Molokai’s Own 442

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

Molokai’s Own 442

Community Contributed

By Larry Helm

The men pictured above served this country with integrity and honor and were part of most decorated Army unit in World War II. The young Molokai Japanese Americans worked for CPC (California Packing Corporation) pineapple plantation in Kualapu`u and family businesses in Kaunakakai.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor they joined the Army. Being of Japanese ancestry, they had to overcome the stigma of racism and internment. While fighting with the famous go-for-broke 442 Battalion in Europe, they helped save France and Italy from the Hitler German occupation, rescued a lost Texas Army company that was surrounded by the enemy, and rescued 12,000 Jews from Dochaw prison camp.…

Monitoring Monk Seals

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

Monitoring Monk Seals

In order to bring more tangible data to ongoing efforts to better understand Hawaiian monk seals, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has developed a research project that will attach Crittercams, or small video cameras, to the backs of the seals. Video footage would allow not only scientists to gather important data, but would also help community members better understand the seals’ diet, behavior and potential impacts in the main Hawaiian Islands.

There are currently approximately 200 seals living in the main Hawaiian Islands. Their presence has created some controversy and conflict with divers and fisherman near shore, who believe the seals are competing with them for fish.…

Summer Send-Off

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

Summer Send-Off

Molokai PALS celebrate another successful summer.

Play and Learn Sessions (PALS) keiki and staff from all four elementary schools on Molokai sang and danced their way to healthy living at this year’s Ohana Nite, held at Kualapu`u Rec Center on Thursday.  This year’s theme celebrated “Ke Ola Pono No Na keiki,” or “Healthy living for our children.”

While the keiki from Kilohana “walked it out,” Maunaloa PALS students danced, wielding homemade posters of healthy snacks.  Kualapu`u sang about aloha and Kaunakakai keiki went on a “buta hunt.”

PALS is a summer program that keep kids engaged physically and mentally through arts and crafts, sports, culture lessons, music and dance.…

Molokai Gets Verizon Wireless 4G Upgrades

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

Verizon Wireless users on Molokai now have an added boost for data speeds with 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) service that was installed last week. 4G is the fourth generation in cell phone communication standards, allowing high speed data transfer, video streaming, web browsing and other applications. Verizon’s partial Molokai upgrade is part of a statewide initiative to expand the 4G network

“With our 4G LTE network, more residents, small businesses and local government in Hawaii will be able to leverage the speed and connectivity through a variety of 4G LTE devices to connect with family and friends,” said Russ Preite, region president for Verizon Wireless.…

New Catholic Priest for Kalaupapa

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

New Catholic Priest for Kalaupapa

July 11 marked what Kalaupapa’s new Catholic priest believes is the fulfillment of his destiny. Father Patrick Killilea was installed as the pastor of the peninsula’s St. Francis Church, replacing Father Ambrose Sapa, who was reassigned to serve on Oahu.

“My story really begins in Kalaupapa in the summer of 2004,” said Killilea, a native of Ireland who had been serving in Massachusetts. He had come over to Kalaupapa to visit fellow members of the Sacred Hearts order — of which St. Damien was also a member.

“The words… ‘Damien the Blessed’… nearly brought me to tears,” he said. “I knew [then] I was destined to be here.”…

Assessment Identifies Molokai’s Agriculture Needs

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

Sust`aina ble Molokai News Release

Sust`aina ble Molokai has completed a comprehensive Agriculture Needs Assessment for food production and security on Molokai. The Assessment is based on survey results that show where your food is being grown, who is growing it, and where you can buy it. The document is also valuable in that it shows what we don’t have as an island, and therefore what opportunities exist for job creation in the agriculture field.

One of the needs identified by the survey, for example, is an agriculture coordinator for Molokai to connect local farmers with stores and restaurants both on- and off-island.…

Learning the Basics about Vitamins

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

Community Contributed

By Jon Mikami, RPh, and Kelly Go, RPh, Molokai Drugs Inc.

Vitamins are essentials – they are substances your body needs to function normally. You can usually get the vitamins you need from a healthy, balanced diet. Add a “rainbow of color” to your diet and you increase your chances of getting what you need.

But some people lack certain vitamins, so they need efficient supplements like Kratom Active. You may also want to try EverSmith Organics sea moss gel to see the benefits. Ask your doctor whether or not you do. And, remember: too much of a good thing can be bad for you.…

Monitoring Monk Seals

Sunday, July 22nd, 2012

Scientists hope to gather data via video cameras

In order to bring more tangible data to ongoing efforts to better understand Hawaiian monk seals, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has developed a research project that will attach Crittercams, or small video cameras, to the backs of the seals. Video footage would allow not only scientists to gather important data, but would also help community members better understand the seals’ diet, behavior and potential impacts in the main Hawaiian Islands.

There are currently approximately 200 seals living in the main Hawaiian Islands. Their presence has created some controversy and conflict with divers and fisherman near shore, who believe the seals are competing with them for fish.…

Molokai Air Travel Developments

Sunday, July 22nd, 2012

Molokai Air Travel Developments

Good news may be on the horizon for Molokai air travelers. Hawaiian Airlines has announced that Molokai is one of the destinations it is looking to serve with new turbo-prop aircraft it plans to acquire. In addition, current Molokai service provider Island Air is upgrading its aircraft to allow increased passenger capacity and improved service.

Hawaiian to Expand Neighbor Island Service
Hawaiian Airlines (HA) announced last week that is has signed a “letter of intent” to acquire smaller, turbo-prop aircraft (powered by propeller rather than jet engine) with the aim of establishing a subsidiary carrier to serve airports like Molokai’s Ho`olehua Airport, which are not currently part of HA’s routes.…

Centuries of Molokai Pa`akai

Sunday, July 22nd, 2012

Centuries of Molokai Pa`akai

Salt: a long history of high value

For many people, salt is something found in shakers on the dinner table. But for ancient Hawaiians who harvested snow-white flakes of pa`akai from the rocky shores of Molokai, it held sacred value. After seawater dried in the sun and the remaining salt was scraped from bowl-like crevices in the lava rock, it was used in ceremonies, purification rituals, to preserve food, and even regarded like money for trading.

“[Native Hawaiians] have been harvesting salt as long as people have been here,” said
Mac Poepoe, a Molokai-born traditional resource manager. “People used to walk miles
just to collect salt.”…