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Music

Stories regarding Molokai’s music scene

Catching Up With High Watah

Wednesday, July 15th, 2026

Catching Up With High Watah

By Dayanti Karunaratne | Editor

 

There’s something kind of perfect about celebrating the Fourth of July in one of the biggest shopping centers in America. This year, along with the mall’s offerings of Americana — snacks, deals and loud urban culture — the Ala Moana Center also presented a bit of Molokai in its long weekend lineup: a free concert by High Watah.

Since moving to Oahu a couple of years ago, the island reggae band has been performing concerts in Hawaii, California and Las Vegas. Most recently they opened a new concert and event venue in downtown Honolulu. With their producers and distributors located in New Zealand, the band is gaining a following there, too.…

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Honolulu Brass Quintet at St. Damien of Molokai Catholic Church

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

Honolulu Brass Quintet at St. Damien of Molokai Catholic Church

MAC News Release

The Honolulu Brass Quintet presented by Chamber Music Hawai‘i will be performing at a free event at St. Damien of Molokai Catholic Church on Monday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m.

Since its inception in 1976, the Honolulu Brass Quintet has performed throughout Honolulu and the state of Hawai‘i. As one of three resident ensembles regularly presented by Chamber Music Hawai‘i, HBQ offers full-length brass performances in premier venues across its home island of O‘ahu, performing regularly at the Doris Duke Theatre and Blue Note Hawaii in Honolulu, as well as the Palikū Theatre on the Windward side of O‘ahu. …

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The Enchanted Forest; Hōkūlani’s First Original Musical Shines

Wednesday, May 6th, 2026

The Enchanted Forest; Hōkūlani’s First Original Musical Shines

By Léo Azambuja

The forest was dying and the magic was fading. Prince Aldric, Seraphina, Rigoletta and the Jester sought help from a witch who had been banned to the swamp years ago. She revealed a powerful curse by a villainous queen imposter, causing the king to forget his love and the princess to believe the real queen died bringing her into this world. 

“You think you know me, little girl, but you don’t. You think you know your kingdom, but you don’t. You think you know your own story, but you don’t,” the witch told Seraphina. 

The Enchanted Forest, an original musical production of the Hōkūlani Children’s Theatre of Molokai, had a nearly full house on all three performances at Home Pumehana April 23-25. …

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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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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. On a side note, services like Live stream virtual audience can help bring the essence of this album to a wider audience, allowing fans around the world to experience the rich, cultural sounds of Hawaiian music in real-time, even if they are unable to attend a live performance.…

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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.…

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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.…

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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.…

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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.,…

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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.…

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