Observing Damien’s Feast Day

Thursday, May 28th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

She stepped off the plane with a broad smile on her lovely face and gave me a big squeeze as I welcomed her. The Miracle Girl, Audrey Toguchi, who credits the intercession of Father Damien with her miraculous cure from cancer, had come to Kalaupapa to join us in celebrating St. Damien’s feast day. Shortly thereafter, we climbed aboard my Paddy Wagon and rode out to St. Philomena in Kalawao to celebrate Mass in honor of St. Damien in the church he himself built. Led in song by the St, John’s choir, we had a beautiful celebration.…

Bully Free Unity Pledge

Thursday, May 28th, 2015

Bully Free Unity Pledge

FAB News Release

Our Families Against Bullying (FAB) Project Bully Free youth classes that took place March 25 through May 27 at the Molokai Youth Center (MYC) is asking support from our youths and community. We have a large unity pledge banner available at the MYC for everyone to come out and sign, to pledge their support against bullying. The goal is to get 100 signatures by Aug. 31 to untie together as a community to end bullying in our schools.

We are very excited and hope that you all will take the time to come out and support our children of Molokai.…

Community Plan Workshops

Thursday, May 28th, 2015

County of Maui Planning Department News Release

The Molokai Community Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) will be holding meetings on June 3 and June 4 to discuss the ongoing update of the island’s Community Plan. The June 3 meeting will focus on Chapter 5, Economic Development, and the June 4 meeting will cover Chapter 6, Land Use and Housing and Chapter 7, Community Design.

Both meetings will be held at the Lanikeha Community Center. The June 3 Economic Development Workshop begins at 3:30 p.m. and the June 4 Land Use, Housing and Community Design Workshop starts at 9:30 a.m.

The meeting will begin with presentations and discussion on the specific topics to provide background information to the CPAC and the public. …

Molokai Wins Big at International Science Fair

Wednesday, May 27th, 2015

Molokai Wins Big at International Science Fair

 

At the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), an event that included around 1,700 students from more than 75 countries, five Molokai students spent hours being grilled by Ph.D. holders and Nobel Laureates. In a room full of geniuses, Molokai proved it is home to some of the world’s brightest young scientific minds.

In the Earth and Environmental Sciences category, Molokai High School senior Sarah Jenkins and sister Lily Jenkins, a sophomore, won first place and a $3,000 award. Their project, “March of the Molokai Mangrove,” charted the spread of mangrove along Molokai’s south shore and its potential impacts on the island.…

Molokai Ferry Seeks to Run ‘As Needed’

Wednesday, May 27th, 2015

With competition increasing, the Molokai ferry wants to scale back further than originally planned. On May 13, Sea Link of Hawaii, Inc. withdrew its petition to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to suspend one daily route between Molokai and Maui. The company instead plans to petition the PUC to require a minimum number of passengers to make a trip between the two islands.

“The concept we’re working on now is being what’s called a common carrier versus a scheduled carrier,” said company President Dave Jung. “A scheduled carrier has to run if you’ve got one passenger. … We want to be a common carrier where we have a minimum.”…

Coaches, Athletes Honored at Banquet

Wednesday, May 27th, 2015

Coaches, Athletes Honored at Banquet

 

Another sports season, full of buzzer beaters, towering touchdowns and sizzling spikes, has come to an end at Molokai High School. Last week at Molokai’s athletic banquet, the school celebrated the 187 student athletes and nearly 50 coaches who participated in 16 different sports this season.

Every athlete in attendance got a recognition certificate and a moment on stage in the banquet’s first-ever Parade of Athletes. Coaches, many of whom juggled other jobs off the field, were honored with lei and greeted by every athlete.

“Sports is everything,” said junior wrestler Cendall Manley. “… It’s more than just being involved, it’s the family aspect.…

Molokai CORAL News Release

Friday, May 22nd, 2015

Summer Education Opportunity

Still looking for something for your child to do this summer? Molokai CORAL offers a free summer program for grades Kindergarten through 12th that runs from June 9 to July 10. Molokai CORAL, which stands for Creating Opportunities for Rigorous Academic Learning, seeks to develop high quality education programs that increase the academic achievement and learning readiness in reading, science, technology, engineering, math, and improves student knowledge of Native Hawaiian culture and language. This program is possible through the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools funded by the United States Department of Education Native Hawaiian Education Act and sponsored by Aloha Productions,  LLC,  in  partnership with Molokai High School.…

Kualapu`u School Students Planting Seeds of Peace

Friday, May 22nd, 2015

Kualapu`u School Students Planting Seeds of Peace

Community Contributed

By Greta Martinez, Kualapu`u School Librarian

January and February are months that highlight the theme of peace for two reasons:

Makahiki Games and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  During this time, in the Kualapu`u School library, students in Kindergarten through sixth grade learn the art of writing peace poems. 

This year, all the poems were submitted to the statewide 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Poem Contest, organized by the International Peace Poem Project in Maui. In Maui County, 22 Kualapu`u School students were proud winners of first and second prizes and were invited by Mayor Alan Arakawa and his wife Anne Arakawa to receive their awards at the awards ceremony on Maui.…

Have you seen the `A`O?

Friday, May 22nd, 2015

Have you seen the `A`O?

Community Contributed

By Arleone Dibben-Young

Recent observations of the endangered `A`O on Molokai suggest that this endangered species probably nests in remote areas on Molokai. Once known to nest on the steep slopes of the north shore and fern-covered forested areas, since 1906, this seabird has only been heard or seen in 1979, 1988, 1995 and 2009, with a single individual found grounded at One Ali`i Park three times between 2014 and 2015.  The `A`O or Hawaiian shearwater (Newell’s shearwater, Puffinus auricularis newelli), is a small black and white seabird measuring about a foot in length and with a wing span of almost three feet.…

Albizzia, Friend or Foe

Friday, May 22nd, 2015

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, UH CTAHR County Extension Agent

The first introduction of plants to Hawaii started with the arrival of Polynesians, who brought important food and utility plants to their new home. I remember noted Hawaiian botanist Isabella Abbott calling kukui an invasive species because it displaced many natives in valleys and mountainsides.

Over the last 240 years, thousands of plant species were introduced to create new economic opportunities as a western capitalist system replaced an ancient self-sufficient system. Today, most of the vegetation found below 2,000 feet, with the exception of a few isolated coastal systems, is introduced.…