Community

Author’s Visit Ignites Conversation

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

As the new school year swings into action, award winning author Ryan La Sala visited Molokai High School (MHS). La Sala was welcomed by many; however, his talk also evoked a strong response from some members of the Molokai community, who believed La Sala’s identity as LBGTQ+ and focus on LGBTQ+ stories sent messages to their children that they weren’t comfortable with.  

MHS librarian Diane Mokuau used her 2021 School Librarian of the Year Award, sponsored by Scholastic, to invite La Sala to speak at MHS.

Mokuau believed La Sala’s visit contributed to MHS’s focus on college and career pathways through the newly established academy model.…

What is the Difference Between a Will and a Trust?

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023

Community Contributed

By Eileen M.S. Nims, J.D

This is one of the most common questions I receive as an estate attorney. The quick answer is that a trust does not go through probate court and a will does. Probate is a process that requires the family of a deceased person to open a case in the court of the county where the deceased person lived. So for Molokai, the probate case gets filed in Maui County. The will gets deposited with the court together with the petition to open the case. The court will then approve the executor and will monitor the progress this executor makes for the duration of the probate process.…

Pule for Maui

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

On Sept. 1, Molokai joined a statewide prayer vigil for Maui with coordinated ceremonies at dawn, noon and sunset. Broadcasted statewide, the vigil, called Kipuni Aloha no Maui – “embrace beloved Maui” — united the Hawaii community in its sorrow over the devastating August fires. 

“The grief, hardship, and suffering our people are experiencing are unimaginable,” said Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen in a press release regarding the event. “The comfort of pule and the unyielding aloha we have been graced with from so many have made a profound difference as we make our way through the difficult days.…

First Molokai Winner for Miss HI Jr High Pageant

Wednesday, September 6th, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

Madisyn Howe rehearses in the mirror. 

“I just keep practicing my walks, my turns, the way I pose, the way I take pictures,” explained Howe, an eighth grader at Molokai Middle School.

Howe is the first Molokai girl to win the Miss Hawaii Jr High pageant. The contest included girls from all over the state competing in interviews, dance and fashion modeling at Oahu’s Paliku Theater on Aug. 20. 

“Coming from Molokai, it’s like you’re getting down and dirty with everything you do,” explained Howe. “I just want to let girls know they can bring it out if they want to walk in heels on stage in a dress.”…