Community

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

Planning for Managed Tourism

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

On a small, rural island like Molokai, whose residents have fought for preservation of their cultural heritage and against overdevelopment, tourism is a controversial subject. Many residents welcomed the lack of visitors brought by the pandemic, while local businesses often suffer from drops in visitor numbers. In an effort to rebuild, redefine and reset the direction of tourism, the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) is making progress with the Molokai Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP). Over a three-year period, the plan’s focus is on the stabilization, recovery and rebuilding of the visitor industry for the island.

 “HTA was getting a lot of heat at the state legislature because in 2019, Hawaii had a record breaking number of tourists, over 10 million that came to Hawaii,” said Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, county councilmember for Molokai, and member of the HTA’s Molokai Task Force.…

Clean-Up at Kahinani Place

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

Clean-Up at Kahinani Place

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

Thanks to local efforts, a long-abandoned apartment building at Kahinani Place has finally seen significant improvement. 

Right off Kamehameha V Highway, the apartments at the base of Kahinani Place have sat vacant for years. Longtime neighborhood resident Todd Yamashita believed the condos have been empty since the early 1980s. While occupants no longer inhabit the property, the land has not sat unused. Rather, it has become the holding site for noxious chemical waste. 

The abandoned land functioned as a septic business base yard, according to Yamashita. Passersby can still see the scattered remains of port-a-potties and discarded equipment. …

Gift Local, Support a Dream, Part 3

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

Gift Local, Support a Dream, Part 3

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

This holiday season welcomes Molokai-made products to the gift giving list to support local and bring unique presents to others. This week, The Molokai Dispatch spoke with the owners of two small businesses that create and sell products on Molokai. These entrepreneurs, Chrissy Tancayo and Tapuilima “Tapu” Hanapi, are the owners behind Chrissy Makes It and Aunty’s Leis and Little Things. 

Aunty’s Leis and Little Things is located at the Ho’olehua Airport. It offers an assortment of goods from shirts and jewelry to lei and lauhala items for locals and visitors alike.  

These items reflect the island’s rich heritage and provide a meaningful connection to the land and its people.…

Sports Successes

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

Sports Successes

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter 

Many firsts happened last weekend in Farmer’s winter sports which can be bet on by clicking links such as Ladbrokes Opening Times. They can also play تک بت for a variety of games to choose from and to enhance the betting skills. Lady Farmers Soccer had its first official Maui Interscholastic League game in 12 years of Molokai High history. Molokai Swimming, Westling, and Boys Basketball had their first competitions of the winter sports season and girls’ basketball continued their MIL journey. 

Soccer at Molokai High started up again in 2019, but it wasn’t until this year that the girls played Seabury Hall in Ho’olehua as an official MIL soccer game.…

Visit Molokai Ceramic Artist

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

Ark Ceramics News Release

 “I walk a beach marked by the ebbing tide,” says ceramic artist Arabella Ark, “where I step over broken coral and loose limu to the pond wall. There I watch the heron fishing, the kolea pecking, the fish jumping, while whales breach in the channel beyond the reef. The wind picks up and the sea begins to churn. These are the elements of design on my ceramics.”

At Arabella’s studio, you can find shapes, sizes, colors from our changing natural world. There are pots glazed in pinks and corals like the setting sun; others in deep turquoises and greens like the sea.…

Sister Jessie Alai Kai, SS.CC.

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

Sister Jessie Alai Kai, SS.CC.

Born in Hilo on August 18, 1942 to Herbert Kai Sr. and Regina Aiu, Sister Jessie Alai Kai, SS.CC. went peacefully home to God on Dec. 2, 2022 at the convent of Malia o ka Malu on 4th Avenue in Honolulu. 

In 2009, Sister was part of the group that founded a Sacred Hearts community at St. Damien Parish in Kaunakakai, Molokai, endearing herself to the people as parish secretary, religious educator and enthusiastic volunteer.  Due to failing health, Sister Jessie and the other Sisters of the Molokai community returned to Honolulu in March, 2022.   

Sister Jessie is survived by her sisters Regina (Otto) Furlow, Pauline Weddle, Diane and Victoria Kai and three brothers Herbert (Ingrid) Kai, Thomas and Paul Kai and numerous nieces and nephews. …

Protect Your Children from Losing Their Inheritance

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

Community Contributed

By Eileen M.S. Nims, Esq.

You have worked hard and have planned well to make sure you will leave your children and/or grandchildren with some of your hard-earned or well-invested money. You have protected them against financial pitfalls and heartaches, and you may have even drafted a will in which you have designated who gets what. However, even with all the protections and planning in the world, you cannot prevent unfortunate circumstances from happening in your children’s lives. What if three years after receiving her inheritance, your daughter files for divorce with the help of the digital divorce services and her spouse receives half of the proceeds of her inheritance?…

Makahiki, a Celebration of the Harvest

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, UH CTAHR Molokai Extension Agent

In ancient Hawaii, the rising of the constellation Makali’i, also known as Pleiades or the Seven Sisters, signaled the start of the Makahiki season and the season of the harvest. Southerly storms signaled the arrival of Lono i ka Makahiki, a special season to give thanks for the bounty of food, and another year without famine. The celebration of abundance was probably the most important aspect of Makahiki, while also giving thanks to the God Lono, the god of fertility, agriculture, rain, music, and peace for blessing our fertile, fat lands or ‘aina momona. …

Ace of Aces

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

Ace of Aces

Community Contributed

By Rick Schonely

On Saturday, Dec. 3 the Hui O Kukui Golf Club held their annual Ace of Aces Club Championship at iconic Ironwood Hills Golf Course. Longtime Molokai High School security guard and all-around great guy David Spencer is this year’s Ace of Aces and the new president of the club. Spencer shot 44-44 for a gross score of 88 and with his 22 handicap his net score of 66 got him the low net victory and his name on the “Carl Puhi Perpetual Award” trophy. 

Greig Len Wai, the pride of Friendly Market Center, was this year’s low gross winner with a score of 38-39 for a total of 77.…

The Legacy of Dr. Aluli

Sunday, December 11th, 2022

The Legacy of Dr. Aluli

Molokai mourns the loss of a beloved doctor, Native Hawaiian healthcare advocate and activist who will be remembered for his infectious smile, kindness and generosity. Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli died on Nov. 30 at the age of 78.

Born on Oahu in 1944, Aluli was one of the first graduating class from University of Hawaii’s medical school in 1975, and chose to complete his residency on Molokai.

“I wanted to come here to learn from the people, learn from the patients, on how to deliver state of the art health,” said Aluli of his arrival to the island in 1975. “The health of this island, the health of the land, the health of the ocean, the health of the resources, is the health of her people.…