News Releases

Kenpo Karate Classes Opening at Home Pumehana

Thursday, January 29th, 2026

Leeward Kenpo Karate Ke Ola O Molokai News Release

Leeward Kenpo Karate Ke Ola O Molokai is happy to announce we are reopening. Classes will be held Tuesdays and Fridays from 6-8 p.m. at Home Pumehana Community Hall.  

The club previously operated from 2003 until 2013, and is a branch of Leeward Kenpo Oahu. We teach Kenpo Karate and are part of the Kajukenbo self-defense system. 

The club’s head instructor is Sifu Lori Nartatez, with assistant instructors Elroy Mollena, Ryan Johnston and Kyle Macmillan. 

We would like to welcome back any former students, as well as anyone interested in becoming a new student. …

Federal Home Loan Reform Offers Critical Relief for Molokai Veterans

Thursday, January 29th, 2026

By Cristina Johnson, Asbestos Ships Organization

Like residents in other regions, veterans in Molokai, Hawaii, have been facing a scarcity of affordable housing and a cost of living that far outpaces local incomes. 

With just roughly 600 veterans and limited mortgage relief options, even short-term hardship can push homeowners toward foreclosure. The now-expired Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program temporarily helped about 20,000 struggling borrowers remain housed; however, the initiative offered no lasting protection. Fortunately, Congress has since authorized a permanent alternative through the new VA Home Loan Program Reform Act. But unless this is enforced without delay, veterans in Molokai and throughout the country risk losing homes in a market that is difficult to cope with.…

Hawaii Opens $2.2M Micro-Grant Program for Small Ag 

Thursday, January 29th, 2026

DAB News Release

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity is now accepting applications for the popular Micro-Grant for Food Security Program. This is the fifth year of the grant program which provides support for small-scale gardening, herding and livestock operations to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food in food-insecure communities. A total of $2,235,220 was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for this year’s program through funding authorized under the 2018 Farm Bill. 

The program is open to:

Maunaloa Elementary School Hosts STEM Day

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026

MEDB News Release

As part of Maui Economic Development Board’s STEMworks program, which runs the STEMworks AFTERschool program at eight Maui County elementary and middle schools, Maunaloa Elementary offered a hands-on STEM Day Jan. 8 to kick off the spring 2026 semester. 

The event was the first all-day STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) event the school has hosted, giving West Molokai’s keiki hands-on experience with the latest STEM education technology and inspiring them to continue studying STEM in middle and high school.

The event featured five sessions led by STEM experts from all across the state for the 67 participating K-6 students. …

Molokai Community Veterinary Hui Launches

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026

MCVH News Release

Molokai Community Veterinary Hui is pleased to announce the official startup of the organization as a Hawaiʻi-based nonprofit corporation dedicated to improving access to veterinary services through education, collaboration, and community support.

Molokai Community Veterinary Hui is organized and operated exclusively for educational and charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The organization was created to support the unique veterinary needs of Molokai by providing essential infrastructure and resources that enable visiting veterinarians to serve the community effectively.

The primary mission of Molokai Community Veterinary Hui is to establish and maintain a veterinary clinic space that can be utilized by traveling veterinarians.…

ʻGrow Aloha’ Surpasses 5K Native Plant Adoptions, Extends Through June

Friday, January 16th, 2026

NTBG News Release

Grow Aloha, the statewide initiative dedicated to restoring Hawaii’s native plants and our relationships with them, is proud to announce the extension of its free, monthly plant adoption program through June 2026. This extension ensures continued access for residents across Hawaii to native plants, Hawaiian heritage crops and educational resources. 

Since its launch, Grow Aloha has placed more than 5,000 native plants and Hawaiian heritage crops into the hands of local residents through free monthly plant adoptions. These plants — representing over 100 species and varieties  —  are now growing in backyards, schools, and community spaces statewide, helping restore our built environment collectively. …

Youth Summit to Reveal Student Voices

Friday, January 16th, 2026

By Ric Ornellas

On Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, the Kaunakakai Elementary School Cafeteria will transform into a hub of student advocacy and community connection for the 4th Annual Molokai Youth Summit. Running from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., the summit continues its mission of bringing forward to the Molokai community the voices of our 21st-century youth and future leaders.

Since its inception, the summit has prioritized providing opportunities to hear the authentic voices of keiki o ka ʻāina, Molokai students. This year’s theme poses a direct, provocative question to students in grades 1–12 across both public and private schools: “What do I want from my school?”…

Deadline Approaching for Home Exemption Applications

Thursday, December 18th, 2025

 Maui County News Release

Eligible homeowners are reminded to apply for the Circuit Breaker Tax Credit or Home Exemption before the end of this year, the County of Maui Department of Finance Real Property Tax Assessment Division said. The County Real Property Assessment Division applications are due by Dec. 31, 2025.

Applications for the Circuit Breaker Tax Credit and the Home Exemption may be found on the County Real Property Tax website, www.mauipropertytax.com, by clicking the “Forms” link.

The Circuit Breaker Tax Credit is available to taxpayers who apply by the deadline and meet criteria, including:

The Home Exemption is available to taxpayers who apply by the deadline and meet criteria, including:

Speaker on Hawaii’s Historic Role in World Affairs

Thursday, December 11th, 2025

Molokai Bahá’í Community News Release

The Hawaiian Kingdom played an important role in global affairs in the 19th century. Dr. Ron Williams, a historian specializing in Hawaiian history and Native language resources, will make a presentation on this theme at the Molokai Public Library on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m., as part of the Global Citizenship Speaker Series.

In the illustrated presentation, titled Hawaiʻinuiākea: The 19th-century Hawaiian Kingdom as Global Citizen, kumu Ron Williams will explain how the Native-led government of Hawaii, a remote group of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, managed to become a core member of the family of nations that dominated 19th century international politics.…