Fire Task Force

Thursday, May 21st, 2015

The Molokai Fire Task Force held their quarterly meeting at Kaunakakai Fire Station on May 7. The meeting was attended by all of the major participants including The County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety, The Nature Conservancy, the state Department of Transportation, the state Department of Forestry and Wildlife, the Maui County Police Department, Kalaupapa National Historical Park, the Molokai/Lanai Soil and Water Conservation District, Kawela Plantation,  Molokai Ranch and also community members.

The Task Force wants to remind the public that we are moving into wildfire season and it is now time and it is always time to take precautions by clearing overgrown brush and by making a defensible space around your home.…

The Secret Lives of Monk Seals

Thursday, May 21st, 2015

The Secret Lives of Monk Seals

A year and a half ago, scientists and community members wanting to learn more about endangered Hawaiian monk seals decided to try a new method of observation. Instead of continuing to speculate and make assumptions about the life and habits of monk seals – much of which happens under water – they decided to record it on video. Attaching satellite trackers and cameras known as “critter cams” to the backs of seals allows biologists, students and the public to gain insight into the largely obscured life of this endemic sea mammal.

Most people observe Hawaiian monk seals sleeping on the beach or feeding right off the shore, said Charles Littnan, lead scientist of NOAA’s Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program.…

Two Islands, One Goal

Thursday, May 21st, 2015

Two Islands, One Goal

On a bright and breezy Thursday morning, two men from different parts of the world knelt over a pile of freshly netted weke. One was a Molokai born-and-raised fishpond keeper, the other, a Spanish-speaking Rapa Nui fisherman, each knowing just a few words of the other’s native tongue. Under a shady tree, they pulled out knife and fork and began scraping translucent scales from the fish in the same methodical style. Neither could say very much to each other, but they spoke the common language of men whose livelihoods revolve around fish.

It was this connection to the ocean, to kai, to el mar, that brought a conglomerate of Hawaiians and Rapa Nui together last month at Keawanui Fishpond on Molokai’s east end.…

Softball Seventh in State

Wednesday, May 20th, 2015

Softball Seventh in State

 

In the first game of last week’s state softball championships, Molokai sports fans had sinking feelings of déjà vu. For the third year in a row, the Lady Farmers faced Division II nemesis St. Francis. For the third year in a row, the Saints won. In the last two years after being defeated in the first game, Molokai lost a second to be eliminated from the tournament.

However, this year’s team wrote a different story. Despite falling 14-2 to St. Francis last Tuesday, the Lady Farmers turned around and beat Kalaheo 14-3 on Thursday and Konawaena 13-3 on Friday in the consolation bracket.…

7 Judoka Compete at States

Friday, May 15th, 2015

7 Judoka Compete at States

Molokai’s introductory course in judo is complete. The Farmers ended their first-ever judo season at last Saturday’s state competition, and while none of them took home a medal, the coaches were pleased to see how far their developing judoka, or judo students, have come.

“Considering that these guys just learned judo about two months ago, making it this far, winning some matches, getting to states, that’s real good pretty darn good,” said boys’ Head Coach Eli “Lihau” Maioho.

Three Molokai judoka were seeded within the top four in their weight classes going into the tournament. Senior Kaila`oe Cabanting (115) and junior Kui Han (285) went in ranked third, while freshman Ikua DePonte (145) went in fourth.…

Veterans Corner

Friday, May 15th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Jesse Church

Aloha all my fellow veterans and residents of Molokai, old Jesse here with all the veterans news and upcoming events. I hope everyone has been following the news with all these police killings. I’m sure that everybody knows about Baltimore, MD in the last two weeks, and Ferguson, MO before that, and I’m sure you remember about the happenings in the “Big Apple,” New York City. What in the world is going on in this country, when you can’t even trust the police, who in the U.S. are billed as “America’s finest”?

When I was growing up, the police would walk a “beat,” not drive around in a car, and you could talk to the police offering walking a beat, ask him questions and get to know him.…

Celebrating STEM Day

Friday, May 15th, 2015

MMS News Release

Molokai Middle School’s STEM programs and STEM Robotics programs are proud to announce the first annual 2015 STEM Day at MMS on Saturday, May 23 at the Molokai High/Middle School Campus Cafeteria.

This event will showcase STEM-related programs, classes, teams, and groups from Molokai Middle including STEM, STEMWorks, Science Fair, Science Olympiad, VEX IQ, Engineering in the Middle, and Jr. Engineering Expo, as well as other STEM-related programs on island.  There will displays, exhibits, and demonstrations, as well as the showcasing of our Molokai students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

This event will also feature Molokai’s first ever island-wide VEX IQ Robotics tournament featuring 419W Roadrunn3rs from Maunaloa Elementary, 96757 Kualapuu Comets from Kualapuu Elementary, 334M Mana’e Masters, 334B Beast from the East, and 334S Mana’e Style from Kilohana Elementary, and 1 V-Ger1 from Aka`ula Middle, as well as 19 teams from Molokai Middle’s STEM seventh and eighth grade programs.…

Study Alternatives for New Electric Utility Model

Friday, May 15th, 2015

County of Maui News Release

The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development announced today it has posted a Request for Proposals (RFP) to study the options available for a new electric utility model.

The $30,000 analysis is in response to the County’s concerns about the looming NextEra/Hawaiian Electric Industries merger before the Public Utilities Commission, and how it may affect area residents and businesses. The study will look at alternative forms of ownership and the alternative utility business models for Maui County’s electric utility company.

“We must look at our options, but to do that and have a constructive conversation about the matter we need more information,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa.…

Mo`olelo of Laka and `Olohe

Friday, May 15th, 2015

Community Contributed

Editor’s Note: Molokai Ka Hula Piko is a three-day native Hawaiian cultural festival celebrating the birth of hula on Molokai.  Founded in 1991 by the late Kumu Hula John Kaimikaua, the festival continues to educate and enlighten all people of pre-Western Hawaii through excursions and a culminating celebration happening this year on June 4-6.  Each year a theme is chosen, and this year’s theme centers around the contributions of Laka and `Olohe.

By John Kaimikaua, contributed by Halau Hula o Kukunaokala

In Molokai tradition, the martial art form of lua evolved from out of the hula. Laka learned the art of the dance from her older sister Kapo`ulakina`u on the hill Pu`u Nana at Ka`ana on the top of Maunaloa, west Molokai.…

Molokai Paddlers Shine in Olukai Races

Friday, May 15th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Clare Seeger Mawae

Twelve-year-old Alex Mawae charged at the Olukai for the Stand Up Race on May 2, taking second place in his division of 17 and under in a record time of 1:09.26.  The course was from Maliko Gulch to Kanaha Beach along Maui’s North Shore, a total distance of over eight miles. He smashed his previous times and his personal goal for this year. Only 25 minutes behind World Champion Connor Baxter, this is certainly not bad for this young man! This year, the 17 and under division was strong with 11 contestants out of 327.…