Study Proves Benefits of Paddling

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter

A three-year study conducted by the University of Hawaii has determined what many in Hawaii already know — outrigger canoe paddling is both popular and beneficial to the health of the Native Hawaiian community. 

The study was conducted by the UH Office of Public Health Studies and surveyed over 13,500 Hawaiian residents. The results revealed that while 20 percent of Hawaii residents have paddled, over 40 percent of Native Hawaiians have participated in outrigger canoe paddling. 

Paddling, and other culturally relevant physical activities like hula, can offer insight into “chronic disease prevention and management” in the Native Hawaiian population, according to the study.  …

Sustainability Speaker Series

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

Maui County News Release 

The County of Maui Environmental Protection and Sustainability Division will host the second installment of its speaker series “Sustainability Together: Community-led Regenerative Action” on July 10 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Molokai Community Health Center. The event will be streamed live on Akaku Maui Community Media Channel 54.

Panelists at the July 10 event include Molokai Homestead representatives, community organizer and solar energy technician Todd Yamashita, Leilani Chow of Sustʻainable Molokai, Keaʻa Davis of Shake Energy Collaborative and Harumi McClure of Haru Energy.

In the second of the four-part speaker series, participants will gain insights into the household-level impacts of energy insecurity and how different communities have successfully mobilized to build resilience through the use of renewable solar energy.…

County Seeks Feedback on Wetlands Map

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

Maui County News Release

Molokai residents are being asked to weigh in on the creation of a Maui County wetlands map during a public meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 6, at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center conference room in Kaunakakai.

Facilitated by the county’s Planning Department, University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program and consultant H. T. Harvey and Associates, the meeting will gather ideas from the community to help prepare the first draft of the overlay map.

As part of a new county law to restore and protect wetlands, titled Ordinance 5421, planning officials are working on a comprehensive wetlands overlay map that will identify existing and future wetland areas.…

Molokai Land Trust Awarded Funding

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

HTA News Release

Molokai Land Trust has been awarded funding as part of $2.7 million statewide from the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA). The funding furthers HTA’s longstanding commitment to protecting Hawaii’s natural resources and perpetuating Hawaiian culture and will support 53 community-based programs as part of its Aloha ‘Aina ($1.35 million) and Kukulu Ola ($1.35 million) programs for fiscal year 2023-2024. 

The Molokai Land Trust was awarded $75,000 for their project entitled “integrating volunteerism to support critical habitat improvements at Anapuka.” 

“HTA’s Aloha ‘Aina and Kukulu Ola programs provide direct avenues for protecting our islands’ fragile ecosystems and strengthening our culture,” said Kalani Ka‘ana‘ana, HTA’s chief brand officer.…

Summer Golf Classic

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

Summer Golf Classic

Community Contributed

The Molokai teachers held their annual Summer Golf Classic at iconic Ironwood Hills Golf Course on Wednesday, June 21. The summer classic is always played in June and 14 golfers teed off from the red, white and blue tees to have an outstanding day of golf and camaraderie. 

Longtime Molokai PE teacher Ponciano Raguindin took both trophies this year with a net score of 75 and a gross score of 67 to win the horns trophy, the jacket for the low gross, and the bowl trophy for the low net. Bob Danner was runner up for the low gross and Rick Schonely was the runner up for the low net. …

Lei Hali’a O Kalaupapa

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

Community Contributed

I was a little tardy getting into the Paddy Wagon because I had been trying to choose which of two shirts to wear to the occasion this morning. Had I been married, that decision would surely have been made last night…at the very latest. Anyway, I opted for the shirt with the red branches, set on a white background. I figured this was acceptable on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.

When I arrived at the designated location in Papaloa Cemetery, a large number of Kalaupapa residents, patients and workers as well as visitors had assembled around a canopy which sheltered tables of flowers and tea-leaf lei.…

Tree Butchering

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

God did not prepare me for what I saw as I walked to my once beautiful country road in Ho’olehua this morning. All the Koa trees cut down, strewn across the road like dead soldiers lined up in a trench. 

I had agreed, against my will, to let them trim the roads because they felt in case of emergency, some of the overhanging branches might be low. But what constitutes what they considered trimming? Butchering is a better word for what the county did. I am in shock and will be in shock till I die having to drive on my road, every day, 365 days a year and remember what the county left me. …

Conrad Areola Ruiz

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

Conrad Areola Ruiz, 80, of Kualapuu, Molokai, Hawaii passed away on May 26, 2023 in Aurora, Colorado. He was born in Rimos #4, Luna LaUnion, Philippines and was a farmer. He is survived by his wife Maria Ruiz; daughter Maybelinda (Grant); granddaughters Darianne, Denichel and Holly; great-granddaughter Raelyann; and siblings Jovencio (Victoria), Orlino (Evelyn), Randy (Elma) and Arthur (Ofelia). 

Services will be held on Oahu at Nuuanu Memorial Park and Mortuary Visitation on Friday, July 14, 2023 with visitation from 5 to 6 p.m., and service at 6 p.m. Shipping out to the Philippines for a second service and burial to follow in Luna Memorial Park in Luna, LaUnion, Philippines.…

Free County Movie Nights This Month

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

Maui County News Release 

To celebrate national Parks and Recreation Month in July, the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation will be offering free, family-friendly events on Maui, Molokai and Lanai that include outdoor movies and activities.

Movie nights will be held Fridays. For details on each showing, including movie titles, visit the County of Maui homepage, mauicounty.gov. For Molokai, movies start at 7 p.m. and will be held at the following community centers: Kualapuʻu on July 7; Mitchell Pauole on July 14; Maunaloa on July 21; and Kilohana on July 28.

National Parks and Recreation Month is an initiative of the National Recreation and Parks Association that promotes building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through parks and recreation.…

Ho’ahu Awarded Energy Grant

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

Ho’ahu Energy Cooperation Molokai (HECM) was one of four organizations nation-wide to receive funding under the Energy Storage for Social Equity (ES4SE) Initiative. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE) funding will assist Ho’ahu deploying residential islanded solar and battery storage nano-grids to 15 households in the Molokai community. ES4SE will support a BESS, inverter and controls, remote monitoring equipment, and look at ways to partner with HECM’s workforce development program.

ES4SE is designed to empower disadvantaged communities to consider energy storage technologies as a viable path toward achieving their energy goals.

“These organizations are fully engaged with ES4SE to find energy storage solutions in their communities,” said Gene Rodrigues, assistant secretary for electricity.…