Sports

Spencer is the July Ace Winner

Thursday, July 17th, 2025

Spencer is the July Ace Winner

By Rick Schonely / Community contributed

David Spencer is the July Ace winner for the Hui O Kukui Golf Club. 

Spencer, an avid golfer for many years on Molokai and recently retired Molokai High School security guard and all-around great guy, shot 43-48 for a gross total of 91 and with his 25 handicap his 66-net got him the victory. Congratulations, Big Dave.

The Hui O Kukui Golf Club would like to thank the staff and management of iconic Ironwood Hills golf course for perpetuating the game of golf on Molokai.…

Girls Soccer Team Brings Home Silver

Thursday, July 3rd, 2025

Girls Soccer Team Brings Home Silver

By Léo Azambuja
A Molokai girls soccer team had some extra weight in their luggage when they returned from a tournament in Hilo, Big Island last month. After clinching a spot in the finals, the team came home with silver medals following a close game against a tough Californian team.
“It was a good, close game. We lost two to zero. The girls played really well,” Molokai Poi Pounders head coach Kathy Puhi said of the finals game against Menifee — a California team — at the Volcano International Soccer Tournament June 20-22.
The Poi Pounders is an AYSO recreational-level soccer team made of 12-to-13-year-old girls.…

Free Football Camp Gives Back to Molokai

Thursday, July 3rd, 2025

Free Football Camp Gives Back to Molokai

By Léo Azambuja
Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning — one of the greatest football players ever — once said “the most valuable player is the one who makes the most players valuable.” The Akana family does just that: they have been hosting a free kids football clinic on Molokai for the last five years to give back to their community.
“We were raised here on Molokai. There are 10 siblings, eight boys, two girls. We have all since moved,” Ry Akana said of him and his siblings, who now live on the Mainland and in Honolulu. “But Molokai has done so much for us on the athletic front that we felt like we needed to give back.”…

Regatta Season Kicks Off at the Wharf

Friday, June 27th, 2025

Regatta Season Kicks Off at the Wharf

By Léo Azambuja
The Molokai Canoe Racing Association kicked off the regatta season at Kaunakakai Wharf last Saturday. At least 300 people came to the wharf to cheer for competitors from two canoe clubs on Molokai.
“This is the first regatta of the season,” coach Kekama Helm said, adding the results will count points toward qualification for the upcoming Hawaii state championships.
It may have been a friendly gathering, but in the water it was a fierce competition among Molokai’s best paddlers. Wa‘akapaemua Canoe Club and Molokai Canoe Club battled each other in 25 regattas — sprint races — divided in experience levels and different age groups from under 10 years old to more than 70 years old.…

Spencer Takes the June Ace for Hui O Kukui Golf Club

Thursday, June 19th, 2025

Spencer Takes the June Ace for Hui O Kukui Golf Club

By Rick Schonely/Community contributed

Kawai Spencer is the June Ace winner for the Hui O Kukui Golf Club.
A Maui County firefighter and bus driver extraordinaire, Spencer is one of the famous Molokai Spencer twins with his awesome brother Kamoana. He shot 47–44 for a gross total of 91, and with his 27 handicap, his 64 net got him the victory. Congratulations Spencer!
The Hui O Kukui Golf Club would like to thank the staff and management of iconic Ironwood Hills golf course for perpetuating the game of golf on Molokai.…

Ka’iwi Solo

Thursday, May 22nd, 2025

Ka’iwi Solo

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

On Saturday, May 10, intrepid paddlers from around the world headed to Kepuhi Beach to participate in the 2025 Ka’iwi Solo. The race is a single-man canoe challenge run annually since 2008 by the Paddling Athletes Association. Athletes battle 32 miles across winds, swell and fatigue, proving their skills in the canoe. For Molokai, Ekolu Kalama was the top finisher taking 44th place overall. A young Kahikikala Helm, all of 16, took a solid 77th place as the only other Molokai representative in the race. Tahiti’s Kevin Ceran-Jerusalemy won the race with a time of 3:26:57.

The next races will be the Molokai Challenge on May 25 followed by the Molokai Holokai on July 18 and 19.…

May Golf Ace

Thursday, May 15th, 2025

May Golf Ace

Community Contributed
By Rick Schonely

Zachary Helm is the May Ace winner for the Hui O Kukui Golf Club. Helm, a Molokai golf professional and Molokai musician extraordinaire, is now retired with 34 years of service with the County of Maui Parks and Recreations Department. Big Z shot 42-36 for a gross total of 80. With his 17 handicap, his 63 net got him the victory. Congratulations Big Z.

The Hui O Kukui Golf Club would like to thank the staff and management of Iconic Ironwood Hills Golf Course for perpetuating the game of golf on Molokai.…

MHS Sports Update

Thursday, May 8th, 2025

MHS Sports Update

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

This past weekend, the Molokai High School (MHS) Farmers took on competition from around the state in several high stakes matches. After coming in second in the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Division II tournament the previous week, the MHS softball team was back in action in a decisive play-in game for the state tournament. The Lady Farmers traveled to Maui to take on Waimea High School from Kauai. Natalia Pastrana took to the mound, however, the Lady Farmers couldn’t keep up with Waimea’s offense. A big second inning from Waimea put them up 11-1, and Waimea’s offense continued to fire.…

Action Packed MIL Weekend

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

Action Packed MIL Weekend

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

This past week, Molokai High School (MHS) competed in several Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Division II finals. In close matches, the Farmers fell just short of the MIL crown in several sports.

For boys volleyball, the Farmers hosted the MIL tournament at home. The Farmers came out strong against Lanai on Thursday, sending the Pine Lads home early with a 3-1 victory. The boys matched up against Seabury Hall for the final. In one of their strongest performances of the season, the Farmers pushed Seabury Hall to a fifth set, but ultimately lost 3-2, finishing as runners up in the MIL tournament.…

April Golf Ace

Thursday, April 24th, 2025

April Golf Ace

Community Contributed

By Rick Schonely 

Henrietta Helm is the April Golf Ace for the Hui O Kukui Golf Club. Helm, a retired MPD Dispatch supervisor and a golf enthusiast extraordinaire, shot 42-45 for a gross total of 87. With her 22 handicap, her 65 net got her the victory. Congratulations Etta!

The Hui O Kukui Golf Club would like to thank the staff and management of iconic Ironwood Hills Golf Course for perpetuating the game of golf on Molokai.…