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Community

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

MHS Robotics Wins Global Award

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

MHS Robotics Wins Global Award

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

In March, Molokai High School (MHS)’s storied robotics program received international recognition, winning the Vex Robotics Marketing Challenge. The global award qualified the MHS team for the world robotics championships in Dallas, Texas this May.

“It’s a pretty big deal,” said longtime MHS robotics coach Edwin Mendija. Of the seven robotics teams from Hawaii competing in this year’s championship, two will be from Molokai.

For the award, the robotics team submitted a video detailing their identity and mission as MHS farmers. One of the key details in the MHS submission was their focus on community service and their quintessential Molokai identity.…

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Gov. Green Pulls Molokai Burial Council Nominees

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

Gov. Green Pulls Molokai Burial Council Nominees

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

In a surprising move, Gov. Josh Green withdrew two Molokai nominations to the Molokai Island Burial Council in late March. La’akea Poepoe and Keomailani Hanapi-Hirata were awaiting a Senate confirmation hearing when they got the news that their nominations had been withdrawn.

The reason why the two Molokai residents had been withdrawn from consideration was not clear.

“It’s super red flaggy,” said Poepoe in an interview with The Dispatch. “What’s the actual rationale behind the removal of qualified and vetted applicants with no clear disqualifier?”

Both Poepoe and Hanapi-Hirata have served on the Molokai Island Burial Council in the past.…

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Movie Night at the Mango Theater

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

Movie Night at the Mango Theater

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

For the first time in almost a generation, Molokai families are headed to the movies. The much-anticipated Mango Theater officially opened its doors on Thursday, April 3 with a sold-out showing of Moana 2.

“It’s been a journey and a half,” said owner Brad Ellis. Brad and his wife Grace Chen-Ellis are co-owners of the theater. They first started the project back in 2019.

“COVID slowed us down, the permitting process is slow, but we made it,” said Ellis, “perseverance.”

The theater opened with two showings of Moana 2, much to the delight of Molokai kids. The theater hosted a gamut of Molokai residents on its inaugural day – from multi-generational families to couples on date night, all basking in the sensory glory of a true movie-going experience.…

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A Living Legacy

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

A Living Legacy

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

On March 22, Ho’olehua-Pala’au residents celebrated a century of homesteading, along with the birthday of their champion, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole.

“This is land that was passed down for four generations,” explained Charlie Kaahanui, president of the Ho’olehua Homesteaders Association. “If it wasn’t for Kuhio, this wouldn’t have happened…We wouldn’t have our lands.”

Kalama’ula was the first ever Hawaiian homestead lands in the state, started in 1922. Ho’olehua-Pala’au was the third such homestead project in Hawaii.

This year, Ho’olehua Homesteaders Association decided to host a celebration to put a festive mark on their centennial birthday. Held at the Kualapu’u Recreation Center, it featured food and crafts booths, along with music, dance and displays showing the history of the original Ho’olehua pioneers.…

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Maui Matsuri Art Contest, Cash Prizes Available

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

Maui Matsuri Art Contest, Cash Prizes Available

Maui Matsuri News Release

The 23rd annual Maui Matsuri is now accepting entries for its art contest from eligible students, who can win up to $100 in cash prizes. The Maui Matsuri Art Contest is sponsored by HouseMart Ben Franklin Crafts Maui.

The contest is open to Maui County students from kindergarten to 12th grade. The deadline to enter and submit artwork is April 21. All entries must depict this years’ Maui Matsuri 2025 Festival theme of Nozomi “Hope and Aspiration”.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the first and second place winners in each of the following four age divisions: kindergarten – 2nd grade; 3rd – 5th grade; 6th – 8th grade; 9th – 12th grade.…

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New County Dept. Puts Culture at Forefront

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

As the first of its kind, Maui County’s Department of ‘Oiwi Resources seeks to steward a variety of Hawaiian cultural resources county-wide.

The new department was established on July 1, 2024, after Maui County residents voted in favor of its creation in 2022. It is organized into three divisions looking at protecting specific cultural assets in each: Kumuwaiola, Kipuka and Pai Ka Leo. Kumuwaiola will focus on “eco-cultural landscapes.” Kipuka will look to “safeguard and steward lands of concentrated natural and cultural importance.” And Pai Ka Leo will support the Hawaiian language, reinforcing the bilingual nature of Maui County’s government.…

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Ho’olehua Family Has Big Dreams for New Homestead

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

By Paul Hanley, Community Reporter

“First, I like to make sure we are 100 percent sustainable island-wide and encourage young farmers to farm, to work their ‘aina,” said Courtney Galam.

Courtney is following her own advice. She and her husband Cliff started farming in 2021, when COVID threatened barge service and food supply chains to the island and were temporarily cut.

“We started planting just to feed our family,” said Courtney, “but the harvest was too abundant, so we started to share with neighbors. We would deliver door to door or leave it by our homestead gate with a ‘free’ sign.…

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Flag Football Kicks Off, Softball Dominates

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

Flag Football Kicks Off, Softball Dominates

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

In their inaugural season, the Molokai High School (MHS) girls flag football team wasted no time in jumping into competitive matches. Along with Coach Kimo Orlando, the Lady Farmers headed to Maui last weekend for games against Baldwin, Kamehameha Maui and Lahainaluna.

On Friday, the Lady Farmers played a double header against Baldwin and Kamehameha Maui. MHS came up short in both, losing to Baldwin 24-12 and Kamehameha Maui 18-12. In the effort, the Lady Farmers put up solid offensive numbers with multiple teammates contributing to the scoring. Courtney Escobar showed up big on both sides of the ball, scoring two touchdowns and pulling in three interceptions in Friday’s games.…

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Mayor Bissen Proposes FY 2026 Budget Focuses

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

Mayor Bissen Proposes FY 2026 Budget Focuses

Maui County News Release

On March 25, Mayor Richard T. Bissen, Jr. presented the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 proposed budget to the Maui County Council, emphasizing the plan’s focus on recovery, long-term resilience and a balanced approach to countywide priorities.
“Over the past year, our community has faced immense challenges — and through strong partnerships with the County Council and our community, we’ve stood united in our shared commitment to serving the people of Maui County,” said Mayor Bissen. “This year’s budget is guided by the theme of kahua — a Hawaiian concept meaning ‘foundation,’ and it is our reminder to care for our people, protect our ʻaina, respect our culture and honor our history.”…

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Support for Molokai’s Hawaiian Language Immersion Families

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

Hui Makua o ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu News Release

The “Hui Makua o Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu” recently announced a grant award totaling $40,000 that will support the Native Hawaiian community through the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). The grant will help to reinforce and strengthen Native Hawaiians’ connections to ‘ohana (family), moʻomeheu (culture) and ʻaina (land and water) and support work in OHA’s Mana I Maoli Ola Strategies and Outcomes.”
This school year, ʻohana of Hawaiian Language Immersion Program (HLIP) students on Molokai will have access to an assortment of opportunities to support their HLIP students at home.…

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