News Releases

Releases that pertain to the Molokai and Hawaiian communities.

Kiora! MMS Benefit Event with Darren Benitez

Wednesday, October 29th, 2014

Kiora! MMS Benefit Event with Darren Benitez

MMS News Release

The Hawaiian Language Immersion program at Molokai Middle School, `O Hina i ka Malama, is having a benefit concert and dinner on Friday, Nov. 7 at the Molokai Community Health Center (Old Pau Hana Inn) at 5 p.m., under the banyan tree.  Dinner tickets are $50 per person and our VIP tables are $1000.  We have a great lineup of entertainment starring our own Middle Schools students of `O Hina i ka Malama, Na Pua Ho`oheno, and guest artist Darren Benitez and friends.

Proceeds of the benefit concert and dinner, along with a silent auction that night will support our students to travel to Aotearoa, New Zealand. …

Farm Tax Workshop

Wednesday, October 29th, 2014

Kuha`o Business Center News Release

There will be a Farm Tax Workshop held Nov. 6, 2014 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) Business Development Classroom.  Michael Holl will be the returning to Molokai to speak to farmers and ranchers about business taxes. This workshop will help you manage your labor, financial and legal risks. Holl, who is from Oahu, is an enrolled agent who is a federally-authorized tax practitioner, licensed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to negotiate with the IRS on behalf of taxpayers.

The Molokai Farm Tax Workshop is designed to enable farmers to lower their tax liabilities by better understanding business deductions, tax preparation, and record keeping to minimize taxes and the chances of an audit, business entities for your farm, how employment laws and independent contractor requirements affect your business, and special provisions in the tax code regarding farm income averaging to significantly lower taxes resulting from “bumper” crops.…

Community Plan Update

Wednesday, October 29th, 2014

Maui County News Release

A public open house for the Molokai Community Plan Update will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kaunakakai Elementary School cafeteria.  The purpose of the open house is to present and review key information that will be used during the community plan update process. Because the event is organized as an open house, people can drop in at any time. There will be several displays that depict the planning process and schedule, summaries of previous workshops, and a description of key issues that the Community Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) will be addressing.…

Protecting and Managing Your Place

Thursday, October 23rd, 2014

Aha o Molokai and Malama Mo`omomi News Release

Hawaiians always had strict rules and regulations when it came to harvesting from the shoreline and ocean. The Kapu System was set up to protect the natural resources from misuse and to insure that the future generations had the same resources for them to survive.

Molokai’s shorelines, especially west Molokai, are dotted with fishing Ko`a and Ku`ula shrines.  The fisherman’s first catch was placed on these ahu to honor the gods of the ocean, family aumakua, and the great teacher of fishing, conservation and sharing… Ku`ula Kai.

Molokai is in the process of applying for a State Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) designation, which will help to protect Mo`omomi’s ocean and shoreline resources.  …

Lions Road: Walk for Sight

Friday, October 17th, 2014

Molokai Lions Club News Release

The Molokai Lions Club reached out to the community on Sept. 27 and for the third year in a row, they were rewarded with a good turnout for their Walk for Sight. More than $2500 was raised. Big thanks Molokai!

The 37 walkers included club members, Leos, and community residents. The Molokai High School Leo Club, under the direction of Advisor Julia DeGeorge, came out with 24 members. Way to go Leos!  One Leo in particular made 20 laps around town!

More than $2000 of this money will go towards the school vision screening programs that include bringing over the Maui eye doctors and supporting the Retina Vision Van.…

New Molokai Beginning Farmers Program

Friday, October 17th, 2014

UH CTAHR Extension Service News Release

A new, island-wide Beginning Farmer Program will begin this month. Twice-monthly classes will be held in Ho`olehua at the UH Extension Office and at UH Maui College-Molokai Farm focused on commercial crop production. A beginning farmer is defined as one who has farmed less than 10 years.

The aging of farmers is a matter of national security. In 2010, the average age of the workforce nationwide was 37, while the average age of farmers was about 58. There’s has been a 30 percent increase in farmers over the age of 75 and a 20 percent decrease in the number of farmers under the age of 25.…

Molokai Ranch Showcases Beef

Friday, October 17th, 2014

Molokai Ranch News Release

Molokai Ranch introduced their new brand, Molokai Ranch Beef, a premium 100 percent grass-fed Angus beef, by hosting a private event for leaders of the Hawaii food community on Oct. 7. Held at the award-winning 12th Ave Grill, guests enjoyed special appetizers, craft cocktails, and a four-course menu of composed dishes with wine pairings sponsored by Southern Wine & Spirits.

Acclaimed chefs that prepared the innovative menu included 12th Ave Grill’s Chef/Owner Kevin Hanney, Jason Schoonover, Ryan Durham, mixologist Mike Hall, and Koko Head Café’s Executive Chef Lee Anne Wong.

Molokai Ranch Beef was praised by Hawaii’s food industry experts, with favorite “Top Chef” contestant Wong mentioning she is “excited for local grass-fed beef.”…

Bullying Awareness

Friday, October 17th, 2014

FAB News Release

Families Against Bullying (FAB) will be having their sign waving on Friday, Oct. 17 on the Molokai Public Library lawn.  We like to invite our community and youth to come to support us in spreading the word about bully awareness.

We ask for all participants to make their own signs and wear blue on that day which represents bullying awareness.  October is recognized as bully awareness/prevention month around the world, where communities come together and advocate about bullying.  Everyone is invited to participate on that day from 3:30 to 5 p.m.  Let’s make a difference as a community for our children.…

Veterans Designation for Drivers License

Friday, October 17th, 2014

DOT News Release

Veteran designation will now be available for Hawaii driver’s licenses, state IDs, and instruction permits effective Oct. 1, 2014, the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) in cooperation with the counties of Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui are pleased to announced.

Persons who served in any of the uniformed services of the U.S. and received a discharge other than dishonorable are eligible.  Applicants must provide proof of qualification.  Acceptable documents include:

DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)
NGB Form 22 (National Guard Report of Separation from Active Duty)
Prior to January 1, 1950 – WD AGO 53, WD AGO 55, WD AGO, 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD, NAVCG 553
Discharge Certificate reflecting characterization of discharge
Verification letter issued by the Veterans Administration
Verification letter issued by the Office of Veteran Services

Applicants requiring a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge, or other Military Documents to verify Veteran and Military eligibility status may go to archives.gov/veterans/military-services-records

Federal Funds for Ag Conservation

Thursday, October 9th, 2014

USDA News Release

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reminds potential applicants to contact their local NRCS office to find out if they are eligible for the agency’s most common Farm Bill Programs (Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and Agricultural Management Assistance Program). On Molokai, contact the NRCS Ho`olehua Field Office at 808-567-6868.

Applications for this ranking period are due at the NRCS office by close of business on Oct. 17. Applications received after this date will be considered in the next ranking period. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis, but ranked according to specific application cutoff periods.

“We are encouraging farmers and ranchers to utilize the federal funding to help improve conservation on private land,” said Dr.…