Community

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

Army Corps Hosts Meeting on Harbor Dredging

Wednesday, June 14th, 2023

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers News Release

The Honolulu District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on behalf of the Hawaii Department of Transportation Harbors Division, is hosting a community information meeting to present the construction plan for the Kaunakakai Harbor Maintenance Dredging Project. The meeting will take place on June 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Duke Maliu Regional Park Pavilion in Kaunakakai. 

Over the past year, USACE has engaged with members of the Molokai community and stakeholders to hear concerns and ensure any potential impacts on the environment, recreation or fishing were addressed in the plan. Please join us for this presentation to learn more. …

Machado Memorial Scholarship

Wednesday, June 14th, 2023

CNHA News Release

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) has launched a scholarship opportunity to support students from Molokai who are the first in their family to pursue higher education. The Colette Pi‘ipi‘i Machado Scholarship honors the legacy of the late Colette Machado, a Molokai native, respected community leader, and former chair and longtime trustee for the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). 

The $2,500 scholarship is open to qualifying applicants now until June 24.

“Colette was a true mana wahine who fought passionately and tirelessly to uplift the lāhui, and in particular, the community of her beloved Molokai,” said Kūhiō Lewis, chief executive officer of CNHA.…

Citrus Yellow Dragon Disease

Wednesday, June 14th, 2023

Community Contributed

By Glenn I. Teves, County Extension Agent, UH CTAHR Molokai 

Citrus Greening disease, a bacteria, is one of the greatest threats to citrus worldwide and it has been spreading in the U.S. First reported in Florida in 2005, over 60 percent of the citrus crop has been impacted with over 7000 jobs and $4 billion in revenues lost. Since then, it has spread to Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama, California, Texas, and Georgia. In 2015, the disease was found in Guam, and it’s just a matter of time before it reaches Hawaii. It’s important to keep this disease off of Molokai.…

Golf Ace

Wednesday, June 14th, 2023

Golf Ace

Community Contributed

By Rick Schonely

Kawai Spencer, fire fighter and bus driver and all around nice guy, is the June Ace winner for the Hui O Kukui Golf Club. Spencer shot a gross 88 and with his 27 handicap his net 61 got him the victory. The Hui O Kukui golf club would like to think the staff and management of iconic Ironwood Hills golf course for perpetuating the game of golf on Molokai.…

Rachel Kaleiokalani Keffer

Wednesday, June 14th, 2023

Rachel Kaleiokalani Keffer

We rejoice through our sadness as we announce the passing of Rachel Kaleiokalani Keffer (Calunod) on April 29, 2023. Youngest of four siblings, Rachel and her twin Raquel were born on June 3, 1971 to Peter and Shirley Calunod. Throughout Rachel’s grueling battle with colon cancer, she lived every day with unwavering faith. In the end, Rachel received the ultimate healing as she was welcomed into the kingdom of Heaven in the warm embrace of God and the love of her life, Albert Napahi Dizon III.

Rachel is survived by her mother Shirley, older sister Yvette Erece, older brother Peter Jr, and twin sister Raquel Cabalar.…

Robert Goro Uemura

Wednesday, June 14th, 2023

Robert Goro Uemura

Robert Goro Uemura, age 99, of Kualapu’u, Molokai, HI, passed away at home on Feb. 21, 2023.  He was born on Aug. 16, 1923 in Waialua, Oahu.  He was a U.S. Army WWII veteran of the 442nd RCT, Headquarters Company.  

He is survived by wife, Pearl M. Uemura; and sons Alan, Carl, and Tracy.  

A memorial service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in Ho’olehua, Molokai on June 17, 2023 at 2 p.m.  Army honor guard and inurnment will take place at Punchbowl Cemetary of the Pacific, in Honolulu on June 22, 2023 at 2 p.m.  Casual attire, no flowers please.…

MHS Alumna a Star in Astronomy Research

Thursday, June 8th, 2023

MHS Alumna a Star in Astronomy Research

By Catherine Cluett Pactol, Editor

When she was a freshman at Molokai High School in 2017, Mallory Go set her sights on the stars and proposed astronomy research that would become groundbreaking. She captured the first look at magnetic fields within the iconic and beautiful Horsehead Nebula. Six years later, a paper she co-authored has been published in an astronomy journal.

“[A nebula is] a big cloud of dust and the Horsehead Nebula is a very cold cloud of dust,” explained Go.

At the time, not much research existed on the Horsehead Nebula, which has a district and identifiable shape as its name describes.…

Molokai Energy Planning Up for Review

Wednesday, June 7th, 2023

Molokai Energy Planning Up for Review

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

The first phase of a revolutionary Molokai community renewable energy planning process is wrapping up. The Molokai Community Energy Resilience Action Plan, facilitated by Sust’ainable Molokai’s Clean Energy Hui, began taking shape in January 2022 and over the past year and a half, its community-driven goals have garnered immense input and support, creating a road map for the island’s energy future. 

“Our vision is to develop a portfolio of clean energy projects that achieve 100 percent renewable energy for Molokai that are technically feasible and economically feasible… in line with our community’s values, our lifestyle, our goals, and are supported by the community,” said Leilani Chow, coordinator of the Molokai Clean Energy Hui.…

May Day Memories

Wednesday, June 7th, 2023

May Day Memories

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Throughout the month of May, schools across Molokai celebrated Lei Day. Students participated in the royal court, draped in lei representative of each island’s colors. Each grade performed special songs or hula for their families and schools, as the community celebrated this cultural tradition and the aloha spirit.…

Molokai General Named Among Top Critical Access Hospitals

Wednesday, June 7th, 2023

Queen’s Health System News Release 

The top 20 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) nationwide, including Molokai General Hospital, scored best among CAHs as determined by the Chartis Center for Rural Health for Best Practice in Quality. The rankings were recently announced by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). An awards ceremony will be held during NRHA’s Critical Access Hospital Conference in September in Kansas City, Mo. 

The top 20 CAHs have achieved success in overall performance based on a composite rating from eight indices of strength: inpatient market share, outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge, and finance. This group was selected from the Chartis Center for Rural Health’s 2022 top 100 CAH list, which was released earlier this year.…