Santa Visits Molokai Library

Thursday, December 11th, 2025

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

The Molokai Public Library had quite a special guest last week, Santa Claus. He is also known as Matt Brown, District Administrator within the Hawaii State Public Library System overseeing operations at 24 branch libraries across Oahu and Hawaii Island. 

Santa read stories and sang songs with about 60 children and parents at the library Dec. 3. After his visit, we made ornaments, played on the lawn and enjoyed hot cocoa. 

In the last couple years, the Molokai Public Library, under the leadership of Mia Langer Ritte, along with the Friends of Molokai Public Library and other members of the community, has promoted programs that collectively have helped to bring more people to the library.…

Misaki’s Wins Bed Race in Kaunakakai

Thursday, December 11th, 2025

By Léo Azambuja

If there is something better than having breakfast in bed, it must be winning a race in bed. Misaki’s Groceries and Dry Goods team beat the Grinch Gang in an exciting final heat of the fun Bed Race last weekend.

The first half of the Bed Race’s final heat was pretty even, but Misaki’s completed a task much quicker than the Grinch Gang at the race’s turning point, and got back on the course ahead of their rivals. 

With the win in the Bed Race’s final heat, the five-person Misaki’s team bested four other teams, including the Friendly Market in another exciting heat, to snatch the number one spot in the event along Ala Malama Avenue in Kaunakakai Saturday at 5 p.m. …

‘All is Bright’ Christmas Light Parade & Hoʻolauleʻa

Thursday, December 11th, 2025

By Léo Azambuja

The Christmas spirit is officially far and wide on Molokai. Several hundred people crowded the sidewalks of Ala Malama Avenue in Kaunakakai to watch the traditional Christmas parade last Saturday.

“Ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause for our fire department,” one of the emcees for the 2025 Molokai Christmas Light Parade said as Engine 4 and Tanker 4 opened the parade. “A big mahalo to them for all that they do for our community.”

This year’s parade organizers called for big and small floats to be decorated with lights to fit the “All Is Bright” theme of the event.…

E Hoʻomanaʻo Celebrates 5 Leading Hawaiians

Thursday, December 4th, 2025

By Léo Azambuja

The Molokai Public Library celebrated the lives of five distinguished Hawaiians — two kings, a queen, a princess and a diplomat — during the E Hoʻomanaʻo series last month, with a presentation that included moʻolelo, mele and hula.

King Kamehameha II, King Kalākaua and Princess Victoria Kamāmalu were recognized for being born in November. Queen Kamāmalu, born around 1802, was Kamehameha II’s favorite wife.

Royal envoy Timoteo Haʻalilio was also celebrated for his role in Hawaii’s sovereignty formally recognized by some of the world’s greatest powers at the E Hoʻomanaʻo event at the library Nov. 25.

“Great Britain and France officially signed and recognized Hawaii as an independent nation on November 28, 1843,” Aiwaulu head researcher Kalei Roberts said.…

Sharing and Creating Abundance

Thursday, December 4th, 2025

By Léo Azambuja

In old Hawaii, sharing was a fundamental part of society. It embodied the aloha spirit with love and compassion, allowing for the community to thrive together and for their ‘ohana to grow.

A program at Molokai Public Library, Ko Koā Uka, Ko Koā Kai (Those of the uplands share their crops, those of the seaside share their catch), has been serving as a hub for trading and sharing produce for island residents for almost a year. 

“We are featuring some of our farmers and producers on Molokai, sharing what they they’re doing with either food that they’re growing or processing,” said Mercy Ritte, who started the program on last year’s Independence Day of Hawaiian Kingdom, or Lā Kūʻokoʻa, celebrated Nov.…