Music

Stories regarding Molokai’s music scene

Molokai Singer Wins Big at Na Hoku Hanohano Awards

Thursday, August 15th, 2024

Molokai Singer Wins Big at Na Hoku Hanohano Awards

Molokai singer Raiatea Helm took home seven victories at the annual Na Hoku Hanohano awards last week, including Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Hawaiian Language Performance.

Helm’s album, her seventh studio project, is called “A Legacy of Hawaiian String and Song, Volume One” and focuses on more traditional aspects of Hawaiian music.

“This was quite a surprise,” said Helm about the plentitude of awards. “I’m so grateful for the support from my peers.”

For Helm, Hawaiian music, history and identity all are interwoven. This newest album “really highlights a chapter of [Hawaiian] history that I never really knew about,” she said.…

The King’s Gala

Thursday, June 13th, 2024

The King’s Gala

Molokai celebrated King Kamehameha I Day early this year with the King’s Gala. On Friday June 7, Molokai community members gathered at Hiro’s Ohana Grill to commemorate the third annual King’s Gala, organized by nonprofit Ho’omohala O Molokai.

Kamehameha Day has been celebrated since 1872, when King Kamehameha V established it in honor of his grandfather, Kamehameha I. This year’s celebration included a fashion show by Kalae Tangonan’s Kupu A’e Molokai, amongst musical and hula performances.

To the backdrop of Keaka Kaiama’s singing, Molokai wahine modeled Tangonan’s batik and silk screen designs.

“Every piece is original. You can’t duplicate it,” said Tangonan.…

Queen’s Gala Highlights Student Chef Successes

Wednesday, May 29th, 2024

Queen’s Gala Highlights Student Chef Successes

Molokai’s high school chefs had a chance to shine at last weekend’s Queen’s Gala.

A celebration and fundraiser for the Molokai High School Culinary Club, the Queen’s Gala showcased the high schoolers’ culinary prowess. Now in its second year, the Culinary Club is thriving, offering high school seniors education and job opportunities right out of high school.

“If the community sees the success at the end of the rainbow, then they’re more bound to support in the future,” explained club moderator and Molokai High School teacher Tiare Hubbard. “This is a student focused, student created and student driven event.”

The MHS chefs created and served a five-course meal, working alongside mentor chefs from UH Maui College, the Four Seasons Maui and Fairmont Kea Lani.…

Molokai Teens to Play in HI Youth Symphony

Thursday, February 1st, 2024

Molokai Teens to Play in HI Youth Symphony

For the Scherlings, music is foremost a family affair.

Alena, 19, and Mattayus Scherling, 15, were introduced to violin and cello back in 2017 after their mom saw an ad for free music classes in The Molokai Dispatch.

Now, Alena and Mattayus are the first Molokai kids to be invited to play with the Hawaii Youth Symphony. They will be performing with the youth symphony’s top orchestra, Youth Symphony I, on Feb. 19 at Maui’s Castle Theater.

The Scherlings started their music careers on borrowed instruments at Kaunakakai Elementary School under the tutelage of Bob Underwood. Now, they’ve continued to learn with the Molokai Community Strings Class, and from each other.…

American Idol Auditions

Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

American Idol News Release 

“Idol Across America” visits Hawaii and Molokai via Zoom on Aug. 14. Hopefuls will audition with an American Idol producer in search for the next superstar. 

During this season’s first round of “American Idol,” hopefuls can sign up to audition face-to-face in front of producers and receive real-time feedback for a chance at making Idol history and being crowned the next “American Idol” as we enter season seven on ABC. For the fourth year in a row, “Idol Across America,” the live virtual nationwide search for the next superstar, features auditions days for all 50 states plus Washington, D.C.,…

Free Summer Concert

Wednesday, July 12th, 2023

Free Summer Concert

Honolulu Youth Symphony News Release 

The Honolulu Youth Symphony (HYO) and the Pacific Music Institute (PMI) Teaching Fellows will be performing at the St. Damien’s Church on Friday, July 14 at 6 p.m. Earlier in the day, a private performance will also be provided to the kupuna residents of Home Pumehana.  

Two musicians, Yani Quemado and Daniel Guevara, will be visiting Hawaii Youth Symphony’s Pacific Music Institute from July 7 to 16, which is being held in Honolulu for students in middle and high school. Yani and Daniel attended the National Orchestral Institute in College Park, Maryland this summer, and were selected to join PMI as teaching fellows.…

Molokai-Made Hip Hop Album Wins Na Hoku Hanohano

Wednesday, July 5th, 2023

Molokai-Made Hip Hop Album Wins Na Hoku Hanohano

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Back in 2020, Molokai resident, educator and artist Maile Naehu got a message from a friend about a curriculum that teaches American history through hip hop. It struck a chord to do something similar, but with Hawaiian history. She “sat” with the idea for a while, as the pandemic brought lockdowns. 

Then one morning, inspiration hit. 

“As soon as I woke up, all the ideas came for this project and what it might look like and I remember I told Hano [her husband], ‘The ideas are coming!’” she said. “Because a lot of times when we have creative projects, it’s like a lightning bolt hits me and I have to sit down and start typing and writing all these ideas out.…

Molokai-Made Hip Hop Album Na Hoku Finalist

Wednesday, June 28th, 2023

Molokai-Made Hip Hop Album Na Hoku Finalist

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Molokai couple Maile and Hanohano Naehu have created a musical album called Ho’okupu, a hip-hop anthology of Hawaiian history. It was nominated for Hip Hop Album of the Year in this year’s Na Hoku Hanohano awards and has been named a finalist for the category, with the awards ceremony this Saturday, July 1. 

Ho’okupu tells the story of Hawaii’s history, from the Kumulipo at the beginning of time, to modern day, using the artistic medium of hip hop. It’s a collaborative effort with emcees, academic professors, Hawaiian historians, chanters, music producers and others, created and recorded at the Naehu’s east end off-grid home. …

Music on the Lawn

Wednesday, May 24th, 2023

Music on the Lawn

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Residents enjoyed an evening concert on the lawn of the Molokai Public Library as musicians of the Molokai Instrumental Music Education Program (MIME) shared their learning from the year. Taught by Bob Underwood, the program is offered free to elementary students during the school year, with instruments provided, as well as adult learners. The program is sponsored by the Molokai Arts Center and the performance featured students from Kualapu’u and Kaunakakai schools.…

Celebrating ‘Olelo Hawaii

Wednesday, May 17th, 2023

Celebrating ‘Olelo Hawaii

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Molokai’s Hawaiian language immersion preschool, Punana Leo, held it’s annual Ho’omau event last Saturday for the first time since the pandemic. Haumana of Punana Leo opened the community event with song and keiki introductions, followed by performances by Kula Kaiapuni ‘o Kualapuu, the island’s elementary language immersion program. Keiki sang throughout a torrential downpour of rain, as attendees took cover under tents. But the rain didn’t dampen the spirits of those gathered, who went on to enjoy food and craft booths and entertainment throughout the day. 

The event is a fundraiser to help support Punana Leo o Molokai’s continued perpetuation of Hawaiian language education. …