Senator J. Kalani English expresses sadness at closure of Moloka'i Times

The Senator was a columnist with "The Voice of Molokai."

HONOLULU – Senator J. Kalani English (Dist. 6 - Hana, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i and Kaho'olawe) today expressed his sadness at the announced closing of the Moloka'i Times, for which the Senator had served as a columnist.

"This is quite a loss for Moloka'i," Senator English said. "We look for people in our community who will speak for us, and offer us a place to share our voices. Lester Kunani Keanini Jr. and Eric Wong took on the challenge of running a community newspaper, and did a real service to Moloka'i these past months. I offer them my thanks for their service, and my support at their closing."

Keanini and Wong had been running the Moloka'i Times since May, 2008.

Senator English also reflected on his experience in speaking directly to the community through his weekly column. "It gave me a chance to be a little more reflective, and to speak in general terms about what I see in the Moloka'i community. The responses I got from readers let me begin a real dialogue. That was a great experience."

"That's the beauty of a community newspaper," English continued. "It is close to the community, reporting on events and concerns that might not make it into the statewide dailies, or even into the Maui papers. That kind of on-the-ground, close to the people reporting is a sort of glue that holds a community together. I hope Kunani and Eric can find a way to reopen. I hope we will hear that voice again."

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