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Community

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

Hoʻolehua Congregational Church Celebrates 100 Years

Thursday, September 3rd, 2026

Hoʻolehua Congregational Church Celebrates 100 Years

By Annie B. Lansing | Community Reporter

For 100 years, the Hoʻolehua Congregational Church has been more than a place of worship. It has been a gathering place for families, a source of strength through generations and an enduring part of the Hoʻolehua community.
That legacy was celebrated on August 23 when church members, community leaders, families and friends, including members of the founding families, gathered for its 100th anniversary service.
In 1924, Hawaiian homesteaders began settling in Hoʻolehua from different parts of the Hawaiian Islands. As the community grew, so did the need for a place to worship and gather.…

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Film Honors American-Japanese Soldiers

Thursday, August 27th, 2026

Film Honors American-Japanese Soldiers

By Dayanti Karunaratne

With the fun nickname One Puka Puka and a reputation for winning baseball games, the 100th Infantry Battalion might seem like one of the lighter stories to come out of World War II. But the story of that battalion also confronts the hard truths that faced Hawaiian residents of Japanese descent.
“This is a story of heroes who fought for a country that doubted them,” filmmaker Steve Sue says in the trailer for the “The 100th: Seeds of Aloha” documentary. “And yet, they changed history,” he added.
The documentary tells of a unique military group made up of Americans of Japanese Ancestry (AJAs) who were living in Hawaii.…

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Questions Surround Kalawao County Transition

Thursday, August 27th, 2026

Questions Surround Kalawao County Transition

By Dayanti Karunaratne

Another page was written in the story of Kalaupapa on August 20 when county, state and agency officials met at the Mitchell Pau’ole Center to discuss the transition of Kalawao County to Maui County.
“What is the future of the Park Service at Kalaupapa? Will that lease be renewed? Will there be homesteading there?” asked Valerie Monson. Her group Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa has been working since 1996 to build a memorial at the former settlement for patients with Hansen’s Disease.
“If the Park Service is going to be there, what’s their relationship with Maui County?” Monson asked.…

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Return of the Bookmobile

Thursday, August 27th, 2026

Return of the Bookmobile

By Dayanti Karunaratne

You’ve heard about pop-up books and pop-up restaurants — but have you heard of a pop-up library? That’s the idea behind the Molokai Public Library’s Bookmobile: It brings the books and a bit of that library vibe to locations across the island.
And, like a pop-up book, it unfolds to offer an array of words and pictures.
This month the Bookmobile made its first trips since 2021, when it visited the neighborhoods of Maunaloa and Kilohana. Helmed by Branch Manager Mia Ritte and Friends of The Molokai Library volunteer Della Brown, the compact cargo van is packed with books and adorned with decals featuring the new state library logo.…

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Lei i ka naʻauao: A lei of enlightenment

Sunday, August 23rd, 2026

Lei i ka naʻauao: A lei of enlightenment

Community contributed

Ka hana lei is a skill and art of our kūpuna which is still practiced today. Lei were carefully made and gifted as a symbol of affection and aloha. The word lei is also used to describe a loved one, especially a beloved child.
Lei piko is a lei that is made and placed at the center of a place or hale which signifies lōkahi, aloha and new beginnings.
At AkaʻUla, students and teachers and families carried on the tradition of lei piko to start the new school year, to represent all of the ʻohana coming together to contribute healthy manaʻo, aloha, and kākoʻo into this lei.…

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Craftsmen Show Attracts Artists

Sunday, August 23rd, 2026

Craftsmen Show Attracts Artists

By Dayanti Karunaratne

The Kualapuʻu Community Center was transformed into an art gallery and lecture hall on August 13 when intricate ceramic sculptures, containers made of woven natural fibres, and other unique mixed-media creations were presented as part of the lead-up to the annual Hawaii Craftsmen State Exhibition.

The Kualapuʻu event represented the last step for Molokai residents competing to be a part of the statewide exhibit. Over 40 works were brought to the community center to be judged by Jonathan Yukio Clark, the Director of Schaefer International Gallery at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center (MAAC).  

Every year, hundreds of artists throughout Hawaii compete for a spot in the show, which has been held annually since 1967.…

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Winds of Change

Sunday, August 23rd, 2026

Winds of Change

By Dayanti Karunaratne

With the introduction of Lāna‘i Air, and the addition of new Mokulele planes, change is in the air at MKK. 

It began on August 10 when Mokulele Airlines announced that their frequent flyer program would begin allowing Hawaii residents a free checked bag. The following day, the first Lāna‘i Air flight offered a glimpse of their screening process, lounge, in-flight experience and more.

Lānaʻi Air’s parent company is Pūlama Lānaʻi, which is owned by billionaire Larry Ellison.

Molokai resident Patrick Rogers was one of the only travellers on that inaugural Lāna‘i Air flight to Oahu. He said the extra headroom on the Cessna SkyCourier 19-seat passenger aircraft and the access ramp made the boarding experience more enjoyable, and he was glad to see phone-charging portals at each seat. …

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Rachelle “Aunty Snooky” Maikui

Thursday, August 13th, 2026

Rachelle “Aunty Snooky” Maikui

Rachelle “Aunty Snooky” Maikui, 77, completed her earthly journey on June 29, 2026 at Molokai General Hospital. Born in Lihue, Kauai to Manuel Duarte and Mabel Puaoi, she was the youngest daughter of 12 keiki and is predeceased by her older sisters Mabel “Nappy” Kampstra and Beryl Souza.
Snooky moved to Ho’olehua, Molokai, where she achieved her dream of homesteading and raising her nine children. She is survived by seven children, 20 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Her generous spirit touched countless lives and her legacy of Aloha lives on.
Services will be held at Kualapuu Recreation Center on Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 12 p.m..…

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Rediscovering Hālawa

Thursday, August 13th, 2026

Rediscovering Hālawa

By Dayanti Karunaratne

With its rich history and epic views, Hālawa inspires people in many ways. For accomplished archaeologist Patrick Kirch, a trip to the east end valley when he was just 13 years old literally shaped the course of his life. More recently, when retirement gave him the opportunity to continue exploring, he turned to Hālawa.
“I decided that I would return to where I started, literally,” Kirch said, explaining that he wanted to apply new methods and knowledge to the site of one of the earliest settlements in the Hawaiian Islands. After re-connecting with residents of the valley, he decided to “un-retire” and team up with Bishop Museum to revisit Hālawa.…

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Printing With Paʻa

Thursday, August 13th, 2026

Printing With Paʻa

By Dayanti Karunaratne

With every crank of the wheel, community is being lovingly produced, print by print, by an enthusiastic group at a small Kaunakakai studio.
During a workshop held on August 7, eight people gathered inside Pa’a Printmakers Studio. Using simple cutting tools, participants scratched images onto sheets of plastic that would eventually be placed under a press. As the group worked, they also encouraged each other and discussed ideas, which had the natural effect of drawing them together.
Denise Karabinus, Director of Honolulu Printmakers, came to Molokai to teach the workshops last week. She said printmaking naturally builds community.…

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