Creating Creators

Wednesday, October 31st, 2012

Creating Creators

Students and teachers learn hands-on computer programming

When it comes to computer programming, JAVA and HTML are terms that seldom spark much excitement, especially in younger learners. However, Teaching Kids Programming (TKP), a program that was started four years ago in California, has designed courseware and curricula for schools around the world that makes learning with computers not only educational “but also joyful,” according to TKP co-founder Llewellyn Falco. Last week, he and two other TKP trainers volunteered their time to visit Molokai for 10 days and got young students at Kilohana School and Molokai Middle School (MMS) engaged in these programs.…

Molokai Youth Take Top Honors at World Series Event

Sunday, October 28th, 2012

Molokai Youth Take Top Honors at World Series Event

Community Contributed

By Clare Seeger Mawae

The final event of the Stand Up Paddle World Series was held at Turtle Bay on Oahu from Oct. 13 and 14. This year a new event was added called the Na Kama Kai Challenge. It was designed for the new to the sport and up and coming young racers under 15 years. Molokai’s Alex Mawae took first place in the event, while Josie Mawae claimed third.

Josie and Alex were excited to be part of this prestigious event. The Na Kama Kai Challenge was all about the kids with the pros helping out, while the young kids raced their version of sprints on the east side of Turtle Bay.…

The Dispatch Around the World

Sunday, October 28th, 2012

The Dispatch Around the World

What do you share with residents from more than 90 countries around the globe? You read The Molokai Dispatch! While many residents are used to picking up a copy of The Molokai Dispatch every week, there are thousands of fellow readers around the world who find other ways to connect with Molokai’s only newspaper. In the past month, TheMolokaiDispatch.com has received over 14,000 visits from nearly 100 countries representing every continent. Those include Japan, China, India, Singapore, Mexico, Italy, Israel, Russia Pakistan, Poland, South Africa, Czech Republic, Nigeria, Romania, Oman, and many others.

On our Facebook page, Facebook.com/MolokaiDispatch, we also have worldwide fans from over 20 countries.…

Tsunami Brings Evacuation, Debris

Sunday, October 28th, 2012

Tsunami Brings Evacuation, Debris

Last Saturday night, coastal residents around the state evacuated in preparation for a possible tsunami. The warning was issued around 7:30 p.m., with the first swell projected to hit around 10:30 p.m. On Molokai, residents flooded the gas stations and headed for higher ground.

While tsunami evacuation may have seemed like a pointless drill for many on Molokai, residents did report damage in some areas. One family living in Honouliwai on Molokai’s east end found some unusual lawn ornaments Sunday morning.

“My parent’s… yard at Honouliwai Bay… was covered with sand and brush debris and some fish friends in the garden,” said Wailani Tanaka, via email.…

Know Your Water, Know Your Responsibilities

Sunday, October 28th, 2012

Know Your Water, Know Your Responsibilities

Water is an essential component to life –without it, we would cease to exist. Few know this better than the agricultural farmers of Molokai, who each use nearly 6,000 gallons of water per acre per day, according to Alton Arakaki, extension agent for the University of Hawaii –College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (UH-CTAHR). While water is so important, many residents and farmers don’t know where it comes from, who’s responsible for it and what policies govern its distribution. In order to educate and guide the community in the ways of water, a panel was held on Molokai last Friday to provide information that is important to understanding the use of agricultural water on Molokai and its distribution via the Molokai Irrigation System (MIS).…

Recognizing a Job Well Done

Thursday, October 25th, 2012

Recognizing a Job Well Done

Every day of the year, county employees on Molokai work to make sure programs run smoothly, residents stay safe and community needs are met. In recognition and gratitude for their service, employees from the county’s five departments on the island were honored at a luncheon last week.

The 20th annual County of Maui Employee Recognition Luncheon held at the Mitchell Pauole Center recognized those with 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service, county retirees, those with perfect attendance and employee of the year nominees from each department.

“Usually the higher ranking individuals get credited, but [the employees] are the ones who make us look good,” said County Council Chair Danny Mateo.…

Construction Begins on New Public Works Baseyard

Thursday, October 25th, 2012

Construction Begins on New Public Works Baseyard

A new county Department of Public Works baseyard will bring upgrades for both the department and Molokai’s emergency response capabilities. The current facility is located on state property next to Rawlin’s Chevron in Kaunakakai– which is also a flood zone, according to David Goode, Maui County director of Public Works. That means in the event of an emergency such as a tsunami, employees may not be able to access equipment. While the materials are always available since getting your supplies is easier now by using outdoor warehouses to store everything.

“We needed to move out of the flood zone — we’re typically the first responders,” said Goode.…

Master Blasters: Fun for the Young at Heart

Wednesday, October 24th, 2012

Master Blasters: Fun for the Young at Heart

Whoever said it’s all downhill after age 50 has never paddled in Molokai’s annual Master Blasters Race. Participants say the event is just as much about making friends as it is about the paddling competition, the costumes and the drinking. With this year’s festivities featuring a crew of Jack Sparrow-lookalikes in one canoe, Spartan soldiers in the next and afro-wearing Amazonian women in another, there was fun to be had by all last Saturday in the 27th annual event.

“We did our best, we drank our beers and we had a lot of fun,” said Lea Giddens, who paddled with the Wildcat Witches from Maui.…

Halloqueen 2012

Wednesday, October 24th, 2012

Halloqueen 2012

In the spirit of good Halloween fun, many dressed up in their own costumes to attend the second annual Halloqueen event hosted at Paddlers Inn last Saturday.  Pictured here are the evening’s seven performers who came from all across the state.…

A Not-So-Little League

Sunday, October 21st, 2012

A Not-So-Little League

More than 70 young T-ballers aged 4 to 8 gathered at Kaunakakai ball field early Saturday morning to officially bat off the start of this year’s Little League season. Before any games commenced, all five teams stood for the opening ceremony, which featured the national and Hawaiian anthem, guest speakers and a pule.

“There’s not too much on Molokai for little ones,” said Minky Young, president of Molokai Little League. “Little League offers not only baseball, but unity, community involvement, health and wellness.”

Little League has been present on Molokai for over 35 years, and many parents and coaches remember playing in the league themselves as keiki.…