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Keiki Crops

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Keiki Crops

New garden for Kilohana Elementary

By Melissa Kelsey


On top of reading, writing and arithmetic, growing fresh produce will be part of the school day at Kilohana Elementary School. For the patch of land behind the school, members of the group Ka`ano imagine a community garden.

“This is one of the things that we have been wanting to do for a long time,” said Charlene Martin, a volunteer at Ka`ano, the organization known as the Molokai Seed Bank.  

In addition to growing food, keiki will also learn how to preserve seeds, according to Ka`ano volunteer Jade Bruhjell. One of Ka`ano’s goals is to establish a seed bank of heirloom seeds on Molokai that Bruhjell said could decrease the island’s dependence on outside food sources.     

“You start with the children,” said Martin. “We are going to teach them how to save their seeds, so they will have quality seeds of their own.”

Martin said Ka`ano members and Kilohana Elementary School teacher Mapuana Hanapi were both interested in a garden project for the school, so they worked together to brainstorm ideas. The school may use the garden’s produce to supplement its cafeteria food options and generate trade opportunities for the school, according to Martin.

“Hopefully, this will be a foundation of understanding for this generation of youth that will bring a resonance between the natural land and people,” said Bruhjell.      

Martin said in the future, Ka`ano hopes to tackle similar projects at other Molokai schools.
 
Cultivating the Past
The idea of growing food at Kilohana Elementary School is not new. Garden project volunteer Russel Phifer attended the school in the 1960s. At the time he was a student, he said there was an educational farm at the school. Keiki worked on farm projects, recycling as much as possible for future use.

“It is good to know the past, and how things were before,” said Phifer.  

Molokai schools also have a history of producing other food products, according to Phifer, who said Molokai High School used to run a dairy farm and produce milk.

“Back then, everything was produced here,” said Phifer, remembering how the island used to be less dependent on the barge. “Now, everything is packaged and shipped in,” he said.  


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Ekolu Kalama Wins Major Stand-Up Paddle Race in Germany

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Ekolu Kalama wins the both the sprint and distance division races at the Stand-Up Paddle Racing World Cup in Germany amidst 27,000 spectators last weekend. (skip to 1:35 in the video below)


By Todd Yamashita

Molokai boy, Ekolu Kalama made some major waves in the otherwise placid waters of Hamburg, Germany last weekend. Kalama won both the 200 meter sprint and the 10,000 meter (roughly four miles) distance race in the first ever Standup Paddling World Cup.

With over 27,000 fans and 143 competitors, Kalama represented Molokai and Hawaii well in one of the fastest growing sports world wide. “It was really good and rewarding – but also tiring. There was stiff competition,” said Kalama in a televised interview.

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Krazy for Kolea Kontest

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Krazy for Kolea Kontest

Prizes offered for sightings of annual migratory birds     

Nene O Molokai Press Release   


The fall migration of the Kolea has begun. Also called the Pacific Golden Plover and scientifically known as Pluvialis fulva, the birds are returning from their breeding grounds in the Alaskan tundra. Kolea are territorial and live for twenty years or more, annually returning to Hawaii. Many Molokai residents have named their distinguished winter guests, noting their arrival and departure dates on calendars.

The Kolea is a swift flyer. In around 40 hours at speeds averaging from 56 to 60 miles per hour, the Kolea performs an incredible nonstop migration across the Pacific Ocean. The Kolea spends most of its daylight hours foraging, and can be recognized from a distance by its peculiar ‘run-stop-run’ feeding behavior.   

The Kolea is a prominent figure in Hawaiian folklore. It was considered to be the embodiment of Koleamoku, the god of healing, and a messenger of high chiefs. The northern migration of Kolea may have aided ancient navigators with the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands.

If you report the return of your Kolea, you could win a prize. The observer of the first confirmed Kolea sighting will win a Kolea research t-shirt from the Hawaiian Audubon Society. The first ten confirmed observations will receive a gift certificate for a scoop of ice cream at Kamoi Snack-N-Go in Kaunakakai. Any individual reporting a banded Kolea will receive $20 cash, after the sighting and location have been confirmed.

The Kolea is easily recognized by its bold black and white breeding feathers. However, this ‘alternate’ plumage is lost by winter when the bird molts back to ‘basic’ plumage.
Kolea banded on Molokai have a green or yellow band over a silver metal band. Also, be on the lookout for birds banded with a combination of three colored and one metal band. Bird bands are read as if reading a book, from left leg top to bottom, then right leg top to bottom.

To report your Kolea sightings, call Arleone at Nene O Molokai at 553-5992, or send an email to researchbirds@yahoo.com. Include the date, time and location of each sighting with your report. Molokai sightings are collected at Nene O Molokai and emailed to Peter Pyle, an ornithologist who compiles the information for the Bishop Museum.   

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District Champs

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

District Champs

Molokai Little League team to compete in state tournament  

By Melissa Kelsey

Front Row (L-R): Keldin Calairo-Nakagawa, Kaleonahe Sibayan, Noah Caparida, Ka'io Kalawe, Ehukai Rawlins.
Back Row (L-R): Likeke Schonely, David Rapanot, Bradley Nishihira-Aki, Namakana
Pa-Kala, Kiloaulani Ka'awa-Gonzales, C. Namakaeha Kamelamela.
Coaches, also back row (L-R): Scottie Rapanot Sr., Dwayne Kala, Manager Walter Rawlins Jr.

The Molokai Little League Junior Division baseball team stands undefeated. The team will travel to Oahu July 24-28 to play in the Hawaii State 2009 Junior Division Tournament.

“We played against some tough teams,” said Coach Walter Rawlins Jr., describing challenges the team faced throughout the season. “They did not give up.”

The 13 and 14 year old team earned the District III Champion title at the July 4 game when they defeated Maui Central 8-7. Rawlins said it was the first time a Molokai Little League team had earned the title in the three years he has been coaching.

“All of the kids, they found their heart and stayed together,” said Coach Scottie Rapanot Sr., explaining the team’s success. “That is something you cannot teach. They have to find it within their own.”

The team is raising funds to help cover the cost of airfare and other travel expenses they will accumulate on their Oahu journey. At Hotel Molokai last Friday, they gave homemade gifts to community members who made financial donations.

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Welcoming Hokule`a – UPDATED

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

Welcoming Hokule`a – UPDATED

Sustainable Molokai Press Release

UPDATE: The approximate time of arrival has been changed Wednesday afternoon before nightfall.

The Hawaiian voyaging canoe Hokule`a will arrive to Kaunakakai Harbor on Wednesday morning, July 15. The exact time will depend on water and weather conditions. The crew is visiting Molokai to attend the Sustainable Molokai: Future of a Hawaiian Island Conference and participate in various other activities. Hawaiian immersion students will be doing oli to welcome the crew, and the public is invited to attend. With the help of the community, food is being prepared for the occasion.        



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Molokai Pharmacy At Risk

Monday, July 13th, 2009

Quality of health care is also at stake as community rallies to convince state agency not to restrict union members from doing business with the island’s only drug store.

By Molokai Dispatch Staff

A state-wide plan could require Molokai union members to order prescriptions through the mail. Unless Molokai is granted an exemption from the plan, the island’s only pharmacy, Molokai Drugs, could teeter on the brink of closure, according to the establishment’s owners.

A few weeks ago, the greater Molokai community became aware that the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) had entered into a contract with InformedRx, Inc, a mainland-based company. The move will prevent members of United Public Workers (UPW) and Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA) from filling their maintenance drug prescriptions at Molokai Drugs.

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The Halawa School

Monday, July 13th, 2009

The Halawa SchoolA personal connection to a historic place

By Catherine Aki

When my grandfather died, my grandmother went on a cruise to Hawaii with her sister. The visit prompted her to tell us about her family and how they almost moved to Hawaii during the Depression.  She told us, “You could have been raised in Hawaii.” At the time I was in my teens so the details of the story have faded with time. Later in life I would learn that I had family who already lived in Hawaii.

More recently, I read through a 1936 Star Bulletin article about the 50th year Halawa School Anniversary. The school had originally been built with three rooms, in 1886, by a man named Henry Van Gieson. The school was so popular that students came from as far away as Kaunakakai through Kamalo, Kaluaaha, Waialua, Honouli, and Wailau even though those communities had schools of their own. After ten years Van Gieson left.

The succession of teachers after that were Mr. Wilson, Mr. Wagner, Peter Pascal, Simeon Kalua, Miss Emma Kane, Mathew Kane and David Kalaau who taught for more that 24 years. At the time of the anniversary, Edwin Kaupu was the principal.  The invocation of the ceremony was given by Rev. Issac D.  Iaea.  In attendance were various school delegates and about 100 alumni.  Mr. Van Gieson had already passed on and his wife was too sick to represent him, so two of his children and a granddaughter came instead.  The granddaughter’s name was Inez Hawkins who, coincidentally, was my grandmother’s first cousin.

It was such a surprise to realize that my family had a connection not only to Hawaii and Molokai, but actually to Halawa. Although it is just a single thread, it is still a multi-generational link - something that many of the non-native land owners do not have.  I had the story in my possession for years without realizing there was any relevancy, but it has been a “treat” to find it after all this time.

On Molokai, I am sure people are chuckling about how weak my thread is, and that is to be expected. But that is because this is an island where people still live where their ancestor’s bones have rested for at least 1000 years.

Yet, I hear stories about people coming from the outside expecting Molokai to change without realizing how connected indigenous people are to place. On a single parcel of land the same family may have lived for 75 to 100 generations. It has not been bought and sold but instead lived on forever in Hawaiian time. For most westerners, we cannot fathom this because land is such a commodity.

A while back I spent a lot of time in Halawa and I used to feel different things in the valley. I used to wonder what kind of learning environment could again be created which would utilize a more “traditional” family type teaching. Maybe it was just daydreaming or maybe it was a realization of Halawa’s long educational legacy.  The school, built in 1886, lasted until about 1956 or so. 

And it continues to make me smile that the first teacher in Halawa had a granddaughter who was my grandmother’s first cousin.

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Man Dies While Picking Mangoes – UPDATED

Monday, July 13th, 2009

Electrocuted from overhead power lines

By Melissa Kelsey

UPDATE: According to bystanders, the man did not actually touch the electric line with the metal fruit-picking pole. It has been reported that when the pole came into close proximity of the line, the electricity arched from the line to the pole.

***

A Molokai man picking mangoes died last Friday as a result of his fruit picker touching overhead power lines. Police said the victim, Kamuela Hanapi of Kaunakakai, was harvesting mangoes with a homemade aluminum fruit picker of 20 to 25 feet in length.

Police received an emergency call from the victim’s wife at 7:35 a.m., reporting a possible electrocution. Police and firefighters arrived at the scene, located on Kamehameha V Highway near mile marker 10 in east Molokai. The victim was taken to Molokai General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

“He was a humble, outgoing, nice guy with a good heart,” said a friend of the victim. “He liked to give away fruit. He loved his kids.”

The victim was the third person to die in the state of Hawaii while picking fruit during the last three weeks. On Tuesday, June 30, a man died on Maui after he was electrocuted while picking mangoes with a metal fruit picker. On Wednesday, July 8, an Oahu man died from the same cause while harvesting avocados.  

Maui Electric Company released a statement last Friday, reminding the public to use extreme caution when picking fruit near overhead power lines.

“The fact that overhead power lines are energized and dangerous cannot be emphasized enough,” said Ed Reinhardt, President of Maui Electric Company. “During this time when many of our local fruits are in season, we urgently remind the public to follow basic safety precautions when picking fruit,” he said.  

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Regatta Do It!

Saturday, July 11th, 2009

Regatta Do It!

Photo and caption by Catherine Cluett

With brawn and energy, members of the Wa`akapaemua boys crew show a powerful start to their half mile race during the Molokai’s third regatta of the season last Saturday. The races ranged from quarter mile sprint to the mile-long test of endurance and precision as crews competed to make tightest turns around course marker flags. The event was hosted by the Wa`akapaemua club, with Molokai Canoe Club and Kukui ‘O Molokai also participating. The next Molokai race is July 18, followed by the state regatta in Hilo on August 1. Many crews qualified for the state races during Saturday’s regatta.

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In the Pog Biz

Saturday, July 11th, 2009

In the Pog Biz

Seven-year-old runs his own business.

By Catherine Cluett

While most seven-year-olds are lucky to have pocket change from their allowance, Gus Lodise is already out in the business world making his own money. At age five, Gus began selling his paintings to family and friends, and to raise funds for his school, Kilohana Elementary. Now, two years later, he has expanded his entrepreneurial endeavors to marketing pogs, a game played with small, colorful disks that originated in Hawaii in the 1920s and is still popular with island youngsters today.

Gus went into the pog business just three weeks ago, and as of last week, Gus said he had already sold 33 bags of pogs for $3 per bag. Sets of 100 pog pieces come in a bag. He said he buys the pogs in bags of 8000, then sorts and packages them for sale.

“We have now sold Gus's pog packages to customers on Molokai, as well as Maui and the Big Island via mail order,” said Kimberly Svetin, General Manager at Kamo`i Snack-n-Go. Kamo`i, along with Outpost Natural Foods, are the two local venders of Gus’s “Ninja Pogs.” Svetin said Gus is the youngest vendor in Kamo`i’s 14-year history.

Business runs in Gus’s family. His parents, Monica Flores and Genesis Lodise, are owners of a web design business. Flores said they taught their son the basics of invoicing, inventory, start-up capital and other business practices.

“Our hope is to pass on those skills so he is never dependant on one stream of income,” said Flores.

They also explained the importance of keeping records and professional communication with customers and bankers. Flores said learning such phrases as “it’s a pleasure doing business with you” will serve you well throughout your life.

“The biggest challenge is getting used to people,” explained Gus. But this ingenious kid seems to be having no trouble.

Gus has his own bank account, to which all his profit is deposited. Family members loaned him start-up capital, and Gus said he paid his parents back last week and is now beginning to collect profit from his business. He accepts cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.

He is also already using his knowledge of business to increase his sales by offering discounts. Gus said his friends share his interest in pogs, so he gives them a $1 discount per package.

“There’s always something you can offer,” Flores advised her son and others. “Just think of what you can do and someone who might want it.”

And while Gus said making money is one of the best things about going into business, Gus has already thought about serving the community, too. He has donated paintings to two charity auctions to raise money for Kilohana Elementary School.

“Our hope is that he can use his knowledge and skills to give back to community,” said Flores.

You can reach Gus with questions or to place an order at 877-836-5105 ext. 7 or visit his website, www.islandboyart.com.

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