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Community

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

That’s a Lot of Candles

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

That’s a Lot of Candles

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

On Nov. 5, Marie Yamashita celebrated her 102nd birthday. That’s not something many people can say. In fact, staff at the Molokai Department of Health believe her to be the oldest person on the island.  

The longtime Molokai resident “spent most of her lifetime getting to know our community through Molokai’s youth, many of whom are grandparents and great-grandparents these days,” explained Todd Yamashita, one of Marie Yamashita’s three grandchildren. 

Raised in Waikiki, she was the first of her family born in Hawaii. In Kumamoto Japan, her mother Kikue Shikada had worked with their aunt as a local temple-keeper.…

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PALS Winter Program Registration Open

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

Maui County News Release 

Online registration for the PALS Program Winter 2022 session begins today and continues through Nov. 15, the Department of Parks and Recreation announced.

The program is open to children ages 5 to 12 years old and will be conducted from Dec. 20 through Dec. 30, 2022. This will be the only registration period for the PALS Program Winter 2022 session on Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

For more information or to register for the PALS Summer 2022 session, go to mauicounty.gov/589/PALS-Program.

For more information, contact the PALS office at (808) 270-7404.…

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George Kuznecovs

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

George Kuznecovs

George Kuznecovs passed away peacefully at Queen’s Hospital on Oct. 18, 2022, with family at his side.  Born on Oct. 28, 1941, in Germany, of Latvian heritage, he immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 10, eventually settling in San Diego.  

He came to Molokai in 2001 after a varied career including beach lifeguard, TV news photographer and resort manager.  He loved the ocean and was a passionate free diver and spearfisherman best known for hand carved spear guns and shooting large fish throughout the world.  His interests were varied from rebuilding and driving classic Porsches, Formula 1 racing, paddling canoes, making award winning movies, traveling around the world,  wood carving, etc.…

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Little League Hits Off the Season

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

Little League Hits Off the Season

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Little League players on Molokai came to bat at the end of last month for the first time in three and a half years. More than 200 keiki comprising 16 teams from across the island are coming together this season to celebrate baseball’s legacy on Molokai. The opening ceremonies on Oct. 22 also honored David Nanod, a Molokai resident with 59 years of involvement in Little League as coach, umpire, scorekeeper and announcer at the local, district and state levels. Bill Dudoit serves as this year’s Molokai Little League president. …

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Removal of Veteran Board

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

This is a public letter to Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans and our latest bogus appointed commander, directors and officers. 

After more than six years, four appointed Commanders with no transparency, no accountability, including our silly investigation by the Attorney General Office, we have gotten nowhere.

Nevertheless, accordingly this is a 30-day notice, Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans Annual Membership Meeting is to be held in the month of November. 

Please be advised, Hawaii Nonprofit Corporation Act Section 414 D-138 states that the Members of a nonprofit corporation may remove one or more directors elected by them without cause. Section (g) also indicates that an entire Board of Directors may be removed under this section of the law.…

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Planning for a Flooded Future

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

Planning for a Flooded Future

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

What could Molokai’s community look like in 2100? Flooded. The Climate Change and Sea Level Adaptation and Resiliency Master Plan, spearheaded by Sust’ainable Molokai, is targeted to be completed by July 2023, outlines what we can expect and how we can face this foreboding future. 

The Climate Change and Sea Level Adaptation and Resiliency Master Plan (CCSLAR) is a community-led climate change and sea-level rise plan for Molokai’s future, created and fueled by Molokai’s community. 

Sust’ainable Molokai’s website explains that CCSLAR has an indigenous place-based perspective, meaning the planning process is led by kama’aina and long-time community leaders.…

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Floating Lantern Ceremony Returns

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

Floating Lantern Ceremony Returns

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter

Last Saturday, Molokai residents gathered at the Community Health Center to commemorate loss. Under the sprawling banyan tree, community members created and decorated their own lanterns in remembrance of those who have died. 

After songs, taiko drums, hula and food, people took to the shores with their lanterns. Wading into the thick silt, they placed the lanterns in the water and watched them float into the sunset. Special lanterns were made to commemorate Dr. Gregory LaGoy, long-term CEO of Hospice Maui, Dr. William Thomas of Molokai General Hospital, Aloha Island Air Flight 1712, victims of COVID, suicide, violence, and natural disasters as well as service members. …

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Golf Ace

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

Golf Ace

Community Contributed

By Rick Schonely

On Saturday, Nov. 5 the Hui O Kukui Golf club held their monthly Ace championship. The November Ace has two winners, one for November and one for December as the club gets ready for its Ace of Aces championship on Saturday, Dec. 3. 

The November winner is none other than Sir Mike Prewitt. Uncle Micky shot 48–46 for a gross total of 94 and with his 29 handicap his net 65 got him the November championship. The December winner is our leader of Farmer Nation and Molokai High School Athletic Director Lee DeRouin. Coach D shot 46–40 a gross total of 86 and with his 13 handicap his net 73 got him the December Ace.…

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Stop DHHL Construction

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

At the 2018 annual Molokai Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) meeting, a $4 million proposed Veterans Center development was on DHHL’s agenda. It was intended to be a fast-tracked political deal because the State of Hawaii had federal funds to spend it or lose it. Our Molokai homestead community testified with the typical pros and cons. DHHL wanted to build a veterans center on our only community open field/park in Ho’olehua. Homesteaders also addressed the safety issues of veterans’ Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as three schools located within 100 yards of the proposed location. Also, the recently built VA center in Kaunakakai has nominal membership.…

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Master Fun Race

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

Master Fun Race

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

A smaller version of the iconic annual Master Blaster paddling race was held last month, dubbed the Molokai Canoe Club Master Fun Race. Unlike previous events that often featured more than 30 crews, most of which came from off island, the Fun Race had just five crews, all from Molokai, said organizer Liko Wallace of Molokai Canoe Club. 

“[Master Blaster] is normally our one and only annual fundraiser but because of the situation with the airlines, there are not enough flights to share with off island residents,” said Wallace. “We had taken a stand to consider our community more important than these events [large annual canoe races]… I spoke on behalf of not having the races this year for that reason so I honored that same commitment here.”…

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