News Releases

State Land Survey Division Digitizing Maps to Help Public

Thursday, August 28th, 2025

DAGS News Release
What did Hawaiʻi look like during the monarchy? What did it look like shortly after the Great Māhele — the Hawaiian land distribution system — took effect?
Those are questions the state’s Land Survey Division (Land Survey), a division of the State Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), can answer from a cartography perspective. Now, it is planning to provide that information online.
This decades-long project started just after the turn of this century with Land Survey digitizing all the maps it has, some which go back to 1871 — the year the division opened. That’s about 90,000 maps reflecting all main Hawaiian Islands.…

Kukui Lei Hipuʻu Workshop

Thursday, August 28th, 2025

MAC News Release
The Molokai Arts Center’s Hawaiian Arts (HĀ) Program presents its second Kukui workshop on Saturday, Aug. 30, 10 a.m.-12 noon at Hoʻolehua Homestead Makeke, at 2240 Lihi Pali Ave. behind Molokai High School, just east of Purdy’s Mac Nut Farm.
Participants in the first August workshop learned the haku, or braiding style of lei kukui. The next workshop will feature the hipuʻu or knot style of lei kukui, taught by cultural practitioner Leimana Ritte-Camara.
Leimana, born and raised on Molokai, is a graduate of one of Molokai’s first Hawaiian Language Immersion classes. A generational lei maker, she is honored to raise her family here to continue her family’s traditional practices.…

Bissen Bringing Holomua Kākou Back to Molokai

Thursday, August 21st, 2025

Maui County News Release

Mayor Richard Bissen is bringing Holomua Kākou back to Molokai as part of his continuing efforts to take county government to the rural areas of Maui County. 

“Our rural communities deserve meaningful access to government in their hometowns,” Bissen said. “Our residents lead busy lives with work, family and community commitments, and we appreciate the time and valuable insights they share with us.”

“Mayor Bissen and Team in Your Town” events will be held in Molokai on Monday, Aug. 25, and Tuesday, Aug. 26. Office of the Mayor staff will be available to answer questions and provide assistance from 10 a.m.…

Addressing Obesity, Associated Chronic Diseases

Thursday, August 21st, 2025

Addressing Obesity, Associated Chronic Diseases

Na Pu’uwai News Release

Na Pu’uwai is reaching out in partnership to help address one of the most pressing health concerns facing our Moloka’i community — obesity and its associated chronic diseases.

In the United States, 41.9% of adults are living with obesity, with annual healthcare costs directly attributable to obesity estimated at $147 billion. Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and all-cause mortality, with risk increasing in a dose-response fashion: the higher the BMI, the greater the risk. 

Although Hawai’i as a state has a lower obesity rate than the national average, Molokai has the highest rate in the state at 34.4% compared to the state average of 26.1%, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders have a significantly elevated obesity rate at 51.7%.…

Fire Prevention Tips

Thursday, August 14th, 2025

HWMO News Release

Wildfire safety tip from Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization: Regularly maintain machinery that might spark — this includes weed whackers, chainsaws, grinders, welding equipment, and off-road vehicles. Dry vegetation is extremely flammable. All it takes is one spark to cause widespread damage. For more wildfire preparedness information visit hwmo.org.…

Livestock Brands Must Register with Department of Agriculture

Thursday, August 14th, 2025

Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity News Release

Owners of livestock brands in Hawai‘i have until Dec. 31, 2025 to reregister their brands with the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) or risk losing their rights to their brands. Hawai‘i law requires owners of livestock in the state to register their brand to secure its validity and individuality. While it is not mandatory to use brands in Hawai‘i, it is mandatory for owners using brands to register them every five years. The registration fee is $10. 

During the period 2020-2025, there were 803 registered brands in Hawai‘i.  

“Owners of existing brands may re-register at any time before December 31, 2025,” state veterinarian Dr.…

PUC Begins Next Chapter in Distributed Energy Resources Development

Thursday, August 14th, 2025

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs News Release

The Public Utilities Commission closed Friday its long-standing investigation into distributed energy resource (DER) policies for Hawaiian Electric and laid the foundation for the next iteration of DER development in Hawaiʻi.  

“For the past decade, the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission led the nation in its groundbreaking innovative development of distributed energy resources,” Commissioner Naomi Kuwaye said. “With changes in the regulatory landscape and shifts in environmental and energy policies, now is the time for us to refocus our efforts on the next phase of DER policies to meet the needs and expectations of today’s electric grid and its customers.”…

Creative Media, Filmmaking Opportunities for Molokai Youth

Thursday, August 7th, 2025

Hōkūlani CTOM News Release

A dynamic new partnership has launched on Molokai, uniting Hōkūlani Children’s Theatre of Molokai (CTOM), Akakū Media, and the University of Hawai‘i Maui College’s Academy for Creative Media to bring cutting-edge media education and career training to island youth.
With funding from the Stupski Foundation, the collaboration kicked off with a three-day Creative Media Camp, July 30-Aug. 1, hosted at the Molokai Education Center. Students participated in hands-on production workshops, creative storytelling sessions, and direct mentorship from film professionals and educators from across the state.
Working alongside Kelley Dudoit, Coordinator of the Molokai Education Center, this camp introduced pathways for local students to begin working toward an associate degree in Creative Media while still in high school — a first for Molokai.…

Hawaiʻi Craftsmen 59th Annual Statewide Exhibition, Call for Entries

Thursday, August 7th, 2025

Hawaiʻi Craftsmen News Release

Hawaiʻi Craftsmen is pleased to announce the open call to artists for our 59th consecutive Annual Statewide Exhibition. This exhibition will be juried by Sarah Darro, Curator and Exhibitions Director of Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. It is open to residents of Hawai‘i for artworks in the categories of clay, fiber, glass, wood, metal, stone and mixed media. Online registration is open Aug. 1-31.
Hawaiʻi’s premier statewide juried exhibition – held annually since 1967 – features traditional and contemporary craft from across the state of Hawaiʻi. Juror Sarah Darro will visit each island to make public presentations and select work to be included in the exhibition.…

End of Summer Fair at the Library

Thursday, July 31st, 2025

FMPL News Release
The Friends of the Molokai Public Library are excited to share that we are hosting a special fundraiser event on Aug. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Molokai Public Library.
Come ready to enjoy a fantastic lineup of games, prizes, and ono treats. Scrips will be available for purchase at just $1 each, and all proceeds will go directly to support our beloved local library and help us bring even more exciting events to our community in the future.
As a special highlight, the Molokai Public Library will announce the branch drawing prize winners for the Summer Reading Challenge during the event.…