Sports

Basketball Off to Promising Start 

Thursday, December 12th, 2024

The Molokai High School (MHS) girls basketball team continued their undefeated season on Maui with two games against Haleakala Waldorf last weekend. In Friday’s game, the Lady Farmers won 32-18, and followed up with another victory on Saturday of 33-8. Leading the Lady Farmers’ offense in Saturday’s game was Leila Hooper-Phifer with 12 points, and Genesis Nakihei with 10. The Lady Farmers will look to advance their undefeated season at home against Lanai on Dec. 13 and 14. 

Boys basketball opened up their season at home against Kulanihakoi. Friday’s game saw the Farmers take a high scoring 64-57 victory. Taking the lead early, the Farmers held on against several scoring barrages from Kulanihakoi, who drew to within 2 points of the Farmers going into halftime.…

November and December Golf Aces

Thursday, November 14th, 2024

Community Contributed
By Rick Schonely

Rodney Reyes and Scott Hemenway are the November and December Aces for the Hui O Kukui Golf Club.
Two aces are handed out in November to make the 12 participants for the Ace of Aces Club Championship on Dec. 7 at Iconic Ironwood Hills Golf Course. The winner will be president of the club for the next calendar year.

Hot Rod Reyes, Molokai professional golfer and all-around good guy, shot 44-42 for a gross total of 86. With his 16 handicap, his 70 net got him the November Ace.

Mr. Scottie Too Hottie Hemenway is a retired Molokai Middle School science teacher and one of the icons of the sport at iconic Ironwood Hills.…

Ward Represents MHS at States

Thursday, November 7th, 2024

This fall, Waile’a Ward was the only Molokai High School (MHS) athlete to compete in the state tournament. After a 16th place finish at the Maui Interscholastic League DII Championship, Ward along with coach Mahina Hou Ross were headed to the 2024 Honolulu Marathon Cross Country State Championships.

Held on Saturday, Nov. 2 in Kahului, Ward, who is a freshman, was able to put down a solid time of 23:54.27.…

Girls Volleyball Reaches Semi-Finals

Friday, October 25th, 2024

Last weekend, Molokai High School played host for the 2024 Maui Interscholastic League DII Girls Volleyball tournament. Teams from across Maui County made the trip to the Barn to take on the best of the best.

The Lady Farmers started out strong with a 3-0 victory over Kulanihakoi High School with scores of 25-10, 25-18 and 25-4. Advancing to the semi-finals, the Lady Farmers took on Seabury Hall. Seabury ultimately took a close 3-1 win over Molokai, with scores of 25-17, 25-19, 23-25 and 25-14.

In the finals, number one seeded Maui Prep continued their dominant season in a back-and-forth match which ended in a 3-2 set victory over Seabury.…

Welcoming Back the Molokai Hoe

Friday, October 25th, 2024

Early on Sunday, Oct. 13, Molokai residents gathered at Hale O Lono to witness the start of the Molokai Hoe for the first time since 2019. Seventy-five crews from Hawaii, Tahiti, Japan, California and more, turned their wa’a west, dug in their paddles, and embarked on a 41-mile journey across the Ka’iwi Channel. This year, representing Molokai was a crew from Wa’akapaemua Canoe Club, along with Molokai athletes also paddling with Waikiki Surf Club and Wailea Canoe Club.

“This race is special,” said Wa’akapaemua’s Kamakou Mariano, who sits in the stroke seat. On the eve of his seventh channel crossing, Mariano took a moment to reflect on the paddling season, which culminates with the Molokai Hoe.…

October Golf Ace

Wednesday, October 16th, 2024

Community Contributed
By Christine Kage

Rick Schonely is the October Golf Ace winner for the Hui O Kukui Golf Club.
Retired Maui County firefighter, Molokai High’s singing substitute teacher for 40 years and counting, professional musician with Six Pak, Eddie Tanaka, and Rick’s own Kalaupapa Backyard Band, Rick is also the voice of Molokai Farmers’ football and baseball, as “ESPN Molokai” team leader. His weekly Molokai Sports Report can be seen all over the world!
Schonely shot 38-44 for a gross total of 82. With his 15 handicap, his 67 net got him the win. Congratulations Rick!

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

Volleyball Honors Seniors

Thursday, October 10th, 2024

This past weekend, the Lady Farmers played their final home games of the season against Kulanihakoi High School. After their game Friday, Oct. 4, the Farmers recognized their senior teammates, Ally Ainoa, Ciera Davis, Christine Hanapi and Masina Borden.

In their final home games of the season, the Lady Farmers didn’t disappoint. In fact, they didn’t drop a set all weekend. Friday’s game was a resounding 3-0 sweep with scores of 25-10, 25-8 and 25-13. Saturday’s rematch was more of the same for the Molokai girls, as they swept Kulanihakoi 25-17, 25-10 and 25-11.

The victories propelled the girls volleyball team to a 9-3 record.…

Na Wahine Paddlers ‘Do It for Molokai’

Thursday, October 10th, 2024

Ten Molokai women from Wa’akapaemua Canoe Club paddled the notoriously rough waters of the Ka’iwi Channel in the world championship of women’s outrigger canoe paddling, Na Wahine O Ke Kai, on Sept. 29. It was the first time the race was held since 2019, after being canceled for the pandemic and last year’s deadly Maui wildfire. Hundreds of paddlers gathered from as far as Japan, Australia and New York, along with dozens of Hawaii crews.
The Molokai team of open division wahine – Pualei Lima, Kalei Adolpho, Courtney-Rhyan Turner, Honora Kalama, Nicole Schroeter, Lili’uokalani Kapuni, Sarajane Larkin, Kaala English, Sybil Lopez and Ishay Kaholoaa — left it all on the water during their top 20 finish.…

Kulaia Lights Up Kaunakakai

Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024

Last Friday, the typically quiet streets of Kaunakakai transformed into a bustling festival. Celebrating Na Wahine O Ke Kai and Molokai Hoe canoe races, the Kulaia festival likewise returned to Molokai for the first time since 2019.

Lori-Lei Rawlins-Crivello, event organizer for the festival, explained that originally the plan for this year was just to focus on getting the channel races started again, and not have the festival. However, after interest from the Molokai community and race organizers, the decision was made to put on Kulaia with only three months lead in time.

“It’s been pretty crazy,” said Rawlins-Crivello.

Shutting down the street from Rawlins Service Station to Fish and Dive, the festival brought in 30 Molokai vendors and an estimated more than 3,000 attendees over five hours.…