Friendly isle
lives up to repTHIRTY days hath November, and don't tell me we're through all of them already! For years we've referred to Molokai as the Friendly Isle and this past weekend got a taste of why. Tom Moffatt and Bart DeSilva of KGMG were hosting an "oldies" weekend at Molokai and that just cried out for me to be a part of it. I'd not seen the Ranch and the three camps that make it up, but I have to assume they're all like Haupoa, the camp on the beach where guests reside in canvas tentalows, which are much more comfortable than they sound. The days were filled with activities and the guests with ono food. Those in all the camps can sign up for nature hikes, mountain biking, horse riding, cattle driving on horseback, Zodiac boat rides plus, of course, the swimming and surfing available at Haupoa Beach ...
IT turned out the be the biggest weekend the Ranch has ever had, thanks probably to a combination of it being the weekend following Thanksgiving and the radio station's promotion. Moffatt and DeSilva played many a CD of music from the '50s and '60s, and the dance floor got its share of use. Sunday morning Moffatt led a group of hardy souls on a mule ride down the zigzag slope to Kalaupapa, but my early departure precluded my taking that. Just as well, as I don't do well with either heights or mules, by whatever name you call them ...
THE Molokai Ranch drivers who dutifully took people from one camp to another or into Maunaloa town, were as friendly as one could hope for. A talkative and playful fellow named Rudy Delacruz described his wife for his passengers. "36-24-36," he stated emphatically. "And you should see her other leg." ...
OHA represented
AT dinner Friday night, a Friendly Isle nature expert chanted in Hawaiian and then explained the meaning of the chant word by word. One of those listening intently was former OHA chairman Clayton Hee. Still an OHA member, but no longer chairman, Hee was diplomatic when asked about new chairman Rowena Akana. "Well," he mused, "she wanted it." Left unsaid, but I couldn't help thinking it was going through his mind, was "And she's gonna get it" Incidentally, on entering the little village of Maunaloa to head for the airport, I couldn't help noticing the first street you came to was OHA St ... One of the 10 or so buildings on the main street houses The Dispatch, a free 12-page Newspaper of Molokai that claims a circulation of 5,000 on four islands. The building was formerly the town pool hall, and the sentiment is mixed over where its presence there is an improvement. But the multi-plex theater, showing four different films, and the KFC behind it, were instant hits ...
Kids' delight
ONE thing you notice immediately is that there are lots of kids at Molokai Ranch, and the staff provides a lot for them to do. Restaurateur Ed Wary was one of many Honolulans who took the opportunity to weekend there with his kids. They came out of it all unscathed, but Wary admitted, "Every bone in my body aches. Incidentally, Wary, who owns Auntie Pasto, Dixie Grill, Rodeo Cantina and handles the food and beverage concession at the Elks Club, is opening a new Auntie Pasto's on Kapahulu ... You can bet there'll be more crowds at Molokai Ranch this weekend visiting Bonnie, Kawika, Tammy and the other friendly folks at Haupoa Camp. Henry Kapono will be performing in Maunaloa on Friday night -- In fact he's already on the Friendly Isle, probably hoping for some friendly roles on the golf course there ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
His columns run Monday through Friday.Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.