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Star Poets Celebrates Molokai Winners

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

Star Poets Celebrates Molokai Winners

Community Contributed

By Diane Abraham

Molokai is an island full of talented young people. On May 15, 2011, Star Poets, which is a project of Windward Community College, the Hawaii Council for the Humanities, and the Hawaii Writing Project, had its 11th annual awards ceremony. Molokai, for the first time involving elementary students, produced two winning poets.

Alia-Marie Gomes Madela, a fourth grader at Kualapu`u School, along with Kahawai Tancayo, a fifth-grader in Kula Kaiapuni O Kualapu`u, wrote winning poems. Winning students received cash prizes and shared their poems at the ceremony at the beautiful Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College. The poems are judged anonymously; that is, the students’ names and schools are removed prior to being judged, so the officials have no idea whether they are reading a poem from a student at Iolani, Punahou or a school on Molokai. With over 2,100 entries, congratulations are due to these two young ladies on their writing skills and the depth of the content of their poems.


Equally exciting for Alia-Marie and Kahawai is that they will be able to share their poems when the Honolulu Theater for Youth brings its annual production to Molokai. This year’s season is “Poetry Fever” and will highlight student poetry in a theatrical format.  Stay tuned for a date!

Halawa: A Special and Sacred Place
by Alia-Marie Gomes Madela (fourth grade)

Halawa is on the eastern shore of Molokai.
It is a hard place to get to, you must really want to be there.
On the windy steep roads with many sharp curves,
You may be lucky to see Hawaii’s endangered nene goose.
To the sparkle of the year-long waterfall,
To the beach where the crabs crawl,
This is Halawa.
From the dark sand to the tall cliffs and
The circle bay,
This is Halawa.
It is a place for swimming and reflection,
It is a place that once was home to many ancient people.
This is Halawa.

The Baby `Ali`i
By Kahawai Tancayo (fifth grade)

He was born and supposed to die
Nae`ole saved him that night
The water is shining
The moon is hiding
As Nae`ole runs into the mountain
The baby, Kamehameha, doesn’t cry
As he looks at the night sky
Can they survive?

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Wind Developer Invites Mana`o

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

Pattern Energy News Release

In March of this year, Pattern Energy was introduced as the preferred developer for a potential 200 megawatt (MW) wind project on Molokai Properties Ltd. (MPL) lands.  Since that time, Pattern Energy has formed Molokai Renewables LLC and is working with Bio-Logical Capital to explore the project.  We believe that a wind project on Molokai has the potential to help provide a wide range of benefits to the Molokai community and to generate clean energy for Hawaii. 

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Save an Endangered Plant

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service News Release

A rare plant, found only in the wet forests of eastern Molokai, was designated an endangered species in 2009. A draft Recovery Plan for the plant, called Phyllostegia hispida, is available for public comment, with the addition of a recent addendum. The draft plan is published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Phyllostegia hispida, known only by its scientific name, is a nonaromatic member of the mint family (Lamiaceae).  It is a loosely spreading, many-branched vine that often forms large tangled masses, and is known only from the wet forests of eastern Molokai at elevations between 3,650 and 4,200 feet.

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Scientists Gather on Molokai to Study Monk Seals

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

Scientists Gather on Molokai to Study Monk Seals

Community Contributed

By Diane Pike, Molokai Marine Mammal Response Team Coordinator

Two visiting scientists joined NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) researchers on Molokai last week to study the diet and feeding behavior of the Hawaiian monk seal.   

The team collected scat (seal poop) samples and tagged animals.  Researchers caught seals to deploy cellphone tags that collect detailed information on animal movements and diving behavior.  This allows researchers to identify important feeding locations for the seals.  

Dr. Charles Littnan, the lead scientist for NOAA’s Monk Seal Research Program, described the findings to date, “We have learned that a lot of monk seals from Molokai feed along Penguin Bank and the west coast of the island from shallow waters down to 350 feet or deeper.”  

The research this week was building upon over four years of work on resident seals.

Dr. Alex Karamanlidis, a Greek researcher working on the endangered Mediterranean monk seal, has come to Hawaii to share experiences between the two seal programs in a hope to recover both species.  The two types of seals separated some 12-15 million years ago but find themselves in the same dangerous position of near extinction today.


“Despite being separated by 8,500 miles, Mediterranean and Hawaiian monk seal face similar threats and conservation challenges,” Karamanlidis said.  

Having never been to Hawaii or observing wild monk seals, Dr. Karamanlidis was struck by the differences between the two seals.  “Mediterranean monk seals are often in conflict with humans and haul out in remote and inaccessible sea caves. As a Mediterranean monk seal researcher, it was a unique experience for me to visit the beautiful island of Molokai and see monk seals hauling out on pristine coral beaches.”

Dash Masland, a National Geographic Young Explorer from Maine, has come to Hawaii to help NOAA better understand the diet Hawaiian monk seals.  Masland’s research is funded by a National Geographic Channel grant that was awarded based on public voting on the internet during a month long competition.  Masland received 60 percent of the 40,000 total votes, sending her to Hawaii.  

Masland plans to use genetics to identify important fish in the feces of monk seals.  “I was floored by all the wonderful feedback I received during the National Geographic competition and how much the world cares about the Hawaiian monk seal,” she said. “I really hope that I can use my expertise to help everyone better understand the seals.  The last three days at La`au have been amazing!”

The Hawaiian monk seal population is currently estimated at around 1,100 seals, with about 200 in the main Hawaiian Islands.  NOAA Fisheries is working to understand and solve the causes of the population decline in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and find ways to manage the small and growing population of seals in main eight islands.  

“Collaborations like this trip with scientists, managers and the community are critical for the future of the species,” Littnan said. “We need to find solutions for recovery and coexistence of man and seals.”  

More research and outreach will continue on Molokai in the future.

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Singing Across Molokai

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

Singing Across Molokai

Members of the Kanikapila Singers of Leeward Community College described Molokai as amazing, priceless, peaceful, beautiful and friendly. For their first tour of the Friendly Isle, the 16-member choir traveled to nearly every corner and sang for countless residents. Their program of classical as well as Hawaiian music was heard at the Saturday Farmer’s Market, several churches including Our Lady of Seven Sorrows and Molokai Baptist, and even private parties.

The choir had a particularly unique experience when they hiked down to Kalaupapa and across to St. Philomena Church to sing “Prayers of Kalaupapa,” with the composer of the song accompanying them.

“[Molokai] is what I remember Hawaii was like growing up,” said choir director Marilyn Liu Kim. “People here are givers, not takers.”

Their journey culminated at the Memorial Day celebrations at the Veterans Cemetery on May 30. Choir director Marilyn Liu Kim said the choir does a tour every Memorial Day.

“This is what there’s a need for; veterans are often a forgotten group,” Kim said, who is also a Professor of Voice at Leeward.

“It gives us a chance to give back to the veterans,” said singer Nathan Yoshii.

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All In A Name

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

While the Molokai Chamber of Commerce (COC) may sound similar to the Molokai Chamber Foundation (MCF), they serve different functions in the community. Recently, the name similarities have caused some residents confusion, according to the COC. That’s why the COC has formally asked the MCF to change their name.

COC President Rob Stephenson filed a petition last month with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, alleging MCF infringes on its corporate name. The hearing is set for Nov. 17, 2011.

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The Business of Health Care

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

Two opinions on a plan for health care on Molokai emerged last week: residents want a patient-centric, easy-to-navigate system with choices, while providers are concerned about finding funding to keep their services available.

“I would like it if our current health care providers would stop squabbling,” said Jeannine Rossa, a Molokai resident, via the Dispatch’s Facebook page. “We need them all. We like them all. We want them all.”

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Molokai’s Own Graduates as Medical Student

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

UH Manoa News Release

The next stop is the White Coat Ceremony for six graduates of the Imi Ho`ola (“those who seek to heal”) Post-Baccalaureate Program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM). One of this year’s graduates is Molokai’s Kaimana Chow of Kaunakakai.
 
Imi Ho`ola, a program within the medical school’s Department of Native Hawaiian Health, seeks out promising college graduates from under-served communities, offering them a year of intensive preparation for medical school. By completing the training, they earn a place in the next class of MD students.

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Simply Mahalo

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011


The family of the late Alfredo Rin Sr. acknowledges with sincere appreciation, the comforting messages and expressions of aloha during our time of bereavement.

Mahalo nui loa,
The Rin `ohana

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To Valued Customers and Community

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

The Store House greatly appreciated your business and regrets our sudden closure. Numerous inquiries as to, “Why?” business closed prompted a need for an informational letter.

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