• Failure notice from provider:
    Connection Error:http_request_failed

  • Submission Deadlines

    Advertising

    Thursday 4pm

    June 11, 2026

    Content

    Friday 4pm

    June 12, 2026

    To print on:

    Wednesday

    June 17, 2026

  • 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.

County Council to Vote on Veterans’ Settlement

Monday, March 28th, 2011

County Council to Vote on Veterans’ Settlement

UPDATE: The Maui County Council voted Tuesday, March 29 to accept the settlement terms for the Molokai veterans' lawsuit previously voted upon by the Policy Committee. Those terms, however, were "not even close" to those proposed by the veterans, according to Larry Helm. 

"My clients... are losing faith in this process," Suki Halevi, attorney representing the veterans. told council members. "...It’s beginning to feel to them like another betrayal."  

Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans (MVCV) continuously seeking a settlement to the lawsuit they filed against Maui County in September 2010, after years of delays in receiving a building permit for a veterans center. The county Policy Committee voted last week to authorize the settlement under terms currently unknown. The terms were not disclosed to the veterans' group prior to either vote.

under certain terms, but not those proposed by the veterans,” said Jane Lovell, attorney for the County of Maui.


 


Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Kalaupapa Air Service Up for Grabs

Monday, March 28th, 2011

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Sen. Dan Inouye met with Kalaupapa patients last Wednesday in Honolulu to discuss the $500 air fares that Pacific Wings charges, the only carrier to serve the peninsula.

LaHood discussed the possibility of releasing Essential Air Service (EAS) federal funds to Kalaupapa for subsidized flights. Currently, bids are being taken from two carriers, Makani Air and Iolani Air. LaHood is hopeful that funds can be provided by this summer.

Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono was also at the meeting and expressed the need for a change in laws.

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Wahine Wrestlers Recognized

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Wahine Wrestlers Recognized

The Lady Farmers wrestling team can look forward to next year knowing that they have three all-stars on the team. Mikayla Pico, who wrestles in the 98-pound weight class, Rizpah Torres-Umi (120) and Charisse Manley (130) have all succeeded in gaining the respect and attention from coaches across the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL), division II.

The Maui News compiled ballots from coaches from across the MIL D-II , and announced the wrestling all-stars last week. The achievement is a testament to the girls’ performance in the 2010-2011 wrestling season.

Coach Randy Manley is proud of what the girls have accomplished.

“They all qualified for the MIL championship. That was the big thing that put them in this position,” Manley said, noting that they were very determined and worked hard all season.

“I feel honored,” said junior Charisse Manley, who has been wrestling since elementary school..

Manley and her teammates ended behind Lahainluna in second place at this year’s MIL championships. All three of the girls also earned first place in their individual matches at the MIL championship.

“It was exciting and satisfying to s

ee her make the progress that she has,” Randy Manley said of his daughter, Charisse.

“I would like to credit my coach for always being there and helping me through everything,” Charisse said. “And I’d also like to credit my team, too, because they force me to better myself.”,

Torres-Umi, a freshman, said she has high hopes for next season and the rest of her high school career.
“I want to be a three-time champ,” she said. “The MILs were the most memorable this season. All of my matches were not challenging. I think that meant I improved a lot.”

The trio also placed at states: Pico got second place, Torres-Umi placed sixth and Manley took home fourth place.

Torres-Umi’s father, Bob Umi, raised his daughter under a roof of wrestlers. Rizpah is one of twelve children in her family and her older brothers showed her the skills she needed to become an all-star.

“One time somebody asked me, ‘How come your kids are so good at wrestling?’ Easy. I just make them fight for food,” Umi joked.

Mikayla Pico was not available for comments.

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Ekolu Spreading Love

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Ekolu Spreading Love

Award-winning reggae band, Ekolu is letting the music flow with their latest album release, “Simply for Love.”  They will be at Molokai’s very own Paddler’s Inn for the album release party, this Saturday, April 2, hosted by HI Finest Productions. Local boy Paulele Alcon’s company will also be donating proceeds of the concert to the Molokai High School Athletics Department.

Ekolu’s front-man, Lukela Keala, spoke with the Dispatch about Ekolu’s inspirations, his personal experiences of growing up in Wailuku Valley in Maui, and what we can expect from his band this weekend.

Molokai Dispatch (MD): How do you think Ekolu’s style has evolved over the years?

Lukela Keala (LK): Just wanting to be a better musician. Doesn’t take much to motivate me.

I could never get away from it.

MD: You have played shows on the mainland, as well as Japan. How do those audiences differ from Hawaii’s audiences?
LK: People on the mainland and Japan are more emotional. I guess that’s because they don’t local music all the time. You can feel that they miss home a lot!

MD: What is the number one message you want to spread amongst your listeners?
LK: That’s simple - love.

MD: What do you listen to these days?
LK: All kinds of stuff – oldies, reggae, Hawaiian, Jazz, Light Rock, Opera (Andrea Bocelli’s my man) and just a mix of everything.

Thank you, Lord Jesus for everything. I am grateful for you. Much love to all of the Molokai people. Oh, and one more thing, pick up our new album, “Simply For Love.” I know you guys don’t have a Borders over there, so check it on our website: www.ekolumusic.com. Love you, Molokai folks!

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Paul Elia

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Paul Keawepuahikinaokamalamalamaonalani Elia of Ho`olehua died on March 21, 2011, at age 67. He was born Dec. 27, 1943 in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Leila Elia of Ho`olehua; sons Jared Elia (deceased) and Ronald (Laura) Elia of Portland; daughters Caroline Elia (Paul) Seguritan of San Jose and Michele Elia (Jordan) Lofgreen of Phoenex; sister Hannah Kalilimoku Basso; brothers Wesley Elia, Ernest Kalilimoku (deceased), Eric Kalilimoku (deceased), Aram Kalilimoku, Gideon Kalilimoku, Mitchell Kalilimoku, Jerry Kalilimoku and Frederick Kalilimoku; and five beloved grandchildren.

Posted in , comments1 Comments

Mary Victory

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Mary Napua Aki Victory died on Feb. 26, 2011, at age 70. She was born June 8, 1940, and worked in the medical profession for many years in Schaumburg, Ill. She loved and cared for her patients and always went above and beyond to visit and comfort them. Her quiet spirit and caring ways spoke volumes about her character.

She is survived by her children, Kevin Victory, Michael Victory, Kenneth Victory, Lee Cook, Jacqueline Sabir; brothers Kalani and Abraham Aki; sisters Nei Curtis, Nani Street, Anna Newsome, Emily Swabba and Mahiki Lankford; and a precious host of grandchildren. 

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Wilbert Kaimikaua Sr.

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Wilbert Kekahuna Kaimikaua Sr. of Ho`olehua, died on March 25, 2011 in Honolulu, at age 75. He was born Oct. 11, 1935 in Ho`olehua, and was a retired detective with the Honolulu Police Department, and security officer with Securitas in Honolulu, Kona, and Ho`olehua.

He is survived by his wife, Deanna Kaimikaua of Ho`olehua; daughters Heidi (Stanford) Hao of Kawela and Kimberly (Faasiu) Saifoloi of Kaneohe; son Wilburt (Teuila) Kaimikaua Jr. of Las Vegas; sisters Arlene Brixius and Linda Kaimikaua; 16 beloved grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

County Seeks Mana`o for Budget

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Mayor Alan Arakawa released the Maui County budget for fiscal year (FY) 2012 to the Maui County Council for review a few weeks ago – $632 million. Arakawa also presented revenue of $686.7 million, an increase of $59.9 million compared to FY 2011.

Arakawa said that much of the county's increased revenues for 2012 are the result of unanticipated savings from prior years, and noted that the additional money would be a one-time deal, as the county's regular sources of revenue are still tight, according to a report in the Maui News.

The budget is broken down into $475.3 million for county operations and $156.7 million for capital improvement projects, according to the budget summery available on the county website.

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Oceanside Health Center Back On Track

Monday, March 28th, 2011

MCHC News Release

Local construction crews are officially back to work at the Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC)’s Oceanside facility.  The contract from the Department of Health releasing $550,000 of the $1 million Grant-In-Aid appropriated in 2009 has been signed and notarized.  Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s administration and state Rep. Mele Carroll have worked tirelessly to get the funding released and the project back on track. 

“We are extremely grateful to Gov. Abercrombie for his wholehearted commitment to the health and well-being of the people of Molokai,” said Rosie Davis, president of the MCHC Board of Directors.

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Kane Discuss Empowerment

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Kane Discuss Empowerment

As Native Hawaiians progress into the 21st century, their way of life is being tested daily. Recently, a group of men on Molokai gathered together to evaluate their role in life, as well as the island. They also brainstormed ways to preserve Hawaiian culture and values for generations to come.

This year’s `Aha Kane conference fostered the question, “Who Are You?” as a follow up to the 2007 `Aha Kane conference.

“When we converse, we get a feeling of what’s going on,” said Moke Kim, MC for the 2011 `Aha Kane Conference. “The more we talk, the closer we become, and thus, the more responsible we become for one another.”

Over 30 Molokai men, from keiki to kupuna, attended the event last Friday at Kulana `Oiwi halau to put their heads together in discussion and participate in presentations about all aspects of the role of kane on Molokai today.

The “Molokaiian” Within
One of the speakers, Ka`eo Kawa`a, a retired Hawaiian immersion teacher, invited men to his kukakuka session to get the best ideas on how to carry on the legacies of Molokai.

“In Hawaiian thoughts, we don’t talk with our mothers, we don’t talk with our heart – it actually comes from much deeper than that,” Kawa`a said.
He asked his audience to ask themselves, what is “Molokaiian?” How do we keep the traditions of Molokai? What are the issues on Molokai and what are the solutions?


“Just think how fortunate you are to live on Molokai, “Hoe said about Molokai’s great ability to grow food.

The `Aha Kane committee will continue looking for ways to perpetuate Hawaiian values and culture. Their next meeting will be held at the Molokai Community Health Center office, behind the Store House. Kane are asked to gather there on April 6 at 6 p.m. to discuss ways to build traditional hale. Organizers plan to build a hale next to the new Oceanside Medical Center.

Posted in commentsAdd your comment