Veterans Corner

Thursday, March 12th, 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. The Marine Times has reported that Lt. General Lewis B. Puller, better known as “Chesty,” has received another honor. On Feb. 17, the Navy christened the mobile landing platform afloat forward staging base the Lewis B. Puller. The ship is the Navy’s third mobile landing platform but the first afloat forward staging base variant. The Puller boasts a flight deck, space for fuel and equipment storage, maintenance area and can berth 250. Lt. Gen. Puller is the most decorated Marine in history, the only Marine to have earned the Navy Cross five times, and had 14 personal combat decorations, plus campaign medals and unit commendations.…

Molokai Fitness: Ready for Paddling Season?

Thursday, March 12th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Ayda Ersoy

Do you know how you can improve your endurance? Yes, you need to do cardio. But more than that – you need to work on your core, your lower back and especially you need to stretch your spine and improve your strength. If you’re a paddler already or want to get started, here are some ideas to get ready for the season. If not, these are also helpful suggestions for getting back in shape.

First you need a plan, and you need to write it down. Why? This will keep you motivated, and you’ll be able to see how you improve after each training. …

Scholarships for Senior Art Students

Thursday, March 12th, 2015

Lahaina Arts Association News Release

Lahaina Arts Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is proud to announce its 37th Annual High School Senior Art Competition, Exhibition and Scholarship Awards Program.  Graduating High School seniors from Maui County, including the island of Molokai, are welcome to submit their art for exhibition and consideration in the scholarship competition.  Entries must be postmarked by April 4 or can be dropped off in person Saturday, April 4 or Sunday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Old Jail Gallery (Below the Old Courthouse) in Lahaina under the Banyan Tree.

Each participating High School Senior may submit one entry for each of the five categories — Painting, Drawing, Three-Dimension, Photography, and Mixed Media. …

New Leadership for Group Home

Thursday, March 12th, 2015

ARC of Maui County News Release

The ARC of Maui County Board of Directors is pleased to announce Robert Lane as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer.  He joins ARC with a vast knowledge of the developmental disabilities community with experience ranging from Executive Director for Special Need Camps to Administrator of a 64 bed ICF/IDD facility in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Rob joins ARC at an exciting time with the recent licensing from the State Department of Health for our newest group home on Molokai.  This five bedroom home is the first state licensed domiciliary home on the island.  Residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities will receive 24-hour support from staff who are trained to meet the needs of each individual resident. …

Kalaupapa Exhibit One-Day Free Showing

Thursday, March 12th, 2015

Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa News Release

Molokai residents will be offered free admission to the Kalaupapa Photo Exhibit showing at the Molokai Museum and Cultural Center on Sunday, March 15, from 1 to 4 p.m.

The exhibit, titled “A Reflection of Kalaupapa: Past, Present and Future,” was developed by Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa. It features 100 framed photographs of the people of Kalaupapa and their family members from as early as 1884 through current times.

The museum is normally closed on Sundays, but Noelani Keliikipi, Executive Director of the museum, the Board of Directors and museum volunteers all wanted to make sure Molokai residents had the opportunity to visit.…

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.…

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.…

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.…

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.…

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.…