Superyacht Visit Sparks Concern

Thursday, January 23rd, 2025

When a superyacht dropped by Molokai for a visit on Jan. 10, many residents were left with questions regarding the incident.

The boat has been identified as the Liva O, a pleasure yacht measuring over 360 feet long and weighing over 5,000 tons. Owned by German American billionaire businessman Stephen Orenstein, the ostentatious superyacht had been sighted off Maui’s Maalaea Harbor in the preceding weeks before coming to Molokai.

A boat of this size is unable to dock at Kaunakakai Harbor, even just for recreational activities, according to the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR).…

Get Ready for the Movies!

Thursday, January 23rd, 2025

After nearly 20 years, Molokai is getting a movie theater again. The Mango Theater in Kaunakakai, located in the RWH Chen Building next to Fish and Dive, is expected to open next month. It will feature 45 comfortable seats, a full concession of food and snacks, evening showings of current theater movies, and a reservations app, according to owner Brad Ellis. For the full story, check next week’s issue of The Molokai Dispatch. …

Residents Support Kamaka Air with Lei Drive

Thursday, January 23rd, 2025

Earlier this month, Molokai residents came together to organize a lei drive in honor of Kamaka Air pilots Hiram deFries-Saronitman and Preston Kaluhiwa. Both young pilots were killed in a plane crash on Oahu on Dec. 17 while performing a training flight. Kamaka has been flying cargo to Molokai for over 25 years, and many Molokai community members have close ties to the cargo airline and its employees.

“We’re doing this to show our support and aloha for Kamaka,” explained U’i Lima, one of the organizers of the lei drive.

As essential workers, Kamaka Air employees only had one day off to mourn their colleagues, explained Lima.…

Molokai’s Honor Box Tradition

Thursday, January 16th, 2025

Community Contributed
By David Kley

Molokai has long been called “The Friendly Isle,” and it’s easy to see why: friendly shakas are waved and neighbors greet each other like old friends. The island’s strong sense of community is everywhere, from gatherings to everyday errands. But nowhere is this shared trust more evident than at the many fruit stands lining Molokai’s scenic coast.
Yesterday, my girlfriend, Genevieve Kikukawa, and I set out on Molokai’s coastal road. The crashing waves, salty breeze, and lush greenery filled our senses.
Our first stop was at Kanani Farms, where we discovered a quaint fruit stand. A handwritten sign reminded us to pay for what we took using a small cash box – an “honor box.”…