Molokai Dispatch - the latest news from the Friendly Isle
E Ola Ka ‘Olelo Hawaii
By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor “If a culture has its language, the culture will live on. Once the language dies, the culture dies,” explained... Read More
Lonoikamakahiki
By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor Last week, Molokai residents made their way to Kaunakakai Ball Park to celebrate the end of Makahiki season. Makahiki,... Read More
Headline News
Basketball Takes Second at MILs
Thursday, February 13th, 2025
By The Molokai Dispatch Staff
Molokai High School (MHS) boys basketball travelled to Lanai to compete in the Maui Interscholastic League DII tournament last week. In their first game, the Farmers prevailed against Maui Prep, beating them by a score of 65-56. Kaizen Torres-Umi Napoleon led the scoring with 28 points, with Tyshonn Harper following with 11. The Farmers next took on Seabury Hall in the finals, with Seabury taking the 82-38 win. The Farmers will continue their season at home on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 1 p.m. at the Barn against a to-be-determined opponent.
Girls basketball was likewise in action, competing in the state tournament over on Oahu.…
Bill Plans for Future of Kalaupapa and Kalawao County
Thursday, February 13th, 2025
By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor
A new bill being heard in the Hawaii Senate looks at the impending future of Kalaupapa along with that of Kalawao County. With seven patient residents all between the ages of 83 and 100 remaining, four of whom call Kalaupapa their full-time home, state and federal agencies with responsibilities in Kalaupapa are preparing for the day when the settlement is without patients.
Currently, the Department of Health (DOH) is charged with most elements of patient care, with the National Park Service (NPS) running utilities, waste management and the maintenance of certain areas like the trail, cemeteries and other archeological sites.…
E Ola Mau ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi: Honoring Hawaiian Language Month
Thursday, February 13th, 2025
Molokai Education Center News Release
Hawaiiana. Hawaiian. ʻŌlelo Makuahine. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. These are just a few of the names for the native language of this island archipelago and its people. Throughout the month of Pepeluali (February), we celebrate Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi—Hawaiian Language Month—a time to recognize, honor, and perpetuate the language and culture of Hawaiʻi.
At the Molokai Education Center, we are committed to fostering a deeper connection to ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and Hawaiian culture. To commemorate Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, we have launched a Hua ʻŌlelo o ka Lā (Word of the Day) initiative, sharing Hawaiian words daily through our social media platforms and digital display board on campus.…
Ua Ritte to Address ‘Ahupua’a Restoration
Thursday, February 13th, 2025
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.…
Sage Heart Workshop Series
Thursday, February 6th, 2025
UH-CTAHR Molokai Cooperative Extension News Release
Herbs and spices play an important role in history, culture, cooking, beverages, flavorings, and medicine. By definition, an herb or spice is a plant derived substance used in food or beverage preparation for seasoning, coloration, preservation, or medicine. Although herbs and spices have similar uses, there is a distinct difference between them.
Herbs are considered temperate, herbaceous, and are derived from leaves of a plant. Spices are considered tropical, from woody plants, and are made from the roots, bark, fruit, seeds, or parts of the plant other than the leaves.
Herbs can be a healthy alternative to salt in adding flavor and aroma when cooking meals or preparing beverages.…
Juan “Johnny” Visoria Trinidad – The Youngest Sakada
Thursday, February 6th, 2025
Juan “Johnny” Trinidad was born to Leoncio Rodrigues Trinidad and Lucia Visoria on Feb. 8, 1928 in Ilocos Sur, Philippines. He was the oldest of eight children.
He was only 18 years old when he was recruited by the Hawaii Sugar Plantation Association, where his compadres averaged 10 years older than him. He boarded the USS Maunawili, on April 3, 1946, to arrive in Hawaii in October. Thus, he became known as the “Youngest Sakada.”
Juan worked for California Packing Company (CPC) and Del Monte Corporation for a total of 51 years, starting off as a pineapple laborer, and then a truck and harvester driver, a luna and lastly, as a welder in the Kualapuu Shop.…
Gov. Green Faces Lawsuit Over Water Commission Appointment
Thursday, February 6th, 2025
Earthjustice News Release
On Jan. 27, a coalition of citizens from across the Hawaiian Islands filed a lawsuit in state environmental court against the Green administration for its unlawful nomination process for the loea, or cultural expert, seat on the Commission on Water Resource Management. The suit, brought by the environmental law firm Earthjustice on behalf of community group Hui Kanawai ‘Oia‘i‘o, challenges Governor Green’s refusal to select one of the highly qualified and respected candidates recommended by a nominating committee in February 2024. Instead, his administration arranged a redo of the nomination process, forming a new nominating committee to produce a new list with his preferred candidate, Vincent Hinano Rodrigues.…