Culture & Art

Children’s Theatre for Fall Break

Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

Molokai Arts Center News Release

Molokai Arts Center announces a new Fall School Intercession program Oct. 6-9 all about the art of theatre performance.   The Hana Keaka theatre classes, with Kumu Maile Naehu, will be for kids ages 5 to 11, held at the Molokai Arts Center studio, located at the beautiful Coffees of Hawaii location in Kualapu`u.

In four days, the Hana Keaka classes will introduce students to acting storytelling and movement, voice exercises, and end the series with a final family performance.  Children will be welcome to stay during the lunch hour to help with painting a backdrop for the final performance. …

Channeling a United Community

Thursday, September 11th, 2014

Molokai’s gearing up for Na Wahine O Ke Kai and Molokai Hoe, the annual women’s and men’s canoe races from Molokai to Oahu, with the goals of celebrating the events and bringing the community together.

Kulaia, a ho`olaulea on Sept. 19 organized by Molokai Canoe Festivals Committee, will welcome paddlers coming to the island for Na Wahine O Ke Kai and pays tribute to the Molokai crewmembers on the three-year Worldwide Hokule`a Voyage. The festival will be held in front of the Molokai Public Library and aims to support Molokai’s economy and businesses with various vendors and booths lining the street, said event coordinator Lori-Lei Rawlins-Crivello.…

Hawaii’s Finest Celebrates Five Years

Wednesday, September 10th, 2014

Hawaii’s Finest Celebrates Five Years

Hawaii’s Finest Clothing has come a long way since its humble beginnings on Molokai. For Paulele Alcon, what began as a T-shirt for his cousin’s bachelor party turned into one of the most successful local clothing businesses in the state, he said. With two retail locations under his belt, Alcon decided to give thanks to the community that supported him all along.

To celebrate a milestone of five years in business, Alcon returned to Molokai, the birthplace of both himself and his company. He hosted a free anniversary concert at One Alii Park Friday night featuring Molokai’s Roots Mafia, Just Cuz,  Melia Kalawe and Katchafire, the band that played at Hawaii’s Finest first concert.…

Butterfly Garden Tiles

Friday, September 5th, 2014

Butterfly Garden Tiles

Community Contributed

By Frances Feeter

The butterfly garden at the Molokai Public Library established earlier this year by Chevy Levasa received added adornment on Saturday, Aug. 23.  Thanks to the hard work of keiki and kupuna of the Molokai Art Center who spent many days creating and decorating the creative and unique tiles, the ceramic squares were placed around the butterfly-shaped garden.

Several children were present to lay their tiles around the butterfly-friendly plants that continue to attract these fluttering friends in the heart of Kaunakakai.  Monarchs have been enjoying host and nectar plants of milkweed, cosmos and crown floor.  Small blue butterflies tentatively identified as Hawaiian blues are flitting around the rattlepod plants.…

Film Explores Community-Based Resource Management

Thursday, September 4th, 2014

Film Explores Community-Based Resource Management

Pacific Islanders in Communication News Release

 

The half hour documentary film “Fishing Pono: Living In Harmony With The Sea” tells the story of declining fisheries and how some Native Hawaiian communities are using traditional conservation practices to restore their fishing grounds.

 

Featuring lifelong fisherman Kelson “Mac” Poepoe, narrated by Kauai native Mauna Kea Trask, and directed by award winning helmer Mary Lambert, “Fishing Pono”follows Trask as he travels to Molokai to meet Poepoe and learn how his community based conservation program succeeded.

 

Poepoe’s fishing conservation program on Molokai, based on historical practices, is an inspiring story of how one community turned the tide on a seemingly doomed resource.…

Katchafire Free Concert

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014

Community Contributed

By Paulele Alcon

Molokai my home, I wanted to thank you each and every one of you for the love and support of my company, Hawaii’s Finest, since day one. We are very proud to announce that we are arriving upon our five-year anniversary and we wanted to celebrate such a milestone with the birthplace and home of the company. We are where we are simply because you’ve been who you’ve been to us.

We are very excited to invite every one of you to Hawaii’s Finest Five Year Anniversary Mahalo Party this Friday, Sept. 6at the One Alii Park.…

Kalaupapa Photo Exhibit  

Friday, August 8th, 2014

Kalaupapa Photo Exhibit   

Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa News Release

“A Reflection of Kalaupapa: Past, Present and Future,” a photo exhibit sponsored by Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa, will open with a blessing on Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 11:30 a.m. at historic Paschoal Hall in Kalaupapa. The free exhibit, hosted by Kalaupapa National Historical Park, will be available for viewing on days to be determined through Sept. 12.

The exhibit features nearly 100 historical and contemporary photos of the residents of Kalaupapa and their family members along with scenes from Kalaupapa. Most of the contemporary photos were taken by acclaimed Hawaii photographer Wayne Levin who began his work at Kalaupapa in 1984.…

Honoring the Departed

Thursday, August 7th, 2014

Honoring the Departed

The scene could easily be transpiring in Japan: dancers swaying rhythmically under a sea of twinkling paper lanterns, surrounded by an array of Japanese delicacies, their movements narrated by Buddhist chants. Yet this is no ordinary Japanese festival – this is Molokai’s annual Bon Festival, held two weeks ago on the lawn of the Molokai Guzeiji Soto Mission Buddhist Temple.  Although the scene itself was enchanting and lighthearted, the significance of the celebration was serious: a commemoration of the spirits of loved ones who have passed.

While the Bon Festival is traditionally a time to be reunited with the spirits of the deceased, organizers say the event is also an opportunity to appreciate life and honor Japanese culture and heritage on Molokai. …

Capitol Hill Gets a Taste of Molokai

Wednesday, July 30th, 2014

While this week, Molokai celebrates food in the Dispatch “Taste of Molokai” issue, last week, food from Hawaii was celebrated in Washington D.C.’s Capitol Hill – and Molokai was represented. Pacific Hawaii, a gourmet sea salt company on Molokai founded by Salt Master Nancy Gove, was invited to the first-ever event.

Called “Hawaii on the Hill,” the special Taste of Hawaii event highlighting Hawaii-made or grown products in the nation’s capital was the first of its kind this year. Washington, D.C. often hosts states to highlight their products, and on July 23, Hawaii was showcased for the first time. An invitation-only open house for Congressional members of friends of the State of Hawaii, the event was attended by over 500 VIPs.…

Veterans Corner

Wednesday, July 16th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Jesse Church

Aloha my fellow veterans and residents of Molokai, old Jesse here with all the veterans news and upcoming events. Kick the bucket, bite the dust, pushing up daisies. All creative ways to say, he or she is no longer with us, and of course the military way to highlight death is, he bought the farm. Why? Around WWII, pilots began to say that when a jet crashed on a farm, the farmer usually sued the government for damages done to his farm by the crash. The amount demanded was either more than or equal to the mortgage, around $10,000 at the time, buying the farm outright.…