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Author Archives: Catherine Cluett Pactol

MAC Talk at Molokai Public Library

Thursday, January 23rd, 2025

MAC Talk at Molokai Public Library

MAC News Release

Join the Molokai Arts Center (MAC) at the Molokai Public Library on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 5:30 p.m. as MAC’s Artist in Residence Connie Lee Lynch shares her Molokai journey in art. Connie is a mixed media and fiber artist currently living in Pearl City. She is a certified crochet instructor and has had crochet designs and articles featured in both crochet and spinning magazine publications. Most recently, her work was included in the Fiber Hawaii 2024 Exhibit at the Downtown Art Center in Honolulu. Her website is crochetcetera.com.

While on Molokai, Connie’s mixed media paintings and fiber arts work has been focused on the theme, “Island Expressions: Exploring the Natural Beauty of Molokai through Texture and Color.”…

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Two Molokai Churches Lauded for Highway Cleanups

Thursday, January 23rd, 2025

Two Molokai Churches Lauded for Highway Cleanups

Hawaii Department of Transportation, Highways Maui District News Release

Two churches on Molokai have been recognized by the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, Highways Maui District, for their contributions to the Adopt-A-Highway public service program.

The Heart of Aloha Church and Tenrikyo Molokai received the Adopt-A-Highway No Ka Oi Highway Hui Award for the fourth quarter of 2024 and first quarter of 2025, respectively. Both churches and their volunteers have regularly picked up trash along a two-mile segment of highway for the past eight or more years, helping to prevent roadside rubbish from blowing into the ocean or other sensitive ecosystems.…

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Superyacht Visit Sparks Concern

Thursday, January 23rd, 2025

When a superyacht dropped by Molokai for a visit on Jan. 10, many residents were left with questions regarding the incident.

The boat has been identified as the Liva O, a pleasure yacht measuring over 360 feet long and weighing over 5,000 tons. Owned by German American billionaire businessman Stephen Orenstein, the ostentatious superyacht had been sighted off Maui’s Maalaea Harbor in the preceding weeks before coming to Molokai.

A boat of this size is unable to dock at Kaunakakai Harbor, even just for recreational activities, according to the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR).…

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Get Ready for the Movies!

Thursday, January 23rd, 2025

Get Ready for the Movies!

After nearly 20 years, Molokai is getting a movie theater again. The Mango Theater in Kaunakakai, located in the RWH Chen Building next to Fish and Dive, is expected to open next month. It will feature 45 comfortable seats, a full concession of food and snacks, evening showings of current theater movies, and a reservations app, according to owner Brad Ellis. For the full story, check next week’s issue of The Molokai Dispatch. …

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Residents Support Kamaka Air with Lei Drive

Thursday, January 23rd, 2025

Residents Support Kamaka Air with Lei Drive

Earlier this month, Molokai residents came together to organize a lei drive in honor of Kamaka Air pilots Hiram deFries-Saronitman and Preston Kaluhiwa. Both young pilots were killed in a plane crash on Oahu on Dec. 17 while performing a training flight. Kamaka has been flying cargo to Molokai for over 25 years, and many Molokai community members have close ties to the cargo airline and its employees.

“We’re doing this to show our support and aloha for Kamaka,” explained U’i Lima, one of the organizers of the lei drive.

As essential workers, Kamaka Air employees only had one day off to mourn their colleagues, explained Lima.…

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With Mokulele Grounded Again, Molokai Rallies Around Local Boat Captains

Thursday, January 23rd, 2025

With Mokulele Grounded Again, Molokai Rallies Around Local Boat Captains

When news of Mokulele’s shutdown spread on Wednesday, Jan. 15 Molokai residents were alarmed, but somewhat prepared. After years of inconsistent flight service, suffuse with frustrating delays and surprise cancellations, residents have become unfortunately familiar with this sort of transportation crisis. Mokulele went through a similar shutdown period just this past August when issues found in routine maintenance inspection led to a company enforced grounding for several days.

Following Wednesday’s shutdown, the need to travel for critical medical appointments, work, student sports and more sent Molokai residents scrambling. Like a well-oiled machine, residents took to Facebook to organize transportation via boat.…

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Seed to Harvest Gardening Program Taking Applications

Thursday, January 16th, 2025

UH CTAHR Molokai News Release

The University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (UH CTAHR) Molokai Cooperative Extension Service Team is excited to announce our 12 week “Seed to Harvest” gardening series. Apply by contacting UH CTAHR at (808) 567-6929. Applications are due no later than Jan. 24.

The “Seed to Harvest” gardening series is a part of the “Rooted in Resilience: Building Healthy Communities Through Gardening” program for 2025. This program is funded by the County of Maui Department of Agriculture and is a partnership between UH CTAHR, Molokai Cooperative Extension Service and the County of Maui Department of Agriculture.…

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Ke Alahele Education Grant

Thursday, January 16th, 2025

MEDB News Release

Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) is seeking applications from educators and students for its Ke Alahele Education Grant. All Maui County public school educators and students are invited to apply. Projects must also be endorsed by the applicant’s school principal to be eligible.

Thanks to the generosity of over 300 Ke Alahele supporters at MEDB’s October fundraising dinner and auction, MEDB expects to award 15 to 20 grants of $3,000 in the spring 2025 semester, depending on the number of applications received.

The Ke Alahele Grant funds can be used to support a wide range of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and professional development activities at both the secondary and post-secondary levels.…

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Molokai’s Honor Box Tradition

Thursday, January 16th, 2025

Molokai’s Honor Box Tradition

Community Contributed
By David Kley

Molokai has long been called “The Friendly Isle,” and it’s easy to see why: friendly shakas are waved and neighbors greet each other like old friends. The island’s strong sense of community is everywhere, from gatherings to everyday errands. But nowhere is this shared trust more evident than at the many fruit stands lining Molokai’s scenic coast.
Yesterday, my girlfriend, Genevieve Kikukawa, and I set out on Molokai’s coastal road. The crashing waves, salty breeze, and lush greenery filled our senses.
Our first stop was at Kanani Farms, where we discovered a quaint fruit stand. A handwritten sign reminded us to pay for what we took using a small cash box – an “honor box.”…

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Wilfred Takahashi

Thursday, January 16th, 2025

Wilfred Takahashi

Born June 24, 1932, Wilfred Takahashi, known as Willie, passed away on Dec. 19, 2024. He is survived by his wife Teresita, daughter Maricel and grandsons Benjamin Jr. and Treve.
Before moving to Molokai, Willie served his country in the Korean War, and worked in construction. He also worked at Wailea Golf Course, where he met his darling wife, Tessie. Willie was the last of his veteran friends to survive their daily breakfast club at either Kanemitsu Bakery or at Mrs. K’s. For years, Willie was our famous bell ringer for weekend masses at St. Damien.
Willie’s services will be held Jan.…

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