Author Archives: layout@themolokaidispatch.com

$35K in AlohaCare Scholarships

Friday, November 4th, 2022

$35K in AlohaCare Scholarships

AlohaCare News Release

AlohaCare awarded seven $5,000 academic scholarships to Hawaii students from four islands — three from Maui, two from Oahu and one each from Molokai and Lanai. 

“Our annual AlohaCare Scholarship’s mission is to encourage workforce development and support students seeking careers in healthcare,” said AlohaCare CEO Francoise Culley-Trotman. “Our team is grateful that we are able to help students follow their educational dreams.” 

AlohaCare scholarships are granted to members or their dependents who are pursuing health-related post-secondary degrees or programs. The Molokai recipient is Michael Arce, who has been dedicated to the field of social work for 15 years.…

Annual Floating Lantern Ceremony

Friday, November 4th, 2022

Hospice Maui News Release

Join us for a multi-cultural event to honor loved ones who have died, with love, gratitude, peace and harmony. The annual Floating Lantern Ceremony will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Molokai Community Health Center, 4 to 6:30 p.m.  Participate and join others in decorating and assembling your own personal lantern to be released at dusk. One lantern per family provided. Bring your tabis if you want to walk in the water… it’s muddy.  While decorating and waiting for lantern release, enjoy music, taiko drums and hula. Food is available for purchase. The event is sponsored by Hospice Maui and Guzeiji Soto Mission.…

A’o Aku; A’o Mai: What I Learn, I Teach

Friday, November 4th, 2022

A’o Aku; A’o Mai: What I Learn, I Teach

Community Contributed

By Sara Jane Larkin, Teacher

Kilohana Elementary School is a Project Based Learning School and we encourage learners to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills, and extend our thinking beyond the classroom. In answering the question, “How can we share our learning with our friends, families and our community?” first graders at Kilohana will share their understanding with our community in the Dispatch. 

Oct. 19 is Unity Day.  We began a focused campaign to prevent bullying and demonstrate kindness to all. In first grade, we have been learning about verbs, which we used in our writing about unity. Our prompt was, “Aloha in action creates unity.”…

Why Save Seeds?

Friday, November 4th, 2022

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, County Extension Agent, UHCTAHR

Our tropical climate on Molokai is unique compared to other parts of the U.S. and Europe, where most of our seeds originate. The warm nights in the tropics are brutal for many varieties developed outside of the tropics. What may grow well in those areas may not grow well here so we need to find varieties that grow well here, or we need to develop them. Tropically adapted seeds are difficult to access, such as those from Southeast Asia, South China and the Philippines. Seeds from Africa, India and South America are even more difficult to access.  …

‘Auamo Kuleana

Friday, November 4th, 2022

Community Contributed

Opinion by Kahenawai Ho’oleii’a Hirata

U.S. History, the textbook that is given to every student in high school, states the United States of America fought for freedom for everyone. But is that true for the indigenous people of Hawaii? Oppression and exploitation of our language, culture, land and people is what we as the indigenous people of Hawaii got in the name of freedom!

I grew up attending community meetings with my family, with a front row seat of the issues which plague our island of Molokai. As I grew to understand our true Kanaka Maoli history, it has given me strength to listen for the mana’o behind what has been shared to us as the next generation of Molokai keiki.…

Ranked Choice Voting

Friday, November 4th, 2022

Governor Ige recently signed extremely limited Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) legislation which would allow voters an opportunity to “rank” candidates in a particular race.

How many times has one not voted for their preferred candidate for fear that someone they do not support would win? With RCV, one chooses the candidate they would most rather have for the specific position. If their preferred candidate does not receive the most votes, who would be a second choice for the voter?

The candidate with the fewest votes is removed and those voters who chose that individual then have their second choice receive their vote. This process continues until a candidate receives 50 percent plus one and they are then elected.…

Victory for Young Chef

Friday, October 28th, 2022

Victory for Young Chef

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter 

The odds might have appeared stacked against Molokai High senior and chef Jonah Sahagun, but that didn’t stop him from winning a statewide cooking competition two weeks ago. A member of the MHS Culinary Club, he was among two Molokai students to submit original recipes to the Localicious Recipe Contest at the Hawaii Wine and Food Festival. 

Just two weeks before the contest, Sahagun broke his collarbone in a football game. Then three days later, he learned he was selected in the top three finalists from 127 submissions to compete in the live cook-off  on Oahu.…

Rainy Season Outlook

Friday, October 28th, 2022

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter

Good news: it is going to rain more, at least according to the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) most recent predictions for this year’s wet season.   

As Molokai residents know, a drought has persisted on the island, especially on the west and southwestern regions. While these areas of Molokai are currently rated as “severe to extreme drought,” recent rainfall “should result in some improvement,” according to Kevin Kodama , NOAA Senior Service Hydrologist at the Honolulu Forecast Office. 

The U.S. Drought Monitor, a national metric of drought conditions, currently lists western portions of the island as D3 or “extreme drought,” the fourth of five levels of drought.…

Fair Brings the Fun

Friday, October 28th, 2022

Fair Brings the Fun

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

A myriad of activities at last Saturday’s popular ‘Ohana Fun Fair brought a chance for families to come together. From horseback rides, bounce castles and arcade-type contests, to muddy fun under the fire truck’s spray and a friendly running race for keiki, there was plenty of laughter at the community event, held at Kualapu’u School. For even more excitement, families could enjoy the thrilling challenge of an escape room. Escape rooms are perfect for bringing family and friends together for a fun and memorable adventure.

“The main goal is just to get back together again and get back in the normal routine where we can just gather,” said Principal Lydia Trinidad.…

Vote in the General Election

Friday, October 28th, 2022

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

It’s time to vote! The general election is quickly approaching and last week, Molokai registered voters received their ballots in the mail. The deadline for your ballot to be received is Tuesday, Nov. 8 so it must be postmarked in advance, or it can dropped off at the voter service center in Kaunakakai by Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. 

Now is the time to participate in this important part of community-building to voice your preference for candidates who align with your values and vision for the future. Along with candidates statewide, four Molokai residents appear on the ballot running for key seats in this election.…