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Community

General news which affects the Molokai community in one way or another.

MHS Basketball Falls Just Short

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

MHS Basketball Falls Just Short

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff
Boys basketball was also in action last week. After a second place finish in the MILs, the Farmers had a chance to compete in a play-in game to qualify for the state tournament. With their season on the line, the Farmers took on Le Jardin high school at the Barn on Feb. 15. Down 53-46 at the end of the third quarter, the Farmers rallied strongly in the fourth, outscoring their opponent 15-10. Ultimately, the Farmers fell just short, losing 63-61. Braylen Colon had an excellent offensive outing, dropping five three pointers for a total of 20 points.…

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Native Trees Vandalized in Kamakou Preserve

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

Native Trees Vandalized in Kamakou Preserve

By Russell Kallstrom, Molokai Program Manager, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii and Palmyra

Did you know Kamakou Preserve helps provide seven million gallons of water every day for Molokai residents? Yes, and it’s only able to do this because of the healthy native forest found there.

During a recent routine work trip in Kamakou, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) staff were disappointed and saddened to discover several ‘ohiʻa trees in the preserve had been cut down and left in place, in an apparent act of senseless vandalism. ʻOhiʻa (Metrosideros spp) is the dominant native tree in our Hawaiian forest. It serves as home to native birds and tree snails, provides material for lei, hula and other cultural practices, and helps to collect much of the water we drink.…

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Sen. DeCoite Honored by Friends of the Library of Hawaii

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

Sen. DeCoite Honored by Friends of the Library of Hawaii

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Last week, Hawaii Senator Lynn DeCoite was honored as the 2024 Legislator of the Year by the Friends of the Library of Hawaii (FLH) with their Mahalo Award.

“Mahalo Sen. DeCoite for all that you do to support libraries and literacy, especially your work to promote the ‘Ohana Readers program,” shared FLH in a social media post.

The Mahalo Award by FLH is presented to a Hawaii State Legislator who has shown considerable support for the Hawaii state public libraries in the previous year and throughout their career.

“I am truly humbled and honored to be named the 2024 Legislator of the Year by FLH.…

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Celebrating Molokai Mothers

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

Celebrating Molokai Mothers

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

“It takes a village,” said Molokai mom Crystal Nakihei. Nakihei along with other new and expecting moms joined the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies nonprofit for a community-wide baby shower on Saturday, Feb. 22.

At the shower, the moms had a chance to hear about health services from Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies and Na Pu’uwai, play games and raffles, and pick up free baby formula, diapers and more.

“Thank God for the resources like [Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies] for helping us,” said Nakihei. “Everything [on Molokai] is so expensive.”

The Oahu-based Healthy Mothers Health Babies came over to Molokai to host the shower for moms who hadn’t had a chance to have one yet, and also to share some of their specific resources and services.…

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New Native Bee Species Discovered

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

New Native Bee Species Discovered

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor
While traversing the rocky gulches of Makolelau in May of 2024, Dr. Karl Magnacca noticed bees buzzing around a rare native plant. Magnacca, a survey entomologist for the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, quickly realized that these bees were different from any he’d seen before.
“I knew right away that it was a new species,” said Magnacca.
Magnacca collected samples of the insect to examine under the microscope, but his initial suspicion was correct – it was a species of native bee never identified before.
The new bee species was named Hylaeus paumako for its disguising feature of an all-black face on the male bee.…

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Wrestling Shines at MILs

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

Wrestling Shines at MILs

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

At the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) wrestling championships, Molokai athletes dominated the mat. The Molokai High School Farmers ended up with five first place finishes, and 13 athletes qualifying for the state championships.
For the girls, nine out of 10 athletes scored in the top three places, all of whom qualified for states.
Hila’a Kapuni, Waile’a Ward and Masina Borden-Phillips all took home first place in their divisions, with Kindly Sproat and Stephanie Gandeza in second, and Anjolie Manabe, Kiara Hanaoka, Skye Kaawa-Caparida and Tiale Tancayo taking third.
Borden-Phillips, the number one seeded wrestler in the state for her division, explained that “wrestling is more than just a sport.…

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February Golf Ace

Wednesday, February 26th, 2025

February Golf Ace

Community Contributed
By Rick Schonely

Lee Derouin is the February Ace winner for the Hui O Kukui Golf Club.
Derouin, Molokai High School athletic director and the leader of Farmer Nation, shot 40-41 for a gross total of 81. With his 12 handicap, his 69 net got him the victory! Congratulations Coach D!

The Hui O Kukui golf club would like to thank the staff and management of the iconic Ironwood Hills golf course for perpetuating the game of golf on Molokai.…

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Molokai Earth Day 2025 – Save the Date

Wednesday, February 26th, 2025

The Nature Conservancy News Release
Molokai Earth Day is a free, all-ohana, community-wide annual event. This year the event will take place on April 18, from 5 to 9 p.m., at the Mitchell Pauole Center. Come be inspired by Molokai conservation organizations and cultural practitioners caring for our ‘aina. Enjoy learning from our exhibitors, good food, great entertainment, raffle prizes, and check out the event t-shirts. This year’s theme is “He aliʻi ka ‘aina; he kauwa ke kanaka”– The land is a chief; man is its servant.
We look forward to celebrating Molokai Earth Day with you!
For more information, please call (808) 954-6582 or email allyson.durkin@tnc.org…

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Calling on Hawaii’s Artists

Wednesday, February 26th, 2025

Dept. of Land and Natural Resources News Release

Artists are invited to submit entries to the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) for the 2025-26 Hawaii Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp annual art contest. The wildlife conservation stamp is a requirement for Hawaii state hunting licenses and the game bird stamp is required for anyone intending to hunt game birds. Both stamps will also be available to stamp collectors.

The Game Bird Stamp is Erckel’s Francolin, or Pternistis erckelii. Native to Ethiopia and Sudan, the Erckel’s spurfowl was introduced to Hawaii in 1957 as a game bird. At about 16 inches long, they are brown with white streaky spots and distinct chestnut-colored feathers on the top of their heads, with white throats.…

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Land Managers Receive Climate Change Resilience Funds

Wednesday, February 26th, 2025

Dept. of Land and Natural Resources News Release

Funds have been awarded to land managers from Hawaii County to Molokai and Oahu. These include Puʻu O Hoku Operations; MALA ʻOiwi with Waiʻanae Community Redevelopment Corporation; OCR INC., dba Small Kine Farm; Healing Mountain Homestead, LLC; Living Life Source Foundation; The Kohala Center; Maluhia Fields, LLC; Mililani Agricultural Park, LLC; Protect and Preserve Hawaii; and Kuilima Farm with Pono Pacific, LLC.

The Carbon Smart Program has awarded a total of $1,000,000 to 10 grantees to develop and implement plans for regenerative sustainable practices, particularly carbon sequestration, which is capturing, securing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.…

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