Culture & Art

Learning with the Children’s Theatre

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023

Learning with the Children’s Theatre

Community Contributed

My name is Wailana Purdy-Avelino, an intern for Hōkūlani Childrenʻs Theatre of Molokai under Mrs. Vicki Boswell. As an intern, my responsibilities include creating a web page for Hokulani CTOM and updating our Facebook page weekly, I am currently developing a puppet theater script to go in the play and help to arrange a day camp for the kids during spring break to create props and shadow puppets while doing fun activities to build stronger relationships with our young actors.

Personally, I always enjoyed theater and acting. While in elementary school I participated in several school plays including one under the direction of Mrs.…

Children’s Theatre Launched on Molokai

Wednesday, February 8th, 2023

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

Hokulani Children’s Theatre of Molokai (Hokulani CTOM) is here to enrich and inspire the young people of Molokai through theater and the performing arts experience. Officially launched in January 2023, Hokulani CTOM is a grassroots effort created by Vicki Boswell built on community effort. Twenty youth from the ages six to 18 have started to participate and bring their talents to the theater’s first production, The Legend of Mulan. 

“My husband and [my] goal was to go on a mission for 10 years and serve other places,” said Boswell. “I kept having these feelings that we were needed at home, so we came home, and the thought was if I’m here, what do you need me to do?…

Soup ‘R Bowl is Coming

Wednesday, February 8th, 2023

MAC News Release 

It’s that time of year again! Get your tickets now for the 2023 Molokai Arts Center (MAC) Soup ‘R Bowl. The 13th annual fundraiser event will be held at Lanikeha Community Center in Ho’olehua on Saturday, March 11. Tickets are being sold online at bit.ly/3JE5Mos

What happens at the Soup ‘R Bowl? A ticket gains you entrance to tables lined with over 300 ceramic bowls (and a few Molokai mugs) handcrafted by artisans at the Molokai Arts Center. Redeem your ticket for a bowl or mug of your choice as well as a hearty soup meal. Make it a night out with your family or friends.…

Hawaiian Language App

Wednesday, February 8th, 2023

uTalk News Release 

Teachers and students on Molokai are being offered free access to a new Hawaiian language learning app in return for putting it through its paces in the classroom. Language company uTalk have just added Hawaiian to their award-winning app and are looking for Hawaiian schools to help trial it. 

The uTalk app uses recordings of native speakers and fun, point-scoring games to help beginners get started in a new language. And, as well as being able to use the app to learn Hawaiian, people who already speak Hawaiian can also use it to learn any of 150 other languages from Hawaiian. …

Rains Abundant for Ka Molokai Makahiki

Wednesday, February 1st, 2023

Rains Abundant for Ka Molokai Makahiki

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff  

This year’s Ka Molokai Makahiki celebration, the planned to be first community-wide observances in three years, kicked off last Thursday with Ka’ahele a Lono traversing the footsteps of the kupuna starting in Halawa Valley. Shouldering the 40-pound lei-draped banner of Lono, Molokai residents embarked on a planned four-day march across the island to Hale O Lono. 

“After two long years, the games are finally back!” wrote Ka Molokai Makahiki committee on their Facebook page. “As we reflect on the lessons learned during the pandemic and forge our way into this new era, we re-focus our energies this makahiki season back to our piko, our Molokaʻi ʻ ōpio, and dedicate this year to growing our community.…

Ka Hoʻolewa no ke Aliʻi Wahine

Wednesday, February 1st, 2023

Ka Hoʻolewa no ke Aliʻi Wahine

Community Contributed

By Wailana Purdy-Avelino

On Sunday, Jan. 22, Iolani Palace was overflowing in sorrow as the gates opened. The sounds of wailing filled the air as Hawaii mourned the loss of Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa. Guarding her procession from the gates to the palace doors were men, women and children dressed in their regalia from the Royal Hawaiian Societies and the Hawaiian Civic Clubs. She was carried in her casket made entirely of koa wood into the palace, where her people could pay their respects as she lay in state.

On Monday, Jan. 23, the sacred resting ground of the aliʻi of Hawaiʻi, Maunaʻala is where the princess will be laid to rest.…

MHS Prepares for Ka Molokai Makahiki

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

MHS Prepares for Ka Molokai Makahiki

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

It’s a new year and the annual Makahiki games are right around the corner. In a time of joy and prayer, friendly competition will excite Molokai’s community. Last Thursday, Molokai High School students prepared with their own Makahiki games to find their representatives for the upcoming community games on Jan. 28.  

“Since we started academies this year, we wanted to kind of have our academies build that sense of belonging and that teamwork, that idea of teamwork,” said Vice Principal Tilana Roberts. “So each academy actually finds the champions.” 

According to Roberts, freshmen to seniors are in academies of community service and sustainability academy (CSS) or innovation and business technology (IBT).…

Kanikapila Group Therapy Returns

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

Kanikapila Group Therapy News Release

For those of you who fondly recall the days when Kanikapila was at the Coffees of Hawaii site in Kualapuu, let it be known that it has returned! It was named Kanikapila Group Therapy because so many people who showed up for it would comment that they felt so good afterwards. 

If you don’t know what the word “kanikapila” means, it is a style of Hawaiian music produced in an impromptu jam session. The term comes from “kani,” which means sound, and “pila” which means any string instrument in the Hawaiian language.

Kanikapila Group Therapy (KGT) meets the first and third Tuesday of every month from 10a.m…

Christmas Carolers

Wednesday, December 21st, 2022

Christmas Carolers

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Kaunakakai School students toured businesses in town last week to bring holiday cheer and sing Christmas carols to appreciate audiences. 

The Molokai Community Choir, led by Leah Aquino, and the Molokai Instrumental Music Education group, instructed by Bob Underwood joined to offer a Christmas concert at Grace Episcopal Church’s Saturday Market last weekend. …

Children’s Theatre of Molokai Launches

Wednesday, December 21st, 2022

Children’s Theatre of Molokai Launches

Hokulani CTOM News Release 

There are currently no ongoing theatrical opportunities in the community or any of Molokai schools. To fill this gap, a grassroots community effort began in 2022 by Vicki Boswell, a former elementary school performing arts teacher and social worker from the island. The mission of Hokulani Children’s Theatre of Molokai (Hokulani CTOM) is to enrich the lives of young people and inspire them to build a better community by gaining performing art experience that will deepen their understanding of human connections and values. Hokulani CTOM is in the process of being created.

Working with other community organizations we officially launch in January with our first community production play, “The Legend of Mulan” for youth between the ages of 7 and 14 years old. …