News Releases

Pescaia Receives Lifetime Education Achievement Award, Part Two

Thursday, May 8th, 2025

Aka’ula School News Release

Miki’ala Pescaia is the recipient of Aka’ula School’s 2025 Lifetime Education Achievement Award. Below is an interview with Pescaia discussing her education, influences and beliefs. This is part two of the interview. Part one ran in last week’s issue of The Molokai Dispatch.
Aka`ula School (AS): Was there a school teacher who through his/her philosophy showed you that education does not have to be four walls and textbooks? A favorite saying of that teacher?
Miki`ala Pescaia (MP): Kumu Moke Kim was my 7th grade kumu that became a hanai dad to me. He didn’t do anything by the book.…

Free Wifi Now Offered at Molokai Airport

Thursday, May 8th, 2025

Hawaii Department of Transportation News Release

The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) recently announced that free Wi-Fi is now available at Molokai Airport (MKK). Service through Hawaiian Telcom began April 17 and is available throughout the terminal.
The fiber optic network infrastructure was installed through HDOT’s HI Connect pilot project, which improved broadband infrastructure along roads in Kalihi, Puna, Ka‘u, Nanakuli, Wai‘anae, Makaha and Kapa‘a. The Hawaiian Telcom 1G fiber network can accommodate video streaming and downloads by multiple users.
“Air travel is a necessity for Molokai residents to access medical care and other resources,” said Senator Lynn DeCoite. “Access to free internet while waiting for flights can help make these essential trips more efficient and comfortable.…

70s Decade Bash, It’s a Party!

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

70s Decade Bash Committee News Release

There will be a 70s Decade Bash taking place at the Mitchell Pauole Center on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 5 to 10 p.m. All students who not only graduated from Molokai High School in the 70s, but also for those who grew up here on Molokai but went away for high school and graduated in the 70’s are included. This would be for the graduating classes of 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979.
There will be a catered dinner followed by a night of 70s music and dancing!…

Kamp Kaohi Accepting Applications

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

MEO News Release

The third Kamp Kaohi, which offers leadership, harmful-behavior prevention and fun activities for middle and high school youth on Molokai, will be held May 2 and 3 at Molokai Baptist Church in Ho`olehua.
The camp is open to 6th to 12th graders and is offered at no cost to attendees. Space is limited.
This is the third running of the camp, which has been organized by Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) Youth Services Molokai with support from MEO Youth Services staff on Maui.
The overnight camp offers fun activities, like smores and waterslides, while also presenting strength-based approaches to promote mental health and to prevent suicide, violence, bullying and substance abuse.…

MHS Receives National Grant For Library Services

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

Molokai High School News Release 

Molokai High School (MHS) has been selected as one of 300 libraries to participate in round three of Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities, an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that provides community engagement and accessibility resources to small and rural libraries to help them better serve people with disabilities.

The competitive award comes with a $10,000 grant that will help the library service students struggling with specific learning disabilities, including autism and health and emotional disabilities, who rarely or seldom access library resources.

“We are so proud to be chosen again for this amazing opportunity,” said Diane Mokuau, MHS librarian.…

Evening String Concert

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

St. Damien Parish News Release

Please join us for a free concert presented by the Galliard String Quartet Monday, May 5 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the St. Damien Church located at 115 Ala Malama Ave., Kaunakakai. The concert will include pieces by Mozart, Vivaldi, Beethoven, Gershwin, a lullaby composed by Brandon Jones, a Molokai artist and resident, songs by HRH Lili‘uokalani and more. The program will conclude with a community sing along to “Damien the Blessed,” written by Patrick Downes.
Fueled by passion—and sometimes coffee and tea—the Galliard String Quartet’s romance with the music of Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, Shostakovich, and many others is unparalleled.…

Pescaia Receives Lifetime Education Achievement Award

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

Aka’ula School News Release
Miki’ala Pescaia is the recipient of Aka’ula School’s 2025 Lifetime Education Achievement Award. Below is an interview with Pescaia discussing her education, influences and beliefs. Check out next week’s issue of The Molokai Dispatch for part two of the interview.
Aka`ula School (AS): Tell us about your educational journey.
Miki`ala Pescaia (MP): Mahalo for the honor of being selected as your outstanding educator for 2025. My own educational journey has allowed me to experience many different learning formats, kumu, topics, and settings. I can remember every one of my teachers from Ho’olehua Headstart, Kualapu’u School, and Molokai High and Intermediate School.…

DOH Awards Local Hui Medial Air Transport Award

Thursday, April 24th, 2025

Hawaii State Dept. of Health News Release

The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) has issued notices of award for the Essential Rural Medical Air Transport (ERMAT) Pilot Program to Pulama Ka Heke, a Molokai-based nonprofit healthcare hui, and to a partnership between Pulama Ka Heke and Lanai Kina‘ole, a home healthcare agency, for the island of Lanai.

The ERMAT program will support transportation to receive scheduled healthcare services not available on Molokai and Lanai. This program does not include air ambulance, in which an individual needs to receive medical care during transport.

Residents of both Molokai and Lanai often need to travel off their home island to receive essential healthcare services yet may frequently experience delays, cancellations and groundings — leaving residents stranded on other islands or missing critical medical appointments.…

Media-Focused Career Training for Molokai Youth

Thursday, April 24th, 2025

Hokulani Children’s Theater of Molokai News Release

After two successful years of offering free performing arts education and staging eight beloved community performances, Hokulani Children’s Theatre of Molokai (CTOM) is taking a bold and exciting next step. Our mission has always been to nurture creativity, confidence, and community in our keiki—and now, we’re expanding that vision by building real-world career pathways in media and the performing arts.
Thanks to growing support and grant funding, Hokulani CTOM is launching professional media production training right here on Molokai. This shift is more than just a program change—it’s a transformation in how we prepare our youth for thriving futures in the arts.…