History

Museum Opening Honored by Hawaii Senate

Wednesday, October 11th, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

The Molokai History Project opened its doors Friday, Oct. 6 with a celebration in Kaunakakai and a special message from Hawaii legislatures. 

At the opening ceremony, State Senator Lynn DeCoite presented the museum with a proclamation on behalf of the Hawaii Senate congratulating and honoring the work done by the Molokai History Project.  

“With its grand opening, the Molokai History Project is set to showcase Molokai’s history with initial exhibits showcasing Hawaiian quilts, paniolo history, Ka Hula Piko, Makahiki, East End Molokai along with the island’s churches and schools,” read the proclamation. 

“The many people, the many hands,” said DeCoite.…

New Museum Grand Opening

Wednesday, October 4th, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

A new project dedicated to celebrating Molokai’s history and culture has been underway in Kaunakakai. The Molokai History Project (MHP) will open its doors this Friday, Oct. 6. 

Located at 145 Ala Malama St, the MHP moved quickly in the last couple of months to establish itself. 

Following the passing of Dr. Emmett Aluli last year, “people started feeling the urgency to create a place to gather memories,” said Judy Mertens, one the founding members and organizers of the MHP. 

Through three garage sales, the MHP was able to raise funding. 

“We kind of just did it,” said Mertens.…

Marking the Past

Wednesday, October 4th, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

A project that is mapping unmarked graves in Kamalo is bringing names and histories to those buried there. 

The St. Damien Burial Council invited UH researchers to help document gravesites at St. Joseph’s and Our Lady of Seven Sorrows churches at the behest of former pastor Father Brian Guerrini back in 2020. 

Molokai resident Pat Tancayo has worked closely with the project since its inception.

“There’s a lot of history there,” said Tancayo. 

Tancayo was given access to church burial records and has continued to make new discoveries about the cemetery at St. Joseph’s. 

Longtime Kamalo community members told Tancayo stories about where certain people had been buried.…

Kawela-Kīpū Connection 500 Years Ago

Wednesday, July 19th, 2023

Community Contributed

By Marshall Weisler, Archaeologist

Stone adzes were vitally important to ancient Polynesians and every household had several sizes and shapes for a range of woodworking tasks. Not every rock is ideal for adze making so locations with fine-grained rock, known as quarries, were sought after from the earliest times. A small but important adze quarry is located three miles east of Kawela at Pu‘u Pāpa‘i. And rock from that quarry has an important story to tell.

First a little background. The Pu‘u Pāpa‘i quarry is unique in its “chemical signature” or its “rock DNA.” Rocks from different islands, and sometimes different volcanoes or even separate lava flows, can have a unique chemical composition.…

Passing of a Generation: The Last of Molokai’s 442 Veterans

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter 

With the recent passing of Robert Goro Uemura, a chapter has eclipsed. It is believed that Uemura was the last living member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team from Molokai. 

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was formed in 1943 and comprised of Nisei, or second generation Japanese Americans, during World War II. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese Americans were subjected to Executive Order 9066, declaring people of Japanese ancestry as threats to the state. This resulted in the loss of civil rights and, in certain areas, internment. Despite this degradation of liberty, when the call went out to form an all Japanese American unit in 1943 — the military still being segregated at the time — thousands of Nisei, mostly from Hawaii, volunteered. …