News Releases

Releases that pertain to the Molokai and Hawaiian communities.

Monday is Voter Registration Deadline

Friday, October 5th, 2012

Office of Elections News Release

The Office of Elections and the city/county clerks remind the public that the last day for new voters to register to vote in the general election is Monday, Oct. 8.

Completed voter registration forms must be turned in to the appropriate city/county clerk by 4:30 p.m. Applicants who choose to mail their voter registration form are urged to have it postmarked by Saturday, Oct. 6.

Wikiwiki Voter Registration Forms are available at:

– All U.S. post offices

– All public libraries

– Yellow Pages

– Office of Elections web site: hawaii.gov/elections

– Office of the City/County Clerk

– Most state agencies

You must be a U.S.…

Now Is the Time to Tell Government What You Want

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

I Aloha Molokai News Release

From now until Oct. 9, Hawaii residents have a unique chance to tell the federal government what kind of energy projects we want on our islands. This is the Hawaii Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, or PEIS. In plain English, this means the feds are writing guidelines based on input from all of us. The more questions we ask, the more comments we make, the more our state will have to plan ahead, protect our resources and scenery, and pick projects we might be able to afford.

This is our chance to discuss the potential impact of giant wind turbines on the island’s west end.…

Learn about Native Hawaiian Roll Call on Molokai Tomorrow

Friday, September 28th, 2012

Kana`iolowalu News Release

Tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 29, two events will be held on Molokai to educate residents about Kana`iolowalu, a project of the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission. It is a year-long campaign to reunify Native Hawaiians in the self-recognition of our unrelinquished sovereignty. The campaign has two steps: first, a petition declaring and affirming the unrelinquished and inherent sovereignty of the indigenous people of Hawaii that can be signed by anyone, Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike. Second, those who are Native Hawaiians and who are 18 years of age or older as of Sept. 1, 2013 will be eligible to register for participation in the organization of a governing entity – also known as a “base roll”.…

Sust`ainable Molokai Named Finalist in National Program

Friday, September 14th, 2012

Sust`ainable Molokai News Release

Local nonprofit Sust`ainable Molokai has been selected as the only finalist from Hawaii in the Tom’s of Maine “50 States for Good” program. That means it now has a chance to win up to $50,000 in support of a community project that will engage student and community volunteers to plant 5,000 trees to heal our aina (land) and recharge our single source aquifer.

Through a online public vote at Facebook.com/TomsofMaine now through October 9, local residents can help bring the funding to Molokai with the click of a mouse.

The “50 States for Good” program seeks to uncover local nonprofit groups that address urgent community needs and engage volunteers to get the work done.…

West Molokai Association Opposes Big Wind/Undersea Cable Project

Thursday, September 13th, 2012

West Molokai Association News Release

The Board of Directors of the West Molokai Association (WMA), representing the owners of 811 West Molokai properties, has unanimously declared its “resolute opposition” to the proposed Big Wind industrial wind project and Hawaii Inter-Island undersea cable, and stated it will take whatever steps necessary to halt the project.

The project would cover 17 square miles of Molokai with industrial wind turbines 47 stories tall. It is being planned by HECO, Molokai Ranch, Pattern Energy and Bio-Logical Capital, and is backed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

Noting that the project would “dramatically alter and irreversibly change West Molokai’s rural character and pastoral environment,” the Board’s resolution added that it would also result in increased electrical costs for Hawaiian residents, already among the highest in the United States.…

Status Review of Green Turtles to be Conducted

Wednesday, August 8th, 2012

NOAA News Release

NOAA’s Fisheries Service announced last week that it will work with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (FWS) to conduct a global status review of green turtles, which have been listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 1978. The species is found in tropical and subtropical waters around the globe, and nest on the beaches of 80 countries.

As part of this review, NOAA and FWS will also assess whether Hawaii’s green turtles
should be listed as a distinct population segment, and if so, whether they should be
removed from the list of species protected under the ESA.…

Assessment Identifies Molokai’s Agriculture Needs

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

Sust`aina ble Molokai News Release

Sust`aina ble Molokai has completed a comprehensive Agriculture Needs Assessment for food production and security on Molokai. The Assessment is based on survey results that show where your food is being grown, who is growing it, and where you can buy it. The document is also valuable in that it shows what we don’t have as an island, and therefore what opportunities exist for job creation in the agriculture field.

One of the needs identified by the survey, for example, is an agriculture coordinator for Molokai to connect local farmers with stores and restaurants both on- and off-island.…

Beginning Farmer Conference

Wednesday, July 11th, 2012

UH Molokai Extension Office News Release

Calling all farmers! The Molokai Native Hawaiian Beginning Farmer Program will host a Farm Conference on July 26 and 27. The conference is open to all farmers regardless of their experience. We will have something new for everyone. The conference is also a part of the Hawaiian Home Lands Agriculture Extension Program, and all homestead farmers are encouraged to attend.

The conference will kick-off on July 26 at the Maui College, Molokai Campus in Kaunakakai, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 27’s events will be held at the UH CTAHR Molokai Applied Research and Demonstration Farm, also referred to as MCC Farm, from 8 a.m.…

Bon Dance Practice

Wednesday, July 11th, 2012

Guzeiji Soto Mission News Release

This year’s annual Bon Dance, a Buddhist tradition to remember departed loved ones, will be held on Saturday, July 28. In preparation for the event, Bon Dance practices will be held on Wednesday, July 18 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Thursday July 26, from 5 to 6 p.m. The practices are open to the public of all ages, and offer an opportunity to practice the movements and learn the meanings of the dances.

The celebration features Taiko drums, with community members and dancers joining in circular dances in honor of those who have passed. Both practices and the main event will be held at the Guzeiji Soto Mission temple on Hotel Lane in Kaunakakai, behind Imamura Store.…

New Vending Machines

Thursday, June 28th, 2012

New Vending Machines

Travelers frequenting the Ho`olehua Airport will greeted by two shiny new newspaper vending machines recently installed by The Molokai Dispatch. Both machines are coin-operated and dispense papers for $.50 each.

“The vending machines are a step forward for us. They offer our travelers a convenient way to access the paper and at the same time, offer our advertisers increased visibility,” said Dispatch Publisher Todd Yamashita.

The papers will continue to be distributed free to the airport and elsewhere around Molokai. However, papers at the free locations tend to run out quickly, while vending machines should remain stocked throughout the week, according to Yamashita.…