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Community

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

Honoring Prince Kūhiō’s Legacy

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

Honoring Prince Kūhiō’s Legacy

By Léo Azambuja
A free theatrical play honored the legacy of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Piʻikoi before a crowd of nearly 100 Molokai residents at Lanikeha Community Center last week. The play was part of the Prince Kūhiō Day celebrations that had been postponed due to the Kona Low storms in March .
“Although our kingdom is lost, we are still the Hawaiian people, and as an aliʻi, part of me stands outside of any government, and I’m determined to serve,” the actor portraying Prince Kūhiō said during the “Ka Kauā o Ka Lāhui: The Life of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Piʻikoi” play April 26.…

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Keiki Fest 2026

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

Keiki Fest 2026

By Léo Azambuja

The Keiki Fest 2026 last weekend offered a fun and safe venue for hundreds of families to celebrate their children while educating them on child-abuse prevention topics such as setting boundaries, consent and identifying trusted adults. 

April is national Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse and Neglect Month. 

“We want to bring awareness to that by having a festival for our keiki, bringing in resources so that the families get to know them,” event co-organizer Tylor Tanaka said, adding the activities and resources were all catered to the children. “Today is absolutely free. Get free food, free prizes.…

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Bissen Targets Storm Relief, Readiness at Meeting

Thursday, April 23rd, 2026

Bissen Targets Storm Relief, Readiness at Meeting

By Léo Azambuja

Many Molokai residents are still dealing with the impacts of March’s Kona Low storms. Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. and several county officials visited the island to address disaster preparedness, response, relief and recovery in a community meeting held at Mitchel Pauole Center last week. 

“We’re here to listen. We’re going to learn. Those are the two main reasons we’ve come here today,” Bissen told about 40 people attending the April 19 meeting. “We’re also going to provide you with information that we think you need and that you want.”

Some of the key points discussed included the importance of signing up for emergency alerts, the need for better communication and community cooperation during emergencies, planning for future evacuations, flooding, debris management, and maintenance of culverts and streams.…

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Earth Day, Kūpaʻa Ka Mauli

Thursday, April 23rd, 2026

Earth Day, Kūpaʻa Ka Mauli

By Léo Azambuja

Hundreds of residents celebrated Molokai Earth Day 2026 at Mitchell Pauole Center last week. The event showcased dozens of conservation agencies, groups and organizations, while offering live entertainment and local food.

“This year’s theme is Kūpaʻa Ka Mauli, which could be translated as Stand Firm,” said Russell Kallstrom, program manager at The Nature Conservancy on Molokai. “Oftentimes, we know what we need to do, but we need to have the courage to do it and to stand for it.”

Between attending public, volunteers and exhibitor staff, organizers estimated about 800 people went through the free event April 18.…

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Wayne Tadashi Yamamoto

Thursday, April 16th, 2026

Wayne Tadashi Yamamoto, 70, of Kahului, Maui, passed away on March 5, 2026 at his residence. He was born on February 2, 1956, in Molokai, Hawaii.

He graduated from Molokai High School in 1974. After graduation, he enlisted in the army and traveled the world. Upon his return home to Maui, he attended Maui Community College, obtained his Associates of Arts Degree and his Surveying and Mapping Certificate. He worked for Akamai Land Surveying for a short time and then the County of Maui, Department of Water Supply where he retired in 2004.

Wayne was a man of few words, with a generous heart.…

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Island Energy Services Ends Partnership with Rawlins Service

Thursday, April 16th, 2026

Island Energy News Release

Island Energy Services announced the conclusion of its fuel supply partnership with Rawlins Service in Kaunakakai, Molokai effective April 9, 2026. The transition follows Rawlins Enterprises Inc.’s recent announcement that founding matriarch Aunty Shirley Rawlins will step back from day-to-day operations after 67 years of family stewardship, a milestone that IES recognizes with deep respect and admiration.

For more than 50 years, IES has been honored to serve as the fuel supplier for Rawlins Service, one of Molokaʻi’s most enduring and beloved businesses. That partnership has been grounded in shared values: dependable service, integrity, and genuine commitment to the people of Molokai.…

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Green Authorizes Relief for Storm-Impacted Taxpayers

Thursday, April 16th, 2026

DOTAX News Release

Gov. Josh Green has authorized the state Department of Taxation to provide relief to eligible impacted local residents and businesses from the filing and payment deadline for state income taxes to July 20, 2026 from April 20, 2026.

“People’s lives were turned upside down and activity at businesses in some cases came to a screeching halt with the recent Kona Low storms,” Green said. “For many local residents and business owners, there is no doubt that paperwork vital to filing state tax returns would have been badly damaged or destroyed. It will take our local people and impacted businesses time to gather the information needed to complete their tax filings.…

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Green Secures IRS Extension for Storm-Affected Residents, Businesses

Thursday, April 16th, 2026

DOTAX News Release

Resulting from a request for disaster relief by Governor Josh Green, the Internal Revenue Service has announced federal tax relief for individuals and businesses in Hawaiʻi affected by the severe storms, flooding and mudslides during the recent state-declared Kona-Low disaster that began on March 10, 2026.

Overall, this tax relief offers meaningful financial support to individuals and businesses recovering from the disaster.

Residents and owners of businesses in the federally declared Hawaiʻi severe storms disaster area, which includes the counties of Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai and Maui, now have until July 8, 2026, to file federal tax returns and make tax payments that were originally due on or after March 10, 2026.…

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Residents Address Tokuda in Townhall Meeting

Thursday, April 16th, 2026

Residents Address Tokuda in Townhall Meeting

By Léo Azambuja

Despite being stuck on Oahu because of flight cancellations due to bad weather, U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda attended a townhall meeting remotely via Zoom last weekend. A couple dozen residents came to Mitchell Pauole Center to voice issues affecting the community.

Residents highlighted the need for an evacuation center, better waterway management to mitigate storm-related flooding and better emergency access routes. They also asked for updates on the war with Iran and on the first coconut rhinoceros beetles found on Molokai.

“We had three different flights trying to get to Molokai. Two planes were turned around in the air.…

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Promoting Literacy on Molokai

Thursday, April 16th, 2026

Promoting Literacy on Molokai

By Léo Azambuja

A literacy tutoring program that has been around for more than half-century is expanding to Molokai for the first time. An upcoming training session at Molokai Public Library will certify residents to provide free tutoring lessons to the community. 

“Are you looking to gain new skills or give back to your neighbors? Hawaii literacy is coming to Molokai, and we need you,” Hawaii Literacy tutor Charlotte Preiss said.

The Molokai Library will host the Adult Literacy Program’s free tutor training offered by Hawaii Literacy April 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with lunch provided. Besides attending the four-hour tutor training course, aspiring volunteers must have a high-school diploma and be willing to commit to meet once or twice a week with a learner for at least six months.…

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