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Announcements

Calling all Kilohana Elementary School Community Members

Thursday, October 3rd, 2024

Kilohana Elementary School Community Council New Release

We are excited to invite Kilohana Elementary School families, teachers, and community members to participate in shaping the future of Kilohana Elementary School by providing your valuable input and suggestions. As members of the Kilohana Elementary School Community Council, we are committed to ensuring that our school continues to thrive and provide the best possible educational experience for our students. Your input is crucial in helping us identify areas for improvement and opportunities for growth. Whether you are a parent, teacher, student, or community member, we want to hear from you!
Below are some areas where we are seeking your feedback and ideas.…

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Molokai Man Found Guilty in 2022 Murder

Friday, July 19th, 2024

Molokai Man Found Guilty in 2022 Murder

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Mariano Garces, 61, of Molokai, was found guilty in the 2022 death of 43-year-old Aime Kaholoa‘a in November 2022 at his house in Kaunakakai.
It took a jury about five hours on July 3 to issue the verdict of murder in the second degree.
Court records showed a history of domestic violence in their relationship. About a year before her death, Kaholoa‘a had filed a petition for a temporary restraining order against Garces for domestic abuse.
Garces faces life in prison with the possibility of parole at his sentencing, scheduled for Sept. 26.…

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Multiple Raised Crosswalks to be Installed

Friday, July 12th, 2024

Multiple Raised Crosswalks to be Installed

HDOT News Release

The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) will be completing nine raised crosswalks planned for Molokai in July. The raised crosswalks are planned for several locations due to proximity to schools and pedestrian destinations: mile post 0.01 on Kamehameha V Highway, near the intersection of Ala Malama Avenue; mile post 0.27 on Kamehameha V Highway, near the intersection with ʻAiloa Street and fronting Kaunakakai Elementary School; mile post 0.34 on Kamehameha V Highway, near the intersection with Oki Place; mile post 13.25 and 13.32 on Kamehameha V Highway, at the entrance of Kilohana Elementary School; mile post 1.35 on Maunaloa Highway, near the intersection of Kahiwa Street.…

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Kamaka Air Temporarily Halted

Thursday, June 13th, 2024

A lifeline cargo carrier to Molokai temporarily and suddenly stopped service last week. On Wednesday, June 5, news began to circulate that Kamaka Air, Molokai’s predominant air cargo service, had stopped flying.

Concern spread quickly, especially amongst Molokai businesses.

Kim Svetin, President of Molokai Drugs, explained that the drug store relies on three to four shipments from Kamaka Air every week – especially for high value drugs that need to be refrigerated.

“I can’t manufacture COVID-19 vaccines on-island,” said Svetin.

State restrictions on shipping hazardous materials, like certain medicines and vaccines, means that medical providers like Molokai Drugs and Molokai General Hospital can’t use passenger airlines like Mokulele to ship medicine.…

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Telecom Provider Stops Service

Thursday, June 13th, 2024

Sandwich Isles Communications (SIC) says that phone and internet services will stop by the end of the first week of June, despite orders from Governor Josh Green and the state Public Utilities Commission.

SIC had been the exclusive supplier of telecommunications for Hawaiian Home Lands for nearly 30 years, explained Albert Hee, founder and former president of SIC. He calls the ceasing of service “strictly a financial decision.”

“We will not be serving beyond the end of this week,” Hee told the Dispatch. On June 5, SIC customers received notice that as of June 8, all phone and internet service would be disconnected.…

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Temporary Office Closure

Wednesday, June 5th, 2024

Maui County News Release

The County of Maui Department of Finance Real Property Assessment Division office located at Mitchell Pauole Center on Molokai is closed temporarily through Friday, June 14, due to a staffing shortage. The office will reopen on June 14 for its regular hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For property tax payments and circuit breaker questions, call (800) 272-0117 and ask for Real Property Treasury or call (808) 270-7697. For other property questions, call (800) 272-0117 and ask for Real Property Assessment or call (808) 270-7297. More information is available at mauipropertytax.com or by emailing rpa@co.maui.hi.us.…

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‘More than Ready’ – Celebrating the Class of 2024

Wednesday, June 5th, 2024

‘More than Ready’ – Celebrating the Class of 2024

On a breezy May evening, the Molokai High School community gathered to celebrate the graduation of the class of 2024. This year’s ceremony was particularly poignant, marked by a shared sense of triumph over adversity. As Principal Dr. Katina Soares took to the podium, she delivered a speech that resonated deeply with both the graduates and their families.

“There’s no point in sugarcoating it. Your high school journey hasn’t been easy,” said Soares, addressing the tumultuous years the students had endured. She recounted the significant challenges faced by the class, from navigating online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic to the constant upheaval of schedules and routines upon their return to in-person classes.…

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OHA Trustees Visit the Molokai History Project

Thursday, May 23rd, 2024

OHA Trustees Visit the Molokai History Project

When the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) conducted their annual board of trustees meeting on Molokai last Wednesday, they took the opportunity to visit a new Molokai institution dedicated to preserving old ways: the Molokai History Project. Founded in October 2023, the Molokai History Project museum has grown to encompass rotating exhibits and visitors from across the world, but the OHA trustees were a first.

“This is the largest group that we’ve had,” explained Judy Mertens, a founder of the Molokai History Project. OHA “contacted us and said that they’d heard about the museum and would like a tour.”

The full board of trustees, including staff, along with kupuna from Alu Like, gathered in the courtyard behind the museum to honor the occasion.…

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UHMC Molokai Celebrates Commencement

Thursday, May 16th, 2024

UHMC Molokai Celebrates Commencement

For the first time since 2016, the University of Hawaii Maui College, Molokai Education Center celebrated an in-person commencement ceremony. With more than 40 graduates walking, the quadrennial ceremony was one to remember.

Kelly Dudoit, College Coordinator for the Molokai Education Center, explained that a graduation is more than just a celebration of a degree.

“It’s so important,” said Dudoit. “As I’m going through the lists of graduates and thinking about their stories, their backgrounds, their struggles, their triumphs, who they were when they walked in the door…it’s so amazing to witness the transformation that education can have in people’s lives.”…

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Robotics Awarded at World Championship

Wednesday, May 8th, 2024

Robotics Awarded at World Championship

Molokai High School (MHS) robotics concluded their memorable season with a trip to Dallas, Texas to compete in the Vex Robotics World Championship. Of the 820 robotics teams from across the world, the MHS robotics team was honored with the 2024 Vex Community Award. Sponsored by Google, the award recognized the MHS team for their contributions towards supporting the larger Molokai robotics landscape.

Coach Edwin Mendija explained that judges were “really impressed, just knowing how limited in resources we are.”

Mendija and the MHS team had helped restart robotics on Molokai following COVID. Mendija explained that the MHS students helped Molokai elementary schools gear up for robotics competitions by providing parts, training and funding.…

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