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History

Stories about Molokai’s rich cultural history.

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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Lonoikamakahiki

Friday, January 31st, 2025

Lonoikamakahiki

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

Last week, Molokai residents made their way to Kaunakakai Ball Park to celebrate the end of Makahiki season. Makahiki, a four-month period starting in late October or early November and ending in January, represents the season of Lono, and the bounty of the rain and harvest. The Hawaiian tradition of competing in games to honor this time of year was revived on Molokai over four decades ago.

“Forty-four years ago, we started the Makahiki games playing baseball and basketball because that’s all we knew,” explained Walter Ritte, one of the founders of Ka Molokai Makahiki’s revival of the ancient tradition.…

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Lonoikamakahiki

Thursday, January 16th, 2025

Lonoikamakahiki

Mo’oLono o Molokai News Release

Throughout time, our kupuna have marked the transition of Makahiki season with observations, ceremonies, competitions and festivities. Today, we continue to evolve and pull forward the most meaningful and appropriate traditions of the generations before us, while ensuring we remain relevant, inspiring and profoundly grounded as kanaka to honor our pilina to our kupuna, akua and Molokai.

In that spirit, the Mo’oLono of Molokai will once again commence a ka’ahele across the island, carrying the ki’i of Lonomakua from Halawa to Kaluako’i, and all are invited to join in.

Our goal is to recognize the abundance of blessings in our community, to honor the health of the land, ocean, air and water, to assess the needs that require political, social or physical interventions or remedies, to build aloha between people in our community, and to celebrate Molokai Nui a Hina.…

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Prince Kuhio Play Brings History to Life 

Thursday, November 21st, 2024

Prince Kuhio Play Brings History to Life 

As part of the Hawaii Pono’i Coalition, a play honoring the late Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole Pi’ikoi came to Molokai for a special performance at Kulana ‘Oiwi. In collaboration with the Ho’olehua Homesteaders Association, the play sought to educate audiences on the biography and character of one of Hawaii’s most famous leaders. 

 

Written by Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl and directed by Sammie Choy, the play covers the life of Prince Kuhio. Starting with his early years in Hawaii and adoption by his aunt and uncle Queen Kapi’olani and King Kalakaua, the play follows Kuhio’s journey throughout the turbulent years of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, subsequent rebellion, imprisonment, and eventual career as Hawaii’s delegate to the U.S.…

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Play Honoring Prince Kuhio Coming to Molokai

Thursday, November 7th, 2024

Play Honoring Prince Kuhio Coming to Molokai

Hawaii Pono’i Coalition News Release

The Hawaii Ponoʻi Coalition proudly presents Ke Kaua o Ka Lahui: The Life of Prince
Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole Pi‘ikoi, a compelling living history play that captures the essence and
accomplishments of Prince Kuhio. Written by acclaimed playwright Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl and
directed by Sammie Choy, this moving production brings to life the impactful legacy of one of
Hawaii’s most significant leaders and cultural advocates. Originally debuted at ‘Iolani Palace in
September 2022 as part of Hawaiian History Month, this performance returns to deepen
connections to Kuhio’s enduring influence on Hawaiian identity, leadership, and civic
responsibility.
Ke Kaua o Ka Lahui traces the journey of Prince Kuhio from his early years as a young royal to
his lifelong dedication to Hawaii’s people.…

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Stories of Queen Lili’uokalani

Thursday, September 19th, 2024

Stories of Queen Lili’uokalani

In honor of Queen Lili’uokalani’s birthday, Molokai residents were treated to a historical discussion on Hawaii’s last monarch on Saturday, Sept 7. The talk was held by the Molokai History Project and led by Gaellen Quinn, author and researcher of “The Last Aloha,” which tells the story of the last days of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

For her research, Quinn leaned on her archival work studying the queen’s diaries as well as stories from Molokai families. She related one specific story about Queen Lili’uokalani’s visit to Puko’o, where she stayed at an inn run by the Duvauchelle family.

Throughout the talk, which featured songs authored by Queen Lili’uokalani, Quinn focused primarily on the resounding character of the queen.…

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Keiki and Kupuna Mo’olelo Project

Friday, July 12th, 2024

Keiki and Kupuna Mo’olelo Project

Kalia Purdy-Avelino showed the circle of keiki and kupuna gathered at Home Pumehana some of Molokai’s most famous books of mo’olelo, including “Tales from the Night Rainbow” and “Tales of Molokai: the Voice of Harriet Ne.” As she flipped through the books, Purdy-Avelino described what they all had in common: stories of Molokai’s past heroes, descriptions of natural phenomenon and historic events, and not many pictures for kids to enjoy.

Part of the goal of Hokulani Children’s Theater of Molokai’s Keiki and Kupuna Writing Project is to engage young people in the telling and recording of mo’olelo. Taught by Purdy-Avelino, the program aspires to bridge the gap between older history and today’s stories of Molokai, as well as reinforce stylistic aspects of Hawaiian storytelling.…

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‘A Fly on the Wall with a Camera’

Wednesday, May 29th, 2024

‘A Fly on the Wall with a Camera’

Thousands of photos from the 1970s and 80s on Molokai are now available thanks to longtime resident Mike Dooley. Via the YouTube account “Molokai Photos,” Dooley shares his collection dedicated to Molokai’s past.

“I documented everything,” said Dooley. “I was a fly on the wall with a camera.”

Arriving on Molokai in the mid-1970s, Dooley started working at the Ka Molokai newspaper, which gave him access to a darkroom to develop his photos. Dooley explained that he developed more than 50,000 photos over the years, however many of them have since been damaged. What remains are approximately 5,000 film photos of Molokai families, fairs, farms, and more.…

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Ross Selected for Deep Sea Exploration Voyage

Wednesday, May 8th, 2024

Ross Selected for Deep Sea Exploration Voyage

“All my life, I grew up in and around the ocean, but not really in the deep ocean,” said Molokai’s Gandharva Mahina Hou Ross.
This summer, the Hawaiian language immersion teacher at Molokai High School’s O Hina I Ka Malama program will get the chance to explore the depths of the ocean floor, and share that knowledge with the world.
Ross was selected as one of 13 science communications fellows aboard the exploration vessel (E/V) Nautilus, operated by nonprofit Ocean Exploration Trust. He was the only Hawaii resident chosen out this year of applicants from around the world.
“He mea koʻi koʻi no mākou ke kau ana i luna o ka moku E/V Nautilus e ʻimi ʻike e pili ana i ka papakū o ka moana i hiki ke kaʻana like me nā poʻe o Hawaiʻi a me nā poʻe a puni ka honua,” said Ross.…

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Enjoy Our New Exhibits

Thursday, April 11th, 2024

Enjoy Our New Exhibits

Molokai History Project News Release

It’s springtime! The possibilities are endless, and our enthusiasm grows with every beautiful day. Sometimes there is a spark over here and sometimes it’s a spark over there, but it always reminds us more and more folks are learning about us, enjoying what the history project has to offer, and stopping by to learn more about the wonderful and interesting folks who call Molokai home.

The Molokai History Project has now been open for six months, and in that time we have done a huge amount of research into subjects that we’ve exhibited in the museum. …

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