MARCH 4, 2015 - VOLUME 31, ISSUE 9
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
Fairy Tale Comes to Life at MHS Wrestlers By Colleen Uechi | Staff Writer
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ast week, over a dozen Molokai High students had their hands full with homework, after school clubs and an evil witch in the forest. At least that was the case for MHS’s drama students, who performed the classic fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel” for the community last week at the school’s cafeteria. “We actually tried to do a children’s play because the kids on Molokai, we don’t really have that much for them,” said drama adviser Nancy Lawrence. “So we wanted to do something really special for the keiki.” Hansel and Gretel is a German story published by the Brothers Grimm in the early 1800s. In the version performed by MHS, Hansel and Gretel are the children of a poor woodcutter and a hateful stepmother. One day, the stepmother sends the children into the forest to pick strawberries, despite the tales of a dangerous witch who lives there. Hansel and Gretel get lost and stumble upon a house made of sweets, much to the delight of the witch, who hopes to trap the children and turn them
into tasty gingerbread. However, her bumbling sidekicks complicate the process. “I like how it’s not supposed to be very scary. It’s very comical,” said junior Misty Parker, who played the witch. “My favorite part is this,” she added as giggling keiki came to admire her long pointy hat after the show. The witch forces Gretel to be a slave and sticks Hansel in a cage, fattening him daily so he will be plump enough to eat. When it comes time to bake Hansel, Gretel pretends she doesn’t know how to prepare the oven, tricks the witch into getting close to the fire and pushes her in. The father is reunited with the children, and they invite the witch’s sidekicks, who helped them escape, to come home to live with them. The performance wasn’t restricted to the stage. The witch entered through the crowd, cackling and offering candy to keiki. Later, an escaping Hansel and Gretel scampered through the cafeteria with the witch’s sidekicks in hot pursuit. Lawrence, who’s been teaching English at MHS for 27 years, said that the drama club puts on a major performance about once a year. She estimated that the
Hansel & Gretel Continued pg. 6 Photos by Colleen Uechi
Rawlins Named Molokai Meth Dealer Exceptional Small Business in Prison By Catherine Cluett | Editor-In-Chief
By Catherine Cluett | Editor-In-Chief
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man described as “at the pinnacle” of methamphetamine distribution on Molokai was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison last week. On Feb. 23, 35-year-old Jon Hans Kaapuni, Jr., also known as “Hanzy Boy,” was taken into custody following the sentencing in U.S. District Court in Honolulu. In September, Kaapuni, Jr. pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess, with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. At last week’s hearing, U.S. District Attorney Florence T. Nakakuni said evidence showed Kaapuni, Jr. was a manager and supervisor of a long standing methamphetamine conspiracy on Molokai involving at least five members. Kaapuni, Jr. was found respon-
Meth Continued pg. 6
Pin Down 13 MIL Medals
By Colleen Uechi | Staff Writer
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ne of the smaller schools in the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) grabbed a big part of the spotlight at last weekend’s MIL championships. Molokai High School wrestlers snapped up 13 medals for finishing within the top three in their weight classes. Of those, 10 finished within the top two and will be going to the state championships this Friday. Molokai’s girls’ team took second and the boys came in third. The Farmers produced three champions: Kailaoe Cabanting (119), Saydee Makaiwi (129) and Alexandria Simon (134). “Our conditioning is really good,” said freshman Caele Manley (115), who came in second and qualified for states. “[My teammates] did really good and I’m proud of them.” The overall league winner for both the boys and the girls was Lahainaluna, which collected eight titles. “Last year I lost my first match so I was out the complete tournament,” said Simon, a junior who will be making her third straight appearance at states. “… This year when I came back and I won, it was something I needed to do for myself.” After beating Lahainaluna’s Connor Mowat last week, Kui Han (285) came in second to Mowat. In the season-long battle between the two, Mowat has taken first place three times, while Han has done so twice. Both are headed to states. In all but one meet this season, Lahainaluna produced the most firstplace finishes and is currently far above the rest of the field with 67 regular season titles.
Wrestling Continued pg. 3
THIS WEEK’S
Dispatch
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t an elegant dinner event overlooking panoramic views of Maui last Thursday, Rawlins Chevron was honored among Maui County businesses as the Exceptional Small Business of the Year in the 11 to 35 employees category. With eight other nominated businesses from Maui in that category at the 2015 Mayor’s Small Business Awards, the multi-generational family service station with 20 employees in Kaunakakai took top honors. They were one of two Molokai businesses represented as nominees at the event. “We’re blessed to do what we do in the community each and every day in our community,” said Lori-Lei Crivello after accepting the award. Crivello represented the business with her mother Shirley Rawlins. “I’d like to recognize my grandmother, who started this business some 55 years ago… We continue our business with four generations in Kaunakakai. We’re so proud of that, and blessed and honored to be here.”
Rawlins Chevron was nominated for the award by Ku`ulei Arce of the Molokai MEO Business Development Center, who called the service station “a stop for food, gas, drinks, ice and chat before you head to the beach or head home.”
Rejuvenating Hawaiian Reading
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Putting Faces to Financial Aid
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Rawlins Continued pg. 3
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$50 online fare, every seat, every flight, every day. MakaniKaiAir.com | (808) 834-1111 The
Molokai Dispatch
P.O. Box 482219 Kaunakakai, HI 96748
Colleen Joao Molokai Born & Raised