MAY 27, 2015 - VOLUME 31, ISSUE 21
The
Molokai Dispatch
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May Day 2015
aunakakai School honored Molokai’s Hokulea voyagers at their May 15 May Day celebration. Below left, island princesses danced at Molokai Middle School’s May Day, held on May 20. Photo by Molokai Middle School Media students. Maunaloa School’s Ni`ihau island representa-
Molokai Ferry Seeks to Run ‘As Needed’
tives, at bottom left, made their entrance on May 22, during a community event that perpetuated Polynesian culture. Bottom right, Kilohana School’s May Day court gathered on May 22 for the island’s east end celebration. Photos by Molokai Dispatch Staff.
Coaches, Athletes Honored at Banquet
Molokai Wins Big at International Science Fair
By Colleen Uechi | Staff Writer
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t the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), an event that included around 1,700 students from more than 75 countries, five Molokai students spent hours being grilled by Ph.D. holders and Nobel Laureates. In a room full of geniuses, Molokai proved it is home to some of the world’s brightest young scientific minds. In the Earth and Environmental Sciences category, Molokai High School senior Sarah Jenkins and sister Lily Jenkins, a sophomore, won first place and a $3,000 award. Their project, “March of the Molokai Mangrove,” charted the spread of mangrove along Molokai’s south shore and its potential impacts on the island. In the Biochemistry category, juniors Keaa Davis, Alex Simon and Momi Afelin took home fourth place and $500 for their project, “Investigating Agar Extraction,” which explores uses for gorilla ogo, an invasive algae clotting the island’s shores. “You meet these people from all over the world … and you realize they’re all just like you, and you’re all a little bit nervous to be there and all really excited after putting so many hours into your project,” said Afelin. “To see each other go up there and get rewarded is really an amazing experience.”
Science Fair Continued pg. 2
THIS WEEK’S
Dispatch
By Colleen Uechi | Staff Writer
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ith competition increasing, the Molokai ferry wants to scale back further than originally planned. On May 13, Sea Link of Hawaii, Inc. withdrew its petition to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to suspend one daily route between Molokai and Maui. The company instead plans to petition the PUC to require a minimum number of passengers to make a trip between the two islands. “The concept we’re working on now is being what’s called a common carrier versus a scheduled carrier,” said company President Dave Jung. “A scheduled carrier has to run if you’ve got one passenger. … We want
Ferry Continued pg. 2
Closing Halawa's Church
Pg. 2
Observing Damien’s Feast Day
Pg. 8
Photo by Colleen Uechi
By Colleen Uechi | Staff Writer
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nother sports season, full of buzzer beaters, towering touchdowns and sizzling spikes, has come to an end at Molokai High School. Last week at Molokai’s athletic banquet, the school celebrated the 187 student athletes and nearly 50
coaches who participated in 16 different sports this season. Every athlete in attendance got a recognition certificate and a moment on stage in the banquet’s first-ever Parade of Athletes. Coaches, many of whom juggled other jobs off the field,
Banquet Continued pg. 2
Why I fly with Makani Kai Kale is a back-to-the-earth kind of guy, farming and raising vegetables on his homestead. The kind of guy and the kind of vision we need in Hawaii. And why does Kale like to fly with Makani Kai? One word: “Easy.” He appreciates the no hassle way we do things, “Jump on and gone,” as he says. Kale was in Honolulu to watch his sister graduate from the William S. Richardson School of Law. Congratulations to your sister, Kale, and thanks for flying with us. From topside Molokai to Honolulu or return
$50 online fare, every seat, every flight, every day. MakaniKaiAir.com | (808) 834-1111 The
Molokai Dispatch
P.O. Box 482219 Kaunakakai, HI 96748
Kale Wallace Molokai Born & Raised