Community Contributed
Submitted by Diane Abraham
Each month, kumu from a different school island-wide are featured in articles written completely by the keiki to share their experiences with their most beloved teachers. Below are submissions from Mr. Bear’s sixth grade class from Kaunakakai Elementary School.
Mrs. Yuen
MOLOKAI ARTS CENTER NEWS RELEASE
On Saturday, Dec. 3, Molokai Arts Center (MAC) will sponsor a Gift Fair and Brunch. We are asking Molokai artists to set up sales tables and booths to sell locally made art and crafts at the Saturday market in Kaunakakai. In addition, we are asking our community to support our island economy by purchasing your holiday gifts directly from local artists and musicians. MAC will serve brunch for 200 holiday shoppers from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. We will also sponsor a gift wrap table so that shoppers can have their gifts wrapped and packed for immediate shipping.
Community Contributed
By Amy Maeda, MOC Executive Director
Molokai Occupational Center (MOC) will tell you to “go stuff it” when you win a free Thanksgiving turkey on Nov. 17.
We have so much to be thankful for this year as we remember the many families that have come into our Thrift Store every Halloween to create a memorable outfit or the many professional ladies who find a silk blouse with a designer tag still on. Working computers have been donated by customers that go into the hands of high schoolers for $50. Guys find leftover building materials on occasion, and we are still waiting the other side of an Air Jordan size 11 shoe in perfect condition (no speck of Molokai dirt even).
Community Contributed
By Kalei “Pumpkin” Moss
Does the thought of creating a spreadsheet or PowerPoint presentation on the computer fill you with dread? Does just the thought of turning a computer on make you want to run in the opposite direction? Why not attend the 21st Century Grant computer class at Kaunakakai Elementary and say goodbye to those fears? If you have no computer skills or your computer skills are a little rusty and you need a refresher, the computer classes offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. are just right for you. In this day and age, you will likely need to have some computer skills, whether it is for your job or to help your kids with their school projects.
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Standing on the side of Maunaloa Highway last Wednesday – with the red dirt and green grass of Pu`u Nana Hill behind him, the blue ocean and white sands of Mo`omomi down below – Kanoho Helm made a sweeping gesture with his hand. He pointed to the some of the 11,000 acres on which local families hunt deer and gather opihi to feed their families, he said, and which is home to important shrines and burial grounds.
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It was “welcome home” last week for the young Hawaiian monk seal named Ho`ailona, also known as KP2, that made Molokai his home in early 2009. Ho`ailona returned to the state after spending about two years at the University of California, Santa Cruz, participating in research that has helped scientists better understand the species.
Ho`ailona was flown back to Hawaii last Tuesday on a Coast Guard C-130. He will live permanently at Waikiki Aquarium, though he will remain in quarantine until December or January to make “sure he’s eating and adjusting well to new environment,” according to David Schofield, marine mammal response coordinator for the National Marines Fisheries Service (NMFS).
The Webelos from Pack 311 of Kailua, Oahu visited Halawa Valley Sept. 30 to Oct. 3. Webelos are Cub Scouts in their fourth year, an average of 9 years old. Throughout our four days of camping, 12 families were continually impressed by the beautiful valley, people, nature, history and activities. We would like to share what "Pops" Anakala Pilipo and Diane Solatorio, shared with us.
As American Safari Cruises’ (ASC) yacht docked on its first trip to Molokai last Sunday morning, protesters greeted it with requests to leave local waters.
Over two dozen kupuna, teachers, fishermen, cultural practitioners and others chanted “No cruise ship” and “Go home!” toward the 145-foot boat, named the Safari Explorer.
As two vans carrying the boat’s passengers departed the docking area, protesters marched across the road holding signs reading “boycott this ship,” “you’re not welcomed” and “Hawaiian way or no way.”
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Community Contributed by Kalei “Pumpkin” Moss
This past June, school may have ended for the summer but classes were still being held through the 21st Century Grant program. Kaunakakai, Kilohana and Maunaloa Elementary Schools all held programs over the summer to help keep our children engaged and learning while school was out.
Kaunakakai Elementary School held classes that included violin with teacher Lauren Fischer, Nutrition and P.E. with teacher Ui Kalani and Space Camp with teacher Kawika Gonzales, who actually attended NASA space training. Through collaboration with Officer Sonnie Ka`ai with the Molokai Police Department, first through sixth grade students were given the opportunity to not only continue learning what they were being taught in school, but also participate in a leadership class. One day a week, the students were taught by one of four different members/organizations of the community. Dan Emhoff representing Akaku taught the student how to create public service announcements; Chris Chow and Roselle Kamaile representing Alu Like spoke on drug prevention; Vicki Boswell and Liz Price from Napu`uwai did a heart guardianship program on nutrition and wellness; and Penny Martin representing Papahana Kuaola spoke on being a good steward of our land by being environmental conservationists. At the end of the summer programs a Ho`oike was held for students to share with their parents and families the work they had accomplished.
Kaunakakai School also held a special week-long drama class that was open to all island students. Through the direction of artists from the Maui Arts and Culture Center, the drama students acted, sang and even rapped in a play “Aloha Aina,” which showed the importance of taking care of the land through recycling and going “green.”
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Through a partnership with the Summer P.A.L.S program and the 21st Century Grant, Maunaloa School offered classes for students as well. Students learned how to cook healthy snacks with Janna Espaniola and hula instruction with Kahana Deknees. They also had math and reading classes with Lana Freeman, who taught pre-K through third grade and Wendy Espaniola, who taught fourth through sixth grade.
The 21st Century Grant programs are offered year-round at various schools island-wide and strive to offer classes to our students and community members that will assist them with their future endeavors. Thank you to all those who participated in the summer programs this past year. If you or your children are interested in participating in the 21st Century Grant program please contact Joshua Adachi at Kaunakakai School at 553-1730 or Sandra Czajkowski at 658-0609 for more information.
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Commands across the corps are telling Marines that when in uniform they cannot wear bracelets bearing the names of friends killed in combat. Marine Corps Systems Command, which oversees uniform board policies, says Killed in Action (KIA) bracelets aren’t approved under current regulations. The only related rule dates to 1972 and allows bracelets honoring POWs and MIAs, but not those killed. Times change, and this rule should also. Marines are justifiably angry and confused by the piecemeal enforcement of a rule that few knew existed and makes no sense. A huge part of being a Marine is also remembering those who don’t survive combat. Marines are taught to honor the fallen. Forcing them to hide or remove their bracelets runs counter to the ethos, and defies the Corps’ most sacred values of honor, courage and commitment. Change that rule, now!
The VA wants to talk with women veterans and began calling them in June to gauge their satisfaction with VA health care and inform them of available services. The VA says women represent 6 percent of all veterans using VA health care. “We want the veterans and their caregivers to talk candidly about why they aren’t using VA, whether they are aware of the gender specific services we offer and what additional services they would like to see VA offer,” said Patricia Hayes, chief consultant of the VA’s Women Veterans Strategic Health Care Group. For more information, go to www.va.gov/womenvet.
I would like to remind everyone of the VFW’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 12:30 p.m. at Commander George Harada’s home. If you have any questions please call George at 553-5730. Also, I’d like to remind everyone that John Candello, the veterans advocate, will be on Molokai Nov. 3 and 10 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. by appointment, call 553-3611. Please let’s not forget our military personnel stationed around the world, and especially those men and women in harm’s way. We send them a big mahalo for all they do, and to our veterans at home for all they have done, and the people of Molokai for supporting them. You are all very special and dear to me, I love you all. Give old Jesse a call at 553-3323.
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