Celebrating 35 Years of Hawaiian Language Education

Thursday, April 17th, 2025

Celebrating 35 Years of Hawaiian Language Education

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

On April 5, Kualapu’u School’s Hawaiian language immersion students took center stage, honoring the efforts of those who had come before. This year’s annual Hana Keaka Hawaiian theater performance had a special significance, as it celebrated 35 years of Hawaiian language education on Molokai.

“This year we honor our treasured voices, our manaleo, Native Hawaiian speakers of Molokai who were the guiding forces behind the founding of both the Punana Leo Hawaiian language preschool in 1991 and subsequently our Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapuʻu and ʻO Hina i ka Malama, elementary and secondary Hawaiian languages schools on island,” explained Ka’ala Fay Camara, current vice principal at Kualapu’u School and next year’s principal.…

Charles “Chuck” Everhart

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

Charles “Chuck” Everhart

Charles “Chuck” Everhart, 82, of Molokai, Hawaii, passed away at home on Feb. 12, 2025. Born on Dec. 15, 1942, in Pasadena, California, to Leon and Barbara Everhart, Chuck led a life filled with Bible-based faith, diverse accomplishments and creativity.
Chuck is survived by his loving wife, Yvonne, whom he met at Santa Cruz Bible Camp in California. He leaves behind three children, Chantelle, Robyn and Aaron, two step-daughters, Michael-Ann and Kimberly, as well as six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A man of many talents, Chuck held multiple master’s degrees in science, engineering, business and education. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to pursue various careers including furniture making, farming, land development, financial planning, patent brokering and education.…

Hawaiian Monk Seal Peak Pupping Season

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

Dept. of Land and Natural Resources News Release

The number of endangered Hawaiian monk seals born in the main Hawaiian Islands is growing. So too, are the chances of pups and their mothers interacting with people.

Thirty-four pups were born in the main Hawaiian Islands in 2024, and three pups have already been born this year.

After giving birth, monk seal mothers will nurse and take care of their pups for five to seven weeks. During this time, nursing moms can be very protective and may react aggressively to anyone who gets too close. When seals are born at highly visible and popular beaches the chances of someone getting hurt increase dramatically.…

New Full-Time Speech Therapy Services Now Available

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

Maui Speech and Swallow News Release

Maui Speech and Swallow and Neurological Rehabilitation is excited to expand its services to Molokai, offering full-time, in-person speech-language therapy with licensed pathologist Alana Ducroix-Miyamoto, MS CF-SLP. Serving individuals across the lifespan—from infants to kupuna—Alana brings compassionate, evidence-based care to the island community. Like Kids Can Occupational & Speech Therapy, the Molokai team emphasizes individualized plans that promote developmental progress, emotional well-being, and confidence in every child.

Services include early intervention, support for articulation and language development, cognitive rehabilitation, therapy for voice and fluency disorders, and specialized care for feeding and swallowing (dysphagia). The Molokai clinic is located at the Molokai Community Health Center, Building 9, 30 Oki Place, Kaunakakai, HI 96748, with referrals accepted through your primary care physician at (808) 856-9821 or fax (808) 856-0115.…

Hospice Maui Molokai 10th Annual Yard Sale

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

Hospice Maui Molokai News Release

Beginning April 15, donations will be accepted for Hospice Maui Molokai’s annual yard sale. Your gently used or new items are another person’s treasure. If you are donating clothing, please wash before donating. Hospice will not be accepting books, videos, or DVD’s, as well as computers, keyboards, or monitors unless they are new and still in the box. For information on when and where to donate items, please call Dan Reed, 808-658-1015 or Maile Silva, 808-658-6030. The sale will take place Saturday, July 5, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Dr. Dan’s Parking Lot, 130 Kamehameha V Hwy.,…

Addressing Education for Social Action

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

Molokai Bahá’í Community News Release

What is the purpose of education, really? That’s the question Dr. Mona Kiani, founder of Education With Purpose, will discuss in the next installment of the Global Citizenship Speaker Series at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16 at the Molokai Public Library.

“Teachers are under colossal pressure to prepare students for standardized tests,” said Kiani, “but this can lead to a narrowed overall vision for the purpose of education. This leaves educators in an uphill battle trying to engage students when the learning doesn’t always feel fully relevant and meaningful to students’ lives.”

“Acquiring knowledge and developing critical thinking skills are imperative,” said Kiani, “but I think the future of the K-12 schooling system is destined for a much greater purpose.…

St. Damien Talk Story Event

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

St. Damien Talk Story Event

The Molokai History Project News Release

On Tuesday morning, April 15, Paula Scott will host a talk story about Father Damien and the 16 years he spent at Kalawao and Kalaupapa. This continues with the Molokai History Project’s desire to present as many talk story events as we can to share Molokai’s history with visitors and residents. Please join us at 10:30 a.m. in the garden behind the history project. Along with the presentation of this incredible history drinks and snacks will be provided. We hope to see you there!…

Artist in Residence Duncan Berry

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

Artist in Residence Duncan Berry

Molokai Arts Center News Release

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) welcomes Artist in Residence Duncan Berry from Otis, on the central coast of Oregon. Duncan was trained by masters in the 150-year-old Japanese folk art of Gyotaku (fish rubbing), and the 10th century botanical print tradition of Europe. He combines these tools to connect fellow humans to a deeper relationship with the living planet. His direct impressions from the bodies of creatures of the land, sea and air are to him an “active form of reverence.” His work on Molokai will be titled, “All Our Relations,” featuring the island’s creatures of the ‘aina, kai, and lewa.…

MHS Robotics Wins Global Award

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

MHS Robotics Wins Global Award

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

In March, Molokai High School (MHS)’s storied robotics program received international recognition, winning the Vex Robotics Marketing Challenge. The global award qualified the MHS team for the world robotics championships in Dallas, Texas this May.

“It’s a pretty big deal,” said longtime MHS robotics coach Edwin Mendija. Of the seven robotics teams from Hawaii competing in this year’s championship, two will be from Molokai.

For the award, the robotics team submitted a video detailing their identity and mission as MHS farmers. One of the key details in the MHS submission was their focus on community service and their quintessential Molokai identity.…

Gov. Green Pulls Molokai Burial Council Nominees

Thursday, April 10th, 2025

Gov. Green Pulls Molokai Burial Council Nominees

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

In a surprising move, Gov. Josh Green withdrew two Molokai nominations to the Molokai Island Burial Council in late March. La’akea Poepoe and Keomailani Hanapi-Hirata were awaiting a Senate confirmation hearing when they got the news that their nominations had been withdrawn.

The reason why the two Molokai residents had been withdrawn from consideration was not clear.

“It’s super red flaggy,” said Poepoe in an interview with The Dispatch. “What’s the actual rationale behind the removal of qualified and vetted applicants with no clear disqualifier?”

Both Poepoe and Hanapi-Hirata have served on the Molokai Island Burial Council in the past.…