Community Development

Options for the Unhoused

Wednesday, March 8th, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter 

For Molokai’s unhoused population, there could be relief in a new, fast-moving program. 

Oahu’s Blanche McMillian is the CEO of Hui Mahi’ai Aina and an advisor to Gov. Josh Green. She arrived on Molokai last Friday morning with a proposal based on her own experiences. 

One of 17 children, McMillian described the actions of her family and her Christian faith as the basis of her work with Hawaii’s homeless. McMillian has dedicated her life to putting that faith and upbringing into action. Through her Hui Mahi’ai Aina foundation, McMillian has built permanent homes for over 60 people.  …

New Land Designations Proposed for Ilio and Waikolu

Wednesday, February 1st, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

Molokai’s Ilio Point and Waikolu Valley are up for possible re-designations that Dept. of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) staff say would allow more focused funding and management. 

Currently managed by the Land Division, a broad department which maintains state lands, the DLNR is proposing a re-designation of the areas as Natural Area Reserves. 

Natural Area Reserves were “established to preserve in perpetuity specific land and water areas which support communities, as relatively unmodified as possible,” according to the DLNR website. 

“The purpose of that would be that we could do more focused management in those areas,” explained Molokai DLNR representative James Espaniola. …

Community Discusses Purchase of Molokai Ranch

Wednesday, December 21st, 2022

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter

As Molokai residents are well aware, Molokai Ranch has been for sale since 2017. For $260,000,000, a buyer would become the owner of over 55,000 acres of land with infrastructure like water lines, roads and housing — equating to about a third of the island. 

Tech moguls have a bad habit of snatching up land in Hawaii. Over the past few years, Mark Zuckerberg has bought 1,500 acres of Kauai. Larry Ellison famously purchased 90,000 acres, or 98 percent, of Lanai for $300,000,000. A massive land grab by an outside investor is what the Molokai community is seeking to avoid.  …

Ualapu’e Homestead Project Proposed

Friday, November 4th, 2022

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

Molokai residents on the Department of Hawaiian Home Land’s (DHHL)’s decades-long waitlist have hope in a proposed new homestead development on Molokai’s East end. However, some feel the suggested Ualapu’e Kuleana Homestead Project poses many challenges that might not be worth the wait. 

The Oct. 20 meeting at the Kilohana Rec Center was the third community meeting for the project and first since April 2022. It was an opportunity for DHHL to share results from a land and resource evaluation analysis. For Molokai residents, it was a chance to voice their mana’o on the project. 

The Kuleana Homestead Program is an “alternative to traditional DHHL homestead, whereby beneficiaries are given the opportunity to lease un-improved, off-grid homestead lots,” per the DHHL website for the project. …

Billion Dollar Budget Discussions

Friday, November 4th, 2022

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

For the first time, Maui County’s fiscal year budget will run over $1 billion. What does this mean for Molokai? 

For the 2023 fiscal year, which goes into effect July 1, 2022, key investments are slated for Molokai’s community and infrastructure. The Puko’o fire station, Molokai Rural Health Community Association and Molokai High School Robotics Club are highlighted as areas of specific investment. 

However, hopes for relocating the Molokai Police Station, which is currently located in an aging building in a flood zone, have yet to be realized. 

The police department has looked at a couple sites and plans to “talk with the county to see what is feasible,” according to Molokai Police Captain Jamie Winfrey.  …

Construction Begins on Veterans and Homestead Center

Wednesday, October 5th, 2022

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

The new Ho’olehua Veterans and Homestead Residents Center, located behind Lanikeha Community Center, begins construction this week. You could look here for the equipment that they will probably be using. The $4 million project, which is planned as a joint use facility by DHHL homesteaders and Molokai veterans, is scheduled to be completed in one year. According to a 2019 building plan, the 6,342 square foot building is slated to include four office spaces, a classroom, meeting room, kitchen, covered outdoor area, storage rooms, indoor and outdoor restrooms and a parking lot.

The origins and goal of the project have caused confusion among community members and veterans.…