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Culture & Art

Ho‘aka Mana’s Program Strengthens Laka Connection

Thursday, July 17th, 2025

Ho‘aka Mana’s Program Strengthens Laka Connection

By Léo Azambuja
More than a dozen children spent two days at Molokai Public Library last week, planting several Native Hawaiian plant species around the property. But the purpose wasn’t to beautify the 88-year-old historic building; it was part of Ola O Laka, a program to strengthen Native Hawaiian identity.
“It’s a program that we created to honor Laka. Laka is the native forest. As Native Hawaiians, we are just trying to revitalize it, bring more education around it, but specifically the connection to Laka,” Ho‘aka Mana executive director Kanoe Davis said. “She is all things hula, and she is all things forest.”…

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May Day Across the Island

Thursday, June 5th, 2025

May Day Across the Island

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Molokai students celebrated May Day at schools across the island last month. Keiki draped in colorful lei represented each island in their school’s May Day courts, while each class performed a hula or mele for their ‘ohana and friends.
According to Kamehameha Schools, Reverend Samuel Kapu of Maui wrote a mele called “Na Lei o Hawaii” which mentioned the flower symbol for each island. The first May Day celebration was held in 1928, and the floral symbolism continues today: Hawaii Island is represented by red ‘oh‘ia blossoms, pink lokelani for Maui, yellow ilima for Oahu, Molokai is the green kukui leaf, Lanai represented by light orange strands of kauna‘oa, gray hinahina is for Kahoolawe, Kauai is the purple berries of mokihana, and Niihau is symbolized by white pupu shell.…

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Honoring St. Damien’s Legacy

Thursday, May 22nd, 2025

Honoring St. Damien’s Legacy

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

On May 10, 1873, Damien De Veuster, better known as St. Damien, arrived at Kalawao to minister to those suffering from Hansen’s disease. He would serve in the exiled settlement until he succumbed to Hansen’s disease himself in 1889. To honor his arrival on Molokai, May 10 is the feast day of St. Damien in the Catholic Church, and a day on which his legacy of charity is remembered. Last week on Molokai, one man continued this celebration of St. Damien with a unique project.

The plan, explained Mark Jechura who is organizing the Tree of Hope Tour project, was to begin a pilgrimage of relics of St.…

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Celebrating 35 Years of Hawaiian Language Education

Thursday, April 17th, 2025

Celebrating 35 Years of Hawaiian Language Education

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

On April 5, Kualapu’u School’s Hawaiian language immersion students took center stage, honoring the efforts of those who had come before. This year’s annual Hana Keaka Hawaiian theater performance had a special significance, as it celebrated 35 years of Hawaiian language education on Molokai.

“This year we honor our treasured voices, our manaleo, Native Hawaiian speakers of Molokai who were the guiding forces behind the founding of both the Punana Leo Hawaiian language preschool in 1991 and subsequently our Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu and ʻO Hina i ka Malama, elementary and secondary Hawaiian languages schools on island,” explained Ka’ala Fay Camara, current vice principal at Kualapu’u School and next year’s principal.…

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Artist in Residence Duncan Berry

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

Artist in Residence Duncan Berry

Molokai Arts Center News Release

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) welcomes Artist in Residence Duncan Berry from Otis, on the central coast of Oregon. Duncan was trained by masters in the 150-year-old Japanese folk art of Gyotaku (fish rubbing), and the 10th century botanical print tradition of Europe. He combines these tools to connect fellow humans to a deeper relationship with the living planet. His direct impressions from the bodies of creatures of the land, sea and air are to him an “active form of reverence.” His work on Molokai will be titled, “All Our Relations,” featuring the island’s creatures of the ‘aina, kai, and lewa.…

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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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Naval Band Visits Molokai

Thursday, March 6th, 2025

Naval Band Visits Molokai

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

Last week, Molokai residents were treated to a series of performances by the U.S. Navy’s woodwind quintet. The group of musicians was on a mission to celebrate the Navy’s 250th birthday and spread awareness of the whole host of careers and experiences that the Navy offers, explained Lieutenant Matt Tremel, assistant band master for the Navy’s Pacific Fleet.

“We’re highlighting how the Navy is present across the world keeping Americans safe,” said Tremel. “The state of Hawaii is obviously very important to the Navy, and we’re here to connect with residents who don’t see sailors in uniform very often.”…

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Moana’s Hula Halau Presents a Stunning Show

Thursday, March 6th, 2025

Moana’s Hula Halau Presents a Stunning Show

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

Moana’s Hula Halau’s annual fundraiser show did not disappoint. Held at the Molokai Community Health Center on Saturday, Feb. 22, the stage was filled with thousands of flowers, elaborate set designs, and, of course, talented performers from Moana’s and a Maui kane group.

For over 60 years, Moana’s Hula Halau has taught all ages of Molokai residents for free and taken them across the world to perform.

The goal is “to bring the world a very special kind of aloha,” explained Zhan Dudoit-Lindo, who emceed the fundraiser. “It’s the family connections, the understanding and the wisdom that we have to share.”…

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Calling on Hawaii’s Artists

Wednesday, February 26th, 2025

Dept. of Land and Natural Resources News Release

Artists are invited to submit entries to the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) for the 2025-26 Hawaii Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp annual art contest. The wildlife conservation stamp is a requirement for Hawaii state hunting licenses and the game bird stamp is required for anyone intending to hunt game birds. Both stamps will also be available to stamp collectors.

The Game Bird Stamp is Erckel’s Francolin, or Pternistis erckelii. Native to Ethiopia and Sudan, the Erckel’s spurfowl was introduced to Hawaii in 1957 as a game bird. At about 16 inches long, they are brown with white streaky spots and distinct chestnut-colored feathers on the top of their heads, with white throats.…

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E Ola Ka ‘Olelo Hawaii 

Thursday, February 13th, 2025

E Ola Ka ‘Olelo Hawaii 

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

“If a culture has its language, the culture will live on. Once the language dies, the culture dies,” explained Kilia Purdy-Avelino. As a longtime kumu of ‘Olelo Hawaii currently teaching ‘olelo in a Hawaiian focused charter school, Purdy-Avelino has helped many students participate in this lifeline of language. Last week though, she sat in a slightly different role as a judge at the annual ‘Aha Ho’okuku ‘Olelo Hawaiian Language Competition. 

Molokai students of the Hawaiian language from preschoolers at Punana Leo to high schoolers and even some post-grad young adults gathered at Kulana ‘Oiwi Halau on Tuesday, Feb.…

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