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Community

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

Kilohana School Spring Bazaar

Thursday, May 14th, 2026

Kilohana School Spring Bazaar

By Léo Azambuja

For many years, the Kilohana School Spring Bazaar has been the main fundraiser for this charming elementary school in Manaʻe. Aside from that, it’s a really fun and popular family event attended by hundreds of people each year.

“This is the Kilohana School Spring Bazaar. It’s been going on for about 40 years,” said Lacey Phifer, a Kilohana School alumni, tutor and the head organizer for this year’s bazaar May 9. “It’s my first year doing it. This is to fundraise for our school’s activities.”

The proceeds, she said, go toward the school’s supplies, field trips, bus services, Christmas program and other holidays, and the bazaar itself.…

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Molokai Educational Resource Experience

Wednesday, May 13th, 2026

Molokai Educational Resource Experience

By Léo Azambuja

Greased pigs, a giant tortoise, tiny chicks, a loving kitten and a trained K9. A firetruck, an ambulance and a chopper. Musicians, pilots, hospice workers, police, firefighters, nurses, dentists and builders. Watermelons, lau lau, ahi poke and musubi. A castle and hay bales.

“It’s the Molokai Educational Resource Experience. We started five years ago with about four people. In the first event, we had 800; now we are over 2,000 people,” volunteer Rosie Davis said.

The Fifth Annual Molokai Educational Resource Experience presented by the Molokai Homestead Farmers Alliance at Lanikeha Community Center May 9 was busy from the get-go at 9 a.m.…

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FEMA Deadline for Kona Low Assistance Extended

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

FEMA News Release

Molokai residents affected by the March 10–24 Kona Low flooding now have until June 14, 2026 to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance. 

Under the President’s Major Disaster Declaration, FEMA’s Individual Assistance program is available to help eligible individuals and households with basic, disaster-related needs that are not covered by insurance or other sources.

If you have homeowners’ or renters’ insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. By law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If your insurance policy does not cover all your damage expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance.

How to Apply for FEMA Assistance

Survivors can apply for FEMA Individual Assistance by:

Phone: Calling FEMA’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-621-3362 (1-800-621-FEMA). …
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MEO Welcomes New CFO, HR Director

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

MEO News Release

Jared Appleby and Melissa Magonigle joined the Maui Economic Opportunity executive leadership team in April as Chief Fiscal Officer and Human Resources Director, respectively.

“We are pleased to have such experienced and qualified individuals filling pivotal roles at MEO,” Executive Director Maggie Batangan said. “Jared and Melissa will enable MEO to continue to assist thousands of Maui County residents in need as we have for the last six decades.”

As one of the largest nonprofits in Maui County, MEO offers an assortment of assistance and services on Maui, including East Maui, Molokai and Lanaʻi. The more than 250 staff members run more than 30 programs, ranging from Maui Bus paratransit to Head Start preschool, and assisted nearly 31,000 individuals and families in the 2024-25 fiscal year.…

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Practitioners Gather at Keawanui Fishpond

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

Practitioners Gather at Keawanui Fishpond

ʻĀina Momona News Release

Fishpond practitioners and organizations from throughout Hawaiʻi gathered on Molokai this month.

ʻĀina Momona hosted this amazing hui to talk about the history of our loko iʻa and the need to take care of the entire ahupuaʻa, including the uplands, in order for our fishponds to survive. 

Practitioners were able to see our solutions and learn more about how utilizing the ahupuaʻa system can protect our ponds and keep them healthy and productive. 

We are honored to be able to share what we have learned with other groups doing this important work.…

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Seumalo, from Maunaloa to the NFL

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

Seumalo, from Maunaloa to the NFL

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

A Maunaloa Elementary and Molokai High schools graduate has made it into the National Football League for the next season. As if it weren’t good enough, he will play for the current Super Bowl champions.

“We want to give a big shout out to Vaai Jericho Uso Seumalo,” Rick Schonely said at his Molokai Sports Report at Akaku TV last week. “After the four rounds of the NFL Draft, he was signed as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks.”

Schonely said Seumalo was recently at home on Molokai, and visited his former school in Maunaloa. …

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Promoting Literacy on Molokai

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

Promoting Literacy on Molokai

By Léo Azambuja

The great 19th century French writer and poet Victor Hugo, author of Les Miserables, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and other novels, once said, “To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.” 

The nonprofit organization Hawaiʻi Literacy just set the stage for a huge fire on the Friendly Isle — its Adult Literacy Program has just expanded to Molokai. Program manager Celeste Oshiro Wong came from O‘ahu to teach the first-ever free tutor training session at Molokai Public Library April 25. 

“There are many ways people come to Adult Literacy for support, but our interest as an organization and as a program, it’s really to provide support when an adult is ready,” she said.…

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Library Honors Kalaupapa’s Religious Leaders

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

Library Honors Kalaupapa’s Religious Leaders

By Léo Azambuja

A few community members attended the E Ho‘omana‘o program at Molokai Public Library last week to celebrate, honor and learn more about three illustrious Kalaupapa residents who were pivotal in improving the lives of Hansen’s disease patients banned to the peninsula in the late 19th century.

“We are so fortunate to have people sharing with us about our ali‘i. Today we have some of our historical figures from Kalaupapa,” branch manager Mia Langer Ritte said during the opening of the program April 28.

April’s edition of E Ho‘omana‘o — the program is held every third Tuesday of the month — highlighted Saint Damien De Veuster, Brother Joseph Dutton and Saint Marianne Cope.…

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COVID-19 Homeowner Assistance Closes May 27

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

Maui County News Release

The Maui Homeowner Assistance Fund Program, which has provided financial assistance to homeowner-households on Maui, Molokai and Lānaʻi impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, will close on May 27, 2026, according to the County of Maui Department of Housing.

After addressing the community needs over the last two years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program will begin a structured 45-day closure period to ensure current and eligible participants receive assistance to the greatest extent possible. The program will stop accepting applications on May 27, 2026.

“We are very pleased by the number of County homeowner-households the Department of Housing was able to assist through the Maui Homeowner Assistance Fund Program and the impact that assistance has made,” County Department of Housing Director Richard E.…

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Finding Joy at Molokai Public Library

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

Finding Joy at Molokai Public Library

By Léo Azambuja

Molokai Public Library joined National Library Week from April 19 to 25, celebrating the role of libraries and their staff in communities across the country. This year’s theme was “Find Your Joy,” encouraging communities to support libraries, utilize their resources and participate in their events. 

Molokai Branch Manager Mia Langer Ritte said the annual program is sponsored by the American Library Association, which suggests different ways to celebrate the week.

“One of the bigger days was on Tuesday. It was National Library Worker Day,” Langer Ritte said. “The Friends of Molokai Library bought us all flowers, made us lunch and showed their appreciation for us.”…

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