Community

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

Spencer Takes the June Ace for Hui O Kukui Golf Club

Thursday, June 19th, 2025

Spencer Takes the June Ace for Hui O Kukui Golf Club

By Rick Schonely/Community contributed

Kawai Spencer is the June Ace winner for the Hui O Kukui Golf Club.
A Maui County firefighter and bus driver extraordinaire, Spencer is one of the famous Molokai Spencer twins with his awesome brother Kamoana. He shot 47–44 for a gross total of 91, and with his 27 handicap, his 64 net got him the victory. Congratulations Spencer!
The Hui O Kukui Golf Club would like to thank the staff and management of iconic Ironwood Hills golf course for perpetuating the game of golf on Molokai.…

MEO Seeking Public Input on Poverty Causes

Thursday, June 19th, 2025

MEO News Release

Maui Economic Opportunity has been gathering community’s input on the “causes that could lead to poverty” in Maui County and encourages more submissions before the survey’s deadline of Wednesday, June 25.

So far MEO has received more than 200 responses, which will be used to develop a Community Needs Assessment and a three-year Community Action Plan to address the needs. The causes of poverty for assessment on the survey include cost of living, financial literacy, affordable housing, food insecurity, and many others.

The Community Action Plan, which has been a staple of MEO’s efforts to support people in need in Maui County, will cover 2027-30.…

The King’s Gala Honors Kamehameha

Thursday, June 19th, 2025

The King’s Gala Honors Kamehameha

By Léo Azambuja, Interim Editor

The King’s Gala at Hiro’s Ohana Grill officially opened Friday evening the Molokai Kamehameha Celebration over the weekend, honoring the ali‘i who united the Hawaiian Islands under one ruler more than 200 years ago.

“Kamehameha, the Great was a uniter, uniting our culture in fashion, in arts, in all the skills that we have in hula, in traditional hula, in modern hula, which is ‘auana. There’s so many things that’s happening here to honor our king,” said Tylor Tanaka, head of the organizing committee for the event. 

This was the fourth year the beachfront restaurant opened its doors to celebrate Kamehameha Day, which dates back more than a century ago.…

Molokai Students Receive ‘Coach H’ Scholarship

Thursday, June 19th, 2025

Molokai Students Receive ‘Coach H’ Scholarship

By Léo Azambuja
The Lo‘i Collective Foundation presented the Coach H Scholarship to two Molokai High School graduates. Each student received a $500 award, given to one male and one female athlete, intended to go toward their college or career training goals.
Class of 2025 graduates Chloe Tancayo and Reyn Raguindin, with a grade point average of 3.75 and 3.67 respectively, were awarded the scholarships during a ceremony at MHS gym, The Barn, last Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
“I want to thank the Lo‘i Foundation for the Coach H scholarship because it will help me buy the supplies and equipment I need for my first year of college,” Raguindin said.…

4-H Teaches Leadership, Responsibilities to Children

Thursday, June 19th, 2025

4-H Teaches Leadership, Responsibilities to Children

By Léo Azambuja
Several children of all ages showcased their animals during the annual 4-H Club Expo in Kualapu‘u earlier this month.
“It’s a youth development program,” club leader Lane Kamakana said. “We try to develop leadership, responsibility and life skills; and that’s the biggest point of our whole program.”
The 4-H season begun in November, when the kids started showing up for monthly meetings, according to Kamakana, a 4-H program alumni.
“Our steer project started in December, our swine project started in March, and our Clover Bud project started in April,” he said.
Thirty three kids showcased their animals at Lanikeha Community Center on June 7, in an event that started at 9 a.m.…

Claudia Jane Kamai

Thursday, June 19th, 2025

Claudia Jane Kamai

Claudia Jane Kamai, 74, of Ho‘olehua, Molokai, born on October 6, 1950, passed away peacefully at home on June 2, 2025. We would like to thank Hospice Maui for all their caring support and services. Claudia retired from Del Monte Corporation after 33 years of service as a Lead Payroll Clerk.
Claudia is preceded in death by her parents, Samuel K and Lillian M Kamai.
Family members include sisters Carolyn (Rodney) Vair of Henderson, Nevada; Lorna (Longie) Dudoit of Hoolehua; Lydia (Cheyenne) Joao of Kaunakakai; and Kathleen (Joey) Joao of Kaunakakai; brothers Victor (Wena) Kamai of Maui; and Daniel (Rally) Kamai of California; and many nieces and nephews.…

Local Man Flown to Oahu After ATV Accident

Thursday, June 12th, 2025

Maui County News Release
Firefighters responded to the report of an ATV accident involving three males, with one seriously injured, two miles from the nearest paved road above Kawela on Molokai June 2 at 12:19 p.m.
Firefighters used utility vehicles to access the patient, a 78-year-old Molokai resident, and begin initial treatment. Additional fire and Emergency Medical Service personnel were brought to the scene by off-duty fire personnel using a UTV. The patient was evaluated at the scene by EMS and prepared for transport.
Rescue 10 personnel aboard Air 1 lifted the patient from the accident scene and transported him to a landing zone at One Ali’i Park, where he was transferred to a medivac helicopter and flown to Oahu.…

MAC Hosting Ceramic Artist

Thursday, June 12th, 2025

MAC Hosting Ceramic Artist

MAC News Release

The Molokai Arts Center welcomes Artist in Residence Sheldon Tsu-Yao Wong of Honolulu, Hawaii. As an artist, Sheldon uses clay to explore and dissect ancestral stories, exploring themes of ownership, belonging, and the politics of memory. 

He will be on Molokai from June 5 through 20 working on a project aimed at creating a dialog between the viewer, the material, and the island, exploring how we archive our existence and make our presence known through tactile and visual expressions.

“For my time on Molokai, I intend on working on a series of work that continues to explore the meaning of touch in all aspects: with the Earth, connection to ancestry, and the legacy of our archives.…

Waialua Keiki Surf Contest Kicks Off Season

Thursday, June 12th, 2025

Waialua Keiki Surf Contest Kicks Off Season

By Léo Azambuja
A handful of children competed in the Molokai Keiki `O Ke Kai surfing contest in Waialua Beach last Saturday. The contest was the first in a series of four, which will ultimately qualify the overall top scorers to compete on Oahu next spring.
“At the end of the season, after the spring season closes, there is a state championship on Oahu, and our children are guaranteed slots in the semifinals,” event coordinator Malia Waits said.
She said six families showed up for the contest. About 10 kids got in the water, but only five decided to compete in the season’s opener.…

Crafting Lifeguards for Molokai’s Future

Thursday, June 12th, 2025

Crafting Lifeguards for Molokai’s Future

By Léo Azambuja
A keiki water-safety program spanning more than a quarter century has inspired countless children to become lifeguards and firefighters throughout the state of Hawaii. About 30 Molokai children completed the annual week-long Junior Lifeguard program at different locations on the island last week.
“It’s the parents and the kids that make the program. That’s the main point and why we do this: to teach these kids how to keep their community safe,” said Harold Teshima, Maui County Ocean Safety administrative lieutenant.
Teshima, along with Maui County lifeguard Josh Edlao and Molokai Parks and Recreation lifeguards Kaleo Crivello and Kui Han, spent an entire week teaching the children ocean safety awareness and lifesaving skills, while preparing them for the Junior Lifeguard State Championships, which will be held at Ka‘anapali Beach on Maui Aug.…