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    Thursday 4pm

    January 15, 2026

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    January 16, 2026

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Josiah Lanakila “Black” Hoohuli Sr.

Friday, January 16th, 2026

Josiah Lanakila “Black” Hoohuli Sr.

The descendants of Josiah Lanakila “Black” Hoohuli Sr. honor our beloved makuakāne, who departed this life on Nov. 9, 2025, in his 86th year, at Moanalua, Oahu. Born Dec. 30, 1938 at Nānākuli, Oahu, he was the fourth son of Joseph Kahapea Paʻahao and Kulani (Lima) Hoohuli. Of chiefly, priestly and warrior ancestry, he was the last of his generation, all seven brothers and seven sisters now gathered to Ke Akua in Heaven. He wed his one true love, Velma Lou Leinaala “Leina” Adams, on Aug. 17, 1963 at Nānākuli. Together for 39 years, they lovingly raised our ʻohana until her passing in 2002.…

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Glenn K. Nanod

Friday, January 16th, 2026

Glenn K. Nanod

Glenn K. Nanod, 70, was born on Molokai on Nov. 20, 1954, and died at in Wailuku on Sept. 26, 2025. He valued education, was concerned for community issues and had a love for his daughter and family. 

Glenn’s education included MHIS 1972; Lahainaluna HS (3 years); University of Hawaii with an emphasis in Archeology; Cannons Business College; and MCC.

He worked as a substitute teacher; as an archeologist at various island locations while supporting the Molokai community with his research; at Ah Fook’s Supermarket until the store was destroyed by fire 2005 and then sold. Employers Options hired Glenn after he volunteered and travelled by bus to Lahaina to support and feed the fire-impacted residents.  …

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Last Hole in One of 2025

Friday, January 16th, 2026

Last Hole in One of 2025

By Rick Schonely

It was a typical Wednesday on the last day of the year, Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve, and the Molokai Skins Golf gang was playing their regular Wednesday game at Iconic Ironwood Hills Golf Course.
Little did we know that Scott Shelton would take out his number-seven iron on the 16th hole (#7 on the back nine) and get his first hole-in-one of his career — from the white tee at 204 yards.
Shelton, a long-time resident of Molokai and the head coach of Lady Farmers soccer team for many years, hit a beautiful shot that rolled onto the green and dropped into the hole.…

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ʻGrow Aloha’ Surpasses 5K Native Plant Adoptions, Extends Through June

Friday, January 16th, 2026

NTBG News Release

Grow Aloha, the statewide initiative dedicated to restoring Hawaii’s native plants and our relationships with them, is proud to announce the extension of its free, monthly plant adoption program through June 2026. This extension ensures continued access for residents across Hawaii to native plants, Hawaiian heritage crops and educational resources. 

Since its launch, Grow Aloha has placed more than 5,000 native plants and Hawaiian heritage crops into the hands of local residents through free monthly plant adoptions. These plants — representing over 100 species and varieties  —  are now growing in backyards, schools, and community spaces statewide, helping restore our built environment collectively. …

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Youth Summit to Reveal Student Voices

Friday, January 16th, 2026

By Ric Ornellas

On Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, the Kaunakakai Elementary School Cafeteria will transform into a hub of student advocacy and community connection for the 4th Annual Molokai Youth Summit. Running from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., the summit continues its mission of bringing forward to the Molokai community the voices of our 21st-century youth and future leaders.

Since its inception, the summit has prioritized providing opportunities to hear the authentic voices of keiki o ka ʻāina, Molokai students. This year’s theme poses a direct, provocative question to students in grades 1–12 across both public and private schools: “What do I want from my school?”…

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Iconic Imports Gift Shop Closing Down

Friday, January 16th, 2026

Iconic Imports Gift Shop Closing Down

By Léo Azambuja

After almost five decades serving the needs of Molokai residents and visitors, Imports Gift Shop is gearing up toward closing its doors for good. With everything on sale at 50% off — aside from consignment art — the store will fold when the inventory is gone.

“I’m closing the store, but we’ll still remain open until we sell everything,” said Maria Watanabe, who first opened Imports Gift Shop in 1979. “It’s time to slow down; I have two more stores to take care of.”

Originally from Philippines, Watanabe arrived on Molokai in 1971, and worked at her family’s business, C.…

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Grant Will Kickstart Historical Archive

Friday, January 16th, 2026

Grant Will Kickstart Historical Archive

By Léo Azambuja

A nonprofit organization on Molokai recently received a large grant that will allow it to support the establishment of the first permanent physical historical archive dedicated to the island.

“This grant was through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, but specifically for Native Hawaiian libraries,” said Pulama Lima, executive director of the nonprofit Ka Ipu Makani Cultural Heritage Center.

She said the nonprofit has a working relationship history with IMLS, and was familiar with the grant application process. But aside from being a competitive grant worth about $100,000, what really made it difficult was an uncertainty whether the grant would be released because of the current administration’s policies.…

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Molokai Kōnane Tournament

Friday, January 16th, 2026

Molokai Kōnane Tournament

By Léo Azambuja

There was a lot at stake at the Molokai Kōnane Tournament at Keawanui Fishpond last Saturday: paid travel expenses and accommodations for the top-two players to attend a kōnane tournament in Honolulu next month, plus the prospect of playing the final match on an ancient board that hasn’t been played on for well over a century.

After an entire morning of rounds to reach the finals, Hanohano Naehu beat Kenny Adachi in a hard-fought grand final match that lasted almost an hour. 

The board game is unique to Hawaii, and its origins date back hundreds of years. Kapena Baptista, a kōnane player and enthusiast who came to Molokai from Oahu to help organize the tournament, believes it is one the greatest abstract games of humanity.…

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Seattle Artist Teaches Metal-Forging on Molokai

Tuesday, January 6th, 2026

Seattle Artist Teaches Metal-Forging on Molokai

By Léo Azambuja

A Seattle-based blacksmith recently visited the island to meet local artists, talk about her journey and teach Hawaii Craftsmen’s ʻAha Hana Lima hands-on metalsmithing workshop in a private studio in Kalaʻe.

Guest artist Lisa Geertsen gathered a small crowd of about 20 people at the Molokai Arts Center in Hoʻolehua on the evening of Nov. 21 to share her creative and professional background, showed pictures of her work, and disclose details about the two-day workshop starting on the following day. 

“I wanted to try to design a workshop that was accessible to folks that might not have power hammers and big gas forges,” she said, adding Hawaii Craftsmen president Hugh Jenkins designed a couple gas forges that can be made by anyone.…

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Coast Guard Rescues 2 Men Offshore Molokai

Tuesday, January 6th, 2026

Coast Guard Rescues 2 Men Offshore Molokai

By The Molokai Dispatch staff

Two fishermen were rescued by the United States Coast Guard after their fishing vessel began taking on water a couple miles offshore Molokai last week. Officials praised the men for quickly activating an emergency beacon that allowed the Coast Guard for a rapid, precise response.

A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Barbers Point, Oahu located the men in a life raft, safely hoisted them, and brought them ashore to the air station in Kapolei, Oahu on Dec. 17, according to a Coast Guard news release.

A video published on the Coast Guard’s website shows the two men being lifted on a basket to the helicopter, one at a time, while a rescuer assists them from the water.…

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