• Failure notice from provider:
    Connection Error:http_request_failed

  • Submission Deadlines

    Advertising

    Thursday 4pm

    September 11, 2025

    Content

    Friday 4pm

    September 12, 2025

    To print on:

    Wednesday

    September 10, 2025

  • Join us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Google Plus Subscribe via RSS

Community

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

Ranked Choice Voting

Friday, November 4th, 2022

Governor Ige recently signed extremely limited Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) legislation which would allow voters an opportunity to “rank” candidates in a particular race.

How many times has one not voted for their preferred candidate for fear that someone they do not support would win? With RCV, one chooses the candidate they would most rather have for the specific position. If their preferred candidate does not receive the most votes, who would be a second choice for the voter?

The candidate with the fewest votes is removed and those voters who chose that individual then have their second choice receive their vote. This process continues until a candidate receives 50 percent plus one and they are then elected.…

Posted in , , , commentsAdd your comment

Victory for Young Chef

Friday, October 28th, 2022

Victory for Young Chef

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter 

The odds might have appeared stacked against Molokai High senior and chef Jonah Sahagun, but that didn’t stop him from winning a statewide cooking competition two weeks ago. A member of the MHS Culinary Club, he was among two Molokai students to submit original recipes to the Localicious Recipe Contest at the Hawaii Wine and Food Festival. 

Just two weeks before the contest, Sahagun broke his collarbone in a football game. Then three days later, he learned he was selected in the top three finalists from 127 submissions to compete in the live cook-off  on Oahu.…

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Fair Brings the Fun

Friday, October 28th, 2022

Fair Brings the Fun

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

A myriad of activities at last Saturday’s popular ‘Ohana Fun Fair brought a chance for families to come together. From horseback rides, bounce castles and arcade-type contests, to muddy fun under the fire truck’s spray and a friendly running race for keiki, there was plenty of laughter at the community event, held at Kualapu’u School. For even more excitement, families could enjoy the thrilling challenge of an escape room. Escape rooms are perfect for bringing family and friends together for a fun and memorable adventure.

“The main goal is just to get back together again and get back in the normal routine where we can just gather,” said Principal Lydia Trinidad.…

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Vote in the General Election

Friday, October 28th, 2022

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

It’s time to vote! The general election is quickly approaching and last week, Molokai registered voters received their ballots in the mail. The deadline for your ballot to be received is Tuesday, Nov. 8 so it must be postmarked in advance, or it can dropped off at the voter service center in Kaunakakai by Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. 

Now is the time to participate in this important part of community-building to voice your preference for candidates who align with your values and vision for the future. Along with candidates statewide, four Molokai residents appear on the ballot running for key seats in this election.…

Posted in , , , commentsAdd your comment

Fall Sports Come to a Close

Friday, October 28th, 2022

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

The past week marked the end of the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) season for Molokai Farmers fall sports. Girls Volleyball, Cross Country and Air Riflery all competed at their MIL Championships on Maui, and some athletes will be headed to the state level. 

The Lady Farmers Volleyball team traveled to the MIL Division II tournament hosted at Maui Preparatory Academy. The quarterfinal game was a match between Maui Prep Pueos and Molokai High Farmers. The first two sets were won by the Pueos, 25-17 and 25-20. The Lady Farmers came back in set three, 18-25. The fourth set was stolen back by the Pueos, 25-15, leaving Molokai to finish their season with a 4-9 record. …

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Why I’m Here

Friday, October 28th, 2022

Why I’m Here

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter

Maybe you’ve seen me walking around. Tall, used to be blond, frequently at Hula Bean — I feel like I stick out. 

One of the most common questions I hear is, “Where are you from?” It’s a question with a couple different answers. I’m from Washington D.C. Pretty simple. Born in D.C. Went to 12 years of school in D.C. Attended college in Philadelphia and then, well, ended up working in D.C for a year. 

But what I want to say is that it’s more interesting than that. I’m a Kiyonaga, which means I’m Yonsei on my dad’s side.…

Posted in commentsAdd your comment

Topside Churches Annual Bazaar

Friday, October 28th, 2022

Topside Congregational Churches News Release

Our Topside Churches annual bazaar is back after two years and we look forward to seeing you there. The bazaar will be held on Nov. 5 at Kalaiakamanu Hou Church from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Plate lunch tickets are sold at the door until 11 a.m. for $10, with hundreds of items for sale and auction. The event is presented by the Hoolehua, Kalaiakamanu Hou, Kalua’aha and Waialua Congregational churches. This fundraiser helps our churches with expenses and more importantly, gives us opportunity to minister in our community.

Over the years, our community ministry included organizations that work to better our Molokai community have enjoyed using our facilities at Ho’olehua, Kalaiakamanu Hou, and Waialua Pavilion at little or no cost.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Scholarship ‘Aha

Friday, October 28th, 2022

UHMCM News Release

The Native Hawaiian Scholarship ‘Aha will be back in person at the UH Maui College Molokai Education Center. Join us on Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. to meet with various scholarship representatives and financial aid resources. There will also be a FAFSA workshop available and a chance to win $500! Go to NHEA.net to register today or call (808)553-4490×2 for more info!…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Ka Leo o Nā Hōkū Welowelo The Voice of the Comets

Friday, October 28th, 2022

By Kumu Loke Han

Students in Papa 6 Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu, Kualapuʻu Public Conversion Charter School, are excited to share some of their first quarter adventures ma ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Please enjoy their articles written to support student learning in and out of the classroom! E ola ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.

No Kauikeaouli – Kamehameha III

Aloha mai kakou o wau ‘o Ka’ikena Rawlins-Fernandez. Noho au ma Kaunakakai. ‘O Makena Fernandez ko’u makuakāne a ‘o Keani Rawlins ko’u makuahine. E ha’i ana au iā ‘oe e pili iā Kauikeaouli.  ʻO Kauikeaouli ka Mōʻī ʻekolu ma ka laina ʻo Kamehameha. ʻO kekahi mea nui i hana ia e Kamehameha 3, ʻo ia hoʻi ka hoʻokumu ʻana o ka lā Hoʻihoʻi ʻEa ma ka lā 31 o Iulai. …

Posted in , , , , commentsAdd your comment

A’o Aku; A’o Mai: What I Learn, I Teach

Friday, October 28th, 2022

A’o Aku; A’o Mai: What I Learn, I Teach

Community Contributed

By Sara Jane Larkin, Teacher

Kilohana Elementary School is a Project Based Learning School and we encourage learners to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills, and extend our thinking beyond the classroom. In answering the question, “How can we share our learning with our friends, families and our community?” first graders at Kilohana will share their understanding with our community in the Dispatch. 

Oct. 19 is Unity Day.  We began a focused campaign to prevent bullying and demonstrate kindness to all. In first grade, we have been learning about verbs, which we used in our writing about unity. Our prompt was, “Aloha in action creates unity.”…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment