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Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Molokai Chargers

Thursday, March 20th, 2025

Molokai Chargers

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

“The waves could be better, but we’re going to go out there and have fun,” explained Molokai 16-year-old, Kai Padilla-Silva. In his first ever surfing contest, Padilla-Silva was preparing to compete in both bodyboarding and shortboard surfing.

On Saturday, March 15, a community wide surf contest was hosted on Molokai for the first time since 2019. Organized by Molokai Keiki O Ke Kai and the Hawaii Surfing Association, the event offered bodyboarding and surfing categories for a variety of age groups.

“It’s a fun thing for us kids to do because we don’t have a lot to do,” Padilla-Silva explained.…

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‘Aha Opio O Molokai Showcases Student Creativity

Thursday, March 13th, 2025

‘Aha Opio O Molokai Showcases Student Creativity

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

In its ninth iteration, the ‘Aha ‘Opio O Molokai offered plenty of opportunities to demonstrate the creativity of Molokai students and their connection to cultural history. Held annually, this year’s showcase was held at Kilohana School on Saturday Feb. 22.

Student work lined the rooms of Kilohana School, with projects ranging from the ahapua’a system to water conservation and more.

“It turned out to be a really, really nice day,” explained Molokai High School librarian Diane Mokuau, a member of the leadership cadre for the showcase. “It’s an opportunity to see what our students can produce.”…

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Culinary Club Discontinued

Thursday, March 13th, 2025

Culinary Club Discontinued

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

Following three years of cook offs, kitchen skills, restaurant visits and community galas, Molokai High School’s (MHS) popular Culinary Club will no longer be in operation at the high school starting next year.

“The Culinary Club will be discontinued at the end of the current school year,” explained a March 5 letter from MHS Principal Katina Soares to parents. “We are committed to providing culinary experiences and career opportunities for our students. These opportunities will be integrated into the regular in-school culinary class curriculum moving forward.”

The decision to shelve the club was due to fundraising worries and an administrative desire for stronger adherence to MHS’s Academy Model, explained Soares in an interview with the Dispatch.…

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E Ola Ka ‘Olelo Hawaii 

Thursday, February 13th, 2025

E Ola Ka ‘Olelo Hawaii 

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

“If a culture has its language, the culture will live on. Once the language dies, the culture dies,” explained Kilia Purdy-Avelino. As a longtime kumu of ‘Olelo Hawaii currently teaching ‘olelo in a Hawaiian focused charter school, Purdy-Avelino has helped many students participate in this lifeline of language. Last week though, she sat in a slightly different role as a judge at the annual ‘Aha Ho’okuku ‘Olelo Hawaiian Language Competition. 

Molokai students of the Hawaiian language from preschoolers at Punana Leo to high schoolers and even some post-grad young adults gathered at Kulana ‘Oiwi Halau on Tuesday, Feb.…

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Lonoikamakahiki

Friday, January 31st, 2025

Lonoikamakahiki

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

Last week, Molokai residents made their way to Kaunakakai Ball Park to celebrate the end of Makahiki season. Makahiki, a four-month period starting in late October or early November and ending in January, represents the season of Lono, and the bounty of the rain and harvest. The Hawaiian tradition of competing in games to honor this time of year was revived on Molokai over four decades ago.

“Forty-four years ago, we started the Makahiki games playing baseball and basketball because that’s all we knew,” explained Walter Ritte, one of the founders of Ka Molokai Makahiki’s revival of the ancient tradition.…

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Sports Weekend Recap

Thursday, January 16th, 2025

Sports Weekend Recap

Winter sports continued into the last few weeks of their regular seasons. Girls basketball took on Seabury Hall in two games at home. In Friday’s game, where the basketball team celebrated senior night, the Lady Farmers took an emphatic 50-4 victory over Seabury Hall. Leila Hooper-Phifer dropped 19 points and Kaia Yamashita put up 12 points in the win.

Saturday was more of the same for the Lady Farmers, taking a 38-17 win. This time Khloe Bicoy led the scoring with 12 points. The Lady Farmers ended their regular season with a 9-1 record and will host the MIL tournament in two weeks.…

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An Affirmative Start to the New Year

Thursday, January 9th, 2025

An Affirmative Start to the New Year

Kilohana School first graders in Sara Jane Larkin’s class started the new year a little differently. Instead of resolving to change something about themselves, Larkin had the students create affirmations, recognizing the good qualities that they already possess.

The affirmations take the shape of three statements “I am,” “I can” and “I will” and are followed by whatever quality the students feel fits them best. The result is a combination of the poetic and the profound, as young students profess a mantra of self-worth.

“The brain-power of an affirmation extends beyond one goal,” explained Larkin. “It’s a commitment to a certain lifestyle.”…

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Nativity Festival Brings Arts Opportunities for Keiki

Thursday, December 12th, 2024

Nativity Festival Brings Arts Opportunities for Keiki

Molokai keiki got into the Christmas spirit on stage during a two-day Christmas Nativity Festival. It was put on by the Hokulani Children’s Theater of Molokai (CTOM), which was established almost two years ago and has continued to generate performing arts opportunities for Molokai kids. Last week, Hokulani CTOM teamed up with other Molokai artists for the inaugural festival.

Featuring a nativity play by the Hokulani CTOM actors, the festival also included performances by the CTOM choir, local singers, the Molokai Middle School Hawaiian Immersion students, and the Molokai Strings Quartet.

“We wanted to highlight all of the things that make Molokai special,” said Vicki Boswell, founder and director of Hokulani CTOM.…

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Aiming Sky High 

Thursday, December 5th, 2024

Aiming Sky High 

Returning for its second year, the Youth in Aviation program gave Molokai kids a chance to see what a career in the air could look like. Run by the Aloft nonprofit, Youth in Aviation walked Molokai keiki through a variety of jobs like pilot, air traffic controller and airport mechanic. 

 

One of the highlights from the weekend program was a chance to fly in both helicopters and planes, as well as start their own flight logbooks. The program aims to foster home-grown pilots, in the hopes of making air transportation more available for Molokai residents. 

 

“They had a blast,” said Randell Albertson, a Maui firefighter who started the Aloft nonprofit.…

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Weekend Sports Recap

Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024

Weekend Sports Recap

The Farmers continued their historic 11-man football season with a game vs King Kekaulike at home on Sept. 28. After giving up an early touchdown, the Farmers tied the game 7-7 late in the first quarter with an electric 82-yard kick return by Chauncey Adolpho.

The long return from Adolpho would be the only score on the day for the Farmers, as they ultimately fell to King Kekaulike 42-7. The Farmers will return to action in two weeks’ time, with the final home game of the season against Kamehameha Maui at 11 a.m on Oct. 12.

The Lady Farmers were likewise competing this past weekend, with two volleyball games over on Lanai.…

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