Author Archives: layout@themolokaidispatch.com

Hospice Yard Sale

Wednesday, June 7th, 2023

Hospice Maui Molokai News Release 

The eighth annual Hospice Maui Molokai yard sale fundraiser will take place on July 1. Your gently used items are another person’s treasures.  If you have gently used or new items of value and want to donate them, please call Dan Reed, 808-658-1015, or Maile Silva, 808-658-6030.  Please wash clothes; no books, CDs or VHS.  

The sale is Saturday, July 1 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at Dr. McGuire building parking lot, Kamehameha V Highway.  No early birds please.  All proceeds will benefit the Hospice Maui Molokai Kokua Fund.…

Kanikapila Group Change of Location

Wednesday, June 7th, 2023

KGT News Release

Kanikapila Group Therapy (KGT) will no longer be meeting at the Congregation Church Pavilion in Ho’olehua. 

What does KGT do? It is a gathering to play music: kanikapila. You might remember when KGT had weekly gatherings at Coffees of Hawaii in Kualapu’u. KGT meets the first and third Tuesday of every month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. All are welcome to come, whether you play or just want to sit and listen to music.

On June 20 and July 18, KGT will meet at the Lanikeha Community Center in Ho’olehua located by the Ho’olehua Fire Station. There will not be a meeting on July 4 and the announcement of the new location will be made by July 28.…

Working in the Law

Wednesday, June 7th, 2023

Working in the Law

Community Contributed

By Eileen M.S. Nims, Esq.

Question: How hard is it to become a lawyer?

Answer: Not as hard as you think!

Young people on Molokai often wonder what they can do when they grow up. Being on a small island, it seems that many options are out of reach. However, in today’s world, education is at our finger tips as long as we have a laptop! Starting this August, there is a new part-time program offered through Richardson School of Law that is completely online.

In order to apply to Law School, all you need is a bachelor’s degree in whatever field interests you.…

Molokai Small Business Cohort Launches Entrepreneurs

Wednesday, May 31st, 2023

Molokai Small Business Cohort Launches Entrepreneurs

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Molokai’s Kanoelani Davis has built her culturally-inspired fashion business, PōMahina Designs, from the ground up to a global reach. As a Native Hawaiian single mother of four girls living on a rural island, it has been a long and challenging journey. Now, she’s created a small business accelerator program that helps other entrepreneurs from Molokai to attain success and bypass some of the struggle. 

“Being a small business owner, I had to learn all aspects of building a business, and the way I built Pūlauhala was so that other small businesses can bypass all that work and find their resources easier, and be accessible to capital, to funding, to knowledge, to mentorships, so that’s been super successful and I’m so proud of our small businesses that we have right now,” said Davis.…

Comment on Na’iwa Subdivision Project

Wednesday, May 31st, 2023

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is moving forward with the construction of infrastructure improvements to the Na’iwa Agricultural Subdivision project near the Ho’olehua Airport. The 341-acre parcel will be subdivided into 66 lots, 50 of which have already been awarded to beneficiaries. That’s according to DHHL’s Draft Environmental Assessment for the project, which was just released and currently in a 30-day public review comment period.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $34.6 million. Proposed improvements include access roadways, electrical power, irrigation and potable water for agricultural use of the lots, as well as support the construction of homes and infrastructure built by beneficiaries. …

Boost for Molokai Auto Parts

Wednesday, May 31st, 2023

Boost for Molokai Auto Parts

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Molokai Auto Parts, which has helped the island fill its automotive supply needs for the past four years in Kaunakakai, just got a boost to its financial engine. The business was awarded as a recipient of a $10,000 grant from American Savings Bank and Fiserve’s Back2Business program. 

“[They were] selected as the distinguished recipient of this grant for their remarkable business and community contributions, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated an ASB press release. 

The Back2Business program supports minority-owned small businesses through grants, coaching, networking opportunities and access to technology. The program has made a $50 million commitment, and since 2020, has awarded more than 1,600 grants to diverse-owned small businesses in the U.S.…

Free Volleyball Camp

Wednesday, May 31st, 2023

Fieldhouse Volleyball News Release

Molokai raised and alumni of Molokai High School, Annette Luafalemana travels home to host a free volleyball clinic on June 3-4 at the Molokai High School Gym. Ike Loa Volleyball Camp is open to ages 8 to 17 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. for under 12, and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for ages 13 and older. 

Passionate about volleyball, she currently manages the Fieldhouse Volleyball Club in Texas that helps all ages to follow their dreams and become proud athletes.  This is her way of giving back to her community that helped raise her to be who she is now.  …

Water Commission Should Uphold Decision to Restore Kawela Stream

Wednesday, May 31st, 2023

Community Contributed

Opinion by Walter Ritte, Molokai Nō Ka Heke

Last October, the State Commission on Water Resource Management ordered Molokai Properties, Ltd. to fully restore Kawela Stream, and to find ways to use the reservoirs and other stream diversions MPL already owns to supply offstream uses. MPL requested a contested case to oppose the Commission’s decision to permanently restore Kawela Stream.

The Water Commission should uphold its decision to restore Kawela Stream. 

The Commission followed the law. Under the Hawaii Constitution and Water Code, the Water Commission must protect, restore, and reestablish instream values, including the use of stream waters for the exercise of traditional and customary Native Hawaiian rights.…

College Outreach Events

Wednesday, May 31st, 2023

UHMCM News Release

We’re coming to you! If you’re interested in learning more about college and career opportunities, come talk story with UH Maui College, Molokai in your neighborhood.  

We will be at Manae Goods and Grinds on Monday, June 19; Kualapu’u Store on Thursday, June 22; Maunaloa Store on Monday, June 26; and Friendly Market on Friday, June 30 – all from 9 to 11 a.m.

Ask about our free course offerings and career opportunities. Any questions, call (808) 553-4490. Hope to see you in your neighborhood, mahalo!…

PTSD and COVID-19: A Silent Sickness

Wednesday, May 31st, 2023

Community Contributed

Opinion by Aaron Mitchell, MS, MHC

While the world may be saying, “We’re back to life as normal,” many of us are saying to ourselves, “Um, this doesn’t feel right.”  We remember when things were “normal” and then COVID-19 hit.  We remember what happened and we remember what we went through.  We have a new level of caution.  An uncle here on Molokai has expressed his concern about the traumatic impacts of COVID on this community.  

Whenever we go through something big and it creates a lot of change in our life, there is the potential for trauma.  In the case of COVID-19, that change was world-wide. …