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Heroes Among Us: Speedy, Pineapple and Russo

Wednesday, March 11th, 2015

Heroes Among Us: Speedy, Pineapple and Russo

Molokai veteran Samuel Kealoha sat quietly on an airport bench on a blustery Ho`olehua morning. Lei in hand, he looked for a pair of faces out on the airstrip.

He remembered the names clearly: Melton Gonzalez, a California native. Raymond Russo, from Florida. But the faces would be different. The last time he’d seen these faces 45 years ago, they were obscured by the thick jungle foliage of Cambodia. On Feb. 14, for the first time since they left Southeast Asia, Kealoha was about to be reunited with fellow Vietnam war veterans Gonzalez and Russo, thanks to the detective-like efforts of Russo’s wife and friends.…

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Urgent Care Comes to MCHC

Wednesday, March 11th, 2015

Urgent Care Comes to MCHC

The Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) has added services that they hope will lower patients’ healthcare costs and reserve the island’s only emergency room for more acute patients. On March 1, the health center began a one-year pilot program that offers urgent care-like services to the community.

Since MCHC doesn’t have an official urgent care designation, they will offer “urgent care-like” services and will consider getting an official certification if the program does well.

“Urgent care is a little bit above primary care, which is what most walk-in clinics do, and a lot below the emergency room,” said Dr. Christina Economos, MCHC’s medical director.…

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Six State Medals for Wrestling

Wednesday, March 11th, 2015

Six State Medals for Wrestling

At Hawaii’s state wrestling championships last weekend, 432 wrestlers from nearly 50 schools competed in 780 bouts over the course of two days.

Molokai athletes refused to get lost in the crowd.

Despite the staggering load of state-level competition, six of the 11 Farmer wrestlers who hit the mats emerged with medals, which are earned by finishing in the top six in a weight class. Molokai’s top finisher was runner-up Alexandria Simon, who challenged a world title-winning wrestler in the 132-pound championship final.

“It’s crazy and you know that you’re one of the best in the state just making it there, because you know all the people around you are dedicated to the sport,” said Molokai junior Cendall Manley.…

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Hot Soups Hit the Spot

Wednesday, March 11th, 2015

Hot Soups Hit the Spot

After a week of torrential rains and whipping winds, island residents cozied up to steaming bowls of homemade soup at the Molokai Arts Center (MAC)’s fifth annual Soup’ R Bowl event last Saturday night.

Nearly 20 artists of all levels crafted ceramic bowls for the hundreds of people who showed up at the event, held at the Molokai Community Health Center. Guests could choose from 578 different bowls to eat soup from and later take home.

“One of the things that I appreciate about ceramics as an art is that it’s really functional,” said MAC Development Director Helen Kekalia. “I think this event highlights the functionality of art.…

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New Middle School Principal

Wednesday, March 11th, 2015

New Middle School Principal

Dawn Mains assumed the position of new principal of Molokai Middle School at the beginning of this year, and having settled into her new role, gives “thanks every day that Molokai chose me.”

The former vice principal at Lahaina’s King Kamehameha III Elementary School said she first visited Molokai three years ago during a leadership development camp for school administrators and felt a special connection to the island.

“I just put it on my heart that I think I’d like to live there one day,” she said. “I prayed about it, put it out to the universe.”

When former MMS Principal Gary Davidson decided to take a job with an educational support business at the end of last year, Mains jumped at the opportunity to fill the opening.…

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Wrestlers Pin Down 13 MIL Medals

Thursday, March 5th, 2015

Wrestlers Pin Down 13 MIL Medals

One of the smaller schools in the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) grabbed a big part of the spotlight at last weekend’s MIL championships. Molokai High School wrestlers snapped up 13 medals for finishing within the top three in their weight classes. Of those, 10 finished within the top two and will be going to the state championships this Friday.

Molokai’s girls’ team took second and the boys came in third. The Farmers produced three champions: Kailaoe Cabanting (119), Saydee Makaiwi (129) and Alexandria Simon (134).

“Our conditioning is really good,” said freshman Caele Manley (115), who came in second and qualified for states.…

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Rawlins Named Exceptional Small Business

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

Rawlins Named Exceptional Small Business

At an elegant dinner event overlooking panoramic views of Maui last Thursday, Rawlins Chevron was honored among Maui County businesses as the Exceptional Small Business of the Year in the 11 to 35 employees category.

With eight other nominated businesses from Maui in that category at the 2015 Mayor’s Small Business Awards, the multi-generational family service station with 20 employees in Kaunakakai took top honors. They were one of two Molokai businesses represented as nominees at the event.

“We’re blessed to do what we do in the community each and every day in our community,” said Lori-Lei Crivello after accepting the award.…

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Rejuvenating Hawaiian Reading

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

Rejuvenating Hawaiian Reading

Two new Hawaiian language books written by Molokai’s Kumu `Opu`ulani Albino were celebrated at a book signing last Wednesday at the Molokai Public Library. The books fill what Hawaiian immersion teachers at Kualapu`u School identified as a gap in reading material for their students, and are quickly gaining popularity with teachers of `Olelo Hawaii around the state.

“This little school in the middle of the boonies is beginning to put something out there that there’s a need for,” said Kamalu Poepoe, who edited the books. Those who love reading romance books may explore the novels at https://fandom.my-drama.com/i-became-my-ceos-darkest-secret/.

“Ka Wena”, illustrated by Molokai artist Brandon Hirashima, is filled with little vignettes of Hawaiian culture in the present-day, as seen through the eyes of a lively group of keiki characters.…

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Molokai Meth Dealer in Prison

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

A man described as “at the pinnacle” of methamphetamine distribution on Molokai was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison last week. On Feb. 23, 35-year-old Jon Hans Kaapuni, Jr., also known as “Hanzy Boy,” was taken into custody following the sentencing in U.S. District Court in Honolulu.

In September, Kaapuni, Jr. pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess, with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. At last week’s hearing, U.S. District Attorney Florence T. Nakakuni said evidence showed Kaapuni, Jr. was a manager and supervisor of a long standing methamphetamine conspiracy on Molokai involving at least five members.…

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Putting Faces to Financial Aid

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

Putting Faces to Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid can be a daunting process, said Kelley Dudoit of the University of Hawaii Maui College, Molokai (UHMCM). That’s why the college is trying to make the process as personable as possible. Last Friday, representatives from 28 different organizations gathered at UHMCM to help students discover available financial aid both on and off island.

“A lot of times students are wary or scared about applying for financial aid,” said Dudoit, Institutional Support at UHMCM. “So we thought that if we brought faces to Molokai … that maybe that would make [students] a little more comfortable with the whole financial aid process.”…

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