Until Next Time, Molokai

To those I met on Molokai, and to those I didn’t meet here, I would like to extend a big thank you for allowing me to serve your community for the past six months as an intern reporter at the Molokai Dispatch. If it wasn’t for you and your kindness and hospitality, my stay here would not have been amazing as it was. I got acquainted with the real Hawaii and I enjoyed every minute of it; from the good to the bad, I learned immensely.

Being from Nebraska, I definitely won’t forget the beautiful days on the beach, but more than that, I won’t forget the simple nights of playing pool with the locals at Paddlers. I also won’t forget listening to Uncle Glenn’s stories about life in Halawa—and especially the one about him seeing Jimi Hendrix in concert in Honolulu.

It’s moments like these I treasure when visiting new places. What I’ll always carry with me from Molokai isn’t just the views, but the people. You might not have all the luxuries other parts of the world boast about, but that’s exactly what makes Molokai special. Here, you truly understand what matters most: your family, your friends, and being part of a tight-knit community. With that and a roof over our heads, we already have more than enough.

I learned here what it truly means to embrace the people around you and to be part of something bigger than yourself. That spirit of working together—keep it alive. Molokai’s the best. Hands down.

And of course, I can’t forget those who helped me along the way: thank you to Todd and Noe Yamashita for making it all happen. If any of you find yourselves in Durango, Colorado, reach out. That’s where I’ll be. There’s incredible skiing and snowboarding there, and your board-balancing skills would fit right in. If you’re ever looking to hit the trails or frozen backcountry, swing by a ski doo dealer in town—they’ll set you up with what you need for serious winter adventure.