught many people how to paddle and now coaches the Novice A women. She enjoys coaching them because they are full of excitement. She said many of the Masters become fresh again by feeding off of the Novice’s positive energy.
Throughout the day overall thoughts and feelings of paddling and the regatta were the same; ohana, working together, playing together, being supportive and positive, and most importantly preserving and practicing the cultural sport they have known since youth.
The next regatta will be hosted by Wa`akapaemua on the 21 of June followed by Mana’e club on the 5 of the July and ending with the Molokai club on July 19.
Molokai Canoe Racing Association (MCRA) will be having up to four special events at the end of each regatta, beginning at the June 21 event. Each race will be against similar groups - ohana teams, classmate teams, business teams, etc.
The special events will serve as a fundraiser for the association, and paddlers must pay $5 to participate.
Last year was our first time having these special events. Every participant had a great time and MCRA raised extra money for our 2008-2009 paddling season expenses.
If anyone is interested in putting a crew together, please come during the next regatta to the officials stand and sign up. Or make up one of your own events and call out any challengers.
Saved By a Seven
By Brandon Roberts
Lee Derouin was all in, hoping to stay afloat on the river competitive card playing. Looking across the table, Kahealani Maliu had the strong hand and was statistically favored to push Derouin out of the running. But there is unpredictability in the cards, an essence of luck – defying stats and probability.
Derouin did just that, he rebelled against the numbers and picked up a full-house on the final flop, the river, to split the pot and keep him in championship contention at Paddlers’ second poker tournament last Saturday. At play were 50,000 in chips, divided by point percentage amongst the top eight.
Entering the final table, Derouin was fourth on the point’s board, and capped his victory in a head-to-head duel with Maliu, who entered eighth with a 2,350 chip deficit from the season leader Bernice Kalilikane. Yet Maliu worked her magic, playing catch-up to vie for the grand-prize round trip to Las Vegas, a two-night stay, and a one-thousand dollar buy-in to the World Series of Poker satellite table.
Eventually Derouin out-played his competition catching a diamond flush to clinch the Vegas vacation. “I caught a break, that is what poker is all about,” he said, adding how grateful he was to the late Kamuela Kamakana, Paddlers’ Inn, and the dedicated staff.
“If it wasn’t for Kamuela, the poker community wouldn’t have been brought together in this friendly environment. I also want to fire some compliments to Loke Kamakana, Alicia Montemayor, and the entire Paddlers’ staff, who are always here for us, they don’t miss a beat and keep it fun yet professional.”
The top eight competitors fought it out for the last three months against the Molokai masses, who know their cards. The standings going into the final table were points leader Kalilikane, followed by Reyford Stone, Paki Kamakana, Derouin, Elizabeth Poepoe-Lawerence, Tranq Pasual, Larry Sagario and Maliu.
Pa`ina in Paradise
Molokai celebrates class of 2008 graduates.By Brandon Roberts
Graduation is known as a commencement ceremony because it is a new beginning rather than an end. Melodious laughter echoed throughout the ceremonies, and graduates adorned gowns and grins.
Molokai High School (MHIS) and Ho`omana Hou held their graduations the last week of May in the company of friends and `ohana. Mother’s wept with joy and fathers, with pride in their eyes, were unable to contain their emotions.
It is a moment of emotional irony, with students entering adulthood – embracing their new freedom with a hint of anxiety. In the same moment, parents admire the growth of their children into young adults and hope they are prepared for work, college, or whatever the next step is.
Rising Oil is Sinking Transportation
Jung and fellow intracounty operator Steve Knight of the Expeditions ferry are asking the state public utilities commission for permission to raise rates.
Young Brothers
Young Brothers, Limited will increase its Fuel Price Adjustment (FPA) to 4.22 percent from 2.78 percent, as of June 3. The increase was initiated in response to fuel prices that have risen almost 44 percent since Young Brothers’ last fuel adjustment in March.
“Three months ago, diesel was at $2.90 a gallon; now it’s at $4.17. The rapid spike in fuel prices is driving the FPA; however, because the adjustment reflects the average fuel costs for the previous three-month period, it does not reflect the current cost of fuel,” said Roy Catalani, vice president of Strategic Planning and Governmental Relations for Young Brothers in a press release.
The 4.22 percent FPA will potentially add about 2 cents to the cost of shipping a 24-package case of saimin (shipped on a pallet of 90 cases) and about 1.5 cents to the cost of shipping a case of 24 cans of juice (shipped on a pallet of 110 cases).
Young Brothers, Limited provides inter-island cargo service throughout the State of Hawaii. For more information visit Young Brothers at www.youngbrothershawaii.com.
Eco-Friendly Education
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Senator Mike Gabbard plays Oily Al to teach keiki what not to do to the environment.
Kualapu`u students learn healthy habits.
By Brandon Roberts
Awesome Al was not always a pal. He used to be Oily Al until he met Water Girl, who showed him how to malama `aina.
Kualapu`u Elementary students gathered last Friday under the shade of a hala tree at Ali`i fishpond to enjoy a presentation by the Healthy Hawaii Coalition.
Senator Mike Gabbard founded the coalition with his daughter in 1996 to raise environmental awareness in Hawaiian keiki. Since 2001, the senator and his wife Carroll, have traveled to schools throughout Hawaii, teaching positive environmental habits.
The Kualapu`u keiki were entertained by a play where Oily Al’s bad habits, like throwing rubbish on the ground and dumping chemicals into the drain, were corrected when Water Girl educated him on how to respect the environment.
“Our presentation reinforces a positive message for schools and homes,” Sen. Gabbard said. He believes the interactive afternoon strengthens teachings from Kumu Piliana Naeole in the classroom, as well as reinforcing messages keiki receive at home, from like parent volunteer Sharon Likua.
Following the play, roughly 25 students broke into four groups that rotated around the fishpond – exploring their environment and learning to live “malama `aina.”
The Healthy Hawaii Coalition has presented to over 4,000 students in 45 schools with the help of a grant from the Department of Health.Homesteaders Confront MIS
Water scarcity and increasing demands raise concerns.By Brandon Roberts
Delinquent homesteader accounts remain a top priority for the Molokai Irrigation System (MIS). Board members said they are following the 2007 audit recommendation to take a more active role in obtaining overdue payments. However, homesteaders question the legality of being charged for water, and are asking the MIS board to put equal energy into all audit recommendations, not just homesteader accounts.
Homesteader Glenn Teves said the Department of Agriculture (DOA) has a fiduciary responsibility to the homesteaders with the system profits. He said if homesteaders were to get kicked off their lands, or be forced to quit farming, there is the “potential for the situation to get volatile.”
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