National History Day State Competition

Friday, May 3rd, 2013

Community Contributed

By Kainoa Pali

This year’s National History Day involved over 8000 students ranging from grades 4 through 12, from Oahu, Hawaii, Molokai, Kauai, and Maui. Throughout the year, these students work tirelessly to develop research essays, interpretive exhibits, performances, documentaries, and websites that ties into the annual theme: “Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events.” A few Molokai High students and their teachers attended a state competition on April 20 at the Windward Community College in Kaneohe, Oahu, and two received top honors.

The Hawaii Council of Humanities (HCH) wishes to acknowledge the Molokai students who participated at the 2013 National History Day State Competition.…

Crivello Shares Council Experiences

Friday, May 3rd, 2013

Crivello Shares Council Experiences

Stacy Helm Crivello joined Maui County Council as the Molokai representative in January. A few months into her new role, Crivello answered questions from the Dispatch about serving as a county councilmember.

How are you setting into your new job?

I am humbled to serve my home island as Molokai’s councilmember.  The reality of serving on the Maui council is accepting the fact that I need to spend most of my work week on Maui.  Molokai is my home, and I adjusted to this reality by commuting to Maui on Monday and returning on Friday or Saturday.  The work is full time, and I appreciate the challenge and opportunity to make a difference for our island and Maui County.…

Breaking the Barrier: Bringing disability awareness to town

Friday, May 3rd, 2013

Most people in Kaunakakai probably do not notice that the painted stripes of crosswalks are raised thickly from the street. They may not think too much about the front of their car reaching over the sidewalk when they park. But an awareness activity last Friday aimed to shed light on barriers that people with disabilities face as they try to make it around town independently.

The activity, an effort by Hawaii Centers for Independent Living (HCIL) and Home Pumehana, paired community leaders with people with disabilities and assigned them a route through Kaunakakai. Molokai High School Athletics Director Hokulani Haliniak took a power scooter through town and expressed the fear she felt as she tried to navigate and stay balanced.…

Discuss Proposed Animal Shelter on Monday

Friday, May 3rd, 2013

Shields’ Animal Shelter Foundation News Release

The Shields’ Animal Shelter Foundation would like to welcome you to a community forum at The Mitchell Pauole Center on Monday, May 6 at 6 p.m. Please join us in an open discussion regarding our proposal to bring The Shields’ Animal Shelter to Molokai.

The Foundation was established in 2009 upon the passing of longtime friend of Molokai, Mrs. Kathleen Shields. A great animal lover, Mrs. Shields supported the mission of the Molokai Humane Society, and it was her dream to one day see a fully functioning animal shelter on Molokai. Mrs. Shields’ was so inclined to improve the lives of the animals on Molokai that in her will she left a small endowment for the expressed purpose of building a shelter on this island she loved so very much.…

Molokai Rocks

Friday, May 3rd, 2013

Molokai Rocks

A look at the island’s quarries

By Emily Sumners and Catherine Cluett

Rock mining isn’t one of Molokai’s more well-known industries, but it nonetheless plays an important role on the island. Molokai rock is used to pave all the island’s roads, form the cement for its buildings and sidewalks, provides gravel to repair its dirt roads and stones for its rock walls. Since mining poses certain risks and dangers, it is recommended that they offer msha new miner training to their workers.

In mining operations, the use of electric motors plays a crucial role in powering various equipment, from drills and crushers to conveyors and pumps.…

Preschool Travels for Keiki

Wednesday, May 1st, 2013

Preschool Travels for Keiki

 

Every Monday and Wednesday morning, the Mitchell Pauole Center is transformed into an area of learning and discovery as caregivers bring their keiki to Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool.

“It’s fun for me and it’s fun for them,” said Jerrilu Heen, who brings her granddaughter, Alai Miguel, to the free program. “Over here there are no distractions. We’re here and we’re focused on playing together.”

That’s the idea behind Tutu and Me, a free program dedicated to the development of keiki. Head teacher Kanoe Paleka said the caregivers – often grandparents – bring children as old as 5 to interact over games, songs, stories and playtime.…

Halau Reunites for Aunty Moana

Wednesday, May 1st, 2013

Halau Reunites for Aunty Moana

Thousands of supporters from Molokai, Hawaii and around the world gathered on Molokai April 27 to celebrate the life and legacy of Aunty Moana Dudoit. Members of the late kumu hula’s halau over the past 40 years reunited, performing together in remembrance of Dudoit, who died March 16 at the age of 73.

The celebration, which followed a memorial service for friends and family, honored Dudoit with hula, food and togetherness. Dudoit’s grandniece Zhantell Dudoit emceed the event, adding humor and commentary as different generations of the halau took the stage. Dudoit’s sister Raquel Dudoit, who also led the halau, helped provide music for the dancers.…

Revisiting Kalaupapa History

Sunday, April 28th, 2013

Revisiting Kalaupapa History

There’s a new history of Kalaupapa, revealed through stories told by those with Hansen’s disease exiled to the peninsula. Over the past 40 years, historian and author Anwei Skinsnes Law explored photos, letters and lost sources. She shared what she found in her book “Kalaupapa: A Collective Memory.”

“We have to let the people of Kalaupapa be the interpreters of their own history,” Law said during a book signing at Kalele Bookstore in Kaunakakai April 24.

The individual stories intertwine throughout the book, just as she discovered them intertwining during her research. From the first exiles sent to the peninsula in 1866 to the last generation of patients who came after the attacks on Pearl Harbor, the book – and Law’s career – aims to debunk the myths surrounding the settlement.…

Lady Farmers Claim MIL Championship

Sunday, April 28th, 2013

Lady Farmers Claim MIL Championship

By MHS Athletic Department staff

The Molokai High School (MHS) Lady Farmers softball team pounded out a 13-3 win over the Lady Dragons of Hana April 20 in the championship game of the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Division II Tournament at Patsy Mink Field on Maui.

The win came after a crucial make-up game against the St Anthony Trojans that the Lady Farmers claimed with an 18-1 win.

A gritty, come-from-behind 7-6 win over Lanai in the semi-finals of the league playoffs put the Lady Farmers in position to claim the overall league championship and in line for a bye in the opening round of the state championships.…

New Homes Coming for Habitat for Humanity

Sunday, April 28th, 2013

Molokai Habitat for Humanity (MHFH) received a grant that will allow the organization to build four to 10 homes over the next two years. In mid-April, MHFH was awarded $290,000 from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), which will support the Molokai organization’s Native Hawaiian Housing Program. MHFH was one of five organizations awarded funds under OHA’s new Stability in Housing initiative.

Since taking the position of Executive Director of MHFH two years ago, Zhantell Dudoit said the organization has been working to restructure and build sustainable partnerships with agencies like OHA and the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL). She said with a lagging economy, funding has been harder to obtain while the cost of building is rising.…