Community

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

MHS Holiday Exhibition

Thursday, December 5th, 2024

Molokai High School News Release 

On Wednesday, Dec. 11, Molokai High School will be hosting our annual Holiday Exhibition. Please join us for a fun filled evening at the Molokai High School woodshop/agriculture/digital design areas from 4 to 7 p.m.  The evening’s activities will include student presentations and projects. Come out and support our students!  We will have exhibits and products for sale, products from our Agriculture, Digital Design, Entrepreneurship, Construction, Culinary, Nursing, Programming, and O Hina I Ka Malama programs. See you there!…

Support Hokulani CTOM’s Journey to the National Stage

Thursday, December 5th, 2024

Support Hokulani CTOM’s Journey to the National Stage

Hokulani Children’s Theater of Molokai News Release

This Christmas season, you can give a gift that lasts a lifetime: the gift of opportunity. Hokulani Children’s Theatre of Molokai (CTOM) is launching a community-wide effort to help our young performers achieve their dreams of competing on a national stage. Our students are planning to compete in a prestigious national musical play competition in California in February 2027, and we need your help to raise $45,000 to get them there!
To kick off this exciting campaign, we’re asking our Molokai ‘ohana to join us in a festive recycling drive throughout December. By donating your recyclable cans and bottles, you can turn holiday cheer into performing arts opportunities for local youth.…

Na’iwa Homesteaders Train for Self-Sufficiency 

Thursday, December 5th, 2024

Na’iwa Homesteaders Train for Self-Sufficiency 

Since February, lessees from the Na’iwa Agricultural Subdivision Alliance (NASA) have been training in job skills to support the development of their homestead community. The hope is that in the near future, these trainees will be employed on their own land, building their own homes. 

 

Working in carpentry, plumbing, electric and more with Aloha Construction, “the goal is to eventually have them have the proper skill sets to maintain their homes and assist with the building of the future homes,” explained Liliana Napoleon, an advocate for the Aloha Construction training program. 

This last cohort was comprised of Richard Maikui, Kirk Kiaha Sr.,…

Aiming Sky High 

Thursday, December 5th, 2024

Aiming Sky High 

Returning for its second year, the Youth in Aviation program gave Molokai kids a chance to see what a career in the air could look like. Run by the Aloft nonprofit, Youth in Aviation walked Molokai keiki through a variety of jobs like pilot, air traffic controller and airport mechanic. 

 

One of the highlights from the weekend program was a chance to fly in both helicopters and planes, as well as start their own flight logbooks. The program aims to foster home-grown pilots, in the hopes of making air transportation more available for Molokai residents. 

 

“They had a blast,” said Randell Albertson, a Maui firefighter who started the Aloft nonprofit.…

Yard to Table

Thursday, December 5th, 2024

Yard to Table

With Thanksgiving fresh in the mind, The Molokai Dispatch reached out to our local University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (UH CTAHR) agents to get ideas for a couple easy crops that Molokai residents can grow in their own backyards. Kyle Franks, UH CTAHR Extension Agent, had a couple suggestions.

Sweet Potato

“It’s easy to grow,” said Franks. You want to start with what’s called slips, which are rooted sprouts that grow out of the sweet potato tuber. Franks recommended using the slips from the new growth ends of the mother plant to avoid weevil eggs.

“Weevils are one of the more predominant pests for sweet potatoes,” he explained.…

La Ku’oko’a

Thursday, December 5th, 2024

La Ku’oko’a

Last week, Molokai residents had an opportunity to celebrate La Ku’oko’a, or Independence Day for the Kingdom of Hawaii. Honored annually on Nov. 28, the day marks the 1843 recognition of the Kingdom of Hawaii’s sovereignty by England and France, and the work of figures like Timoteo Haʻalilio, William Richards, and George Simpson. 

 

This year, residents celebrated at the Molokai Community Health Center on Nov. 29 with varieties of cultural demonstrations, live entertainment, silk screen printing and more. 

Earlier in the week, a program series dedicated towards Hawaiian history met outside the Molokai Public Library for an afternoon of oli, mele and education about this historic time period.…

Georgiettie Likopualehua W.I.P. Tancayo

Thursday, November 21st, 2024

Georgiettie Likopualehua W.I.P. Tancayo

The stairway to heaven opened on Oct. 27, 2024 for Georgiette Likopualehua W.I.P. Tancayo to return home to her maker.
On March 12, 1961 Michael (deceased) and Irene Tancayo welcomed their eldest child, Liko. She attended Kaunakakai Elementary, MHS, and graduated from the class of 1979 from Kamehameha Schools. While on Oahu, she worked at Shiro’s Saimin restaurant, joined the Honolulu National Guard, and enlisted in the Air Force. After marrying, she welcomed her son, Kegal-Joe Fook Kun M. Burrill.
Returning to Molokai, she worked various jobs at Kaluakoi Hotel and Golf, Kalaiakamanu Hou Church, Molokai Visitors Association, Mahalo Airlines, Mrs.…

Jovencio Areola Ruiz Jr.

Thursday, November 21st, 2024

Jovencio Areola Ruiz Jr.

Jovencio Areola Ruiz Jr. passed away at his home on Monday, Sept. 14, 2024, surrounded by family and friends. He was born on July 23, 1947, to Tito Pascua and Conchita Areola Ruiz in La Union, Phillipines. Jovencio was preceded in death by his son, Jovencio “Boy” Ruiz, and is survived by his wife, Maria, daughters Jovilyn (Shane) Dudoit and Noreen Ruiz, grandchildren Kailee, Haloa, Haku, Hali’ and Isiah, and great granddaughter Everly, as well as many nieces and nephews. Also surviving Jovencio are his siblings, Orlino Ruiz, Arthur Ruiz, Frank Ruiz, Rodaree Ruiz and Manny Ruiz.

Services will be held on Maui, on Thursday, Nov.…

Bennett Pottery Annual Open House

Thursday, November 21st, 2024

Bennett Pottery Annual Open House

Bennett Pottery News Release

Bennett Pottery will present its annual show and sale open house from Saturday,
Nov. 30 to Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at his Kala’e studio. The
show will feature finely crafted high-fired functional stoneware and porcelain. These items
are made for home and garden use, such as mugs, bowls, plates and platters, planters, salt
jars, soap dispensers, sponge holders, tea pots, and much more. The objects for sale are
durable for daily use, and are safe in the oven, dishwasher and microwave. You are
invited to come and discover a wide variety of unique quality ceramics found nowhere
else in Hawaii, right here on Molokai.…

Maui Nui Small Business Campaign

Thursday, November 21st, 2024

Maui County Office of Economic Development News Release

A new county program seeks to support small businesses on Molokai, Lanai and Maui this holiday season. The County of Maui Office of Economic Development is launching the Maui Nui First “Season of Giving” campaign, aimed at promoting small businesses across Maui Nui during the upcoming holiday season. The campaign invites local entrepreneurs to submit their holiday specials, distinctive products or service information, and inspiring stories for consideration on the Maui Nui First website and social media platforms. There is no cost to participate.

Participating businesses will benefit from increased visibility through promotion across various platforms, engage with the community by sharing their unique stories, and contribute to the local economy by encouraging people to shop locally.…