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Kalaupapa Month

Thursday, January 4th, 2024

Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa News Release

January is Kalaupapa Month.

Two years ago, Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa proposed designating January as Kalaupapa Month to the Hawaii State Legislature which gave the bill unanimous approval. Governor David Ige signed the legislation into law.

Ka ‘Ohana President Charmaine Woodward, whose great-grandparents are buried at Kalaupapa, sees Kalaupapa Month as a “time of remembrance and celebration — it is the time we celebrate their lives, their legacy, and their love. By overcoming adversity, the people of Kalaupapa guide us on how to traverse difficult situations by portraying characteristics of unconditional love, true faith, and family.”…

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MHS Football Transitions to 11-Player

Thursday, January 4th, 2024

MHS Football Transitions to 11-Player

Molokai High School’s football team is making a historic shift from the eight-player to the 11-player level in the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) for the 2024 season. The announcement came during an MIL athletic directors meeting, where Coach Mike Kahale and Athletic Director Lee DeRouin shared their excitement with The Maui News.

DeRouin expressed their enthusiasm, saying, “today is a special day for Molokai; we’re thrilled to play 11-man football in 2024.”

With Molokai joining Kamehameha Maui and King Kekaulike in MIL Division II 11-player ranks, the league now has a total of six teams. Coach Kahale emphasized their long-term goal, stating, “we’re super excited for this opportunity.…

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Pickleball Popularity

Thursday, January 4th, 2024

Pickleball Popularity

The pickleball phenomenon is a well-documented national fervor, becoming America’s fastest growing sport for three straight years, according to 2023 reports. Molokai, likewise, has recently sprouted a pickleball fandom of its own, with enthusiasts embracing the unique pickleball terms and phrases that define the game’s culture.

Adrian Canencia has over 30 years of tennis teaching experience. Now he’s channeling that knowledge into pickleball, leading classes on Mondays and Wednesdays at the tennis courts in Kaunakakai.

“Pickleball is a sport where anybody can play, any age can be compatible,” said Canencia. “It’s fun for everybody.”

Currently, Canencia teaches a kupuna class on Mondays and a junior class on Wednesdays.…

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Youth in Aviation

Thursday, January 4th, 2024

Youth in Aviation

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

Twelve Molokai youth recently had a chance to begin their journey towards a career in aviation. Molokai’s own Hikili’i Chow, a commercial pilot, led the charge leading a Youth in Aviation program last weekend through the Aloft nonprofit.

“The main goal is to introduce kids to many different aviation jobs,” said Chow. During the three-day camp, kids had flight lessons, met air traffic controllers, firefighters, mechanics, pilots and more.

“When you look at these aviation jobs, not many of them are filled by Molokai people,” explained Chow.

Chow, a 2017 graduate from Molokai High School (MHS), has flown for Lanai Air for four years after a year and a half with Mokulele.…

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Addressing the Mental Health Crisis

Thursday, January 4th, 2024

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

Fifty percent of Molokai attendees at a recent community event for suicide prevention and mental health awareness said that suicide has directly affected them in the past five years. The professionals from Nootropicology educate the community on how to fight mental health issues and how supplements help their brains perform well.

“Suicide, it knows no prejudice,” said Dr. Kimo Alameda.

Alameda and a panel of representatives from the State Senate, Dept. of Health, behavioral health clinics and more met at the Lanikeha Center on Dec. 4, to address a Molokai community grappling with concerns over mental health and suicide.…

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Battle of the Badges

Thursday, January 4th, 2024

Battle of the Badges

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

 

The annual athletic standoff between the Fire and Police departments took place last Saturday, Dec. 9. This year’s basketball tournament featured men’s teams from Molokai, as well as a police team from Maui and a women’s championship.

 

The contests were punctuated by tough rebounds, smooth jump shots and competitive play. Da Hui claimed the title for the men’s tournament, with a win over the Maui Police. For the women, Queen B’s held on for the win in what was the closest match of the night.

 

In the main event, the police jumped out to a quick lead, but were unable to hold on.…

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Molokai’s Renewable Energy Future Looks Bright

Wednesday, November 15th, 2023

Molokai’s Renewable Energy Future Looks Bright

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Reporter

Molokai has completed its roadmap to take the island to 100 percent renewable energy. It’s the result of a community-driven planning process that energy officials call the first of its kind. Led by the Molokai Clean Energy Hui, residents are now poised to take the next steps in bringing their plans to reality. 

“All of the renewable energy we have [currently], which is about 14 percent, comes from 500 or so rooftop systems on homes and businesses,” said Leilani Chow. She’s energy coordinator at Sust’ainable Molokai, which has spearheaded the Molokai Clean Energy Hui. “And [up until now] everything else has kind of been rejected by the community because these projects were designed and proposed by off island groups that were just severely misaligned with community values and lifestyle.”…

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Fire Sparks Concerns

Wednesday, November 15th, 2023

Fire Sparks Concerns

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

Last Sunday, Nov. 5, a fire ignited along the side of Maunaloa Hwy., just before Kaluakoi Rd. By 4:25 p.m., firefighters from stations in Kaunakakai and Ho’olehua had responded to the scene, successfully containing the blaze within an hour. While the fire only burned about an acre of land, residents are concerned that it could have been much worse. 

“We dodged a bullet,” said Norm Rizk, president of the West Molokai Association (WMA), which represents over 800 homeowners. 

Nov. 5 was a red flag day across Maui County, with low humidity and high winds driving up the risk of fire.…

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10th Floating Lantern Ceremony

Wednesday, November 15th, 2023

10th Floating Lantern Ceremony

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

Dusk on Molokai’s southern shore brought residents together in memorial of their loved ones on Nov. 4. The 10th anniversary of the floating lantern ceremony brought a combination of sadness and celebration, with the lights of the paper vessels fading into the night along the shoreline at the Molokai Community Health Center. 

Molokai’s Guzeiji Soto Mission started their floating lantern ceremony 10 years ago, in collaboration with Hospice Maui on Molokai. 

“[We] thought this would be a cool event for the community to not only remember but honor loved ones,” explained Lisa Takata, president of the Guzeiji Soto Mission. …

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Tuition Free Courses at UHMC

Wednesday, November 15th, 2023

By Maria Angst | Community Reporter

The UHMC Molokai Education Center recently released their 2024 spring classes, featuring more career and technical education (CTE), certificate of achievement and tuition free courses to offer to the community. 

Several noteworthy programs include a Basic Drafting certificate program, which begins with Blueprinting 101 in the spring and is followed by a second course offered in the fall, CPR/ First Aid certificate training, a Hawaiian Language 101 course reserved for Hawaii Dept. of Education employees, and a Geographic Information System Ecosystem Management class — all offered tuition-free. 

Additionally, registered students can pursue a dual degree in Liberal Arts and Hawaiian Studies, completing both associates degrees simultaneously in the same timeframe it usually takes to earn just one degree. …

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