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Add your commentUnprecedented
Molokai athletic history is made with Girls State Basketball Title
By Sean Aronson
Long credits the entire team with the victory, saying their camaraderie and tightness was infectious. During the season, the Farmers travelled considerably and played just three of their 22 games at home in “The Barn”. That kind of schedule prepared the team well for rigors of a week-long tournament.
Long says playing in two early season tournaments on Oahu was particularly beneficial, especially when the majority of MIL teams were not competitive with the Farmers this season.
“That was huge,” says Long.
It may also explain how the girls remained so relaxed throughout the tournament. In fact, Long and Assistant Coach Mike Hooper were slightly concerned before the state title game because the girls were so loose the day of the championship game. They said they worried about the focus of the team, but when the ball was tipped all worries disappeared.
“We became more relaxed as the week went along,” says point guard Hooper-Juario. “We learned to take the time to slow down the pace of the game to suit our needs.”
The team was so relaxed; it turns out, that they forgot to eat lunch and instead played their 5pm game without having eaten since breakfast at 10am. Long says he was dying of starvation, but only realized it after all the excitement and hoopla dissipated.
“I think we were all just so caught up in the moment,” says Long.
Hooper-Juario, a junior, was the leading scorer on a team that included just one senior. The starting five will all be returning next year, and several key players off the bench will also return to defend their state title.
Despite playing in Oahu, the Farmers enjoyed a lot of crowd support, thanks in part to Molokai being the underdog and that they were playing a private school, Kamehameha of Hawaii.
“Anytime we are playing a private school, the crowd seems to favor of us,” says Long.
With the score tied and a little more than two minutes to go, the Farmers defense clamped down big time. As Kamehameha guards ran the clock down, the Molokai girls fought through screens and never let their player get out of sight, says Long. Adolpho had two huge blocks during this sequence and after turnovers by both teams on subsequent possessions; the ball came back to Molokai with less than 30 seconds to go. Adolpho, after two failed attempts, put back the game winner with 12 seconds to go. When Kamehameha three-point attempt clanked off the rim, the Molokai girls stormed the court.
They were State Champions!
The last state high school team title for Molokai was when the baseball team won back to back championships in 1999 and 2000.
Players and coaches would like to thank the Molokai fans and the MHS athletic department for their support throughout the season.
As for next year, Long isn’t making any predictions, but he does have one change he’ll be sure to make on the coaching end.
“We need to allow some of the goofiness; it certainly doesn’t seem to hurt.”
Hard Work, High Expectations
MIL champs head to Honolulu with quiet confidence.By Sean Aronson
Last year, the Farmers fell in their first game to Hawaii Baptist School.
This year, because of restructuring to the divisions, there are many new teams contending. Former powerhouses like Farrington and Aiea, both of Oahu, were bumped up to Division I, because of their size. Newcomers such as Castle High and Word of Life are unknowns.
The team has played through some hardships as well. They have been without senior Micah Ritte-Manangan for most of the season. Ritte-Manangan, an MIL selection last year, has been sidelined with a severe ankle injury. In the past few weeks he has been shooting around a bit and was expected to get the green light to begin practicing this week.
Whether he will be available for Thursday’s game is a mystery, but at a recent practice he assured coaches and players that he was ready to go.
“We’ve been playing well without him, and that’s a testament to our players,” says DeRouin. “But there is no doubt he would be huge spark for this team.”
All of the players agreed that having been to the states previously, helps take some of their nervousness away. They are less inclined to be intimidated by the larger basketball courts and the hoopla that surrounds the state tourney.
It was also help that the boys started their season by playing Division I teams like Baldwin and Lahainaluna from Maui. And even though they didn’t win those games, it introduced them to the high level they will have to play at to be successful in Honolulu.
“This team is much more balanced than last year – both physically and mentally,” says DeRouin.
To follow the progress of the boy’s team at States, visit our website – www.themolokaidispatch.com – where we’ll be posting daily updates of the team’s time in Oahu.
Bottom of the Basin
Popohaku sediment to be used at the dump.
By Catherine Cluett
For an island whose reefs are threatened by sediment build-up, anything to keep silt from the coastal zone is considered important. That’s why Goodfellow Bros. will be performing maintenance on the Popohaku sediment basin, dredging built-up silt to a depth of about 3 feet in the 30,000 square foot basin.
Lori Buchanan, a member of the Molokai Planning Commission, said the purpose of the basin is to catch sediment from the area’s rivers before the run-off drains into Popohaku’s coastal zones. The basin, which was originally created in 2000, she said, is owned by Molokai Ranch.
Goodfellow was granted an exemption from Special Management Area (SMA) rules in order to perform the maintenance. Dredging is expected to begin in the next month.
Blinded by the Sun
Commission votes to restrict solar facilities on ag land.
By Catherine Cluett
Renewable energy and agriculture are two things many Molokai residents hope their island will become known for. But should you allow solar facilities to be built on land zoned for agriculture?
Three weeks ago, Molokai residents had the chance to voice their opinions and weigh in on the Molokai Planning Commission’s (MoPC) decision about whether or not to support permitting of solar facilities of any size or use in agricultural districts. Residents’ feedback was mixed, and commissioners were left with a tough decision, which they deferred until last week’s meeting.
The state and county want people to be able to build solar facilities without a special permit, says Joe Alueta of the Maui County Planning Department. But members of the Molokai Planning Commission as well as some community members have reservations about giving blanket authorization without the MoPC’s approval of individual projects.
Above the Law
Legal Vacation Rentals a Murky Ordeal
By Catherine Cluett
Frances Feeter has been trying to operate a Transient Vacation Rental since 2001. Her biggest problem so far is trying to do it legally.
Transient Vacation Rentals (TVR’s) have long been a sensitive issue on Molokai. There’s only one legal TVR operating on Molokai, and, according to Mayor Charmaine Tavares in 2007, there are over 1000 illegal TVR’s operating in Maui County.
“I feel it is unfair to target people who were going through the process legally,” says Feeter.
Since filing an application for operation of a TVR, Feeter says they were required to cease operation despite the fact that many other vacation rentals on the island are still operating illegally.
Molokai Bills Reach Senate Floor
By Molokai Dispatch Staff
Last Friday was a busy day for legislation relating to Molokai. Four bills passed the Senate’s Water, Land, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs Committee (WLT) last Friday. The Committee is chaired by former Molokai resident Senator Clayton Hee.
Issues as far ranging as fisheries protection and a ban on genetically modified taro were addressed by the six member committee. Additionally, many Molokai residents offered testimony on the various bills.
The bills will be up for senate approval in the coming weeks.
Fisheries
Bill SB1199, which would designate the waters around Molokai as a community-based subsistence fishing area, passed out the Senate’s Water, Land, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs Committee (WLT) last Friday.
A Smoother Ride
Molokai gets $18 million in highway improvements.
By Sean Aronson
“We are not only providing a necessary duty, but we are also increasing the safety of driving on Molokai,” said Brennon Morioka, Director of the Department of Transportation for Hawaii.
Morioka spoke on Molokai last week for a Highway blessing to commemorate the recent completion of three major improvements to island roads and bridges, totaling more than $18 million. The road resurfacing was completed in February. The two projects were Waialua to Halawa and Kaunakakai to Hoolehua, together totaling 10 miles of road on Molokai. The third project was an emergency replacement of Kawaikapu Bridge on the east end.
Sen. Kalani English, who is chair of the Transportation Committee, also attended the blessing and said he was most proud of the fact that nearly 80 percent of the road work was done by Molokai residents.
“The roads are great, but getting this island some jobs is my top priority,” said English.
Many of those employees were trained on the job and will be employed by Maui Paving for future projects, says Ron Aroyan, lead manager for Maui Paving.
Many of the completed projects were in areas that had not seen major upgrades for decades. For instance, the stretch of road into Halawa Valley had not been completely paved in nearly 40 years. And the Kawaikapu Bridge had stood for nearly as long.
DOT. director Morioka said he believes Molokai has received a generous helping of transportation projects, but he also recognizes there are places that could still use help.
As for the future, there is one project slated to begin at the end of March. It will be a guardrail and shoulder improvement project along Kamehameha V Highway between Kapuokoolau and Kamalo. The project will widen the shoulder to 4 feet on both sides and add new white edge lines and reflective pavement markers, similar to work done on other stretches of the highway.
The blessing was performed by Kahu Reynolds Ayau of Ierusalema Hou Church.
Another Closure
Kaluakoi pool drained over easement dispute.By Sean Aronson
The ranch owns the land on which the pool and resort sit. Since the shutdown of operations in early 2008, the Kepuhi Beach Resort Association has operated the pool with little incident. An easement, or right of way, was granted to the Association more than 30 years ago allowing residents the right to use the pool, even though MPL still has title to the land.
A few months ago, a resident inquired about the filtering mechanism of the pool, says Mike Jennings, maintenance manager for the Association. When it was determined that upgrades were required to the filter system, MPL got wind of the situation and decided there could be health hazards, says Jennings.
Citing potential liability concerns, MPL decided the best course of action was to shut the pool down. Lawyers for both sides are working on a compromise, says Jennings. But that could take a few months or longer.
Association President Jeff Kent is confident the pool will reopen. In a statement, he says, “We are very confident of winning this dispute because our rights to full access and use of the Kaluakoi Hotel common areas are so clearly and absolutely spelled out in binding legal contracts.”
In the meantime, residents are left with swimming in the winter surf as their only option. Consequently, they will have a more difficult time getting tenants to rent according to residents.
Dale Matlock is a resident and sits on the board of the Association. “Now we’ve got no golf course and no pool, not much of a resort,” says Matlock.
He says the issue is of ‘great concern’ and will be addressed at the board meeting on March 20.
Lawyers for MPL and the Association could not be reached for comment.
The wind gourd of La`amaomao
Paka`a - Part VI of a continuing series.
Though it belongs to the Bishop Museum, the wind gourd of La`amaomao, is currently hidden away at the Iolani Palace.
Keawenuiaumi fails to listen to Kuapaka`a’s warning that there is a storm in the channel between Oahu and Molokai. Although the keiki repeatedly called out to the chief to come ashore, the two enemies continued to exert influence over the ali’i. They argued that there are no clouds in the sky, so how can there be a storm. As they continue to travel along the south coast of Molokai, past Haleolono, towards Laau point, Paka`a tells the boy to chant.
The keiki opens the wind gourd of La`amaomao. Depending on who is telling the story, the bones of Paka`a’s mother or grandmother are in the gourd. References have been made to the famous La`amaomao who traveled with Moikeha from Tahiti and settled in Haleolono. He also had a wind calabash to control the winds. Later he becomes one of the wind deities. In some versions, it is an actual gourd and in others, it is a calabash which controls the winds. Regardless of the discussion of its origins and contents, it was powerful.
When Kuapaka`a opens the cover and begins to chant, the calabash releases its forces. The winds begin to come from Kauai and Oahu. Then they come from Maui and the Big Island. The boy chants their names and the places in a litany of descriptions. For example the wind at Kawela is a cold nose wind. As he chants the clouds grow dark and the seas swirl. The entire flotilla is caught in the squall. The small canoes capsize, the big canoes are swamped and as Keawenuiaumi goes to help, his doubled hull canoe is overpowered by the waves. The two enemies tell him to pull back into the shelter of land to save himself. But he answers that he will not let it be said that he abandoned his people.
On a personal note, I have seen one of these violent rains come off the ocean and hit a west end beach. The force lifted grown men holding down easy-up tarps and twisted metal. It was the wind before the rain which caused all the damage. The rains lasted less than half an hour before clearing up.
As Paka`a watches the plight of his ali’i from afar, he tells Kuapaka`a to put the lid back on the calabash otherwise Keawenuiaumi and his entourage will drown. Slowly the small canoes are righted and the big ones bailed out. The fleet “limps” back into the shadow of La`au point. In the distance the ali`i sees the boy and his father still fishing. He directs the two enemies to head the canoes towards them. They begin to argue again, but he cuts them off saying because he listened to them in the first place he is wet and cold. He has finally had enough of their words which only served to manipulate him.
To disguise Paka`a, from Keawenuiaumi, the boy tells the chief that the canoes need to follow Kuapaka`a through the reef into shore. If they had landed when he had advised them too, the tide would have been high, but now the low tide meant the coral would damage their canoes. This will allow Paka`a to arrive first and hide.
Next the father and son begin to plot their revenge.
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