Golf Ace and Teacher’s Game

Wednesday, January 11th, 2023

Golf Ace and Teacher’s Game

Community Contributed

By Rick Schonely

Retired dentist and Molokai pro golfer Dana Takashima scored a hole-in-one on Dec. 17 at Iconic Ironwood Hills golf course. It was the number one hole and the first shot of the day for Takashima with his 7-iron from 135 yards. The new golf ball picker upper makes retrieving balls from the course quick and easy. Takashima was just hoping that it would not hit the tree in front of the first green, but it got by and rolled true to the pin and dropped in
for an ace. It’s his second ace. The shot was witnessed by Molokai golf pros Bob Danner, Rodney Reyes, Zachary Helm Greg Len-Wai, Jeff Egusa and Ponciano Raguindin. …

Bradford Winston Kaahanui

Wednesday, January 11th, 2023

Bradford Winston Kaahanui

Bradford Winston Kaahanui — Winston, as he was known by most — died on Nov. 29, 2022 surrounded by his ohana. He was a hard-working man who loved his family.

Winston has been preceded in death by his parents William and Olga, and siblings Lila, Donna, Josephine, Luana, and Korina. He is survived by wife Nadine; children Tisha (Kari), Bradford (Janeen), Peter (Kayla) and Max; grandchildren Nainoa, Ilika, Ayden, Ilona and Kaikanoa; siblings Olga, William Jr., Harold, Kanoe, Curtis and Eunice; and many nephews and nieces. …

‘So We Can Live In Paradise’

Wednesday, December 28th, 2022

‘So We Can Live In Paradise’

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

Molokai resident Jayson Mizula has published a book of poetry entitled “So We Can Live In Paradise: Poems by an American Settler in Occupied Hawai’i.” The poems are the culmination of seven years of work and intend to reflect the reality of life in Hawaii, especially for Native Hawaiians. 

The collection is inspired by Mizula and his wife Bahar’s time as caretakers for Moke Kim’s homestead in Ho’olehua. 

“As we helped Uncle grow kalo and other things to share with friends and neighbors, we were horrified by the barrels and barrels of black plastic we’d pull from the soil every time we’d plant a new area,” said Mizula.…

Molokai Students Attend Court Oral Arguments

Wednesday, December 28th, 2022

HI State Judiciary News Release

For the first time in three years, the Hawaii Supreme Court resumed in-person oral arguments at a high school for its Courts in the Community program.

“We are thrilled to be at Lahainaluna High School today to conduct oral argument and provide the students with this unique opportunity,” said Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald. “During the pandemic, students participated by Zoom, but nothing compares to being in person. This was an exciting day for everyone involved.”

Molokai High School students watched the oral argument, along with those from Lahainaluna High School, Kamehameha Schools Maui, King Kekaulike High School, and Lanai High and Elementary School..…

Molokai Students Sponsored for Workforce Readiness

Wednesday, December 28th, 2022

ClimbHI News Release 

Hawaii workforce development nonprofit ClimbHI announces the donation of nearly $18,500 by businesses and organizations throughout Maui County this year, sponsoring 233 students in grades 9-12 on Maui, Lanai and Molokai so they can earn ClimbHI Service Excellence Certificates.

The Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau recently donated funding to sponsor 120 students participating in the program at King Kekaulike High School, in addition to sponsorships for the school by the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort and Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui.

Other Maui County donations include sponsorships by the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association for students at Molokai High and Middle School; The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, for students at Lahainaluna High School and Lanai High and Elementary School; and the Four Seasons Resort Maui for students at Maui High School.…

Christmas Carolers

Wednesday, December 21st, 2022

Christmas Carolers

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Kaunakakai School students toured businesses in town last week to bring holiday cheer and sing Christmas carols to appreciate audiences. 

The Molokai Community Choir, led by Leah Aquino, and the Molokai Instrumental Music Education group, instructed by Bob Underwood joined to offer a Christmas concert at Grace Episcopal Church’s Saturday Market last weekend. …

Community Discusses Purchase of Molokai Ranch

Wednesday, December 21st, 2022

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter

As Molokai residents are well aware, Molokai Ranch has been for sale since 2017. For $260,000,000, a buyer would become the owner of over 55,000 acres of land with infrastructure like water lines, roads and housing — equating to about a third of the island. 

Tech moguls have a bad habit of snatching up land in Hawaii. Over the past few years, Mark Zuckerberg has bought 1,500 acres of Kauai. Larry Ellison famously purchased 90,000 acres, or 98 percent, of Lanai for $300,000,000. A massive land grab by an outside investor is what the Molokai community is seeking to avoid.  …

Deer Meat Giveaway

Wednesday, December 21st, 2022

Deer Meat Giveaway

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

On Dec. 10, Molokai Hunting Club held a Holiday Deer Meat Drive to provide venison to the Molokai community and honor the fifth reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii, King Kamehameha V, who introduced axis deer to Molokai.  

More than 100 households were reached during the giveaway, held at Project Coordinator Troy Tancayo’s house. 

“The first hour was for kapuna. At La Pilina, many kupuna were saying how they grew up with deer meat, and now they don’t have that in their household anymore,” said Keo Hirata, interim PR at Molokai Hunting Club. “We had a lot of families come and about 20 Molokai Hunting Club members to help to distribute the meat that day.”…

Children’s Theatre of Molokai Launches

Wednesday, December 21st, 2022

Children’s Theatre of Molokai Launches

Hokulani CTOM News Release 

There are currently no ongoing theatrical opportunities in the community or any of Molokai schools. To fill this gap, a grassroots community effort began in 2022 by Vicki Boswell, a former elementary school performing arts teacher and social worker from the island. The mission of Hokulani Children’s Theatre of Molokai (Hokulani CTOM) is to enrich the lives of young people and inspire them to build a better community by gaining performing art experience that will deepen their understanding of human connections and values. Hokulani CTOM is in the process of being created.

Working with other community organizations we officially launch in January with our first community production play, “The Legend of Mulan” for youth between the ages of 7 and 14 years old. …

MHS Robotics Begins New Season

Wednesday, December 21st, 2022

MHS Robotics Begins New Season

MHS Robotics News Release 

After a successful comeback in FIRST Robotics late last school year, the Molokai High School Robotics Team competed at its first in-person VEX Robotics Tournament in over two years on at Maui High and managed to finish as tournament finalists and won the Judges Award!

For this season, we are expecting to compete at least six times — four with VEX Robotics and two with FIRST Robotics.

In addition to competitions, MHS Robotics has also revived the Molokai Robotics VEX IQ League, which we last hosted in 2019. The league serves as an opportunity for local elementary/middle school robotics teams to compete without having to spend money traveling interisland.…