COMMUNITY NEWS
Reading Between the Lines to Freedom By Colleen Uechi | Staff Writer
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or 19th century slaves in America, a hand-stitched quilt was more than just bedding; it was a map to freedom. As Black History Month kicked off at the Molokai Public Library last Wednesday, Molokai resident John Wordin shared the little-known story of the secret role quilts played in bringing enslaved African Americans to safety. Wordin’s presentation was inspired by the book “Hidden in Plain View,” which details the history of the system of coded quilts. “Slaves were deliberately kept from getting any education. They were illiterate,” said Wordin. “You couldn’t just give them a handout and say, ‘Well, these are directions as to where to go and who to talk to.’” Instead, instructions were secretly stitched into shapes on quilts and hung in the windows of homes that formed the Underground Railroad, the covert network of routes leading to the free North. A certain shape of a certain color could point escaping slaves on the right path. Patterns were passed around and learned by slaves. Wordin brought a replica quilt that uses a design known as Jacob’s Ladder. The rungs of the ladder, he said, could indicate how many miles slaves needed to travel to the next safe location. “It was subtle thing but to someone who was looking for a specific direction, this gave them [that] direc-
tion,” said Wordin. Quilts weren’t the only things hiding secrets in those days. Slaves also used music to disguise their plans of escape. What seemed to be spirituals and perfectly acceptable to the masters, said Wordin, actually included instructions on journeying to freedom. Resident Kehau Briones, who attended the program, said that she’s interested in African American history and culture because of the people she’s met in her own life. “It’s horrible to hear the things that happened to them and the back history of … their life,” said Briones. “And [racism] is still happening today.” Briones said that while she doesn’t equate the struggles of African American slaves to the injustices suffered by Native Hawaiians, she sees similarities between two cultures who know what it means to lose land and freedom. The program, organized by local ceramics artist Yoellah Yuhudah, will continue at the library every Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m. for the rest of the month. On Feb. 11, Yuhudah will speak about the African immigrants’ search for identity in Hawaii. Sandra Watford is the speaker for Feb. 18, and Susan Macuse will present the final program on Feb. 25. For more information or to get involved, contact Yuhudah at 276-0086 or at mauiglassbeadsyo@gmail.com.
Body Found Outside Town By Catherine Cluett | Editor-In-Chief
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he body of a 70-year-old man was found near the Water Treatment Plant outside of Kaunakakai on Jan. 7, according to the Maui Police Department. The man, identified as William Hazen, was reportedly homeless. Police said no next of kin have yet been found. According to some community members, he had a daily routine of going to Rawlins Chevron for morning
coffee then going to the library, said Lori Buchanan of Molokai Mortuary. With no next of kin identified, the mortuary buried Hazen last Friday at Kapaakea Cemetery. Volunteers dug the grave and performed a blessing, according to Buchanan. Maui Police said they are still trying to notify any family members, and an autopsy is pending.
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two-year-old boy suffered life threatening injuries on Feb. 2 when he hit by a vehicle in Waialua. The accident happened at 11:20 a.m. on private property. The vehicle, driven by a 67-year-old woman, was traveling south when the collision
Food Hub in Operation Sust`aina ble Molokai News Release Sust`aina ble Molokai’s newly launched Molokai Food Hub is seeking locally grown fruits and vegetables. In January, we officially became the vendor for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) for Maunaloa Elementary School. This is a federally funded snack program, which allows students to receive a snack of a fresh fruit or vegetable two to three times per week. As the vendor, we are aiming to provide as much Molokaigrown fruit and vegetables as possible, so please call or email us if you would like to be a supplier (560-5410 or harmonee@ sustainablemolokai.org). The program is open to growers who can provide 60 servings of fresh fruit or vegetable (minimum serving size of 1/2 cup), and they will be paid fair market value. Thus far we have purchased locally-grown oranges, taro, lilikoi, Molokai purple sweet potatoes, and papayas, and we are looking to expand this list to give the students a broad range of delicious,
took place, according to police. The boy was flown to the emergency room at the Maui Memorial Medical Center. The driver did not report any injuries. No official information on the current condition of the child was available as of Sunday.
NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNERS COUNTY OF MAUI 2014 - 2015 REAL PROPERTY TAX BILLS Real Property tax bills of the County of Maui for the second-half installment of taxes due for the Fiscal Year 2014-2015, payable by February 20, 2015, have been mailed to property owners or their respective agents servicing their accounts. Property owners who pay their real property taxes directly and who have not received their real property tax bills should check on their taxes: • By calling 270-7697. Lanai residents may call 1-800-272-0125, and ask for the Real Property Tax Collections – Treasury Division, extension 7697. Molokai residents may call 1-800-272-0117, and ask for the Real Property Tax Collections - Treasury Division, extension 7697 • In person at the Real Property Tax Collections - Treasury Division, Maui Mall Service Center Suite A-18, in Kahului, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. • By visiting our website at www.mauipropertytax.com Payment may be made: • By Mail to: County of Maui - Treasury Division P O Box 1405, Wailuku, HI 96793 • In person at the Real Property Tax Collections, Maui Mall Service Center, A-18, Kahului • For Lanai residents only: By mail to the above address • For Molokai residents only: By mail to the above address Property owners are reminded that failure to pay their tax on time because of non-receipt of tax bills will not excuse them from being assessed a 10 percent penalty plus interest at the rate of 12 percent per year. Unless hand delivered on time, the U.S. Post Office cancellation mark is the date of receipt by the County of Maui. County of Maui Department of Finance - Treasury Division Real Property Tax/Fee Collections and Tax Relief Program by ANGELITA R. DE LA PENA, TREASURER
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healthy snacks – grown right on their own island. We hope to eventually offer local produce to the islands’ other schools through such snack programs. To do this, we need numerous growers with consistent supplies of produce, so please let us know if you are out there. We’d like to thank the farmers who have supplied us so far, as well as Aunty Tica Kekahuna, the Cafeteria Manager who is a big supporter of going local, and has patiently worked with us as we get this program underway. One additional service the Molokai Food Hub has added is selling local produce at Saturday Markets. Please call or email us if you are interested in having us sell your goods (at no cost to the grower). We are planning to do this at least once a month, along with selling fresh kiawefired pizzas made in our brick oven and topped with fresh, local veggies. Our next pizza and produce sale will be Valentines Day, Feb. 14, so come buy your sweetheart a Sust`aina-ble local pizza!
Duvauchelle to Be Honored in Oahu Parade Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs News Release Molokai cowboy, farmer, teacher and steward of the land, Jimmy Duvauchelle, will be Grand Marshall at this year’s Oahu Prince Kuhio Day Parade. The Oahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs is proud to have Duvauchelle ride in the parade to honor Prince Kuhio on March 28. Retired from Molokai Ranch after 45 years of service, he is humble pastor and great family man. Duvauchelle exemplifies the examples of Prince Kuhio in his ways of reaching and teaching the community and all involved with him the love and respect
PADDLING Continued From pg. 1
Toddler Hit by Car By Catherine Cluett | Editor-In-Chief
The Molokai DispaTch • Feb 11, 2015 •
farewell to the team last week. Both Espiritu-Tanabe and Paleka-Kelly felt the team has progressed well this season, learning to mesh with a new coach
BASKETBALL Continued From pg. 1 ally catch along with the plays,” said Ledesma. “[He said] it will be a whole different Hana and it showed.” Molokai led by 10 after two quarters, but the lead seesawed between both teams in the second half. Hana’s three-pointer with two seconds left got them within a point of the Lady Farmers, but time quickly expired on the Dragons’ chances. “It started getting close and toward the end we started to play man,” said Falealii. “It helped us stop them a little.” Against Seabury, the story was repeated, with neither team able to take the lead for long into the fourth quarter. After Falealii made the Farmers’ final shot with 10 seconds to go, the Spartans inbounded the ball and attempted a shot from half court. It nearly went in,
of the aina. Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole was the founder of the Hawaiian Civic Club movement and proponent of the Hawaiian Homestead Act of 1920. In the early 1970s, parades honoring Prince Kuhio were held in our island communities. Hawaiian Civic Clubs of Oahu would gather in the communities of Papakolea, Nanakuli, Kailua and Hawaii Kai to host this annual event, with a pageantry of floats, marching units, and car cades of dignitaries, all in celebration of the life and times of Prince Kuhio. Today, the activities to honor Kuhio have grown from the humble parades in those early years to month long activities.
and several new and underclassmen paddlers. After a fourth-place finish in their first regatta, the Farmers went on to finish second and third multiple times in the remainder of their races. “I like that we could be honest with each other [this season],” said PalekaKelly. “ … Through ups and downs we only came closer at the end. I feel like I can trust them with anything.”
bouncing off the back of the rim at the buzzer. Guard Precious Rawlins’s seven points and Falealii’s nine were team highs against Hana. Against Seabury, forward Lehiwa Pedro nearly recorded a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. Ledesma also scored nine and Falealii brought in 14. On Saturday Lanai beat Seabury 42-33 to clinch the second seed in the state tournament. This week both Molokai and Lanai moved on to the state championship as unseeded teams. The Lady Farmers’ first opponent was Oahu’s University High on Tuesday. DeRouin said it helped that they’ve faced University before at the state tournament. “I’m looking forward to just working hard, playing my best and having fun,” said Ledesma, who is attending her first state tournament. “Hopefully have the outcome we want for this state championship.”
Police Report January 2015 JANUARY 3 Arrested and released: Fiorito, Michael; 61; Kaunakakai; OUI Liquor Colon, Kaika; 37; Hilo; Place to Keep, Carry Firearm Public Hwy, Place to Keep Ammo, Permit to Acquire Firearm
Alcon, Codi K; 29; Kaunakakai; Meth JANUARY 24 Trafficking II, PRO DET III, PROT Arrested and released: DANG III, PROH ACTS DRUG Cavanaugh, Darren; 28; Maunaloa; D.W.O.L., Open container JANUARY 10 JANUARY 18 Arrested and released: Arrested and released: JANUARY 25 Makekau, Dana Rose; 29; Maunaloa; Luuloa, Kayla; 29; Kaunakakai; Theft Arrested and released: Burglary I IV, Theft III, U.E.M.V., Theft of credit Lau, Pakiuke; 38; Murder I card, Fraud use of credit card, (attempted), Terroristic Threatening JANUARY 4 JANUARY 11 Kaai, Wailani; 42; Kaunakakai; Theft I, Reckless driving Arrested and released: Arrested and released: III, Fraud use of credit card Napoleon, Michelle; 34; Dudoit, Rose; 24; Kaunakakai; OUI Mariano, Francis; 53; Kaunakakai; JANUARY 27 Kaunakakai; PRO DET III (2 counts) (Liquor) Tiare; 28; Kaunakakai; Theft PRO DET III, PRO DANG III, PRO ACTS Escobar, II (2 counts), Fraud use of credit card, Pelekane, Charles; 49; Kaunakakai; DRUG PARA JANUARY 13 Contempt of court PRO DET III Arrested and released: JANUARY 19 Alcon, Richard; 33; Kaunakakai; No Arrested and released: JANUARY 29 JANUARY 5 fire extinguisher In custody: Arrested and released: Spencer Pastrana, Triston; 25; Anglin, Adam; 41; Kaunakakai; Mollena, Pohaiokalani; 30; Mickey, Meldon; 32; Kaunakakai; Kaunakakai; U.E. M.V., Theft of DWOL Ho`olehua; Failure to Comply Contempt of court credit card Arrested and released: JANUARY 14 JANUARY 7 Pupuhi, Kekoa; 32; Kaunakakai; JANUARY 20 Arrested and released: Arrested and released: Contempt of court Tibbles, Micah; 33; no local address; Finley, Wayne; 67; Kaunakakai; OUI Castor, Wallace Tee; 34; Kaunakakai; Arrest w/o warrant Teves, Ione; 19; Ho`olehua; Place Theft III (Liquor) to keep, Place to keep (Ammo), Sanchez, Isaac; 59; Kaunakakai; JANUARY 22 PRO. DET. III Contempt of Court JANUARY 8 Arrested and released: Teves, Jane; 56; Ho`olehua; Arrested and released: Lucas, Michael; 24; Kaunakakai; Hindering Prosecution I JANUARY 16 Gomes, Kamohoalii; 18; D.W.O.L. Arrested and released: Kaunakakai; Place to keep unloaded, Terroristic Threatening I, Commercial Promotion, PROH Acts Related Drug
All information obtained via public records at the Molokai Police Department