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Add your commentFruits of the Forest
Wood carver finds home and profession on Molokai.
By Melissa Kelsey
Two of his carvings, a humpback whale and a shark, are on display at Kalele Bookstore in Kaunakakai. Several feet high, the humpback whale is made from kou wood. The shark is made from milo wood and is attached to its base with a deer antler. Lopez said he likes milo wood because he finds it easy to preserve the variety of colors found in the wood. For even darker shades on the sculptures, he used dye from black pearl shells. After completing approximately 70 percent of the carving work with a chainsaw, Lopez used chisels and various electric tools for the details. Each of the sculptures took him around 1 1/2 weeks to complete.
Lopez’s work can also be found at The Warehouse behind Import Gifts, and he said that his carvings have been purchased by visitors coming from as far as Switzerland and Germany. However, he sells most of his work on Maui.
Lopez said he first came to Molokai 12 years ago when he was hired to work on fences at Molokai Ranch. Soon after, he met his future wife, the daughter of renowned Molokai wood carver Bill Kapuni, who also operated snorkeling and diving excursions for tourists. While helping his new father-in-law take visitors on underwater adventures, Lopez developed an interest in Hawaiian sea life. Around the same time, he began learning the art of sculpture from Kapuni and creating his own work.
“I just love to do it,” said Lopez. “I hope I keep doing it more and more.”
Unforeseen Circumstances
Mango Mart closes its doors for good.
By Melissa Kelsey
The convenience store, which sold affordable food and household goods in bulk, closed as a result of one of the owners, who lives in Oregon, being ill, according to the shop’s former General Manager Karen Buhr.
Buhr said employees found out about the closing on March 31st, and spent the next three days selling leftover merchandise and cleaning the store.
Mango Mart, which also provided a DVD rental service, employed five full-time workers and five part-time workers at the time of its closing. Buhr said that all of the full-time employees and two of the part-time employees have filed for unemployment benefits.
The shop donated $473.00 worth of unsold groceries to the Molokai Women’s Shelter, according to Buhr. In addition, unsold DVDs were donated to the Molokai Women’s Shelter, the Molokai Youth Center, and Molokai General Hospital.
“The closing was so sudden, but we had no choice due to the owner’s illness,” said Buhr. “We would like to thank everyone in the community for their support.”
Food fight: The business of biotechnology
Fifth in a six-part story
By David Lichtenstein
Modern agriculture has brought about a strange convergence of politics, law, science and big business. One way to examine this phenomenon is to look at the world’s largest seed producer, Monsanto, which is Molokai’s biggest employer.
Monsanto reported an $11.365 billion in revenue for 2008. These record profits helped solidify Monsanto’s position as the world’s largest investor in agricultural research in the area of seeds and traits. Monsanto says it invests $2.6 million a day on research and development in breeding and biotechnology. It was also announced on March 25 that a $10 million grant will establish Monsanto's Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Program, which will help identify and support young scientists interested in improving research and production in rice and wheat.
My Sustainable Molokai Youth Contest
Aloha, welcome to the My Sustainable Molokai Youth Contest. Use this resource page to download contest forms and to research sustainability concepts and technologies. Then express your own creative vision for a sustainable Molokai through art, poetry and/or essay.
Sust-`ĀINA-ble Molokai
Want to know what the future holds for Molokai? One thing is certain – Molokai’s first sustainability conference in July. If you’re interested, check out the booth at this year’s Earth Day on April 17.
Press Release
Organized by a grassroots hui of Molokai residents, a new Sust-`?INA-ble Molokai initiative focused on achieving “the collective dream of a sustainable Molokai” will kick off at Earth Day on April 17 with pre-registration for a two-day Sust-`?INA-ble Molokai: Future of a Hawaiian Island conference scheduled for July 17 and 18.
The conference will provide an opportunity for Molokai residents to learn, talk story and participate in the initial steps of sustainable community building. Organizer Malia Akutagawa says the event is designed to “educate people and build momentum for the community to create its own future and be part of its own solution”. By integrating the concept of “Molokai '?ina Momona” with the word “sustainability”, the ultimate goal for Molokai is “Sust-'?ina-bility”, a model of abundant island living rooted in traditional knowledge and supported by modern technologies. The Sust-`?INA-ble Molokai initiative will build upon the vision outlined in the living document Molokai: Future of a Hawaiian Island, with the objective of creating and implementing a long-range sustainability plan for the island.
The conference will showcase Molokai residents living sustainably in addition to featured off-island speakers including keynote speaker and master navigator Nainoa Thompson, Aimee Allison with Green For All, Gary & Kukui Maunakea-Forth of MA‘O Farms, and representatives from Waipa Foundation on Kauai, among others. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to learn about practical ways to live sustainably, through expert presentations, panel discussions, Q & A sessions, interactive breakout sessions and demonstrations. Topics will include food security, alternative energy, waste management, traditional resource/ahupua‘a management, green economies, green building, indigenous knowledge, education, and permaculture. Pre-conference and post-conference ho‘olaule‘a are scheduled for June and August, and a “My Sustainable Molokai” art/essay/poetry contest for grades 7-12 begins this month.
Local non profit Ka Honua Momona International is serving as a fiscal sponsor of the conference, and conference organizers are currently seeking volunteers and monetary donations to help fund the two-day event. Please make checks payable to Ka Honua Momona, Intl. with “Sustainable Molokai” in the memo line. Donations may be sent to PO Box 482188 Kaunakakai HI 96748.
Space is limited at the conference; pre-registration at Earth Day is encouraged. Registration fee is $10 for adults until June 19th, and $25 after June 19th. Children under 18 are free.
For more information, or if you’d like to volunteer, please email kdavis@qlcc.org
To the Good Senators
Letter to the Editor
Expressing their opinions about life on Molokai, both Senators English and Hemmings have spent time on Molokai. I suspect that Hemmings has spent the most time here but, ironically, “did not get it,” despite his encounters. He seems to be of the “growth and jobs at any cost “ school of thought as being the solution to Molokai’s problems. Yet what has the legislature really done to improve Molokai’s lot? Very little.
Why not help the farmers here grow food for the Islands? Why not help set up an economic base that would fit Molokai and that Molokai’s people would welcome? Why not help Molokai buy the foreign owned Molokai Ranch that owns a third of the island and has shut down a third of the island’s economy? Why not pursue local government for Molokai so its people can control their own destiny for a change instead of having to continually respond to incursions from outside? Or, at least institute a system of elections where Molokai people can elect the paltry few representatives that we do have to important positions such as County Council and OHA? Nothing has been done about any of these issues. The highly centric powers that exercise firm and rigid control do not want to give up some to local control.
Governor’s Molokai Community Advisory Council to Discuss Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative
The Governor’s Moloka‘i Community Advisory Council will meet on Tuesday, April 14, 2009, 3 p.m. at the Kulana O‘iwi, DHHL / OHA Conference Room, 600 Maunaloa Highway, Kaunakakai. The public is invited.
Joshua Strickler, facilitator of renewable energy projects, from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, will discuss the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s work to achieve energy independence through the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI). Strickler will address the recent agreement between Castle & Cooke, First Wind Hawai‘i, and Hawaiian Electric that could lead to large wind farms on Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i which will provide clean energy to O‘ahu. Noelani Kalipi, director of government and community relations for First Wind, will brief the council on the company’s wind farm proposal for Moloka‘i.
Raising Your Voice
Moloka'i High students Kandis and Shaye Santiago in recording studio
Press Release
Self-expression and cultural preservation are both important to members of the Molokai community, and three artist educators have brought those values to life for students on Lana‘i and Moloka‘i. For the past several years, Musician Bailey Matsuda, storyteller Nyla Fujii-Babb, and dancer/choreographer Yukie Shiroma, as part of UH Manoa Outreach College’s Statewide Cultural Extension Program (SCEP), have worked with Molokai students to develop songs and stories from oral histories and the youth’s own contemporary experiences. The narratives span local history to romantic heartbreaks, and make a powerful case for preserving the rural lifestyle of these islands. A concert in Honolulu on April 25 of these young singer/songwriters and storytellers is a showcase of their dedicated efforts, new confidence, and a gift to all. Joining them on stage will be their teachers and some special guests, artistic role models from O‘ahu, Lana‘i and Moloka‘i: Nalani Olds with an opening and closing oli, musician Po‘okela Napoleon, and Lehua Matsuoka, Kumu Hula with ties to the late Kumu from Lana‘i, Aunty Elaine Kaopuiki.
The Moloka‘i performers are Joshua Adachi, Abigail Adachi, Kandis Santiago, and Shaye Santiago.
I like going fishing
Casting out the line
I like diving down
Morris Point get fish
I like going hunting
In the gulches on the west side
I like going swimming
At the wharf when hot
(Chorus)
We get the best beaches
Kaluakoi, Sandys, Dixies
We get the best people
Loving and nice
– from “I Like Moloka‘i” by Young Voices participants from the Moloka‘i Youth Center
Concert, open to the public: Saturday Saturday, April 25, 7:30 pm, Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College
Limited number of free tickets available to high school students and teacher. Please call 956-8246.
Tickets also available at www.etickethawaii.com/orc.html, by calling 944-BOWS, or at any UH ticket outlet. For more information, call 956-8246 or visit www.outreach.hawaii.edu/community
Lawful Remembrance
Press Release
Kalaupapa memorial signed into law
President Obama’s signature last week finally confirmed what Molokai residents already knew – their family, friends and ancestors of Kalaupapa deserve recognition. The Kalaupapa Memorial Act, introduced by Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono, part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, establishes a memorial for the 8,000 former patients buried in Kalaupapa, only 1,300 of which have marked graves. The President invited Congresswoman Hirono and Hawai‘i Senator Daniel Akaka to attend the signing ceremony at the White House.
“The passage of this law should be a proud moment for all Americans. We will now be able to recognize the Hansen’s disease patients of Kalaupapa for the way they led dignified, inspirational lives under extremely challenging circumstances,” said Hirono. “This memorial will provide family members a place to visit and reflect since the majority of patients at Kalaupapa have been buried without grave markers.”
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