FEBRUARY 4, 2015 - VOLUME 31, ISSUE 5
The
Molokai Dispatch T H E I S L A N D ’S N E W S S O U R C E S I N C E 198 5
Makahiki
Commission Votes No on Apartment Project By Colleen Uechi | Staff Writer
Photos by Catherine Cluett
Teaching Cultural and Environmental Awareness By Catherine Cluett | Editor-In-Chief
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s youth and adults from Molokai and all over Hawaii gathered to celebrate Ka Molokai Makahiki, lessons of sustainability, agriculture and malama honua shone through the friendly athletic competition of the historic games. During Makahiki, the ancient Hawaiian four-month season of peace, war was kapu, or forbidden, and every district gathered to celebrate the harvest and challenge each other’s athletic prowess. Walter Ritte, who helped revive the observance on Molokai more than 30 years ago, said Makahiki carries an important message today. “We remind ourselves we need to grow more food here in Hawaii,” he told the crowd gathered at Kaunakakai Ball Field last Saturday morning. “We have only two weeks of food if the barge stops. We need to plant food on our homesteads, in our backyards.” Hundreds of students visited Molokai from schools as far as Oahu and Hawaii Island. “We are the leaders when it comes to Makahiki – it's spreading all over Hawaii now,” said Ritte. “It started here on Molokai 34 years ago.” Cultural events began Thursday, the
adult games kicked off Friday night, and the student competitions followed on Saturday, with a ho`olaulea afterward. During the opening ceremony Saturday, a kupuna led each district with a ho`okupu to Lono, god of agriculture and fertility. As ho`okupu, each region of the island offered something for which it was historically known. Kaunakakai brought salt, Ho`olehua carried uala (sweet potato), Maunaloa offered ulu (breadfruit) and Mana`e gave dried fish. Students train at school for months and are selected from their classes to represent at the games. They each hope to win for their district in feats of athleticism such as hukihuki (tug of war), haka noa (chicken fight while jumping on one leg), ulu maika (similar to bowling), `o`oihe (spear throwing), kukini (running races) and uma (arm wrestling). Kualapu`u School student Pomaikai Stone won the haka moa fifth grade championship. After hopping one-legged while armwrestling her opponent in a circle, she said the roar of onlookers urged her to victory. “I think about my friends cheering me on, supporting me all
the way,” she said. “I celebrate Makahiki for Lono and for my friends and family.” When each student emerged victorious, the referee held their hand high, hung a medallion around their neck and announced their triumph. For the second year, metal caster Pat Lynch of Molokai Heritage Company craft-
Makahiki Continued pg. 3
Chopra Hale Continued pg. 3
Arrest Made Mud-Caked Classroom for Attempted Local farm brings lessons of the `aina to life Murder By Colleen Uechi | Staff Writer
By Catherine Cluett | Editor-In-Chief
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Molokai man has been charged with attempted murder after he rammed into his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle in Kaunakakai on Jan. 7. The collision sent his vehicle through the fence and into a tree at Kaunakakai Elementary School. School was out for winter break at the time. The 38-year-old man, Pakluke Lau, also known as Ula, was flown to Oahu to be treated for injuries, while the 35-year-old woman was taken to Molokai General Hospital and soon released. On Jan. 25, Lau was arrested on charges of first-degree attempted murder, two counts of terroristic threatening in the first degree, two counts of violating an order for protection and reckless driving. He is being held on $123,000 bail, according to court re-
Arrest Continued pg. 8
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nder mounting concerns over public safety in Manila Camp, the Molokai Planning Commission recommended a denial for requests for a zoning change and a community plan amendment that would potentially allow a 16-unit apartment complex to be built in the area. The project, named Chopra Hale and proposed by Dilip Gunawardena of the LDE Group, LLC, outlined a two-story, multi-family apartment building that would cover 1.04 acres at 190 Makaena Place. The units would be available to those eligible under Maui County’s Section 8 program, which provides rental assistance for low-income residents. LDE Group sought a zoning change from interim district to A-1 Apartment District, which would permit the construction of an apartment complex. The project would’ve also required amending the Molokai community plan to change the area from a single-family designation to multifamily, allowing a structure capable of supporting several families. At the commission’s Jan. 14 meeting, planning commissioners and community members alike said they were more concerned with the area’s infrastructure than with the project itself. “The commission was never against the project,” said Commissioner Zhantell Dudoit. “We simply want the county to address issues that have been predominant since 1974.”
THIS WEEK’S
Dispatch
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handful of Kilohana Elementary school students stared down uncertainly into the thick, gloopy mud of the lo`i kalo below them. “Come on, ladies, let’s go! Jump in!” Kilohana educational assistant Teon Simmons was trying to coax them into the lo`i, where three of their schoolmates were already wading and pulling weeds from the ankle deep muck. Wedged in the middle of the patch, farm owner Jo-Ann Simms was teaching the students how to gently swing long bunches of weeds to shake excess mud back into the lo`i. Jo-Ann understood the hesitance to dive into the dirty, tedious task, a job she’s been doing since she “We used to hide in the patch ‘cause we were tired of pulling weeds,” she remembered. However, on this farm in the lush Waialua Valley on Molokai’s east end, all learning is hands-on. Jo-Ann and her husband Howard have been living on this four-acre property for over 30 years, and Jo-Ann’s family has lived here even longer.
Farmers Gear Up for MILs, States Third grader Kamalani Peltier, holding a tadpole, was one of 40 Kilohana School students to visit Simms Farm last month. Photo by Colleen Uechi
During that time, they’ve taught hundreds of curious students, tourists and residents what it means to coax the natural riches from the land with knowledge and respect. “Culture is living within us, so we need to pass it on before it’s lost,” said Jo-Ann. “… In my older years now, I want to give back to the children. I want to be able to be a re-
Explorations Series on Molokai Pg. 10
Simms Farm Continued pg. 4
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The
Molokai Dispatch
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Zachary Helm Molokai Born & Raised