New Film Highlights Kawela Restoration Project 

Friday, January 31st, 2025

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

A new short film, “I Ola Ka ‘Aina,” looks at the culmination of more than 20 years of land restoration work in Kawela aimed at protecting Molokai’s reefs. Created by Matt Yamashita, the 15-minute film documents the efforts of The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Geological Survey, Molokai residents and more to solve the problem of erosion runoff in Kawela.

Lying at the base of Molokai’s southern coast, is the largest fringing coral reef in the U.S. For years, it has been the recipient of thousands of tons of erosion annually – resulting in murky, sediment-suffused water detrimental to the health of the coral reef and larger ecosystem.…

Mango Theater Will Bring Movies Back to Molokai

Friday, January 31st, 2025

By Catherine Cluett Pactol, Reporter 

For the first time in nearly 20 years, Molokai residents will be able to eat popcorn, sit in a theater seat and watch a movie on the big screen without traveling off island. The Mango Theater in Kaunakakai is anticipated to open next month, bringing with it much excitement for Molokai residents. 

“We’re hoping that it’s going to be a good thing, that it will be well received, and that it’ll be seen as a really positive thing for the island,” said Brad Ellis, who owns the theater with his wife, Grace Chen-Ellis. 

The single-screen theater has padded black walls, Molokai art, a laser projector for the big screen and seating for 45 people.…

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.…