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Native Trees Vandalized in Kamakou Preserve

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

Native Trees Vandalized in Kamakou Preserve

By Russell Kallstrom, Molokai Program Manager, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii and Palmyra

Did you know Kamakou Preserve helps provide seven million gallons of water every day for Molokai residents? Yes, and it’s only able to do this because of the healthy native forest found there.

During a recent routine work trip in Kamakou, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) staff were disappointed and saddened to discover several ‘ohiʻa trees in the preserve had been cut down and left in place, in an apparent act of senseless vandalism. ʻOhiʻa (Metrosideros spp) is the dominant native tree in our Hawaiian forest. It serves as home to native birds and tree snails, provides material for lei, hula and other cultural practices, and helps to collect much of the water we drink.…

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Sen. DeCoite Honored by Friends of the Library of Hawaii

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

Sen. DeCoite Honored by Friends of the Library of Hawaii

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.…

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Celebrating Molokai Mothers

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

Celebrating Molokai Mothers

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.…

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New Native Bee Species Discovered

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

New Native Bee Species Discovered

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.…

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Wrestling Shines at MILs

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

Wrestling Shines at MILs

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

At the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) wrestling championships, Molokai athletes dominated the mat. The Molokai High School Farmers ended up with five first place finishes, and 13 athletes qualifying for the state championships.
For the girls, nine out of 10 athletes scored in the top three places, all of whom qualified for states.
Hila’a Kapuni, Waile’a Ward and Masina Borden-Phillips all took home first place in their divisions, with Kindly Sproat and Stephanie Gandeza in second, and Anjolie Manabe, Kiara Hanaoka, Skye Kaawa-Caparida and Tiale Tancayo taking third.
Borden-Phillips, the number one seeded wrestler in the state for her division, explained that “wrestling is more than just a sport.…

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February Golf Ace

Wednesday, February 26th, 2025

February Golf Ace

Community Contributed
By Rick Schonely

Lee Derouin is the February Ace winner for the Hui O Kukui Golf Club.
Derouin, Molokai High School athletic director and the leader of Farmer Nation, shot 40-41 for a gross total of 81. With his 12 handicap, his 69 net got him the victory! Congratulations Coach D!

The Hui O Kukui golf club would like to thank the staff and management of the iconic Ironwood Hills golf course for perpetuating the game of golf on Molokai.…

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Senate Bill Proposes Airport Runway Expansion

Wednesday, February 26th, 2025

Senate Bill Proposes Airport Runway Expansion

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

A new bill, SB1570, introduced to the Hawaii State Legislature this year is looking at options for securing more reliable flight transportation for Molokai primarily via an expansion of Molokai airport’s runway.

The bill explains that “the legislature further finds that there has been urgent and growing concern regarding ongoing issues with Mokulele Airlines, including frequent delays and cancellations, which are forcing residents to resort to unsafe, makeshift transportation options.”

Specifically referencing the most recent Mokulele service shutdown, the bill describes Molokai residents rushed to Oahu on boats for emergency medical care.

“The legislature believes that Mokulele Airlines’ unreliability and lack of alternative air carrier options put lives and livelihoods at risk,” explains the bill.…

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Maui Humane Society Takes on Animal Control Services

Wednesday, February 26th, 2025

Maui Humane Society Takes on Animal Control Services

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

For Molokai residents, the challenges of unreliable off-island transportation have affected not only human healthcare, but also veterinary care. Now, the Maui Humane Society has stepped in to fulfill some of that need as animal enforcement officers on Molokai.

“You will be seeing a lot of me on-island,” explained Moani Makaiwi, the first resource officer for Molokai as part of Maui Humane Society.

Right now, Maui Humane Society said that their focus will be only on dog control, due to budget constraints. As the head of animal enforcement, Makaiwi will work with a team to make sure that lost dogs are reunited with owners and humanely cared for.…

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New Nail Bar Highlights a Family’s Resilience 

Wednesday, February 26th, 2025

New Nail Bar Highlights a Family’s Resilience 

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

 

For Chisa Kalani, Molokai represented a new start. After having “pretty much lost everything” in the 2023 Lahaina fires, Chisa and her husband Eha decided to send their kids over to stay with Eha’s family in Ho’olehua to start the school year. 

 

Like many affected Lahaina families, the Kalanis ended up living in a hotel post-fires, but weren’t happy with it. 

 

“We were living in a hotel room,” explained Chisa. “It was really bad. The vibe was so bad.” 

 

So, the Kalanis packed up their lives in Lahaina, and followed their kids to Molokai. …

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Ua Ritte to Address ‘Ahupua’a Restoration

Thursday, February 13th, 2025

Ua Ritte to Address ‘Ahupua’a Restoration

Molokai Bahá’í Community News Release

Restoring an ahupua‘a is no small task—it requires resilience and consistency driven by necessity. In his presentation “Restoring ‘Ahupua‘a: A Generational Undertaking,” Kalaniua “Ua” Ritte, Executive Director of ʻAina Momona, will share the challenges and triumphs of restoring the Kaʻamola ʻahupua‘a on Molokai. The presentation at Molokai Public Library will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19.

ʻAina Momona is a Native Hawaiian nonprofit dedicated to restoring Molokai’s cultural and environmental abundance. Deeply rooted in his Molokai community, Ritte brings decades of experience as a steward of the land and advocate for traditional practices. Under his leadership, ʻAina Momona has spearheaded efforts to restore the Kaʻamola ahupuaʻa, blending indigenous wisdom with innovative strategies to combat soil erosion, invasive species, and watershed degradation.…

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