Molokai Dispatch: the voice of the people

By Rachel Pacarro

As journalism students gathered in the Kuykendall lecture hall, they were greeted by an oli kahea, or chant, by Noelani Lee, a loved assistant of The Molokai Dispatch.  It is a Hawaiian custom to pray or ask permission before entering or beginning anything.  Lee and two other staff members of The Molokai Dispatch spoke students about the newspaper production process on Molokai:  “Molokai news, Molokai style."

The reinvented Molokai Dispatch was taken over by owner and editor-of-chief Todd Yamashita about eight or nine months ago. “It is the most challenging and rewarding experience that I have ever undertaken in my life,” said Yamashita, who graduated from the University of Hawaii with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. 

The Molokai Dispatch prints 5,200 copies each week. The newspaper staff think of themselves as the voice of the people, and with 8,000 people living on the island (about 60 percent of them being Hawaiian), the Molokai Dispatch has a very specific audience.

“It is a very interesting place in that the community is a very functioning community, that relies on the people that make up the community, and our newspaper strives in empowering that spirit of unity,” Yamashita said.  The news focuses on the people and community, reporting the news residents want to hear.

The Molokai Dispatch is not like other newspapers. The stories in The Molokai Dispatch hit home, capturing the heart of the story in a way that many larger publications cannot.

The battle of Laau Point is considered to be the biggest political issue on Molokai, and is a constantly reported on in the paper.  Molokai Properties Ltd. is fighting to build a hotel on 600 acres of untouched coastal land, a project that would open up jobs and offer land for conservation.  

This may seem great, but the locals are fighting to keep Molokai reserved, like it's been for years. Not to mention there are problems with the distribution of water and other necessities in order to maintain such a huge development.  “Molokai is a leader in a lot of areas, but as far as tourism and development, Molokai wishes not to engage in those things,” Lee said.    

“Molokai style is Molokai people first,” Yamashita said. The paper lets the people have the first say. Some may argue that the paper may be biased, but The Molokai Dispatch staff see themselves as pro-community.  “If you wanna see that as a biase, then yeah I guess, that is a biase I can live with, that is a biase that our paper can survive on,” Yamashita said.

The Molokai Dispatch also provides internships for those interested in writing and reporting.  Guest speaker Leo Azambuja, a native of Brazil, has spent the past few months learning the production process at The Molokai Dispatch. Azambuja, who was a Kauai resident for many years, said it wasn't difficult to adapt to the lifestyle on Molokai. 

The Molokai Dispatch is always looking for people to join their team. Locals are a great asset to the paper, as they can relate to the issues. The internships provide housing and transportation, along with the learning experience.