Author Archives: layout@themolokaidispatch.com

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

Wednesday, October 19th, 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. 

This month, students reflect on “Living things will thrive when protected,” and connect the concept to themselves. We will share one student per week. …

Golf Ace

Wednesday, October 19th, 2022

Golf Ace

Community Contributed

By Rick Schonely

The September Ace for the Hui O Kukui Golf Club was postponed by rain and rescheduled for Saturday, Oct. 15 at the iconic Ironwood Hills golf course. Retired fire fighter, longtime substitute teacher at Molokai High School, full-time musician and Molokai golfer Rick Schonely is the September Ace winner. Schonely shot 41–40 for a gross total of 81 and with his 12 handicap his net 69 got him the victory. The Hui O Kukui Golf Club would like to thank the staff and management of Ironwood Hills golf course for perpetuating the game of golf on Molokai.…

County Energy Cost-Savings Program

Wednesday, October 19th, 2022

Maui County News Release 

Maui County taxpayers can expect to benefit from $73 million in energy and water conservation cost savings from a 20-year energy cost savings agreement with contractor Johnson Controls.

“This is a fiscally responsible project that saves taxpayer dollars, creates local jobs, reduces our carbon footprint, and, importantly, frees up clean water that we can use for affordable housing,” Mayor Michael Victorino said. “Reducing dependence on fossil fuels means we are taking money out of an oil tanker and keeping it right here, investing in jobs for our residents.”

The contractor expects the project will create more than 40 local jobs for the engineering, project management and maintenance support.…

Nonprofit Formed to Manage Ranch

Wednesday, October 19th, 2022

Sust’ainable Molokai News Release

Mahalo, Molokai, for your feedback and participation in the 13 meetings about community ownership of Molokai Ranch this year. The facilitation team has listened to your feedback and done our best to adjust our processes.

Firstly, we have a website! Please visit molokaihertitagetrust.org to learn more and stay updated.

Secondly, it’s go time! We are aiming to finalize the bylaws of the Molokai Heritage Trust, the nonprofit formed to manage the ranch lands, by the end of the year. The bylaws will help guide how our community makes decisions about Molokai Ranch lands. This includes who can be part of the board and organization as well as how the board governs itself.…

New Ho’olehua Center Hewa

Wednesday, October 19th, 2022

In response to “Construction Begins on Veterans and Homestead Center,” in the Oct. 5 issue, it is sadly disappointing, after all these years, they still refuse to do the right thing.  

The Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans riff raff board of misfits have been in cahoots with our elected political okoles from day one, thus they shamelessly kahea for our Lanikeha scam, despite our third and last call for their removal, with a vote of 38 to 1, that was made on June 15, 2018. 

In early February 2018, an ad hoc committee was created to review all pertinent grants and documents supporting the proposed Veterans Homestead scam.…

Mahalo Mayor Victorino

Wednesday, October 19th, 2022

I would like to express my gratitude to Mayor Victorino on behalf of the residents and anyone else who has passed by the 40 foot trailer that was abandoned on Kahinani Place years ago. It contained thousands of gallons of waste oil parked in an unstable position on the county right of way.

Numerous complaints were made over the years about the clear and present danger to residents, visitors and the environment. True to his word, when it was brought to his attention, he lit a fire under the right okole and it is gone, gone, gone. The waste oil was transferred into new containers loaded up and shipped off the island. …

Mahalo Emergency Personnel

Wednesday, October 19th, 2022

My wife and I would like to acknowledge all those individuals who had a part in the emergency call that took place in the early morning hours of Oct 2. For all the professional, knowledgeable and compassionate care that was provided by all of the following staff of: 911 Dispatch, Molokai Fire Department, Molokai EMT staff, Molokai General Hospital emergency doctors, nurses and staff, Life Flight emergency crew, Queens emergency staff in Honolulu, and Dr. Pedro’s surgical team. 

For being the best you can be for all of us who rely on you, please be assured that you chose a most admirable profession “to help your fellow man.”…

Welcome Back Festivals of Aloha

Thursday, October 13th, 2022

Welcome Back Festivals of Aloha

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

Last Saturday, Festivals of Aloha returned to Molokai for the first time since 2019. Beneath a rising moon, the Molokai community shared in the momentous event.  

True to Festivals of Aloha’s mission to “honor Native Hawaiian culture and traditions from generation to generation, as well as share them with visitors and people from the community,” all residents came out in force to enjoy the night at the Mitchell Pau`ole Center. From keiki to kupuna, attendees gathered to eat shave ice, musubi, poke, teriyaki chicken and other local favorites, as well as watch entertainment, hula and royal traditions of the past and present. …

Molokai Mele Album Wins Na Hoku Hanohano

Thursday, October 13th, 2022

Molokai Mele Album Wins Na Hoku Hanohano

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

When University of Hawaii music professor Dr. Keola Donaghy arrived on Molokai in 2019 to teach a first-ever two-year Academic Subject Certificate in Hawaiian Music to Molokai students, only four participants had registered for the class. He said he almost decided to cancel the trip. But when he walked into the classroom at the UH Maui College, Molokai campus, 12 individuals greeted him. 

“I asked them, ‘Why didn’t you folks sign up for the class? We almost didn’t come.’” 

One of the students, a Hawaiian woman who turned out to be Molokai’s Kau’i Kapuni Manera, bluntly replied, “We didn’t think you would actually come.…

Celebrating Seniors and Farmer Pride

Thursday, October 13th, 2022

Celebrating Seniors and Farmer Pride

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

Last Saturday, Farmer fans and family parked their cars overlooking the football field at Molokai High School to cheer on Molokai High’s football and cheerleading seniors who have worked their way to the senior game. 

According to Head Football Coach Mike Kahale, in his senior celebration introduction, this year is Farmer Football’s largest group of seniors. These 18 student-athletes took the field for their last home game, challenging against Seabury Spartans in a game that closed with a landslide Molokai win of 57-7. 

Senior Dion Augustiro started the game off strong in the first quarter with a 27 yard touchdown and then a 86 yard touchdown in the third quarter.…