FEBRUARY 15, 2017 - V OLUME 32, I SSUE 7
The
Molokai Dispatch
Search Continues for Answers in Plane Crash
7
TH E I S LAND’ S NEW S SOU RCE S I NCE 1 9 8 5
TO WRESTLE AT STATES
By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor
N
Crash pg. 2
At left, Molokai's Hauoli Caparida battles Lanai's Jake Ballesteros on the mat. Top right, Molokai's Caele Manley versus Lanai's Demytri Dameg, and bottom right Molokai's KelseyLee Bicoy-Juario and Lahainaluna's Taylor Pelegrino Hayase. Photos by The Maui News/Chris Sugidono
By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter
S
even Molokai wrestlers qualified for the state competition after top finishes at last weekend's MIL Championships at Maui High School. Though only first and second place finishers at the event go on to the state championship, the Molokai High School Boys and Girls Wrestling team at 13 student athletes finish in first, second or third place in the MILs. Sweeping the competition on the mat for first place in the 220 pound
division was Martika English. Second place finishers were Keeya Bicoy at 117, Kelsey Bicoy at 132, Taye Mowat 138, Caele Manley at 138, Hauoli Caparida at 145, and Makana Kaahanui at 225. Coming in at third place were Alea Davis at 102, Jayse Rillion-Lalim at 106, Jake Samaniego at 132, Maile Kaahanui at 145, Diego Deponte at 152 and Jarron Boswell at 160. Many matches were so close, said Head Coach Randy Manley, but overall he was pleased with Saturday’s
State Swim for Senior
outcome and excited for all heading to states. “It was a good day of course but we would have liked to see more champions," he said. "Three of our boys in the finals lost by one point. We're going to work hard this week to prepare for states. Our kids have big hearts and lots of courage so we're looking for good things next weekend!” The State Wrestling Championships will be held this weekend at the Blaisdell Center Arena on Oahu.
THIS WEEK IN
Molokai Dispatch
The
early two months after a Cessna plane went missing off Molokai's northwest coast with three people on board, the plane's disappearance -- as well as its location -- remain a mystery. Along with initial Coast Guard and Fire Department searches, nearly 100 Molokai residents and family members of the victims helped scour the land and sea. A recent sonar mapping effort conducted by the University of Hawaii was among numerous off-island companies and agencies that have donated time to the search. Yet the definitive evidence has still not been found on the wreckage. A preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board last month was inconclusive, stating that the plane disappeared and "is presumed to have crashed in the Pacific Ocean." After taking off from Ho`olehua Airport en route to Honolulu on the evening of Dec. 30, the privately operated Cessna 172 disappeared off radar around 7 p.m., four miles east of Ilio Point. The plane’s pilot was Michael Childers and passengers were John Mizuno and Whitney Thomas, of Oahu. The NTSB report states the plane "entered a descending right turn seconds after it reached a maximum altitude of approximately 2,525 feet," with the radar track ending over the water less than a minute later. Poor weather conditions were reported, with wind and low visibility. The Coast Guard and Fire Department began searching for the plane that night, and continued until Jan. 1 and Jan. 2, respectively, finding no debris or evidence of a crash. "As family and friends hiked the island, combing every inch possible from sunrise to sunset, we were able to send private helicopters above us to also search from the air," stated a relative of Thomas on the GoFundMe page the family started. "And all of us were so blessed by the Molokai residents, who opened their homes to us, joined our searches, and uplifted us with their support. One day turned into two, then three…but after 11 days of intensive searching, nothing was found." Since then, the University of Hawaii volunteered the efforts of its research vessel, the Kilo Moana, in using sonar to search the topography of the ocean bottom for the wreckage on Jan. 19. Alexander “Sandy” Shor, Associate Dean for research of the UH School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, said the vessel's crew searched for about eight hours as the Kilo Moana was on its way back from a mission in American Samoa. He said they focused on the area near the plane's last known radar contact, as well as an oil slick on the water's surface that had been sighted by observers. "I wish we had been more successful and been able to identify the plane [but]… We’ve ruled out some areas," said Shor. "We identified some remotely possible objects on the bottom... about the right size
Boys Basketball Closes 2nd in League Pg. 3
Kahele Naehu-Ramos with his family and coach. Photo by Jane Chang.
By Rick Schonely | Sports Reporter
M
olokai High School senior Kahale Naehu-Ramos swam at the state Swimming and Diving Championships on Oahu last weekend. Naehu-Ramos qualified in the 50 meter freestyle and the 100 me-
ter breaststroke, swimming in the preliminary heats on Friday. He finished in 20th in the 50m freestyle with a time of 23.44 and placed 27th in the 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:07.29. “The state swimming competitions are always a culture shock," said
Swimming pg. 3
Local Musician Celebrates CD Release Pg. 2
Why we fly with Makani Kai “Traffic-wise, just getting here is so easy,” says Weston, “No TSA, no taking off your shoes…it’s great.” The Kaahanui clan is flying back to Molokai today and enjoying Makani Kai’s hassle-free environment, “You could come wearing a Malo,” says Weston, “Slippers…you could wear boots with spurs…it doesn’t matter. It’s come as you are.” From topside Molokai to Honolulu or Kahului
$50 online fare, every seat, every flight, every day.
MakaniKaiAir.com | (808) 834-1111
The
Molokai Dispatch
P.O. Box 482219 Kaunakakai, HI 96748
Minoaka, Uilani, Hiilei & Weston Kaahanui Molokai Born & Raised