Duvauchelle to Be Honored in Oahu Parade

Thursday, February 12th, 2015

Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs News Release

Molokai cowboy, farmer, teacher and steward of the land, Jimmy Duvauchelle, will be Grand Marshall at this year’s Oahu Prince Kuhio Day Parade. The Oahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs is proud to have Duvauchelle ride in the parade to honor Prince Kuhio on March 28.

Retired from Molokai Ranch after 45 years of service, he is humble pastor and great family man. Duvauchelle exemplifies the examples of Prince Kuhio in his ways of reaching and teaching the community and all involved with him the love and respect of the aina.…

Molokai Food Hub in Operation

Thursday, February 12th, 2015

Sust`aina ble Molokai News Release

Sust`aina ble Molokai’s newly launched Molokai Food Hub is seeking locally grown fruits and vegetables.  In January, we officially became the vendor for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) for Maunaloa Elementary School.  This is a federally funded snack program, which allows students to receive a snack of a fresh fruit or vegetable two to three times per week.  As the vendor, we are aiming to provide as much Molokai-grown fruit and vegetables as possible, so please call or email us if you would like to be a supplier (560-5410 or harmonee@sustainablemolokai.org).

The program is open to growers who can provide 60 servings of fresh fruit or vegetable (minimum serving size of 1/2 cup), and they will be paid fair market value. …

‘All Day, All Night, Marianne’

Thursday, February 12th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

“All day, all night, Marianne

Down by the seaside siftin’ sand.

Even little children love Marianne

Down by the seaside siftin’ sand.

When she walks along the shore, people pause to greet

White birds fly around her; little fish come to her feet.”

So go some of the lines from one of my favorite popular songs from the 50s, sung by the great Harry Belafonte, among others. Now you may say that this is an unusual way to introduce the celebration of a saint. Yet that is precisely what I am doing as I think of Mother Marianne Cope, now St.…

Local Author Pens Hawaiian Language Books

Wednesday, February 11th, 2015

Kualapu`u School News Release

Kumu Louella `Opu`ulani Albino has added one more accomplishment to her already significant list for revitalizing `olelo Hawaii on Molokai.  She has authored two new Hawaiian language books for children!

Sponsored by a grant from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and in partnership with Kualapu`u Public Conversion Charter School, Kumu `Opu`ulani addressed a need for more text-based, easy reader chapter books in Hawaiian Language medium education.  “Ka Wena,” illustrated by Molokai artist Brandon Hirashima, is filled with short stories of Hawaiian culture in the present-day, as seen through the eyes of a lively group of keiki characters.  “Ka Moe`uhane,” illustrated by Molokai artist Jennette “Koki” Foster, is an exciting third grade level mystery novel filled with Hawaiian practices and perspectives that have endured up to our present day.…

Molokai Candidates Vie for Rep. Seat

Wednesday, February 11th, 2015

Four Molokai residents are among those competing for a State House of Representatives seat left vacant following Rep. Mele Carroll’s resignation last month. The District 13 seat, which encompasses Molokai, Lanai, Paia, Haiku, East Maui and Kahoolawe, has received 13 applications from candidates around Maui County, according to the Maui County Democratic Party.

Molokai applicants are Lori Buchanan, Lynn DeCoite, Barbara Haliniak and Noelani Yamashita. Others include Shay Chan Hodges of Haiku, Scott Crawford of Hana, Alberta De Jetley of Lanai, Lucienne DeNaie of Huelo, David Fry of Haiku, Susan “Netra” Halperin of Haiku, Lance Holter of Paia, Robert Parsons of Haiku and Kay Okamoto of Lanai.…

Reading Between the Lines to Freedom

Wednesday, February 11th, 2015

For 19th century slaves in America, a hand-stitched quilt was more than just bedding; it was a map to freedom. As Black History Month kicked off at the Molokai Public Library last Wednesday, Molokai resident John Wordin shared the little-known story of the secret role quilts played in bringing enslaved African Americans to safety.

Wordin’s presentation was inspired by the book “Hidden in Plain View,” which details the history of the system of coded quilts.

“Slaves were deliberately kept from getting any education. They were illiterate,” said Wordin. “You couldn’t just give them a handout and say, ‘Well, these are directions as to where to go and who to talk to.’”…

Paddling Top 8 in State

Wednesday, February 11th, 2015

The Molokai girls’ paddling crew capped off their season in the state finals on Saturday, finishing seventh out of 16 teams in Kahului. In their preliminary race, Molokai finished sixth in four minutes and 54.13 seconds, qualifying for the semifinals. The Farmers chopped 15 seconds off of their preliminary time and took first in the semifinals with 4:39.90, launching them into the finals.

“In the semifinals … only the top two could move on to the finals,” said senior paddler Waipuna Paleka-Kelly. “It was really intense again because it was a lot on our shoulders.”

The state championship featured 16 boys’ crews, 16 girls’ crews and 16 mixed.…

Basketball Three-in-a-Row MIL Champs

Wednesday, February 11th, 2015

Junior point guard Hepuakea Falealii said her heart is still pumping hard after last week’s games. Falealii played a big part in Molokai’s two thrilling last-second wins in the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) championship, as the Lady Farmers (13-1) scooped up their third consecutive league title.

Molokai defeated a pair of familiar opponents by a point each, winning against the Hana Dragons 33-32 on Thursday and against the Seabury Hall Spartans 39-38 on Friday. The Lady Farmers have now won seven of the last eight MIL Division II titles.

“The girls did a great job making key plays down the stretch for us to win,” said Head Coach Lee DeRouin.…

Swimmers Fastest in Season Finale

Wednesday, February 11th, 2015

At last week’s MIL championships, Molokai’s swimmers were faster than they’ve been all season—and everyone noticed.

“They’re doing stuff they’ve never done before mentally and physically,” said Head Coach Jess Ford. “The officials and the other coaches, they were like, ‘We saw your kids. They swam so good.’”

On Friday, MIL swimmers competed in preliminary heats before moving on to the final competition on Saturday. Five Molokai boys and two girls made it to the final rounds, competing with the top eight swimmers in the league in each category. Senior Luke Kikukawa was the only Molokai swimmer to officially medal, winning bronze in the 200-meter individual medley with a time of two minutes and 20.22 seconds.…

Controlled Burn Clears Hazardous Brush

Wednesday, February 11th, 2015

The Maui Fire Department (MFD) conducted its first Molokai-based controlled burn last week, clearing out 50 acres of overgrown brush behind residents’ homes in Kalama`ula between Feb. 4 and 7.

Nearly 40 firefighters from Molokai, Maui, Hawaii Island and the Pacific Northwest participated in the exercise, which, besides decreasing the potential for wildfire, also provided live training for firefighters.

“It’s a good area to mitigate hazards,” said Kaunakakai Fire Captain Henry Lindo, explaining that fires in that area tend to spread quickly, pushed forward by winds.

Maui County’s first controlled burn took place in December 2013 in West Maui, and other islands have conducted controlled burns before, but this is Molokai’s first.…