On May 29, Molokai’s Aka’ula School celebrated graduation for its three high school seniors, as well as promotion for the eighth graders. One of the highlights of the event was a hula performance by graduating senior ‘Ohi’aku Ritte Camara Tangonan to the song, “How Great Thou Art.” Other graduating seniors were Hunter Welch Scott and Maylanii Malmgren.…
Kaunakakai Elementary School students celebrated the end of the school year in spectacular fashion. Firefighters from the Kaunakakai station brought a tanker and hoses to the last day of school on Thursday, May 30 to drench the enthusiastic kids, as per tradition.…
Joe Kennedy won’t give up. He’s been farming on Molokai for 55 years and despite heart trouble and a fractured pelvis, the 83-year-old is determined to keep producing food and to share his wealth of knowledge.
“I had a charmed childhood,” said Kennedy, who grew up in Missouri, where the family had a farm and loved gardening and nature. Although he earned a college degree in teaching and art, what he really wanted was to farm. While teaching in Alaska, his supervisor recommended he try Hawaii.
“Oahu was too commercialized,” said Kennedy, “but when I came to Molokai in 1969, I took one look at the land and people and knew I was going to stay.…
On a breezy May evening, the Molokai High School community gathered to celebrate the graduation of the class of 2024. This year’s ceremony was particularly poignant, marked by a shared sense of triumph over adversity. As Principal Dr. Katina Soares took to the podium, she delivered a speech that resonated deeply with both the graduates and their families.
“There’s no point in sugarcoating it. Your high school journey hasn’t been easy,” said Soares, addressing the tumultuous years the students had endured. She recounted the significant challenges faced by the class, from navigating online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic to the constant upheaval of schedules and routines upon their return to in-person classes.…
Community Contributed
Clare Gallagher, PhD Student, Environmental Studies
On a hot summer day in 2022, Jasmine Buerano found herself on a remote coastline of Molokai, hacking away at a 1,000-pound bluish-gray fishing net that smelled like seawater.
Buerano, the storytelling coordinator for the non-profit Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii (SCH), along with 15 other volunteers, couldn’t gawk for long. They were racing the tide.
They tackled the huge net in sections to put into “super sacks,” which would be scooped up by a helicopter the next day. But in addition to consolidating the net and other plastic trash, they had to move the sacks across rocky tidal pools, up a steep embankment, and above the high tide line so that the sacks wouldn’t be taken back out to sea later.…
HHA News Release
Ho’olehua Homesteaders Association (HHA) celebrated higher education and servant leadership at its Scholarship Lu’au on Friday, May 10. The last two years of fundraising garnered two $500 scholarships this year. Mahalo to Ho’ohana Molokai, Luana Alapa, who donated a check for $1,000 to match the fund, resulting in two $1,000 scholarships awarded to Kamalua Arce, for nursing, and Ohi’aku Ritte-Camara-Tangonan, for business entrepreneurship.
The event also honored three distinguished homesteaders whose servant leadership has mirrored the legacy of Hawaiian Homestead champion Prince Kuhio. The late Winona “Auntie Nona” Ka’awa was represented by her husband Edwin and their beautiful daughters Hau’oli, Lana, Kuulei, and Jay-R.…
Dorothy Ann Kehaulani Quintua peacefully departed this world on March 30, 2024 at the age of 77, at home surrounded by the love of her children, grandchildren, and cherished ohana. She was born January 16, 1947 and her life was a testament to love, kindness, and unwavering strength.
Dorothy is survived by her loving daughter Johnessa Quintua (Jeremiah Keohuloa) of Hoolehua, Molokai, sons Travis Reyes and Guy Quintua both of Honolulu, Oahu, and her sister Miriam Kunihiro of Hilo, Hawaii. Dorothy’s legacy extends through numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews all of whom she adored deeply.
A celebration of Dorothy’s remarkable life will be held on September 14, 2024, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.…
Hawaii Craftsmen News Release
Hawaii Craftsmen recently announced an open call to artists for our 58th consecutive annual statewide exhibition. This exhibition will be juried by Suzanne Isken, and is open to residents of Hawaii for artworks in the categories of clay, fiber, glass, wood, metal, stone, and mixed media. Entries must be registered online at HawaiiCraftsmen.org.
For Molokai, online registration will run from Aug. 1 to Sept. 2, with jurying taking place on Sept. 10.
Hawaii’s premier statewide exhibition, which has been held annually since 1967, features traditional and contemporary craft from across the state of Hawaii. Hawaii Craftsmen’s 2024 juror Suzanne Isken served as the executive director of Craft Contemporary in Los Angeles from 2011 through 2023 where she led initiatives to support the creation of contemporary craft and build audiences by establishing a large-scale program of hands-on-experiences for the public.…
Takitani Foundation News Release
The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc. (Takitani Foundation) has named nine high school seniors from Maui County as scholarship recipients of its annual Legacy Scholarship Program.
For Molokai, Naneaikauhaahaa Poaha-Kaai was awarded a $3,000 scholarship for Maui District Public School students.
Poaha-Kaai of Molokai High School has been on the Principal’s Honor Roll throughout high school for maintaining a 4.0 academic average. She has enjoyed participating in the Molokai College Career Club, the Culinary Club and Molokai High School’s May Day and Homecoming festivities. Her success at school is attributed to her leadership skills and positive contributions to the school community.…
Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association News Release
After a four-year hiatus, the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association (OHCRA) is proud to announce the return of the Molokai Channel World Championships, Na Wahine O Ke Kai and Molokai Hoe. Registration is now open to all eligible paddling divisions from the junior level to 70 years and over.
The Na Wahine O Ke Kai Championship race kicks off a two-week stint of inter-island paddling as the top female paddlers from across the globe take on this grueling inter-island challenge on Sunday, September 29. The Molokai Hoe follows on Sunday, October 13, celebrating the 72nd crossing of the Ka‘iwi Channel.…
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