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Education

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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Na’iwa Homesteaders Train for Self-Sufficiency 

Thursday, December 5th, 2024

Na’iwa Homesteaders Train for Self-Sufficiency 

Since February, lessees from the Na’iwa Agricultural Subdivision Alliance (NASA) have been training in job skills to support the development of their homestead community. The hope is that in the near future, these trainees will be employed on their own land, building their own homes. 

 

Working in carpentry, plumbing, electric and more with Aloha Construction, “the goal is to eventually have them have the proper skill sets to maintain their homes and assist with the building of the future homes,” explained Liliana Napoleon, an advocate for the Aloha Construction training program. 

This last cohort was comprised of Richard Maikui, Kirk Kiaha Sr.,…

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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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Upcoming Children’s Theater Production

Wednesday, September 11th, 2024

Upcoming Children’s Theater Production

Hokulani Children’s Theater News Release 

The Hokulani Children’s Theatre of Molokai is thrilled to bring another community production to the island, thanks to the unwavering support of our community. Our mission to nurture and showcase the performing arts among Molokai’s keiki has been met with enthusiasm and generosity, allowing us to continue this vital work.

This season, we are proud to present “Jane and the Giant Peach,” featuring 11 talented student actors who will take the stage on Sept. 27 and 28 for two special performances. These performances will serve not only as a showcase of our children’s hard work and dedication but also as a stepping stone for their first off-island performance on Lanai in October.…

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Football Season Opener

Wednesday, September 4th, 2024

Football Season Opener

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff 

Kicking off their first ever 11-man team, the MHS Farmers traveled to Maui to take on defending Maui Interscholastic League Division I champions Lahainaluna in a much-anticipated season opener. 

The Farmers were ultimately shut out in the 59-0 loss to the Lunas. The game, however, marked an important first step for the Farmers as they embark on the new challenge of competing in the 11-man MIL Division II league. Next, the Farmers will play Maui High School at War Memorial Stadium, before returning to Molokai to take on Baldwin High School, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m.…

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Help Support ‘Ainapa’a Wrestling Team

Wednesday, September 4th, 2024

Help Support ‘Ainapa’a Wrestling Team

ʻAinapa’a Wrestling Team News Release 

Molokai is our heart and soul, a place we deeply value and hold dear. This is our foundation and an integral part of our identity that will continue to guide our efforts for generations, both on and off the mat. Founded in 2022, ʻAinapa’a Wrestling Team’s (AWT) mission is to instill core values such as growth, knowledge, discipline, commitment, and community in every wrestler.  We are dedicated to offering opportunities that can help each wrestler achieve their personal goals as well as AWT’s long-term goals. 

Currently, AWT serves over 30 wrestlers, ages 5 to 16, throughout the year. We’ve also forged valuable partnerships with wrestling clubs and programs on Maui, Kauai, Oahu, and Las Vegas as well with prominent coaches and wrestlers.  These…

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Could Scholarships Address Molokai’s Doctor Shortage?

Thursday, August 22nd, 2024

Molokai residents are well acquainted with the strained healthcare landscape on-island, especially with the passing of longtime physicians Emmett Aluli and William Thomas in recent years. Now, Alaka’ina Foundation, a Native Hawaiian organization, is looking at attracting medical personnel to Molokai through scholarships.

In addition to funding the Kauka Emmett Noa Auwae Aluli Medical Scholarship, the Alaka’ina Foundation is working on an additional, Molokai-specific scholarship at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii. According to Alaka’ina Foundation Vice President Kimo Bacon, this scholarship will require recipients to work five years at Molokai General Hospital.

“We’re looking at innovative ideas,” said Bacon.…

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Back to School with Karen Harada

Thursday, August 22nd, 2024

Back to School with Karen Harada

As the school year gets going on Molokai, students return to their classes, teachers to their classrooms, parents to their morning routines. For one teacher in particular, the back-to-school ritual is most familiar. As 12th grade English teacher Karen Harada celebrates her 40th year at Molokai High School (MHS), she looks back on four decades of Molokai students, teachers and parents, and forward to the year ahead.

A graduate of the class of 1972 from MHS, Harada left Molokai for 13 years before coming back as an educator. After college in Colorado and various jobs on Oahu, Harada decided to use her writing skills in the education field.…

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