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Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Hop on the Bus for Holoholo & Moʻolelo

Thursday, March 19th, 2026

Hop on the Bus for Holoholo & Moʻolelo

By Léo Azambuja

The forecast says no traffic jams, the ride is free and they will even feed you. On top of that, you will learn some important moʻolelo about Molokai. So, what are you waiting for? Hop on the bus and join the Holoholo & Moʻolelo with Hanohano and Maile Naehu.

“We’re going to partner with Molokai High School, and we start with a meetup point there, then everyone jumps on a school bus,” Maile Naehu said. “In the process, we make stops all along the way and tell moʻolelo about those specific places.”

Holoholo & Moʻolelo – Hoʻolehua to Manaʻe, offered by the nonprofit organization Hui o Kuapā, is much more than listening to Molokai stories from olden days while riding on a school bus.…

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Dudoit Wins Wrestling State Title

Monday, March 16th, 2026

Dudoit Wins Wrestling State Title

By Léo Azambuja

It had been 10 years since a Molokai High School wrestler had won a Hawaii state wrestling title. The last year a Farmer took the top stop on the podium was 2016, when senior Cendall Manley, the coach’s daughter, won the 168-pound division. She went on to win multiple national titles during her college years.

The drought is finally over. Jona Dudoit won a nail-biting championship match in the 126-pound division at the 2026 Texaco Wrestling State Championships held at Blaisdell Arena on Oahu Feb. 28. It was the seventh-ever state title for the Friendly Isle.

Dudoit said he has “a lot of emotions” about his win.…

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Coach H Scholarship Applications Open

Thursday, March 5th, 2026

Coach H Scholarship Applications Open

By Léo Azambuja

Coach H may have passed away six years ago, but his legacy continues to inspire high-school athletes to strive for their best, both in academics and in varsity sports. The Loʻi Collective Foundation recently announced applications for the Coach H Scholarship are now open.

“Peter Haliniak Jr., affectionately referred to as ʻCoach H’ or ‘Mister H,’ was a dedicated coach and athlete who profoundly influenced countless student-athletes throughout Hawaii,” the Loʻi Collective Foundation announced, adding they will award four $500 scholarships to student-athletes from Roosevelt and Molokai High schools who will be pursuing post-secondary education or vocational training.…

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Molokai Robotics Pulls Historic Win at States

Thursday, March 5th, 2026

Molokai Robotics Pulls Historic Win at States

By Léo Azambuja

A Molokai Robotics team made history at the 2026 Hawaii VEX V5 Robotics Competition Regional Championship by claiming an unprecedented win and earning statewide recognition for their engineering excellence and competitive spirit a couple weeks ago.

“I’m proud of our kids,” said Edwin Mendij, robotics teacher at Molokai Middle and High schools. “I cannot stress enough; we work at a real disadvantage compared to every other program in the state.”

Molokai Robotics Team 1037M — consisting of 7th, 8th and 9th graders — stood out among 20 other Hawaii school, club and home teams competing in the Middle School division Feb.…

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Junior Paddlers Make History at States

Thursday, February 26th, 2026

Junior Paddlers Make History at States

By Léo Azambuja

The high-school boys from Molokai made a statement at the state paddling championships in early February, smoking the competition in the first time they qualified for the coveted high-school tournament. Not even a questionable disqualification due to a potential technical violation — still being contested — has diminished their merits. 

“They spend a lot of time together in and out of the canoe, and it really shows in their paddling,” head coach Kekama Helm said, adding they are a special group of kids. “They’ve grown exponentially in their values and how they act in their community.”

It has been an exceptional season for Molokai’s high-school paddlers, both boys and girls, whether it was in the state championships or in the iconic Molokai Hoe and Na Wahine o Ke Kai long-distance canoe races. …

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Hana Keaka 2026

Thursday, February 12th, 2026

Hana Keaka 2026

He Lālā Au No Kuʻu Kumu

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

The schoolchildren from a traditional charter school on Molokai put on a strong theater performance for a sold-out crowd during a fundraising event at the Molokai High School Gym last weekend.

The keiki from Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapu‘u, an elementary public charter school, presented their Hana Keaka 2026, or Hawaiian theater program, before nearly 300 people at The Barn Feb. 7. 

“What you will see today represents months of intentional, instructed creativity and ʻike Hawaii integrated across science, math, reading and the arts,” emcee Lokelani Fergerstrom said. “The theme of this evening is He Lālā Au No Kuʻu Kumu — I’m a branch of a firm tree, and this sea reminds us that our success doesn’t stand alone.…

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What Is a Community?

Thursday, February 5th, 2026

What Is a Community?

By Kendrick Kansana Jr., Kualapuʻu 6th Grader

What is a community? Many people think a community is just a group of people. But a community is a group of people who help out each other.

First, a healthy community is a group of people who help each other strive by sharing resources. They also notice others’ needs and listen to each other. They also keep good relationships between each other, so they can stay a community.

Why is it important to participate in a community? One reason is because what goes around comes around. If you don’t help out with community events, then the community might not help you when you need help.…

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Kualapuʻu School’s Sixth Graders Visit the Dispatch

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026

Kualapuʻu School’s Sixth Graders Visit the Dispatch

By Léo Azambuja

The Molokai Dispatch staff got quite busy last week, when a dozen schoolchildren filled up the newspaper’s headquarters during a trip to Kaunakakai.  

Kualapuʻu Charter School’s sixth graders stopped by The Molokai Dispatch office for about 45 minutes in the afternoon of Jan. 15. Travelling under the guidance of teacher Jamie Kalama, the students had a lot of questions about the different stages of crafting a newspaper. 

The students learned about news gathering, news sources, design and layout, sales, distribution, advertising and printing. They saw the newspaper’s first issue — dated April 24, 1985 — on display on the wall. …

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Summit Reveals What Youth Wants

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026

Summit Reveals What Youth Wants

By Léo Azambuja

The results are in. Now, Molokai teachers may have a better idea about what their students want. The 4th Annual Youth Summit at Kaunakakai Elementary School Jan. 17 revealed the results of a large survey taken by students from all grades in all public schools on the island.

“Four years ago, we were the only island that did this. And then three years ago, (Hawaii State Teachers Association) asked us to show it to other islands,” Molokai High School teacher Ric Ornellas said, adding Hilo now organizes the same summit. “So, our small rural community is able to really influence other communities and other schools.”…

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Molokai Robotics Wins Valley Isle VEX Tournament

Thursday, December 18th, 2025

Molokai Robotics Wins Valley Isle VEX Tournament

Community Contributed. By Edwin Mendija

Molokai Robotics opened its 2025-2026 season with a decisive win at the Maui High School Valley Isle VEX Tournament, overcoming a major pre-event crisis to secure multiple top awards and end a six-year championship drought.

Just hours before the event, the team’s robots were delayed during interisland transport and failed to arrive with the team. The machines reached Maui only on the morning of the tournament, forcing an urgent scramble to assemble, calibrate and prepare them minutes before the opening match.

Competing in this year’s game, VEX Push Back, Molokai fielded three teams: high school groups 1037C and 1037X, and the new middle school team, 1037M.…

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