OCTOBER 5, 2016 - VOLUME 31, ISSUE 39
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
Brush Fire Threatened Home
By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor
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ix brush fires blazed on Molokai last week, five of which were small but deemed of suspicious cause on Tuesday, Sept. 27. A larger fire burned 10 acres near the Molokai Airport two days later, coming dangerously close to a home. On Tuesday around 5:45 p.m. Molokai firefighters responded to four separate brush fires, all around 200 to 300 yards apart, along the Maunaloa Highway near the Seventh Day Adventist Church. A fifth small fire was found one mile up the highway near Kamakou Forest Preserve Road. According to the Maui Fire Department, the largest fire was 20 by 50 feet in size. Two of the fires were extinguished by passing drivers. All five fires were fully extinguished by around 6:30 p.m. The Maui Fire Department said the cause of the fires remains under investigation, but called them suspicious. On Thursday, Sept. 29 at 8:30 a.m., firefighters rushed to the scene of a half-acre fire burning about a quarter mile south of the airport. The fire came as close as 50 yards to a home, but no damages or injuries resulted. The fire was brought under control about an hour and a half later, after it had burned 10 acres of brush. The fire department reported that 16 firefighters from all three Molokai stations in Ho`olehua, Kaunakakai and Pukoo came together to fight the blaze. A county water tanker as well as a fire department helicopter also assisted in the effort. The cause of the fire was undetermined.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Hawkins
STUDENTS INTERN WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor
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even Molokai High students will have the opportunity to intern with some of Molokai's 16 businesses that were selected to attend the Made in Maui County Festival (MIMCF) Nov. 4-5. The internship is a partnership between MHS's Career and Technical Education and Fine Arts departments, the county’s Office of Economic Development, Kuha`o Business Center, and vendors that will be participating in the MIMCF. The program is being piloted for the county here on Molokai. “This program has the potential to take our students to the next level in preparing for the business world," said Jennifer Hawkins, small business specialist with the Kuha`o Business Center. "Whether they plan to attend college or dream of starting their own business, we hope that this program provides them with added skills and experience
to accomplish their dreams!” The students began the program with interviews that helped place them with their business mentors to complete their 20-hour internship. Some students described the interview process as nerve-racking, while others said they felt comfortable. “This interview helped me to understand that I need to explore more things and that when I interview, I need to be clear and not worry about being nervous," said one student. "I’ll definitely practice before another interview, do more research, and dress better." Students received feedback the interview committee, which helped them grow and improve. “Some feedback that I got was that I had a great attitude, was honest about my weaknesses and that I should keep surrounding myself with positive people and get all the business experience
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t the age of 14, a young Indian girl, the only daughter of her immigrant Gujarati parents, moves from New York, to the tiny island of Molokai, Hawaii. She brings with her a lifeline of hip-hop music, her own written rhymes, and a hope for peace in her family. This story, the real life experience of Molokai High School alumni Sonia Patel, is also the story of the main character in her debut young adult novel, "Rani Patel in Full Effect." Patel, whose family used to own Maunaloa General Store and Jo Jo’s Cafe during her teenage years, has since relocated to Oahu, where she is a psychiatrist with a special emphasis on the issues of young women. Her first novel, a passionate exploration of culture, family systems and adolescence, puts to use her talent for and love of hip hop mu-sic, as well as her unique experiences as the daughter of immigrants, and the only student at MHS whose family was from India. “I’m hoping that Molokai readers
will enjoy recognizing all the places that I talk about in the book, and some of the activist issues,” she said. “I’m hoping I reflect that accurately, like the water issues, and Native Hawaiian sover-eignty, as well as how history is viewed perhaps differently by people who are raised there, as opposed to those who come from the outside.” Patel’s book follows the journey of the main character, Rani, as she navigates her adolescent years, first in New York, then on Molokai. The book explores how Rani’s unique set of tragic and beautiful experiences begin to form the character of the woman she will become. At the same time, the reader is pushed beyond the arc of the characters story to more deeply explore the psychological effects of each of Rani’s experiences. “This understanding of how your past or genetics affects the way you think, feel and behave -- that’s how I got into the field of psychiatry,” said Patel. “I was most attracted to helping teens because I think that was for me where I got the most stuck. I felt passionately about helping teen girls through that difficult time and I thought, ’Why not help
Interns Continued pg. 3
THIS WEEK’S
MHS Alum Publishes First Novel By Natasha McIntosh Westhoff | Community Reporter
that I can,” said another student. Seven students were selected through the interview process. Nadia Augustiro will be interning with Tania Kaholoa`a of Kainanea Designs; Sonja Angst will work with Anei Bakutis, Kealopiko Inc.; and Ida Pongmulee will be shadowing Patty McCartney of Pualani O Molokai Mana`e Grown Farm. Kuuhulilau Albino is interning with Wailani Tanaka of Something For Everybody; Cameryn Kahalewai will be learning from Kala`e Tangonan of Kupu A`e; Derlina Jhane Fiesta will work with Lyndon DelaCruz of Lanakila Designs; and Heavenly Brown is interning with Kahulu Peltier-Yaw of Keaohulu. “This process is really inspiring from the educational standpoint,' said Maliekekai Ward, Molokai High School
Dispatch
Lady Farmers Sweep Seabury at Home
them at the time when they are forming, so they can avoid pain later?’” Patel’s work with her young female patients, as well her own personal experiences as a young woman dealing with issues of abuse, identity and patriarchy,
Na Wahine O Ke Kai Pg. 2
Novel Continued pg. 3
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Gayla Haliniak Molokai Born & Raised