• Failure notice from provider:
    Connection Error:http_request_failed

  • Submission Deadlines

    Advertising

    Thursday 4pm

    May 28, 2026

    Content

    Friday 4pm

    May 29, 2026

    To print on:

    Wednesday

    June 3, 2026

  • Join us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Google Plus Subscribe via RSS

Reopening Continues, Social Distancing Still Required

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Last week brought some significant changes to permitted activities, as well as reopening dates for several industries.

Beaches are now open for passive activities like sunbathing, reading or watching the sunset, as long as social distancing is observed. These activities will be permitted in Maui County on a trial basis between May 16 and May 30. Additional county parks on Molokai opened (see the news release in this issue for details), as well as the county tennis court in Kaunakakai. The public pool, community centers and gyms remain closed.

Drive-in religious services can begin May 22, hair salons can reopen May 25 and dine-in restaurants can begin serving June 5.…

Posted in , , , commentsAdd your comment

MHS Alum Named BYU-HI President

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

MHS Alum Named BYU-HI President

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

“I learned that people are what matter,” said Dr. John “Keoni” Kauwe of his time at Molokai High School, where he graduated in 1996. Kauwe, an internationally recognized researcher specializing in Alzheimer’s disease, was just named the new president of Brigham Young University–Hawaii.

Kauwe has deep roots in Hawaii and spent several years of his childhood on the islands of Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai. He currently lives in Utah with his wife and five kids, where he joined the biology department, in the College of Life Sciences at Brigham Young University in 2009 and later served as chair of the biology department.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Flyover Salute

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

Flyover Salute

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Employees at Molokai General Hospital stood outside and cheered last Thursday as a military KC-135 aircraft flew overhead in a salute to healthcare workers, first responders and other essential personnel.

The event was an effort from the Hawaii National Guard and the 15th Wing Active Duty Airmen from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to fly over the state’s main hospitals and major metropolitan areas to honor COVID-19 frontline workers. They completed the flyover as part of routine training exercises, at no additional cost to taxpayers.

The statewide flyover included C-17, KC-135 and F-22 aircraft. The KC-135 that flew over Molokai was operated by Hawaii’s Air National Guard Air Refueling Squadron.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

AlohaCare Donates to Molokai Organizations

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

AlohaCare News Release

AlohaCare today announced that it is donating $150,000 to local nonprofit organizations that are helping at-risk families and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation includes monetary contributions to food banks across the state; 28,800 KN95 masks for health care workers at community health centers; and a grant for a new online platform to help identify areas of need in Hawaii.

“The needs in our community are so pressing right now. We want to help non-profits that are directly supporting families and individuals on all Hawaii Islands who are struggling with food insecurity, domestic violence and access to health care,” said Francoise Culley-Trotman, AlohaCare interim CEO.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Seumalo Headed for College Football

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020

Seumalo Headed for College Football

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter

Molokai High senior Vaai “Uso” Seumalo has been an outstanding student-athlete all his four years with the Farmers, lettering in volleyball and basketball. Last fall, he tried football for the first time under Head Coach Mike Kahale. After just one season of football, Seumalo — who is a big man at 6’ 4” and 290 pounds — caught the eye of many coaches in Hawaii and then received some offers to further his education and play college football at the next level.

Seumalo made the most of his short high school football career. He was invited to the Hawaii Bowl, a game with seniors from all over the state and his team not only won, but he received the defensive MVP award.…

commentsAdd your comment

Friday Night Lights

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020

Friday Night Lights

By Rick Schonely

The Molokai High Athletic Department has been honoring the seniors of the Class of 2020 by lighting up The Barn each Friday night.

Per the Hawaii State Department of Education, “Public high schools will fire up their stadium lights in honor of the Class of 2020 on Friday nights, starting tonight Apr. 24 and through May 29. Lights will go on at 8:20 p.m., which is 2020 hours on the 24-hour clock, for 20 minutes and 20 seconds to honor our seniors as part of the #bealight movement.”

Imua Farmer Nation and congratulations seniors!…

Posted in , , , commentsAdd your comment

Impacts of COVID-19 Among Native Hawaiians

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020

By Dr. Landon Opunui, ND

The United Nations has warned indigenous populations that they may be at a disproportionately high risk of being impacted by COVID-19 because of preexisting health inequalities.

Across the nation, there is strong evidence showing Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPI), defined as people having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Guam or other Pacific Islands, are at greater risk of being infected and of having severe symptoms compared to other United States racial populations including African American, Asian, Latino and Caucasian.

This should raise alarms for the island of Molokai as it has the highest number of Native Hawaiians per capita of all the Hawaiian Islands, excluding Niʻihau.…

Posted in , , , commentsAdd your comment

MHS Alternative Graduation

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020

MHS Alternative Graduation

MHS News Release

The Molokai High School Class of 2020 will be honored through an alternative graduation on Saturday, May 23 at 2 p.m. The alternative graduation ceremony will be a hybrid of virtual (live streamed/recorded) and drive-through commencement. Unfortunately, the proceedings will only be open to graduates and their families. The community will be invited to join our virtual commencement online on Akaku Molokaiʻs Facebook Page.

Molokai High campus will continue to be closed to the general public during graduation. Please help us have a smooth ceremony for our graduates by keeping the roads and area surrounding Molokai High School clear from 1 to 4 p.m.…

Posted in , , , , commentsAdd your comment

To the Class of 2020

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020

Molokai High School, and all graduations of 2020, congratulations to all of you with love, support, respect for your wonderful achievements. Congratulations on how all of you handled and dealt with your situation regarding what is happening with all of our lives at this moment. It’s not the end of the world of life for most of us, it’s the beginning of adventure and challenges for a new change of habits, lifestyle and vision. Be prepared for it. Also, always remember to make your life happy first. If you are happy with your life, what more could you want? Happiness includes parents, families, friends, community needs and wants as well.…

Posted in , , , , commentsAdd your comment

Jodie Kaeha

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020

Jodie Kaeha

Jodie Kaeha, 82, died May 5, 2020, with her family and loved ones by her side.
Jodie was born May 29, 1937, in Hana, Maui. Raised by her father, Jodie lived briefly in the Philippines, later, returning to Molokai where she found a family bond with the Dudoit Ohana. She happily spent the better part of her life at their Morris Point Residence.

Jodie was a beloved part of the late Moana Dudoit’s household and was never very far from Moana’s side. Jodie’s extravagant and sparkly dress attire was outdone only by her dedication and love for Aunty Moana and the entire Dudoit Ohana.…

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment