• Failure notice from provider:
    Connection Error:http_request_failed

  • Submission Deadlines

    Advertising

    Thursday 4pm

    July 10, 2025

    Content

    Friday 4pm

    July 11, 2025

    To print on:

    Wednesday

    July 9, 2025

  • Join us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Google Plus Subscribe via RSS

Hawaiian Culture

Hawaiian culture stories from Molokai

Sovereignty in Action

Monday, October 18th, 2010

Sovereignty in Action

The Obama administration and Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) joined around 600 Native Hawaiian advocates at the largest annual gathering of Native Hawaiian organizations – the Native Hawaiian Convention.

This year’s topic was sovereignty in action, according to participant and Kalama`ula Mauka Homestead secretary Candice Davis-Bicoy. After attending the last Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homesteads assembly, where she learned more about the Akaka bill, she said she attended the convention to learn more about politics.

Davis said she attended the debate between Democratic candidate Neil Abercrombie and Republican Duke Aiona, to learn “which governor is going to address Native Hawaiian issues, and homesteaders’ issues.”

“I’m still an opio [youth], most issues were discussed on a higher level with kupuna,” she said. “As an opio I appreciated being at that conference, to take in all that knowledge – what is pono, what is the right way to go.”

language and culture,” Ahuja said of what she learned from the convention. “There’s a number of charter schools to perpetrate that. We make sure the Department of Education knows about that, to make sure that doesn’t get lost.”

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing community in the U.S. – expected to make up 10 percent of the population by 2040, according to Ahuja. The initiative’s responsibility is to take the mana`o of groups like this, and work directly with 30 federal agencies to make sure their voices are heard.

Posted in , , comments1 Comments

He Mana`o Aloha `Ia

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

He Mana`o Aloha `Ia

Aloha indeed – as adults relaxed, chowed down and talked story, keiki ran off the sugar from shave ice and braddah pops in the popular annual event, Festivals of Aloha.

Now in its 64th year, the Festivals of Aloha began as a way to preserve Hawaiian culture and traditions. The free musical and performance entertainment, as well as plenty ono food stands and game booths attracted hundreds each night to the Mitchell Pauole Center, and nearly 1,000 turned out for the finale parade and ho`olaule`a last Saturday. County Council Chair, and Molokai representative Danny Mateo was this year’s Honorary Chair for Maui Nui’s festival. Its theme, He Mana`o Aloha `ia, means ‘gaining knowledge through aloha.’

Aloha Week Contest Winners:

`Ulu/`Uala/Kalo
Taste
1. Tere Neuhart
2. Laurie Rapanot
3. Vonda Stone

Presentation
1. Vonda Stone
2. Tere Neuhart
3. Amber Nakihei

Poke
Taste
1. Marion Dudoit
2. Amber Nakihei
3. Stef Bush

Presentation
1. Marion Dudoit
2. Amber Nakihei
3. Stef Bush

Aloha Wear
Youth Muumuu
1. Tylea Cuello
2. Lelia Cuello

Youth Aloha Shirt
1. Waikaika Augustiro
2. Buzzy Augustiro

Adult Muumuu
1. Larie Loria
2. Scarlett Ritte-Camara
3. April Torres

Adult Aloha Shirt
1. Frank Parrino
2. Levi Yamazaki-Gray
3. Leimana Ritte-Camara

Couple
Sol and Paula Alcain

Bed Races
Men’s
1. Pepsi
2. Bicoy Men
3. Friendly Market Center

Women’s
1. Bicoy Women
2. Tutus
3. The Dispatch

Best Sportsmanship
Bicoy Men

Parade
Best Float
1. Punana Leo
2. Cabalar `Ohana
3. Royal Court

Best Pooper Scooper
1. Lanai
2. Ni`ihau
3. Molokai

Pa`u Unit
1. Maui
2. Kaho`olawe
3. Molokai

Court
2010 King/Mo`i Kane: Robert Ahsee Kalawe, Jr.
2010 Queen/Mo`i Wahine: Kauwela Ritte-Camara

Prince: Kaio Kalawe
Princess: Kealalehua Kalipi

Counselor: Keoki Pescaia

Matriarch: Mikiala Pescaia

Lady in Waiting: Laulani Walker

Red Kahili: Keoki Johnston Kalanilani

Posted in , , comments1 Comments

Hula Uniki Class held on Molokai

Sunday, October 10th, 2010

Hula Uniki Class held on Molokai

The Hula Pa at Keawanui held its first Hula Uniki on September 18, 2010, a weeklong process full of Hawaiian protocol. Kumu Hula Tony Conjugacion picked Molokai and needed the Uniki to be on the eastern side of the island. "This is a perfect place for an Uniki, with the fishpond the Hula Pa and the many Hawaiian plants, especially the three beautiful Ulu trees, we are so glad we pick Keawanui,” he said.

In the picture are the Kumu and elders of the halau watching over one of the students who is preparing for her graduation presentation after some twelve years of being a student.

Walter Ritte

Posted in , , comments1 Comments

Another Step Towards `Aha K`iole Creation

Sunday, October 10th, 2010

Molokai has been taking a statewide leadership role in the creation and implementation of a new state law which calls for the creation of an `Aha K`iole – a state wide traditional governance system. Each island is to create an ahupua`a-based governance system, and to organize a group of ahupua`a into a Moku – Molokai has organized their 60-plus ahupua`a into five Moku. Leaders are elected in each Moku by those who live in that Moku. The Moku elected leaders then come together under an island `Aha Moku, and join with the other island’s `Aha Moku into an `Aha K`iole. This new system of resource governance is actually an old traditional Hawaiian way of managing the limited resources.

Posted in , , comments1 Comments

Aloha Kakou

Sunday, October 10th, 2010

Ke mahalo aku nei a papa M – 3 i na makua a me na po`e e kokua me na mea a pau i ka makou `imi kala no na keiki a makou ma ka Po Ki`i`oni`oni. Ua holomua no makou. He mahalo nui i keia mau kako`o a kokua: Raquel Dudoit no ke kanake pulu, Shirley Rawlins no na ki`aha, Kahea a me Lulu Maliu, Braddah a me Jannah Maliu, no na ipuhao a me ke kapuahi, Kahealani Maliu, Corinne Young, Clara Calairo, Molly Tengan, Po`okela Napoleon, “Tita” Moana Maliu-Calairo, Heli Silva Ducaroy a me Kalua Kanuha i ka`oukou kokua ma ka makau ku`ai, Mike Shizuma no ke kokua ma ka hale `aina, Kamalu Poepoe, i kou lumi papa, ia Loke Han, Joran Dudoit, Dani Dela-Cruz, Tarrah Horner, Sonja Domingo, `Opu`ulani Albino a me ike po`o kumu o Lydia Trinidad i ka `oukou kako`o a alaka`i. I hana kakou i keia mua aku.

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

How You Gonna Act?

Friday, October 1st, 2010

How You Gonna Act?

It’s not Shakespeare, said Lydia Trinidad, principal of Kualapu`u School. But the point of last week’s student performance was about gaining confidence. Kindergarten through second graders joined together to perform “`Opae`e,” a story about a brother’s quest to save his sister from an eel, written by Pilahi Paki and Irmgard `Aluli.

The student’s were showing off their talents they had learned in their new art class, which combines performance art and visual art. It also includes Hawaiian history and culture lessons, called `ike (knowledge) Hawaii. 

“Studies show that [art] helps kids perform better in other subjects,” said Kari Haggler, the visual art instructor. “[And] Molokai kids are really creative.”

enriches the keiki, gives them community,” he said. “This is the future of our islands right here.”

Kualapu`u’s third through sixth graders will have their own performance night Nov. 18.

Posted in , , comments1 Comments

Tax Relief Workshop for Native Hawaiian Organizations

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

Honua Consulting News Release

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) is sponsoring free workshops for small Native Hawaiian serving organizations, to help them come into compliance with tax requirements by the Oct. 15 deadline.

A network of Hawaiian organizations and businesses have banded together to help small Native Hawaiian organizations maintain their tax exemption status. The IRS recently announced that October 15, 2010 will be the final day for small charities to take advantage of a one-time tax relief program before losing their tax exemption status.   

Posted in , comments1 Comments

Kalaupapa Celebrates Aloha

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010

The small, isolated community of Kalaupapa didn’t let their size stop them from throwing a grand party on Sept. 1 for the settlement’s third annual Night of Aloha. Patients, staff and topside folk celebrated with festive music, hula and stomachs full of ono food.

“It went absolutely beautiful,” said Ziana Kaulia, a Department of Health employee who organized the event. Kaulia said she started the event in 2008 after hearing some of Kalaupapa’s patients talk about the Aloha Weeks they used to have decades ago.

“They were never able to participate in the court,” Kaulia said. “That’s why I wanted to start something like this, so the patients could participate and be in the court.”

Posted in , comments1 Comments

Credit Where It’s Due

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

Credit Where It’s Due

The photo that appeared on the front cover of last week’s issue, Sept. 15, may have been taken by Molokai Dispatch staff, but was crafted by an impassioned group here on the Friendly Isle. Some members of Kalamaula Mauka – Hawaiian Homestead Association created a new homestead group: `Opio o Molokai – the youth of Molokai. Among their beginning goals was to increase participation in the voting process.

“Our number one target is Hawaiians, but we know it’s important that everyone get out,” said `Opio member Suliana Aki. “It’s important who represents us, and who we can see in regard to complains and compliments.”

Following the primary elections, `Opio o Molokai encourages all of us to keep up the momentum, get educated and vote in the general elections in November. Mahalo to Candice and Stanley Bicoy, Vanna and Kanahele Montizor, Royce Villa, Fred Aki, Sybil Lopez, and `Apelila and Kapena Meddela for the message.

Posted in , , comments1 Comments

Hau`oli La Hanau

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

Hau`oli La Hanau

Students from all of Molokai’s Hawaiian immersion programs come together once a year to honor Hawaii’s last reigning monarch, Queen Lili`uokalani.

Hosted by the Queen Lili`uokalani Children’s Center (QLCC) on Molokai, this is the seventh year the student’s have shared `oli, hula and essays written about the queen, according to Andrina Reyes, QLCC office supervisor. This year marks the third year that all immersion schools – MHS, MMS, Kualapu`u and Punana Leo – have come together in a larger celebration.

means a lot,” she said.

Posted in , , comments1 Comments