• Failure notice from provider:
    Connection Error:http_request_failed

  • Submission Deadlines

    Advertising

    Thursday 4pm

    October 30, 2025

    Content

    Friday 4pm

    October 31, 2025

    To print on:

    Wednesday

    November 5, 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.

Adopt-A-Highway Recognizes Molokai Teachers

Thursday, January 13th, 2022

HIDOT Highways Division News Release 

For more than two decades, members of the Hawaii State Teachers Association’s Molokai Chapter have helped protect their island by removing unsightly and environmentally damaging trash along Maunaloa Highway. Their sustained dedication has earned HSTA Molokai Chapter the Adopt-A-Highway No Ka Oi Highway Hui Award from the State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation (HIDOT) Highways Division – Maui District (HWY-M).

“HSTA Molokai’s adopted section of highway runs near Kaunakakai Harbor, and if you’ve ever enjoyed how naturally beautiful that area is, Molokai’s teachers certainly deserve credit for helping to keep it that way,” said Ty Fukuroku, program manager, Environmental Management, HWY-M.…

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

253 New Cases in Past 2 Weeks

Thursday, January 13th, 2022

253 New Cases in Past 2 Weeks

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai hit a pandemic record high daily case count two days in a row for the island last week with 33 new cases on Jan. 3 and 39 cases the following day. 

As of last Sunday’s Dept. of Health data, the island had 526 cases since the pandemic began, 253 of which have been recorded in the last two weeks, between Dec. 24 and Jan. 7. 

For those experiencing any symptoms, testing sites on Molokai include Lanikeha Community Center (make an appointment at alohaclear.com), Molokai Community Health Center, Molokai General Hospital and Molokai Drugs.

Booster shot eligibility has expanded to include a single Pfizer booster for everyone ages 12 to 17 who had their primary vaccination series at least five months ago, and for children ages 5 to 11 who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, the Dept.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Remember Kalaupapa This Month

Thursday, January 13th, 2022

Remember Kalaupapa This Month

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

On Jan. 6, 156 years ago, 12 people were sent to Kalaupapa as the first of an estimated 8,000 exiled there because of the government’s policies for those diagnosed with Hansen’s disease. The nine men and three women, along with those who followed, were forcibly taken from their family members, many of whom they would never again be able to see. 

Last June, Gov. Ige signed into law a bill that designates January as Kalaupapa Month in Hawaii, serving as “an annual reminder of the importance of Kalaupapa and the significant sacrifices and contributions of its residents throughout the history of Hawaii,” the bill reads.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Boys Basketball Hosts Season Opener

Thursday, January 13th, 2022

Boys Basketball Hosts Season Opener

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Molokai Boys Basketball hosted Lanai for the first game of the season last weekend – with a last minute rule change that excluded spectators. Though Molokai lost both games, players and coaches were happy to be on the court. 

“COVID has been hard for everyone but I believe especially tough on the youth,” said Kalae Adolpho, in her first year as head coach for Molokai High’s boys basketball team. “We are so grateful and excited to have a game in The Barn after almost two years of no sports. With maybe five total practices with everyone due to COVID, we are stoked just to be out there competing!” …

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Penney Keolaokekua Galam

Thursday, January 13th, 2022

Penney Keolaokekua Galam

Penney Keolaokekua Galam, 48, of Kaunkakai, Molokai gained her angel wings peacefully at Queens Medical Center on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.

Keola, as she was known to her ohana and friends, was born on Aug. 2, 1973 at Maui Memorial Hospital to Doreen Mapuana (Keohuloa) Galam and Gordon Wayne Galam.

She is survived by her grandmother Esther; mother Doreen; brothers Gordon “Kili Boy” Galam, Cliffton Scott Galam and Ted James Galam; her children Kayla, Karlie, Kealiiokamalu Galam, Kaipo- Louis and Kaianne DeMello Galam; along with many ohana and friends. Keola is met by her father, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins in heaven.…

Posted in commentsAdd your comment

Gwendolyn Amabel Higgins

Thursday, January 13th, 2022

Gwendolyn Amabel Higgins

Gwendolyn Amabel Higgins, 79, of Waimanalo, Oahu died on Sept. 24, 2021. Gwen was born in Ho’olehua, Molokai on Sept. 26, 1941, to Edith and Charles Meyer. She had three siblings, Yola M. Forbes (David), Charles S. Meyer (Carolyn), Robert P. Meyer (Nancy).

Gwen is survived by her daughters Debra Bush (Mike) and Robyn Trueman (Evans); sons Albert Higgins (Sandy) and Christopher Higgins (Jannet); nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brother Robert Meyer; cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.

Gwen will be remembered as a loving and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, aunty, niece, cousin, and friend to all who knew her.…

Posted in commentsAdd your comment

133 Molokai COVID Cases in 2 Weeks

Thursday, January 6th, 2022

133 Molokai COVID Cases in 2 Weeks

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai, in line with the rest of the state, is in the midst of an unprecedented spike in COVID cases. Molokai has logged 133 cases in the last two weeks, between Dec. 19 and Dec. 31, according to Dept. of Health data current as of Sunday, Dec. 2. The island also recorded a pandemic record high case count in one day on Dec. 26 of 26 cases. Previously, the highest single-day case number was 12 in August. 

Hawaii as a state also logged its highest single-day case count of the pandemic on Dec. 28 with 3538 cases, as the Omicron variant sweeps across the country. …

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Meet the Artists: Ikaika Bishaw-Juario

Thursday, January 6th, 2022

Meet the Artists: Ikaika Bishaw-Juario

Community Contributed

By Na Heona Molokai

Na Heona Molokai (Artists of Molokai) is a group creating an exhibition titled “No Stop Light: Molokai” for the 3,600 square foot Downtown Art Center in Honolulu, in May 2022. In the coming months, we will introduce each artist. 

What is your name?

My name is Kyle “Ikaika” Bishaw-Juario. I was born and raised on Molokai.  I am the owner of KBJ Lures.  I mainly specialize in making Ulua (GT) popping lures and Deep SeaTrolling Lures. Each lure is handcrafted. 

What is your art form?

I have been an artist my entire life.  Art has been something I enjoyed (ex.…

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Meet the Artists: Dan Bennett

Wednesday, December 29th, 2021

Meet the Artists: Dan Bennett

Community Contributed

By Na Heona Molokai

Na Heona Molokai (Artists of Molokai) is a group creating an exhibition titled “No Stop Light: Molokai” for the 3,600 square foot Downtown Art Center in Honolulu, in May 2022. In the coming months, we will introduce each artist. 

What is your name?

My name is Dan Bennett. I am the owner of Bennett Pottery in Kalae.  I am a co-founder of Molokai Arts Center and serve on its Board of Directors and teach pottery classes.

Why do you make what you make?

I make things that people can use.  There’s a saying in ceramics, “It’s either mud or landfill.”…

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Molokai Monk Seal Shot Dead

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2021

A young female seal known as “L11” found dead on Molokai on Sept. 19 is confirmed to have died from a gunshot wound to the head. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the results of its postmortem analyses Tuesday.

“Specifically, we found a bullet fragment in association with evidence of severe, lethal trauma,” NOAA stated. “We are waiting on test results to see if L11 had any diseases, but we do not expect the results to change these conclusions.”

The seal’s death marks the third confirmed intentional killing of a monk seal on Molokai in 2021, with several other seal deaths investigated on the island this year. …

Posted in , , , commentsAdd your comment