Community

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

New Store at Hotel Molokai

Wednesday, October 5th, 2022

New Store at Hotel Molokai

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

A new store located at Hotel Molokai, operated by local excursion business Molokai Outdoors,  offers inventory for visitors and residents alike. Along with renting cars and running tours the business is now able to promote Molokai entrepreneurs with a wide range of products in the shop, open Mondays through Saturdays at 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

“Our main business philosophy is to create jobs and opportunities for our Molokai residents so having a store next to our activity desk made the most perfect sense,” said Molokai Outdoors owner Clare Albino.  

Albino said they are working on their own product line and meanwhile, offer a variety of essentials, snacks, gifts and locally-made items.…

Teen Donates Children’s Books to Molokai Head Start Keiki

Wednesday, October 5th, 2022

Teen Donates Children’s Books to Molokai Head Start Keiki

MEO News Release

A West Virginia high school senior reached across the mainland and the Pacific to Kaunakakai to hand 20 Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) Head Start children the classic book “If You Give a Mouse A Cookie” on Wednesday, Sept. 28.

The books were given to all 20 students in the Head Start program by Rania Zuri of Morgantown and her Fifty Nifty Head Start book donation project, part of the LiTEArary Society, her nonprofit whose mission is to end book deserts for children in Head Start programs nationwide.

Also, early childhood education plays a pivotal role in shaping a child’s development, making programs like Head Start and daycare centers essential in laying a strong foundation for lifelong learning.…

Football Victory at Home

Wednesday, October 5th, 2022

Football Victory at Home

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

The Farmers Football team won last Saturday’s home game against Hana 46-8. Pictured here, they made an entrance to the field, amid the supportive crowd and Cheer Team, though a “Farmers” sign. …

Agricultural Micro Grant Available

Wednesday, October 5th, 2022

MEO News Release 

Molokai farmers and ranchers have an opportunity for funding assistance. Applications for the popular Agricultural Micro Grant Program 3.0 – which offers up to $25,000 to Maui County small farmers and ranchers – will be available beginning Monday, Oct. 17.

The $3 million Maui County-funded program, administered by Maui Economic Opportunity’s Business Development Center, is open to operating farms on less than 12 acres and livestock ranches up to 40 acres possessing a county business or state general excise license as of July 1, 2022. Preference will be given to women and Native Hawaiians.

Grants may be used to directly impact the availability of locally-grown produce, livestock and poultry and other related products.…

Fall Break Ocean Learning

Wednesday, October 5th, 2022

Fall Break Ocean Learning

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

A self-driven learning kit will spark environmental exploration for fourth graders island-wide this week over fall break. The kits highlight pono fishing practices, the Hawaiian tradition of kilo – environmental observation – and reef education, in a family-friendly learning opportunity. 

The Molokai kits were among 1,000 packets that were distributed statewide in a collaboration between the State Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), Hawaii State Public Library System, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The free “grab and go” Ocean Learning Kits focus on Malama o ke Kai, or taking care of the ocean.…

Temporary Pool Closure Upcoming

Wednesday, October 5th, 2022

Maui County News Release

Pool guard trainee testing will be conducted Oct. 20 at the Cooke Memorial Pool on Molokai. The pool will be closed to the public from 9 a.m. to noon for the physical swim test of pool guard trainees, the Department of Parks and Recreation announced. The facility will reopen from 1 to 4 p.m. that day for lap and recreational swimming.

The department appreciates the public’s patience and understanding.

For more information, call Duke A. Sevilla at (808) 270-6135 or send email to duke.sevilla@co.maui.hi.us.

For general Maui County parks information, visit mauicounty.gov/parks.…

A’o Aku; A’o Mai: What I Learn, I Teach

Wednesday, October 5th, 2022

A’o Aku; A’o Mai: What I Learn, I Teach

Community Contributed

By Sara Jane Larkin, Teacher

Kilohana Elementary School is a Project Based Learning School and we encourage learners to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills, and extend our thinking beyond the classroom. In answering the question, “How can we share our learning with our friends, families and our community?” first graders at Kilohana will share their understanding with our community in the Dispatch. 

This month, students reflect on “Living things will thrive when protected,” and connect the concept to themselves. We will share one student per week.…

Students Turn Up the Heat in Culinary Club

Thursday, September 29th, 2022

Students Turn Up the Heat in Culinary Club

By Sage Yamashita | Intern Reporter

Something is simmering in a new Culinary Club at Molokai High School. The club’s 28 students are learning and growing in the cooking and food industry with advisor teacher Tiare Hubbard. Two of the participating students are also bringing their talents to a local recipe and video contest. 

Through the Culinary Club, the students learn to coordinate, plan, and create new recipes every week. Guest speakers also come in to teach each young cook. 

Two students are bringing the heat by submitting their Molokai-made recipes to Hawaii’s Food and Wine Festival competition, Localicious, this month.…

New Beginnings for Molokai’s Guzeiji Soto Mission

Thursday, September 29th, 2022

New Beginnings for Molokai’s Guzeiji Soto Mission

By Jack Kiyonaga | Community Reporter

Early last Sunday morning, community members gathered at Molokai’s Guzeiji Soto Mission in Kaunakakai with shovels, rakes, tree saplings and lots of food. After digging up weeds and planting trees along the fence, the volunteers then moved picnic tables built and painted by Molokai High School students. Although much had been done at the Buddhist temple, the day represented just a small part of the large-scale project currently underway at the Soto Mission. 

Suzanne Langford, president of the Alana Ke Aloha: Krause Family Foundation, and Lisa Takata, president of Molokai’s Soto Mission, are co-directors of the new project at Guzeiji.…

Out of the Darkness

Thursday, September 29th, 2022

Out of the Darkness

By Sage Yamashita | Intern Reporter

As the sun reached the horizon on Sep. 25, Molokai’s community members shone a light on suicide prevention and awareness as they walked down Kaunakakai Wharf with colorful beads around their necks and signs in their hands. 

Out of the Darkness is an event put on each year by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Molokai Representative for AFSP, U’ilani Kiaha, said this is the first unofficial event for Molokai. 

The event was held at Molokai Canoe Club, where the event opened with a sense of knowledge and open-mindedness carried in by oli, E Hō Mai, and pule.…