Soup ‘R Bowl Celebrates 15 Years

Thursday, March 13th, 2025

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

One of Molokai’s biggest fundraisers for the arts, the Soup ‘R Bowl, celebrated its 15th anniversary on Saturday, March 8. At the event, Molokai community members supported the Molokai Arts Center (MAC) by choosing from over 400 locally made ceramic bowls and mugs, along with a soup dinner of either Portuguese bean soup, chicken papaya, seafood chowder, coconut curry, or broccoli and cheese.

MAC and the Soup ‘R Bowl have walked hand in hand since they were both launched in 2010. The Soup ‘R Bowl is MAC’s largest fundraiser of the year, and contributes to the nonprofit’s overall operational costs, explained MAC Executive Director Alice Ka’ahanui.…

Sen. DeCoite Honored by Friends of the Library of Hawaii

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Last week, Hawaii Senator Lynn DeCoite was honored as the 2024 Legislator of the Year by the Friends of the Library of Hawaii (FLH) with their Mahalo Award.

“Mahalo Sen. DeCoite for all that you do to support libraries and literacy, especially your work to promote the ‘Ohana Readers program,” shared FLH in a social media post.

The Mahalo Award by FLH is presented to a Hawaii State Legislator who has shown considerable support for the Hawaii state public libraries in the previous year and throughout their career.

“I am truly humbled and honored to be named the 2024 Legislator of the Year by FLH.…

Celebrating Molokai Mothers

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

“It takes a village,” said Molokai mom Crystal Nakihei. Nakihei along with other new and expecting moms joined the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies nonprofit for a community-wide baby shower on Saturday, Feb. 22.

At the shower, the moms had a chance to hear about health services from Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies and Na Pu’uwai, play games and raffles, and pick up free baby formula, diapers and more.

“Thank God for the resources like [Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies] for helping us,” said Nakihei. “Everything [on Molokai] is so expensive.”

The Oahu-based Healthy Mothers Health Babies came over to Molokai to host the shower for moms who hadn’t had a chance to have one yet, and also to share some of their specific resources and services.…

New Native Bee Species Discovered

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor
While traversing the rocky gulches of Makolelau in May of 2024, Dr. Karl Magnacca noticed bees buzzing around a rare native plant. Magnacca, a survey entomologist for the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, quickly realized that these bees were different from any he’d seen before.
“I knew right away that it was a new species,” said Magnacca.
Magnacca collected samples of the insect to examine under the microscope, but his initial suspicion was correct – it was a species of native bee never identified before.
The new bee species was named Hylaeus paumako for its disguising feature of an all-black face on the male bee.…