News Releases

Releases that pertain to the Molokai and Hawaiian communities.

Native Trees Vandalized in Kamakou Preserve

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

Native Trees Vandalized in Kamakou Preserve

By Russell Kallstrom, Molokai Program Manager, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii and Palmyra

Did you know Kamakou Preserve helps provide seven million gallons of water every day for Molokai residents? Yes, and it’s only able to do this because of the healthy native forest found there.

During a recent routine work trip in Kamakou, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) staff were disappointed and saddened to discover several ‘ohiʻa trees in the preserve had been cut down and left in place, in an apparent act of senseless vandalism. ʻOhiʻa (Metrosideros spp) is the dominant native tree in our Hawaiian forest. It serves as home to native birds and tree snails, provides material for lei, hula and other cultural practices, and helps to collect much of the water we drink.…

Molokai Earth Day 2025 – Save the Date

Wednesday, February 26th, 2025

The Nature Conservancy News Release
Molokai Earth Day is a free, all-ohana, community-wide annual event. This year the event will take place on April 18, from 5 to 9 p.m., at the Mitchell Pauole Center. Come be inspired by Molokai conservation organizations and cultural practitioners caring for our ‘aina. Enjoy learning from our exhibitors, good food, great entertainment, raffle prizes, and check out the event t-shirts. This year’s theme is “He aliʻi ka ‘aina; he kauwa ke kanaka”– The land is a chief; man is its servant.
We look forward to celebrating Molokai Earth Day with you!
For more information, please call (808) 954-6582 or email allyson.durkin@tnc.org…

Calling on Hawaii’s Artists

Wednesday, February 26th, 2025

Dept. of Land and Natural Resources News Release

Artists are invited to submit entries to the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) for the 2025-26 Hawaii Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp annual art contest. The wildlife conservation stamp is a requirement for Hawaii state hunting licenses and the game bird stamp is required for anyone intending to hunt game birds. Both stamps will also be available to stamp collectors.

The Game Bird Stamp is Erckel’s Francolin, or Pternistis erckelii. Native to Ethiopia and Sudan, the Erckel’s spurfowl was introduced to Hawaii in 1957 as a game bird. At about 16 inches long, they are brown with white streaky spots and distinct chestnut-colored feathers on the top of their heads, with white throats.…

Land Managers Receive Climate Change Resilience Funds

Wednesday, February 26th, 2025

Dept. of Land and Natural Resources News Release

Funds have been awarded to land managers from Hawaii County to Molokai and Oahu. These include Puʻu O Hoku Operations; MALA ʻOiwi with Waiʻanae Community Redevelopment Corporation; OCR INC., dba Small Kine Farm; Healing Mountain Homestead, LLC; Living Life Source Foundation; The Kohala Center; Maluhia Fields, LLC; Mililani Agricultural Park, LLC; Protect and Preserve Hawaii; and Kuilima Farm with Pono Pacific, LLC.

The Carbon Smart Program has awarded a total of $1,000,000 to 10 grantees to develop and implement plans for regenerative sustainable practices, particularly carbon sequestration, which is capturing, securing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.…

E Ola Mau ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi: Honoring Hawaiian Language Month

Thursday, February 13th, 2025

Molokai Education Center News Release 

Hawaiiana. Hawaiian. ʻŌlelo Makuahine. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. These are just a few of the names for the native language of this island archipelago and its people. Throughout the month of Pepeluali (February), we celebrate Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi—Hawaiian Language Month—a time to recognize, honor, and perpetuate the language and culture of Hawaiʻi.

At the Molokai Education Center, we are committed to fostering a deeper connection to ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and Hawaiian culture. To commemorate Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, we have launched a Hua ʻŌlelo o ka Lā (Word of the Day) initiative, sharing Hawaiian words daily through our social media platforms and digital display board on campus.…

Ua Ritte to Address ‘Ahupua’a Restoration

Thursday, February 13th, 2025

Ua Ritte to Address ‘Ahupua’a Restoration

Molokai Bahá’í Community News Release

Restoring an ahupua‘a is no small task—it requires resilience and consistency driven by necessity. In his presentation “Restoring ‘Ahupua‘a: A Generational Undertaking,” Kalaniua “Ua” Ritte, Executive Director of ʻAina Momona, will share the challenges and triumphs of restoring the Kaʻamola ʻahupua‘a on Molokai. The presentation at Molokai Public Library will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19.

ʻAina Momona is a Native Hawaiian nonprofit dedicated to restoring Molokai’s cultural and environmental abundance. Deeply rooted in his Molokai community, Ritte brings decades of experience as a steward of the land and advocate for traditional practices. Under his leadership, ʻAina Momona has spearheaded efforts to restore the Kaʻamola ahupuaʻa, blending indigenous wisdom with innovative strategies to combat soil erosion, invasive species, and watershed degradation.…

Sage Heart Workshop Series

Thursday, February 6th, 2025

UH-CTAHR Molokai Cooperative Extension News Release

Herbs and spices play an important role in history, culture, cooking, beverages, flavorings, and medicine. By definition, an herb or spice is a plant derived substance used in food or beverage preparation for seasoning, coloration, preservation, or medicine. Although herbs and spices have similar uses, there is a distinct difference between them.

Herbs are considered temperate, herbaceous, and are derived from leaves of a plant. Spices are considered tropical, from woody plants, and are made from the roots, bark, fruit, seeds, or parts of the plant other than the leaves.

Herbs can be a healthy alternative to salt in adding flavor and aroma when cooking meals or preparing beverages.…

Gov. Green Faces Lawsuit Over Water Commission Appointment

Thursday, February 6th, 2025

Earthjustice News Release

On Jan. 27, a coalition of citizens from across the Hawaiian Islands filed a lawsuit in state environmental court against the Green administration for its unlawful nomination process for the loea, or cultural expert, seat on the Commission on Water Resource Management. The suit, brought by the environmental law firm Earthjustice on behalf of community group Hui Kanawai ‘Oia‘i‘o, challenges Governor Green’s refusal to select one of the highly qualified and respected candidates recommended by a nominating committee in February 2024. Instead, his administration arranged a redo of the nomination process, forming a new nominating committee to produce a new list with his preferred candidate, Vincent Hinano Rodrigues.…

Nonprofits Encouraged to Renew or Join as Members

Friday, January 31st, 2025

Maui Nonprofit Directors Association News Release

The Maui Nonprofit Directors Association (MNPDA) is excited to announce open enrollment for new and returning members! MNPDA offers an unparalleled opportunity for nonprofit leaders to connect, collaborate, and enhance their organization’s impact on the Maui community.

MNPDA’s mission is to empower nonprofit agency leaders of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai by providing support to enhance their leadership skills and drive meaningful change in our communities.

Membership is open to the top-level paid or unpaid administrators of Maui, Molokai, or Lanai-based nonprofit organizations, or the next-in-line administrator for the top leadership post. As a member of MNPDA, you gain access to a range of valuable benefits, including networking with fellow nonprofit executive directors, opportunities to share resources and discover new ones, collaborations on projects vital to Maui’s nonprofit community, timely updates on federal, state, and county policies, specialized training and professional development opportunities, participation in an emerging mentorship program for nonprofit leaders.…

New Exhibit at the Molokai History Project

Friday, January 31st, 2025

Molokai History Project News Release

The Molokai History Project is excited about a new exhibit to be dedicated to showcasing the rich history of fishing, farming, hunting, and feeding our community. To bring this story to life, we invite you to join us and participate in sharing your experiences and history as we tell this rich part of the story of Molokai.

We are seeking artifacts like tools, equipment, and items used in fishing, farming, and hunting; photos of historical images of community members at work or celebrating their harvests; memorabilia, personal stories, documents, and items that highlight how these traditions shaped our community.…