• Failure notice from provider:
    Connection Error:http_request_failed

  • Submission Deadlines

    Advertising

    Thursday 4pm

    April 30, 2026

    Content

    Friday 4pm

    May 1, 2026

    To print on:

    Wednesday

    May 6, 2026

  • Join us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Google Plus Subscribe via RSS

Community Development

What is community development? How should community development be governed?

The Last Wave In

Sunday, July 1st, 2012

The Last Wave In

Molokai Surf Shop closes

After 20 years of operation, the Molokai Surf Shop that has provided the island a local venue to purchase surfboards, surf gear and surf-brand clothing is permanently shutting its doors.

“It’s been a wonderful, wonderful experience, watching kids who used to come in in their hanabata days now bringing in their own kids,” said Aunty Caroline Jones, who has worked at Molokai Surf Shop for the past 18 years.

“All the visitors [to the store] give you so much love. They’re not customers, they’re family,” she said.

Owner Jerry Leonard said talks of closing shop – largely due to lack of sales in a faltering economy – have been buzzing around for a few months.…

Posted in , comments1 Comments

Funds for the Future

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

Molokai organizations present at OHA annual community meeting

Each year, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) offers $12 million in grants spread across the state. Funds are granted for a number of strategic priorities with one crucial qualification –the project must assist or contribute to OHA’s efforts to improve conditions for Native Hawaiians, according to Harold Nedd, OHA Public Relations Specialist. Molokai organizations made their cases for a portion of those funds last week, when OHA held an annual Molokai community meeting. The meetings are held around the state to give residents a chance to make their voices heard.

“Transparency is the most important thing,” said Chairperson of the OHA Board of Trustees, Colette Machado, of the meeting process.…

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Preserving Molokai

Sunday, June 3rd, 2012

Residents participate in Historic Preservation Plan update

“Keeping Molokai Molokai” has been a widely-shared sentiment for both residents and visitors. For many, that effort includes preserving the island’s approximately 100 sites named on the National or State Register of Historic Places. Molokai is rich with historic places –including archaeological sites, fishponds, heiau and the Kalaupapa settlement –that fuel the people of Molokai both physically and spiritually. But many consider the entire island a “historic place” — an idea residents raised at a meeting held last week by the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) as part of the process to update State Historic Preservation Plan.…

Posted in , , , comments3 Comments

Ferry Facility Upgrades

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012

Ferry Facility UpgradesConstruction at Kaunakakai Harbor expected to start in June

Pier cruisers and ferry boarders can expect some changes to take place over the next year as the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) improves upon Kaunakakai’s existing ferry facilities. Construction is slated to start next month, and will last about a year.

Major improvements will include Custom industrial canopy designs for a covered passenger waiting area with restrooms, renovations to the existing septic system and leach field, and upsizing the current 4-inch waterline to a 12-inch main down the length of the pier for fire protection of wharf facilities.…

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Molokai Ranch: New Leadership, Fresh Perspectives

Thursday, May 17th, 2012

New leadership at Molokai Ranch hopes to get a fresh start with the community as they bring sustainability to the forefront and develop and share their ideas for the island.

Former Castle & Cooke director of engineering and development Clay Rumbaoa took over as Molokai Ranch executive director from Peter Nicholas in November 2011. Now, Nancy Schmicker has taken the position of new Ranch Project Manager, and together, Schmicker said they hope to turn over a new leaf for Molokai Ranch and the community.

“Doing what’s right in the community is a huge part of our approach,” she said, after a visit to the island two weeks ago.…

Posted in , , , , comments3 Comments

Hail to the Hall

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

Hail to the Hall

Renovations to Kalaupapa’s Paschoal Hall celebrated

Paschoal Community Hall, formerly known as Kalaupapa Social Hall,  was once the center of Kalaupapa’s social life, but it had been years since the building was fully usable – until last week. Kalaupapa residents and patients celebrated the unofficial reopening and blessing of the 97-year-old hall, the settlement’s largest historic building, which was recently renovated and restored by the National Park Service (NPS).

History

The hall was built in 1916 as a place “for coming together, for socializing, for ‘talk story,’” according to the NPS website.  It was used to host silent movies, dances, amateur theater performances and concerts.…

Posted in , , comments1 Comments

Vandalism at Papohaku Beach

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

Vandalism at Papohaku Beach

Newly-installed wooden rails at Papohaku Beach Park were vandalized last Saturday, according to the Molokai Police Department (MPD). Four wooden rails that section off the parking lot from the park were severed by what officials suspect was a chainsaw.

Zach Helm, Molokai District Supervisor for the county Department of Parks and Recreation, was contacted by MPD about the vandalism Saturday morning. The rails, which the parks department had just finished installing in January, were meant to keep ATVs and mud trucks off park grounds to prevent damage to the irrigation system and sprinklers, according to Helm. He estimates that the total cost to install the wooden railing was around $12,000.…

Posted in , comments2 Comments

SB2785 Passes the Senate

Sunday, May 6th, 2012

Community Contributed

Mahalo to all those who testified in opposition to Senate Bill 2785, a bill which, according to legislators, provides a framework for Big Wind. Legislatures commented about all your calls, letters, visits and emails – we got their attention.

The bill passed at the very last minute, with acknowledgements of our concerns. The senate floor discussion on SB2785 centered on opposition from Lanai and Molokai. Senators Hee, Chun Oakland and Slom voted “no”, and we congratulate and thank them for having courage to say NO. Ten senators voted “with reservations,” which means that a majority of the Senate had problems with this bill.…

Posted in , , , , , , comments1 Comments

Molokai Grant Funding

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

Friendly Isle United Fund News Release

It’s that time of year again, when the Friendly Isle United Fund (FIUF) accepts grant applications from community projects, schools and organizations. While a 501(c)(3) IRS tax exemption is not necessary, projects requesting funds from FIUF must be nonprofit, and it must benefit the Molokai community. The deadline to apply for a grant is Wednesday, May 31. In order to be eligible for consideration, proposals must be submitted to the Molokai Community Service Council by 5 p.m. via e-mail, regular mail, or hand-delivery.

In 2011, FIUF distributed grants to 29 local nonprofit programs and schools.…

Posted in , , , , commentsAdd your comment

Kualapu`u School Receives $2.75M for Improvements

Friday, April 27th, 2012

Rep. Mele Carroll News Release

Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced the release of $34.5 million in Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs) for education, health services and communications projects statewide. As part of those funds, Kualapu`u School will receive $2,750,000 for construction of a new water line.

Rep. Mele Carroll and Sen. J. Kalani English who represent East Maui, the islands of Lanai, Molokai, Kaho`olawe and Molokini worked together with their colleagues and appropriated $2,750,000 in the budget.

“Kualapu`u Elementary School has needed to improve its infrastructure,” said Rep. Carroll. “The $2,750,000 would cover design and construction for a new water line and/or provisions for fire suppression; ground and site improvements and equipment are a major step in our continued school maintenance initiatives.”…

Posted in , , , , , commentsAdd your comment