• Failure notice from provider:
    Connection Error:http_request_failed

  • Submission Deadlines

    Advertising

    Thursday 4pm

    January 23, 2025

    Content

    Friday 4pm

    January 24, 2025

    To print on:

    Wednesday

    January 29, 2025

  • Join us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Google Plus Subscribe via RSS

Culture & Art

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. …

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Honoring ‘Anakala

Wednesday, June 14th, 2023

Honoring ‘Anakala

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

The Molokai community remembers and celebrates the life of ‘Anakala Pilipo Solatorio of Halawa Valley, who was born in 1939 and passed away earlier this month. 

“[He was] more than just an ambassador of aloha and Hawaiian culture, [he] lived it and breathed it,” recalled one community member. 

A taro farmer, cultural practitioner and the last of his generation living in Halawa, he kept cultural traditions alive and shared aloha with everyone he met. 

Born and raised in Halawa, he was adopted at a young age after the death of his mother. As a teen, he joined the military, and while on the mainland, met and married his beloved wife, Dianna.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Kawela Archeology Site Among Earliest in Hawaii

Wednesday, June 14th, 2023

Kawela Archeology Site Among Earliest in Hawaii

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

An archeological site in Kawela has recently been found to be one of the earliest known habitations in the Hawaiian Islands. Originally excavated in 1981, the Kawela Mound site has benefitted from advances in technology, radiocarbon dating and sample methods that have led archologist Marshall Weisler — who has been studying Molokai historic sites for nearly 50 years – to some groundbreaking conclusions. 

“At the time [1981], I thought the site was about 500 years old based on two radiocarbon dates processed soon after the excavations,” said Weisler. “However, dating techniques have greatly improved over the years and I redated the site using another 19 samples.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

HI Wins Best License Plate

Wednesday, June 14th, 2023

HI Wins Best License Plate

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

The State of Hawaii was awarded nationally for its license plate depicting the iconic voyaging canoe Hokule’a, which was designed by Molokai’s Todd Yamashita for the Polynesian Voyaging Society. The award came from the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the world’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization devoted to researching, collecting and promoting license plates. The win represented the 58th plate to be recognized by ALPCA, and the first time Hawaii has earned the “best plate” honor. 

The award was presented to Gov. Josh Green last week, and Yamashita also received a plaque. 

“We were proud to congratulate plate designer Todd Yamashita from Molokai with the award today, which is the first time Hawaii has won this award!”…

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

May Day Memories

Wednesday, June 7th, 2023

May Day Memories

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Throughout the month of May, schools across Molokai celebrated Lei Day. Students participated in the royal court, draped in lei representative of each island’s colors. Each grade performed special songs or hula for their families and schools, as the community celebrated this cultural tradition and the aloha spirit.…

Posted in , , , commentsAdd your comment

Submit Art to Juried Exhibit

Wednesday, June 7th, 2023

HI Craftsmen News Release 

Held annually since 1967, the Hawaii Craftsmen Annual Statewide Exhibition features the finest traditional and contemporary craft from across the state of Hawaii. This year, the juror will be Beth C. McLaughlin, Artistic Director and Chief Curator at Fuller Craft Museum. The juror will be visiting each island to make public presentations and to select the very best work to be included in the exhibition. 

Online registration runs from Aug. 1-31 and Molokai intake and public presentation will be on Sept. 6. Notice of acceptance will be on Sept. 14. 

This year, HC expects over $11,000 in awards to be designated by our juror.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

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.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

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. …

Posted in , , , , , commentsAdd your comment

Concert on the Lawn

Wednesday, May 17th, 2023

MAC News Release 

A music performance by the Molokai Instrumental Music Education Program (MIME) will be held on Friday, May 19 at 6 p.m. on the lawn of the Molokai Public Library. Students from Kualapu’u and Kaunakakai elementary schools’ 21st Century program will perform introductory music as well as Shostakovich and Copland. This is a free event and all are welcome! 

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) is the fiscal sponsor for this program which is led by Bob Underwood. Underwood has graciously and with dedication taught music performance to Molokai’s keiki and adults for over 12 years. This program is offered free to elementary students during the school year and instruments are provided.…

Posted in , , , , commentsAdd your comment

March for Kawakiu Access

Thursday, May 11th, 2023

March for Kawakiu Access

By Catherine Cluett Pactol and Jack Kiyonaga

At 7 a.m. last Saturday, more than 100 Molokai residents stood at the gated entrance to Kawakiu, an area of west Molokai owned by Molokai Properties Limited, also known as Molokai Ranch. For those gathered, Kawakiu represents not only a cultural and historic site, but also generational subsistence grounds.

“We’re walking for our young people so they can go hunting and fishing here… it’s a constant battle to keep your rights alive,” said activist Walter Ritte to the gathered crowd waiting to march the dirt road that is currently blocked to the beach. “Kawakiu is a historic site, there are burials over there, house sites over there, heiau over there.”…

Posted in , , , commentsAdd your comment