Each year, schools around the island celebrate May Day, known as Lei Day in Hawaii. Students at each school are selected for the royal court to represent every island, and perform songs and dances for family and friends. Here are some photos from May Day at Molokai Middle, Kualapu`u, Molokai High, Kaunakakai, Kilohana and Maunaloa schools.…
The Molokai Golden Eyes, a group of six Molokai Middle School students, shared both their culture and their innovation in robotics at the First Lego League national competition in California Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The team represented Hawaii among 74 championship teams from across the country as well as Korea and Canada.
The Golden Eyes — Noah Keanini, Erik Svetin, Caele Manley, Kaitlin DeRouin, Lily Jenkins, and Katy Domingo, with coaches Kawika Gonzales and Jennifer Whitted — achieved a personal best in robot performance. They also won a trophy from the competition’s primary sponsor, ViaSat Satellite Company, which is a leading satellite company in North America.…
Each weekend, community members and organizations host gatherings at the pavilion of Kiowea Park, causing a strain on the building built half a century ago. Kalama`ula homesteaders are trying to ease that strain by building a second, larger pavilion with updated facilities in the park, which is located in the Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove area.
County councilmember Stacy Crivello presented the plan for the new pavilion to the Molokai Planning Commission for comments May 8. As a Kalama`ula homesteader, she is acting as a project coordinator for the new facility.
“It’s been well used, and it’s continually overused at this state,” she said about the existing pavilion, which was built in the 1960s and renovated in the 1990s.…
NOAA News Release
Monk seal advocacy groups are asking for the public’s help to locate a sick and severely malnourished Hawaiian monk seal known to frequent the Kalaupapa area in the county of Kalawao, Molokai. Experts are concerned about her health and want to bring the seal to Oahu for assessment and treatment at the Waikiki Aquarium. The seal would be returned to Kalaupapa after recovery.
“The seal we are looking for would appear ill and its ribs or other skeletal features would likely be visible. We are asking people to keep an eye out for this seal in the water or on the beach,” explained Pat Wardell, President of the Monk Seal Foundation, a Hawaii based organization that recently took over management of the monk seal volunteer program on Molokai.…
Kana`iolowalu News Release
The Native Hawaiian Roll Commission, chaired by former Governor John Waihe`e III, attended the 10th anniversary celebration of Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa at Kalaupapa on April 27 where Kalaupapa residents were given the opportunity to sign the Kana`iolowalu petition along with the descendants of Kalaupapa and friends who came together for the event.
“We felt it was important for Chair Waihe`e and the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to visit Kalaupapa for support of the Kana`iolowalu petition just like Ahahui Aloha `Aina came to Kalaupapa in 1897 to give our people the chance to sign the Ku`e petition against annexation,” said Clarence “Boogie” Kahilihiwa, a resident of Kalaupapa for more than 50 years and President of Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa.…
Molokai Public Library News Release
The Cook pine tree growing on the front lawn of the Molokai Public Library needs to be removed soon. Library staff has been consulting with Department of Accounting and General Services on Molokai and Maui and two certified and licensed Oahu arborists, who highly recommend we consider removing the tree for safety reasons. General Tree Service, Inc. does Greensboro tree removal.
This huge, aged, 115-foot tree is now showing signs of decline and gradual deterioration. The upper third part is stressed, the trunk has weak stability and is susceptible to root decay and termite damage.…
Molokai’s four-legged residents could soon have a new place to take shelter thanks one woman’s love for the island and for animals.
Kathleen Shields, a frequent visitor who planned to retire on Molokai, left funds and a request in her will for a fully-functioning, open-admission animal shelter on the island. In 2009, a year after she died, her friend Debi Buechel formed the Shields Animal Shelter Foundation.
Buechel, executive director of the foundation, and two other foundation workers are making the move to Molokai to make Shield’s wish a reality.
“We’re three people working seriously and sincerely in every respect for the community,” said Buechel.…
Papohaku sand dunes protect the water from runoff and nearby homes from high tide swells. Now the system that guards so much could receive some protection from human threats. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) proposed increased protection for the Papohaku dune system. While the changes will not likely bring enforcement of stricter development rules, officials said they hope the protection would raise awareness of the dunes’ value.
A 500-page document dedicated solely to the preservation of the dune system at Papohaku stresses the environmental and cultural value of the system. Molokai wildlife biologist Arleone Dibben-Young, who served as a consultant for the preservation plan, said these dunes shelter homes from high swells and shield the ocean from red dirt run-off that comes with rain from the mauka regions.…
Right now, six Molokai Middle School students are representing Molokai and the State of Hawaii in a national competition of brains, technology and teamwork. Noah Keanini, Erik Svetin, Caele Manley, Kaitlin DeRouin, Lily Jenkins, and Katy Domingo form a robotics team known as the Molokai Golden Eyes — the first team not from Oahu to ever win the Hawaii First Lego League championship.
They beat 52 teams from around the state to accomplish that feat in December. Now, they’re in California showcasing an innovative invention they designed and competing for the title of national champions.
“If people were to predict where the state robotics champions would come from, Molokai probably wouldn’t be on the list,” said Molokai Middle School (MMS) Principal Gary Davidson.…
Maui Electric News Release
At 9:40 a.m. this morning, Molokai experienced an island-wide power outage affecting approximately 3,200 customers. At this time, power to the majority of our customers on Molokai has been restored.
Parts of Kaunakakai were brought back on-line at 11:38 a.m. and Hoolehua, including the Airport, was restored to power at 11:43 a.m. Customers on Molokai’s west end were restored shortly thereafter at 11:51 a.m. and the Kualapuu area was brought back on-line at 12:03 p.m. Remaining customers in Kaunakakai were restored at 12:18 p.m.
At this time, customers on Molokai’s east end remain without power. Maui Electric crews are working hard to bring these customers back on-line as quickly and safely as possible.…
Add your comment