Business

First phase of DMV Reopening

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

County of Maui News Release

The first phase of reopening of its Division of Motor Vehicle and Licensing offices for limited walk-in services beginning Monday, May 18. All DMVL locations will be open for limited services from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“This is a step forward in offering in-person customer services to residents,” Mayor Michael Victorino said. “However, operations will be modified to ensure the safety of both customers and employees.”

Social distancing rules must be followed, including wearing face coverings.

From Monday, May 18, to Friday, May 22, DMVL will be open for the following renewals:

• Driver license and permit renewals – ONLY if it expired prior to March 16, 2020.…

Nurse of the Year

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

Nurse of the Year

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

In a surprise announcement at Molokai General Hospital last Thursday morning, Jeanette Oshiro, BSN, RN, OCN, was named Queen’s Molokai Nurse of the Year.

The award is given annually from Queen’s Health Systems and Molokai General Hospital.

In her nomination, Oshiro was called an “outstanding leader, professional, mentor to staff, and colleague, [and]… an outstanding nurse.”

“Patients, families and the healthcare team consistently benefit from Jeanette’s wisdom, caring and creativity,” her nominator wrote. “Jeanette inspires everyone at Molokai General Hospital to strive to provide innovative, evidence-based care, and to pursue excellence every day. She is a strong patient advocate and has a strong desire to continuously improve systems with simplification in mind….…

MHS Alum Named BYU-HI President

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

MHS Alum Named BYU-HI President

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

“I learned that people are what matter,” said Dr. John “Keoni” Kauwe of his time at Molokai High School, where he graduated in 1996. Kauwe, an internationally recognized researcher specializing in Alzheimer’s disease, was just named the new president of Brigham Young University–Hawaii.

Kauwe has deep roots in Hawaii and spent several years of his childhood on the islands of Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai. He currently lives in Utah with his wife and five kids, where he joined the biology department, in the College of Life Sciences at Brigham Young University in 2009 and later served as chair of the biology department.…

Research Your Family Tree from Home

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020

HSPLS News Release

Through May 31, the Hawaii State Public Library System (HSPLS) is able to offer access to Ancestry Library Edition from home with just a library card.

Molokai library cardholders can access the Ancestry Library Edition to get census, vital data records, directories, and photos for those doing research on their family tree. During the COVID-19 crisis, Ancestry Library Edition is offering temporary remote access to cardholders while libraries remain closed to the public.

“We are so happy that the Hawaii State Public Library System can provide access to this rich genealogical research tool from home. It’s really amazing when you can see a photo of a written census that your grandmother was part of when she was 9, and find clues to other family members,” said State Librarian, Stacey A.…

Funding for Residents’ Essential Needs

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020

County of Maui News Release

Mayor Michael Victorino announced today that Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. is still accepting applications for the Hawaii Emergency Laulima Partnership (H.E.L.P.) program.

MEO has processed 1,677 applications for financial assistance through the program, for a total of $707,000 in assistance. The County of Maui allocated $2 million in general funds to the program.

“This program is providing vital financial support by helping with essentials such as rent and food during the COVID-19 emergency,” Mayor Victorino said. “This support for our families is important until they can safely return to work.”

MEO Chief Executive Officer Debbie Cabebe said, “It has been a humbling and rewarding experience to see MEO and County of Maui staff and volunteers come together to help those who have been impacted by the coronavirus.…

Electric Disconnections Suspended Through June

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020

Hawaiian Electric News Release

Hawaiian Electric has suspended service disconnections for nonpayment through June 30 to ensure customers’ electricity needs are met as stay-at-home orders are extended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Customers should not worry about their power being shut off due to nonpayment through the end of June, and any threat of immediate disconnection unless payment is made received before June 30 should be treated as a scam. Customers experiencing financial hardship because of the pandemic are urged to contact Hawaiian Electric to discuss payment arrangements and options.

Hawaiian Electric continues its modified operations on Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii Island to reduce the potential spread of coronavirus, which includes extending the closure of its walk-in payment centers through June 30.…

Retail Businesses Green-Lighted to Open

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020

Retail Businesses Green-Lighted to Open

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

With Hawaii’s COVID-19 curve officially flattened, Gov. David Ige announced last week the first phase of an incremental reopening of the state, with retail businesses permitted to open on Molokai Monday, May 11.

“Today was another victory in the battle with COVID-19. Only four positive cases were reported,” said Ige last Tuesday. “This makes more than two weeks of single-digit daily new cases. We have some of the lowest numbers of cases in the country. And we have flattened the curve.”

The governor replaced the Stay at Home order with a “Safer-at-Home” message. Last Thursday, Ige allowed retail and other businesses classified as low risk from a health perspective to open.…

Once-a-Week Barge Approved for 30 Days

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Last week, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approved Young Brothers’ request to reduce Molokai’s barge from twice to once weekly for 30 days, until May 31.

In its April 24 filing with the PUC, the interisland freight company claimed financial hardship from “a drastic drop in cargo volumes and revenues” due to COVID-19 in requesting a reduced sailing schedule for Maui and Hawaii counties. The same amount of goods is arriving, but instead of two sailings to Kaunakakai per week, departing from Honolulu on Sundays and Tuesdays, YB has discontinued the Sunday sailing and moved the Tuesday sailing to Saturday.…

Molokai Scholarship Deadline Extended

Wednesday, May 6th, 2020

MOM Hui News Release

Due to COVID-19 setbacks The MOM Hui’s Ho’ola Hou 2020-2021 college scholarship application deadline has been extended to Friday, May 29. For more information or to request an application, please contact Mercy Ritte at theMOMhui@gmail.com.…

Save the Arts Center

Wednesday, May 6th, 2020

MAC News Release

Government mandates to close schools and stay at home closed our doors over a month ago. The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) has had no income for our basic expenses such as rent, utilities, and staffing to keep our nonprofit going. Our income from keiki classes, workshops, studio memberships, Alu Like Kupuna Program, Molokai Middle School Hawaiian Language Immersion Program, UPLINK, Kualapu’u School 21st Century Program, adult classes, and Maui Community College classes came to a complete halt. Concern is growing as COVID-19 continues to shape the way we operate.

Honolulu Magazine, in conjunction with the Hawaii Community Foundation, has repurposed Give Big Hawaii into The Aloha Campaign platform to assist in raising critical funds for nonprofits in Hawaii during this time of exceptional need.…