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Illuminating the Town

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Illuminating the Town

It’s true. The bulbs are here. And upon their arrival were a few Molokai students eagerly waiting to roll up their sleeves and begin the process of distributing and educating.

“With the help of Blue Planet, our goal is to have everybody on Molokai using fluorescent bulbs,” said Luke Kikukawa, a seventh-grade student at Aka`ula School.

The shipment of 44,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) arrived at the Kaunakakai Wharf last Thursday and will be making its way through Molokai as distribution through various schools and businesses begins tomorrow and will continue through May 31.



Keiki have already started campaigning for a more energy-efficient Molokai – and even got their first customer as they were unloading the bulbs.

Last Saturday, three students – Kikukawa and Sarah Jenkins from Aka`ula School, and Moriah Jenkins from Molokai High School – set up shop in front of Friendly Market, distributing bulbs and educating passerby on the harmful effects of carbon emissions.

“We’re passing out flyers and educating people about global warming and carbon emissions,” Kikukawa said. “I’ve learned a lot about how fluorescent bulbs can save you money and energy.”

Seventh-grader Sarah Jenkins added that coordinators of the project are in talks with Councilman Danny Mateo to replace all bulbs in county buildings to help lower the costs for taxpayers.

Kikukawa, Sarah and Moriah, along with various elementary school students, will be out campaigning for the next five Saturdays – until May 1 – urging people to stop by, have a listen and exchange some bulbs.

Participating distribution locations are Molokai schools and businesses – a full list and more information can be found at greenmolokai.org.

The exchange is “one-for-one,” meaning participants must bring in their old light bulbs in exchange for new Energy Star CFLs. Up to 30 light bulbs per household are allotted for exchange.

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Fishing Woes

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Some Molokai fishermen are not happy with proposed changes to the state’s bottom-fishing regulations, claiming they lack research and pose a slew of inconveniences.

“It’s as if it’s a done deal thing already,” one fisherman said in a public hearing last week. “But there’s no concrete evidence showing the regulations actually help.”

In recent weeks, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) held informational meetings and public hearings on the pending bottom-fish amendments. Molokai was one of the last islands to speak on the subject at Mitchell Pauole Center on March 23.

Playing by the Rules

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Molokai Chamber of Commerce Update

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

MCoC News Release

The Molokai Chamber of Commerce would like to thank everyone who attended our March 24 Membership meeting at Hotel Molokai. Each of you contributed to its resounding success. A very special thank you goes out to the following individuals: guest speaker James Tollefson, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; Lawrence Lasua, Molokai Community Federal Credit Union for the generous donation; Maria Holmes, Coffees of Hawaii for providing the speaker gift; Daniel Emhoff, AKAKU Television, for recording the event; Michael Drew and the Hotel Molokai staff for the elegant setting and delicious food; and Dawn Bicoy, for volunteering her time with event administration.

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Full Throttle Basketball

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Full Throttle Basketball

The 2010 molokai menehune basketball champs, ‘we goin full throttle,” went to Maui on March 4-7 to play in the menehune tournament and played four awesome games.
Coach Ron Rapanot Sr. and assistant coach Scot Rapanot Sr. took only seven players: David Rapanot, Noah Caparida, Kilo Gonzales, Rayden McCutcheon, Likehe Shonley, Jarvin Namauu and Kamekona Pelekani. Several comments were made in Maui that they would call themselves the Super 7 Kids, because of the way they played.

We were the only team that had seven players while the rest of the teams that they played against had 12-15 players. Their first game played against Kahului Bays, and lost 29-31, because the referees called 18 fouls to Molokai and Kahului only had four. Our boys left robbed and really disappointed, but they lifted their spirits and surly did not let those officials keep them down for like their team shirts says, “we goin’ full throttle” and believe me, they did exactly that.

The second game was played against Kihei I, and again they played hard with seven of our boys against 12. This time we came on top with 41 points and Kihei 38. David had 22 points, Noah 13, Kalei two, Keke had two and Brayden had two points.

Even at this point, our boys had more speed and condition, out ran and surely out smarted a lot of plays with determination to win and show them what Molokai is made of.
The third game was played against Kihei II, and Molokai came on top with 35 points and Kihei 31. The final fourth game against Pukalani, molokai won 36 to Pukalani 27.

Special clinics should be set up for referee training, especially for the younger and 13-14 year group tournaments. It should be fun and exciting for the teenagers to participate and not have to wonder if the referees are going to call the games again. All in all, the team enjoyed themselves, took the consolation bracket and represented Molokai proudly.

So the Maui County, Molokai district superiors Mike Salas, recreation technician Gerard Starkey, and Ryoko Victorino thank you for making it possible for us to participate in Maui. To the county of Maui – a special thanks to Aunty Jackie for seeing that we were comfortable and allowing us to stay in the wrestling room and using the facilities.
Mahalo! Last but not least, we would like to send a special thanks to Catlin Kaahanui for helping us with transportation and lunch.

Gladys Rapanot

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And the Dear Friends Have to Part

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Community Contributed

By Marie Yamashita

Sunday, Feb. 28, at 1:00 p.m. The weather was foul.  All morning the heavy rains and piercing cold winds continued.  It was not a time to be outdoors.  Still one hoped that there would be a break in the weather because there was a farewell party at the Molokai Museum that one really wanted to attend.  It was for David and Dorothe Curtis who were moving to Maui, and how could one miss this last opportunity to get together with them and bid them aloha.

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Winter Wonderland

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Winter Wonderland

Community Contributed

By Kevin Tensfeldt

As summer turned to fall, the landscape painted itself with rich colors of crimson and scarlet. The cool breeze and shortening of days reminded us that winter would soon be here.  Those of us who have had to endure winters working on the aircraft out on the flight line know of the impending hardships.

Every passing day the temperature drops is a reminder that frost is just around the corner.  It’s all leading up to the scraping of car windows and de-icing of the aircrafts.  To our surprise, the first day of December brought the first frost of winter, unlike previous years where it came much earlier.  The week prior to Christmas brought snow with the power to transform flight lines into huge frozen blocks of ice due to the constant melting and re-freezing.  Every step was taken with the utmost caution. 

With planes flying nearly every morning, there was a continuous battle with the de-icing truck; always breaking, hardly ever being properly serviced and with qualified operators nowhere to be found.  As always, we push though the struggles and come out on top.  Finally, one more day of work before we have a few days off to enjoy the holidays, we come in to stand by for a gunship returning to the states as a precaution (if it needed to be de-iced).  Somehow a three-hour work day turned into 10 due to an unseen fuel leak on one of the other aircraft.  The few days we have off for the holidays are much deserved and needed.  There are days that an eight-hour shift will be completely spent out on the flight line in the cold, rain, snow, wind; yet work never seems to end.  Through everything, rain or shine, I love doing my job. 

As we gear up for our trip to Norway for training in the below- freezing temperatures, I take pride in everything I do because I know what I do differentiates me from my peers that I grew up with.  It is my defining factor; the one thing that, ironically, makes me special.  As soon as winter comes, it melts, and there is always the first rain of spring to look forward to.

Senior Airman Tensfeldt is on RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom.

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Ho`ailona Goes to School

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Ho`ailona Goes to School

Ho`ailona is nearly three years old, and is already taking classes at the University of California Santa Cruz. His teachers have been giving him conditioning exercises, so medical checkups – which will be numerous considering his vision – will be easier and even fun. Ho`ailona is one of only 1,100 Hawaiian monk seals left in the world.

The veterinarians and marine mammal scientists working with Ho`ailona, formerly known as KP2, say his training is the same as a “very smart dog.” He is still as curious as ever, checking out all areas of his pool and the deck, and interacting very well with his trainers.

His trainers said on their website that he has learned a chin station and nose target, which points the seal to a specific location for him to touch. This helps him to be shown where to go and helps the trainer-monk seal relationship.

His journal, updated periodically on his website, says the seal has learned many more behaviors: entering the water upon request, staying in the water for trainers to enter and exit, and lying down. The new tricks allow scientists to more easily check Ho`ailona’s eye health, temperature, weight and morphometrics (girth and length). The veterinarians are still determining whether eye surgery for the seal will be needed.

As for creature comforts, Ho`ailona has been listening to the Beach Boys and Hawaiian-style music, and enjoys playing with showering water from a hose according the online journal. Stay updated at http://www.monkseal.ucsc.edu/KP2/Home.html

Ho`ailona spent most of his life around Molokai, but was born on Kauai and abandoned within 24-hours. After a year of rehabilitation by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the monk seal known as KP2 was released on Molokai. After many months of bonding with residents in the Kaunakakai Wharf, NOAA attempted to place him in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands but found he had cataracts. He was then sent to UC Santa Cruz for observation and possible surgery.

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View Current Issue

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

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The Future of Health Care

Friday, March 26th, 2010

The Future of Health Care

While the nation grapples with a new health care insurance reform, closer to home Molokai students are taking health care into their own hands. Last week Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) – Hawaii Chapter had their fifth annual competition, discussing and competing in CPR and first aid abilities, as well as spelling of healthcare occupations.

Senior Candice Pauole, junior Edwin Mendija, and sophomore Nika Mendija attended the competition in Oahu with their advisor and health teacher, John Van Ornum. While none of the Molokai High School students placed in the top three, Van Ornum said was proud of their performance against over 500 other participants. Mika came in second place last year, but wasn’t able to make it to the national competition; this year she competed in dental spelling. Her brother Edwin competed in medical spelling, and Pauole in human growth and development.

More information can be read in next week’s Dispatch.

 

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Privacy Policy for www.TheMolokaiDispatch.com

Friday, March 26th, 2010

The privacy of our visitors to www.TheMolokaiDispatch.com is important to us.
At www.TheMolokaiDispatch.com, we recognize that privacy of your personal information is important. Here is information on what types of personal information we receive and collect when you use and visit www.TheMolokaiDispatch.com, and how we safeguard your information.  We never sell your personal information to third parties.

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