Community Development

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

Review of Community Plan Today

Tuesday, September 26th, 2017

County Councilmember Kelly T. King News Release

The Maui County Council’s Planning Committee will hold its Sept. 26 meeting on Molokai to continue review of the Molokai Community Plan and receive community input, Committee Chair Kelly King announced. The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center.

The Maui County Code requires community plans be updated every 10 years, as practicable, and include input from State and County agencies as well as the general public. The current Molokai Community Plan was adopted in 2001.

“Community input is of the utmost importance when it comes to developing the plan”, said King.…

Molokai Ranch for Sale

Monday, September 11th, 2017

Molokai Ranch for Sale

1/3 of the island listed for $260M

Thirty-five percent of Molokai — 55,575 acres — owned by Molokai Ranch, is up for sale for $260 million. The property went on the market Thursday, Sept. 7, and includes more than 300 parcels on the island — making it one of the top five privately owned properties in the state. The decision to sell by Singapore-based land holder owner GL Limited comes almost a decade after the company shut down its Maunaloa lodge, theater, golf course and other operations in 2008.

Scott Carvill of Carvill Sotheby’s International Realty, the broker listing the property, said GL is looking for a legacy buyer rather than a developer.…

100% Renewable Energy for Molokai by 2020

Friday, April 7th, 2017

100% Renewable Energy for Molokai by 2020

Hawaiian Electric Companies has rolled out a statewide plan that sets a goal for Molokai of 100 percent renewable energy by 2020. Over the next three years, the electric utility is proposing 1.4 megawatts (MW) of additional photovoltaic energy to be added to the island’s existing 2.3 MW of energy coming from rooftop solar panels, as well as 5 MW of wind energy. The plan also calls for a transition to biofuel for “some” of the island’s 12 MW of energy currently being generated from diesel fuel.

“Molokai will serve as a blueprint to increase the cost-effective use of renewables for the remainder of the state and help us obtain real–world experience in running an island grid with 100 percent renewable energy,” states the report, filed with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) last December and recently presented at the fourth annual Maui Energy Conference.…

Hotel and B&B Proposed for Town

Friday, March 3rd, 2017

Two upcoming projects slated for permitting represent firsts of their kind on Molokai. A two-story hotel and commercial space planned for downtown Kaunakakai would offer eight rooms for rent and retail storefront. The island’s first potentially permitted Bed and Breakfast is also seeking approval from the Molokai Planning Commission this month.

As the hospitality industry continues to evolve, the integration of AI concierge services presents an exciting opportunity for enhancing guest experiences. By implementing virtual concierge services, hotels can offer personalized assistance around the clock, ensuring that guests have access to information and support at their fingertips.

Whether it’s booking a restaurant, arranging transportation, or providing local recommendations, AI technology streamlines these processes, allowing staff to focus on delivering exceptional service.…

New Science Facility Unveiled

Wednesday, February 1st, 2017

New Science Facility Unveiled

A new, $4.7 million state-of-the-art science building at Molokai High School will afford its students the use of lab facilities for the first time since 2004. The 4,500 square foot structure with two classrooms will also allow MHS students — some of whom have already won international recognition for their work in science — to further their research.

“Our kids deserve the best and they’ve put out nothing but the best,” said Molokai county councilmember Stacy Crivello at the building’s blessing last Wednesday. “We’re resilient and always make due and our students have more than made due. They have brought so much honor to our island.”…

Unemployment Office Closing

Thursday, January 19th, 2017

Molokai’s Unemployment Insurance office is slated for closure at the end of this month because of federal budget cuts. The office has been open since the 1970s and has helped residents through the closure of many island industries. Now, officials say the community can still access services online and by calling the Maui office.

“All of the usual services and benefits of the Unemployment Insurance office will still be available to the residents of Molokai,” said Linda Chu Takayama, Director of the Dept. of Labor and Industrial Relations.  “Face to face is always preferable but it has to be balanced with the economic situation.”…

College Graduation Honors Family Learning

Thursday, May 26th, 2016

College Graduation Honors Family Learning

More than 100 Molokai graduates of all ages were honored for completing an important milestone in their lives two weeks ago as they earned associate, bachelor and masters degrees on Molokai. Every four years, University of Hawaii Maui College Molokai campus holds a commencement ceremony and this year’s 41 graduation participates represented just a portion of the 116 students that received degrees between 2012 and 2016.

The graduates — ranging in age from 17 to 59 — are 75 percent Native Hawaiian. They represent all walks of life, including three couples, two siblings and three military veterans. They are parents to 38 kids.…

The Molokai Community Plan

Friday, April 8th, 2016

Aha Kiole o Molokai News Release

The Maui County Planning Department started the review process for The Molokai Community Plan, which included many meetings of different groups and covered all aspects of Molokai. At first, the Molokai community was not participating, so the Aha Kiole got involved and held five meetings in each of the five Moku to let people know what was going on, how important the Molokai Community Plan was and ask people what they wanted to put into the plan.

Last week, the plan came before the Molokai Planning Commission for the final of many Commission meetings. The Aha Kiole o Molokai, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, UH Law School and many in the Molokai community joined forces to make sure the mana`o of our community was pa`a in the plan.…

Hawaiian Election Halted, Convention Scheduled

Monday, December 21st, 2015

Following a U.S. Supreme Court order that prohibited the counting of votes in a contested Native Hawaiian election, Na`i Aupuni – the nonprofit running the election – has announced it has terminated the election process. Rather than registered voters picking 40 delegates for a convention, or `Aha, that will be held in February, Na`i Aupuni officials have said all 196 candidates will be offered a seat at the `Aha.

In late November, a Supreme Court justice issued a temporary hold on ballot counting in response to a legal challenge filed by a group that claimed it is unconstitutional to hold a racially exclusive election.…

Addressing Drugs on Molokai

Wednesday, December 16th, 2015

With a recent drug-related shooting fresh on people’s minds, Molokai residents are gathering for a revitalized call to action to address the island’s drug problems head on. More than 40 community members from church representatives to police officers, recovering addicts to government officials, gathered last Friday for a workshop led by Toni Bissen, executive director of Pu`a Foundation, a nonprofit that has created a framework for healing trauma within prison walls. “You look back and we’ve had murder suicides, suicides, domestic violence,” said county council member Stacy Crivello. “We act and then we stop. It’s just our culture, because you know that person and you don’t want to talk about it.…