Wedding Announcement

Wednesday, April 24th, 2024

Wedding Announcement

Glenn and Rita Poller celebrated their wedding on April 14, at a residence on Seaside Pl.
“Glenn and I were married as one on this beautiful island of Molokai,” writes Rita.
“Our pastor at Heart of Aloha Church, Cameron Hiro, graciously performed the ceremony overlooking the ocean. Though the rain and wind came, we looked at it as God pouring blessings and favor upon our union. Our guests who attended as friends are now considered in their eyes and ours as ohana. From the first day we stepped upon Molokai, we could feel and sense how special Molokai was. We had found what we were looking for all our lives – people genuinely caring for one another regardless of circumstance.…

Lourdes Fujimoto

Wednesday, April 24th, 2024

Lourdes Fujimoto

Lourdes Fujimoto 91, of Kaunakakai, died in Honolulu on Wednesday,
Feb. 14. She was born in Ho’olehua, Molokai. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 11 at Kalaiakamanu Hou Congregational Church.

 …

George Kaleohone Kazuo Fukuoka

Wednesday, April 24th, 2024

George Kaleohone Kazuo Fukuoka


George Kaleohone Kazuo “Kazu” Fukuoka, 58, passed away on Feb. 22 in Kaunakakai, Hawaii.
A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, April 27 at Kiowea Park (Coconut Grove Pavilion), in Kaunakakai, Molokai. Visitation begins at 9 a.m., with service at 11 a.m. and paʻina to follow. Casual attire. Scattering of ashes will be at a later date.
Kazu was the son of Harriet Keaonaona “Nona” Fukuoka (Purdy), and George Daniel Fukuoka, born March 13, 1965, in Kaunakakai, Hawaii. He graduated from Kamehameha Schools Kapalama in 1983 and entered the U.S. Air Force shortly after. His eight years of service started in Indian Springs, NV, then took him to Travis AFB, CA, and lastly to Clark AFB in the Philippines where he served during Desert Storm.…

Medical Records Update

Wednesday, April 24th, 2024

Molokai Family Health Center News Release

We are writing to announce that a final decision has been reached that Molokai General Hospital (MGH) will be the permanent home for former Molokai Family Health Center patients’ electronic records. Molokai Family Health Center (MFHC) has no successor health care provider to preserve and maintain former patients’ electronic records and did not maintain any “paper charts.”

The Molokai Family Health Center officially closed one year ago on April 30, 2023. Prior to the closure, letters by mail, email and/or MyChart were sent to inform each patient that they could access their individual medical records on-line for an indefinite time at mychart@queens.org.…

Molokai Turmeric Workshop

Wednesday, April 24th, 2024

UH CTAHR News Release

The Molokai Extension Team will be hosting a turmeric production workshop on Thursday, April 25 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The workshop will cover the history, marketing, production, and harvesting of turmeric. Presentations will be provided by Ted Radovich, CTAHR Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Program (SOAP) and Transition to Organic Production Program (TOPP) Specialist from UH Manoa, and Jennifer Hawkins, CTAHR Molokai Extension Agent for Edible Crops. The workshop will be held at the UH CTAHR Molokai Cooperative Extension Office at 69-1 Puupeelua Avenue, Hoolehua, next door to the Hoolehua Post Office. Participants will have the opportunity to observe the aromatic and visual qualities of various varieties.…

Volleyball Named Regular Season Champs

Wednesday, April 24th, 2024

Volleyball Named Regular Season Champs

In a stunning display of skill, the Molokai Boys Volleyball team continued their remarkable run by securing commanding victories over Lanai. This past Friday, the matchup saw Molokai triumph 3-1 with scores of 25-13, 25-17, and 25-12. Lanai fought hard and won the third set with a score of 21-25.

Molokai continued their winning streak with Lanai on Saturday. Lanai struggled to keep pace with Molokai’s relentless offensive onslaught, with Molokai winning 25-12, 25-10, and 25-20. Molokai’s cohesive teamwork and strategic plays were evident throughout the match, highlighting their status as a formidable force in the league.

With this victory, Molokai extended their undefeated streak to an impressive 8-0, earning their position as the regular season champions.…

Kamp Kaohi

Wednesday, April 24th, 2024

Kamp Kaohi

MEO News Release
Twenty-three Molokai youth participated in games and activities that highlighted the negative impacts of alcohol, tobacco and bullying and learned about their “sources of strength” at the second Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) run Kamp Kaohi on April 13 and 14 at Molokai Baptist Church.
The middle and high school youth maneuvered around an obstacle course wearing goggles that simulate drunkenness, played the telephone game to illustrate the harm of spreading rumors, and learned the power of listening. Other activities focused on leadership, resiliency and effective communication.
Dr. Deborah Goebert of the John A. Burns School of Medicine stopped by to present her “Sources of Strength” curriculum, which touched on mental health and suicide prevention.…

Dredging at the Wharf

Wednesday, April 24th, 2024

Dredging at the Wharf

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff
Dredging is underway to remove a build-up of silt and restore the Kaunakakai Harbor to its previous depth of 23 feet so the barge can continue to use the wharf. A crane uses a clamshell bucket to grab 30,000 cubic yards of inky sediment from the bottom of the harbor, deposit the silt into a dump scow barge, and drop it 40 miles away at a dumpsite off-shore from Kahului. The dredging should be completed around May 6.…

Pickleball ‘Caught in a Pickle’

Wednesday, April 24th, 2024

Pickleball ‘Caught in a Pickle’

The $1.69 billion 2025 Maui County budget includes funding for a variety of Molokai projects — from suicide prevention programs, to the Molokai Hunting Club, to the MEO bus. There was, however, one project not in the county plan that raised more concerns than any other: pickleball.

Molokai’s pickleball participation has exploded in the past six months, with participants estimating that up to 300 Molokai residents now play the sport. The quick-growing sport has gained popularity with Molokai kupuna in particular, who use the low-impact game to exercise and socialize.

“I’m going to be 77 and I’m still playing,” said Clay Ching.…

Earth Day 2024

Wednesday, April 24th, 2024

Earth Day 2024

“I really like the international Earth Day slogan that says, ‘think globally, act locally,’” said Ed Misaki, one of the recipients of this year’s Malama Kuleana Honua Award. Misaki and the other founding members of the Molokai Cares organization, who started Molokai’s version of Earth Day back in 1992, were honored with the award.

Molokai Cares launched the Earth Day celebration along with other initiatives, like establishing the recycling center at the landfill and stopping the building of a parking lot in front of the public library. Several years after Molokai Cares established the event, The Nature Conservancy took over hosting, and moved it from Kaunakakai Elementary School to its present-day iteration at the Mitchell Pauole Center.…