Rev. Patrick Killilea will become the permanent pastor at the St. Francis Parish in Kalaupapa in July. Photo courtesy of southcoasttoday.com.

Killilea — “Father Pat” as he is known to his congregation — first visited the isolated peninsula of Kalaupapa in 2004. “I felt called right from the beginning,” said the pastor in a recent story on southcoasttoday.com.

Killilea, 68, has served as the pastor at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Northern Fairhaven for the past 13 years.

“I just got a feeling during Mass there, completely out of the blue, that there was a calling for me to stay,” he said. “I had never anticipated that level of flashbacks and excitement even for a year after I returned. It was a heavenly call from God to go back.”

Killilea had returned to Kalaupapa once before in 2006 as the parish’s fill-in pastor for three months.

Killilea, originally from Ireland, calls Saint Damien of Molokai one of his role models. Like St. Damien, Killilea is a father for the Sacred Heart Congregation. The Sacred Heart Fathers have maintained the mission in Kalaupapa even before Damien arrived in 1873.

Father Ambrose Sanar, a member of the SSCC Indonesian Province, is the current pastor of St. Francis Church. He has been in Kalaupapa since early 2011.

Father Pat will not completely lost touch with his congregation from the south coast of Massachusetts. In October, one of the town parishioners will lead a trip with 15 Fairhaven pilgrims to Hawaii to learn about the history of St. Damien’s association with the island and, of course, to visit Killilea. This is the same month that Blessed Mother Marianne Cope, who served Kalaupapa after Damien, will be canonized by Pope Benedict XVI.

With only about 10 surviving Hansen’s disease patients still living in Kalaupapa, Killilea will have a far smaller congregation than he does now in Fairhaven. A typical day at St. Francis Church begins with Mass at 5:45 a.m. for patients and workers and then Damien Tours arrives with its daily visitors at 11-11:30 a.m.

Jazz musician Dean Taba will demonstrate common jazz styles at the 75th anniversary celebration of Molokai Public Library on May 23. Photo courtesy of UH-SCEP.

The celebration will feature the following performers:

* 2 p.m. – Mele and hula by Lonomusic

* 3 p.m. – Dean Taba and Jeff Richmond: “Two Musicians Demonstrating Various Jazz Styles.” Taba and Richmond will demonstrate common jazz styles and provide an overview of what musicians are doing when improvising a solo or accompaniment.

* 4 p.m. – 21st Century instrumental music students, under the direction of Robert Underwood.

* 5 p.m. – Mele and hula by `O Hina I ka Malama, under the direction of Na Kumu: Iolani, Mahina Hou, and Manuwai Peters.

The exhibits will feature paintings and artwork by various artists, quilts, First Book Molokai display and literacy activities, books about Molokai and by Molokai authors, and a Molokai Public Library slide show and picture albums.

The Friends of the Library of Hawaii, Maui Friends of the Library, Friends of the Molokai Public Library, UH-Manoa Outreach College’s Statewide Cultural Extension Program, and the County of Maui-Molokai are sponsoring the Library’s 75th Anniversary Celebration.

Contact the Library as soon as possible if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is needed.

For more information, please call the library at 553-1765.

Kanohowailuku Helm, president, I Aloha Molokai, is attempting to unify the political parties in Hawaii by running as an independent against Sen. English in the 7th District.

Helm is a local, a father of three, who comes from one of the most well-known and respected families on Molokai. The farmer, fisherman, musician and two-time Na Hoku Hanohano award nominee has just recently become involved in state politics.

IAM lobbied in opposition to SB 2785, the newly passed legislation creating the regulatory framework for an interisland undersea electric cable. The group tried to persuade lawmakers at the state capital and also started an international petition to fight this project, estimated to cost around $1 billion.

Helmʻs frustration with the political process can be seen in the two videos he has made regarding SB 2785. The first video questions why legislators would vote yes “with reservations” when they appeared to oppose the bill, which would require Hawaiian Electric Company customers to reimburse HECO for its infrastructure improvements.

The second video, also released on the Civil Beat, is titled, “Naming Names: Voter’s Guide Aims to Bring Common Sense To Hawaii.” Helm makes the case that the Democratic Party holds a monopoly over politics in Hawaii, which must change. Helm would like to bring together what he calls “small d” Democrats with Republicans.

Another Molokai resident will also challenge English for the senate seat he has held since 2000. Barbara Haliniak, of Kaunakakai, former president of the Molokai Chamber of Commerce, filed papers March 19 to be the Democratic nominee. She will face English in the primary election Aug. 11.

At the end of the Civil Beat column yesterday, the staff-written piece speculates about Helm’s future: “Could tiny Molokai with the charismatic Helm at the helm be the one to unite the dissidents into a new political force?”

Nine-year-old Alex Mawae of Molokai competes in the Quicksilver Waikiki Paddle Festival.

Eleven-year-old Josie and 9-year-old Alex Mawae have been steadily paddling with Youth in Motion’s stand-up paddling program over the past year.

In July of 2011, the two raced in the annual Naish Maui International Paddleboard Championship racing from Maliko Gulch to Kahului Harbor, a distance of 9.6 miles. They also paddled from Maui to Molokai in August 2011. Over the past few months, they have been consistently paddling and racing Kamalo to Kaunakakai Harbor, which led up to racing at the Quicksilver waterman Waikiki Paddle Festival on Oahu this past weekend, May 5 and 6.

11-year-old Josie Mawae at the Quicksilver Waikiki Paddle Festival.

Saturday was the short courses going around buoys and paddling fast on a two-mile course. Neck and neck into the last turn of the buoy, Josie finished in front of her brother taking 58th and Alex 59th place in their division. They were not the last.

Sunday was the big day with the long distance race leaving Hawaii Kai to the Hilton in Waikiki a total distance of 9.6 miles and a little bit of a south swell. The winds were light in comparison to the raging winds of Molokai and both kids earned respect from their adult peers, as they were the youngest to take on such a course.

With the winds dropping under difficult conditions, Alex had no choice but to come in before Diamond Head due to time limits, but Josie continued on. Rounding Diamond Head the swell picked up and surfing was now the skill. Josie finished with huge smiles on her face having paddled amongst an international fleet of surfskis, OC1’s, paddleboards, and multiple SUP divisions. She finished 11th in the women’s open 12-foot-6 SUP division.

Next on the agenda for these two young Molokai paddlers was the Olukai Race on Maui on May 12, Molokai Holokai on May 19 and World Paddle Association (WPA) Hawaii Region Nationals, a seven-mile downwinder from Sunset Beach to Haleiwa Beach on June 9.

Coverage of the Quicksilver Waikiki Paddle Festival can be found on Oceanic channel 250 where these two young Molokai paddlers were announced to the world in their finish on the Saturday’s race.

Kaunakakai Harbor will see about one year of construction and changes with the proposed DLNR improvement project.

The meeting will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Mitchell Pau’ole Center. The scope, schedule and overview of plans will be provided by DLNR engineering staff members, project design consultant Wilson Okamoto Corp. and contractor Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co.

Officials also will discuss vehicle and pedestrian access plans to enable the harbor to remain open and operating during construction, the announcement said.

“Public use of this essential harbor will continue during construction,” said William Aila Jr., DLNR chairman.

Project plans call for converting the harbor’s existing ferry shelter into a comfort station and a new, covered passenger waiting area, upgrading sewage facilities and the installation of 12- and 8-inch waterlines.

The scope of work includes a construction phasing plan that will enable the Molokai-to-Maui ferry, the small-boat harbor and boat ramp, the fuel station and Young Brothers barges to continue operating.

Also, “provisions will be made to work around the canoe regatta season, minimize disruption to utility service and provide safe pedestrian and vehicular access for ferry users,” the announcement said.

Construction is expected to take about a year.

Kualapu’u students competing in the Honolulu 5K for Kids were: Top row, from left: Noelani Helm, Genevieve Kikukawa, Rafael Adolpho, Nainoa Kahale, Ikua Deponte, Kaina Adolpho, Ayla Rose Naehu-Ramos. Bottom row: Ikena Deponte, Keahe Ross, C.J. Medeiros.Photo by Matt Helm.

Kualapu’u Elementary School team runners did Molokai proud April 29 at the Honolulu 5K for Kids. The local keiki took two age group titles and placed nine of the 10 team members in the top 10 for their age group.

Leading the boys, Kaina Adolpho ran a stellar race to win the boys 11-12-year old title in a time of 23 minutes, 4 seconds. Close behind came teammates Rafael Adolpho and Nainoa Kahale placing third and fourth in times of 24:08 and 24:15, respectively.

Other standout performances for the boys included Ikena Deponte, fifth in the boys 9-10 age division in a time of 27:18 and Ikua DePonte, 13th in the boys 11-12’s, in a time of 25:47.

For the girls, the dynamo of the day was Keahe Ross. Running in her first off-island race, Keahe dominated by winning the girls 9-10 title in a time of 25:19.

Two minutes later in a duel to the finish, Noelani Helm sprinted past teammate Genevieve Kikukawa to claim second place in the 9-10’s in a time of 27:28. For her efforts, Genevieve placed seventh in the girls 11-12 age division in a time of 27:39.

Moments later, in through the finish chute zoomed Ayla Rose Naehu-Ramos in a time of 28:05, good for fourth place in the girls 9-10’s.

As Coach Matt Helm said after the race, “The kids really did a great job this weekend and represented their island well. They should be proud of their results considering the size of the field.”

Over 1,400 runners participated in this year’s Honolulu 5K for Kids.

Molokai’s event organizers would like to thank the extended Molokai community for its support. On Oahu, the runners were fed and given the use of a van by our Molokai ‘ohana — Tony Negrillo, Ben Balete, Jadelyn and Bo Pontes. Without their support and the ongoing support of Molokai’s running community, this trip would not have been possible. Mahalo.

Erika Stein, left, and Kellie Ellis, right, finished strong in a 2000-meter swim meet at the Ala Moana Beach Park on April 21. Kelly Quin, in the middle, won the race.

Erika Stein and Kellie Ellis, both workers at Kalaupapa National Historical Park, entered a 2000-meter swim meet and took second and third respectively in the women’s division at Ala Moana Beach Park on Oahu April 21. Stein finished in 31 minutes, 3.8 seconds. Ellis had a time of 31:36.9.

Kelly Quin won the race in a time of 30:53.1. It’s great to see these women from Molokai do very well.

Hawaiian language summer school opens

Submitted by Manuwai Peters

Kualapuʻu School will be site for a four-week Hawaiian language summer school. The program, sponsored by the Department of Education and Kamehameha Schools, will be open for students in grades K-8.

Called Kula Kaiapuni Kauwela ʻo Molokaʻi, the school will run from June 5 to July 6. Students do not need to be from an immersion classroom or have any Hawaiian language experience to enroll. All students should be motivated to learn and use Hawaiian for the duration of the program.

Kula Kaiapuni Kauwela offers students with remedial assistance as well as academic enrichment. All students will receive daily instruction of Hawaiian culture in the areas of music, dance, chant, mālama ʻāina-kai.

Application deadline is Monday, May 21. There is a tuition cost of $190 per student. A limited number of vouchers is being provided by Alu Like, Inc. Registration forms and voucher application are available at the offices of Kualapuʻu, Kaunakakai, Molokai High, and Molokai Middle schools.

The Kalaupapa Post Office was removed from the list of possible closures in March but is now on a list for reduced hours, along with three other Molokai post offices.

The U.S. Postal Service announced in the beginning of March that the Kalaupapa Post Office would be saved from closure. Last year it had been placed on a list of post offices at risk of being closed because of their lack of traffic. Kalaupapa was saved because of the isolation and unique needs of the Kalaupapa community.

But now Kalaupapa Post Office — along with the Maunaloa, Kualapuu and Hoolehua post offices on Molokai — are being considered for reduced hours. There are 12 rural post offices across Hawaii facing cuts in their hours of operation. A total of 13,000 rural post offices around the country may also see reduced hours.

To save money, the USPS is proposing cutting opening hours at the post offices between two and six hours a day. This idea was put forward today by the USPS as an alternative to another plan that would close thousands of rural post offices.

As part of this new proposal, another 4,000 rural post offices around the country would be allowed to keep their full-time hours.

The State of Hawaii is now seeking to build an undersea power transmission cable to move electricity to Oahu from industrial-sized wind farms on Molokai and Lanai. SB 2785, which passed the Senate, will allow HECO to be reimbursed by ratepayers for all infrastructure costs associated with this project.

Immediately after it passed, both Gov. Abercrombie and former Gov. Linda Lingle issued strong statements of support for this bill.

“This is a long-term infrastructure investment that is needed now,” stated Abercrombie. “An integrated grid will stabilize energy prices and equalize rates between the islands, which will benefit all of us. As I mentioned at the start of the session, there is no legislation more critical to our future.”

Lingle wrote: “… My administration advocated and initiated the inter-island cable project, which would be the backbone of the long-envisioned statewide energy grid. The legislation passed yesterday is another step in the direction toward our state’s energy security.”

Opposition to this bill on both Lanai and Molokai has been strong and vocal. Friends of Lanai and I Aloha Molokai, two grassroots organizations, have lobbied vigorously against this bill. Both groups see this bill as a way for Hawaiian Electric Company to get 200-mw “Big Wind” windmill projects placed on each island.

As stated, the new law will create a mechanism to reimburse HECO for its potential costs in the “installation and implementation of an interisland high voltage electric transmission cable system and for the construction of on-island transmission infrastructure.”

Following Thursday’s vote, FOL issued a statement saying, “It was misleading at best to hear senators, especially the chair of the Senate’s Committee on Energy and Environment, say that all the bill does is establish a regulatory framework should a cable be built. That’s really not all it does. What it REALLY does is give the green light to potential cable developers by GUARANTEEING them and HECO a complete recovery of their expenses through HECO ratepayer bills.”

For its part, IAM released a video on the Honolulu Civil Beat and on Youtube questioning those lawmakers who voted “with reservations.”

When pressed for an explanation, Rep. Carroll said, “We need more community input and data collection on the matter before implementing any Interisland Electric Transmission Cable System.” This was the same explanation put forth by Sen. Sam Slom of Oahu who voted no on SB 2785.

Why would two politicians have the same explanation for opposite votes? Some commenters have suggested that the yes “with reservations” vote is a way for legislators to remain tied to the process so that environmental assessments can be built into an interisland cable proposal. Apparently, lawmakers who vote “no” are unable to participate in the reconciliation process between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

But if the 10 senators who voted “with reservations” had voted no, the bill would have been defeated 13-12, the result those senators seemed to have been leaning toward. Clearly, politics and logic do not mix.

Kanemitsu Bakery & Coffee Shop, 79 Ala Malama St.

On March 7, an inspection uncovered, “serious deficiencies in the maintenance and manufacturing practices at the facility,” including improper cleaning and sanitizing of cooking implements and surfaces, inadequate rodent control, lack of hot water and general unsanitary conditions, the Health Department said.

Late night visits for hot bread is a favorite Molokai destination.

This is not the first time Kanemitsu has been fined for unsanitary conditions. A similar DOH action against the bakery took place in 2000.

The 80-year old bakery is famous for serving late night hot bread, split open and slathered with jelly, cream cheese, butter, cinnamon or sugar and sold in the alley behind the business on Ala Malama Avenue in Kaunakakai.