News Releases

Weather Stations Installed in High-Risk Fire Areas

Thursday, August 8th, 2024

Hawaiian Electric News Release

Hawaiian Electric has installed two weather stations on Molokai to provide key information about wind, temperature and humidity to help the company better predict and respond to fire weather conditions.

The project includes the installation of 52 weather stations across Molokai, Maui, Oahu and Hawaii Island. The weather stations, mounted on Hawaiian Electric utility poles, will provide meteorological data that will help the company to decide whether to activate and deactivate a public safety power shutoff, or PSPS. Under the PSPS program, launched July 1, Hawaiian Electric may preemptively shut off power in areas that are at high risk of wildfires during periods of forecasted high winds and dry conditions.…

Homeowner Assistance Fund expands to $21M

Thursday, August 8th, 2024

Maui County News Release

Even more Molokai homeowners may be eligible for mortgage or other qualified housing expense assistance through the Maui County Homeowner Assistance Fund Program. Homeowners on Maui, Molokai and Lanai who were affected negatively by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for assistance and other resources to help avoid foreclosure.

Eligible homeowners may receive up to $60,000 in assistance through the program’s contracted service provider, Catholic Charities Hawaii (CCH).

The program started in May with an initial allocation of $7 million and recently received an additional $14 million. The additional funding will allow the program to serve between 240 and 570 more homeowners who experienced a financial hardship associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.…

The Molokai Dispatch Wins 5 Awards

Thursday, August 8th, 2024

The Molokai Dispatch News Release

The Molokai Dispatch is honored to have won five Excellence in Journalism awards for its news coverage in 2023. The awards are held annually by the Society of Professional Journalism (SPJ) Hawaii Chapter and presented in newspaper, TV, radio and magazine categories. This year was the first time that the SPJ has combined all newspapers into the same category, rather than separating weekly and daily papers. Winners for 2023 were announced at an awards dinner last week in Honolulu.
Marissa Motas, the Molokai Dispatch’s graphic designer, was awarded second and third place in the News Page Design category for all newspapers statewide for her layouts of “Makahiki Worth the Wait” and “2023 Year in Review: January – June.”…

History Project Receives Bayer Grant

Wednesday, July 31st, 2024

Molokai History Project News Release

The Molokai History Project, located in Kaunakakai, Molokai, received a $9,600 grant from the Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S. This grant will be used to focus on education and encouraging students to learn the challenges and rewards of agriculture on Molokai, both in individual farming and large corporate farming. The mutual goals of Bayer Fund and the Molokai History Project are to see the communities we serve flourish. We will now work together in helping to educate, excite and encourage students to join in our effort to explore the history of agriculture from the earliest days so they can find their own pathway to success whatever they should decide.…

Kupu ‘Aina Corps Calls for Molokai Participants

Wednesday, July 31st, 2024

Kupu News Release

Kupu, Hawaii’s leading conservation and youth education organization, today announced that applications are now open for the 2024-25 Kupu ʻAina Corps (KAC) program, which is actively seeking host sites and participants for paid opportunities in sustainability-focused sectors like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and climate adaptation on Hawaii Island, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Oahu.

KAC participants gain up to a year of paid experience in a sustainability-focused profession, while KAC host sites get the chance to train and grow future leaders for their organization. For participants, the fall Cohort 1 will start on Oct. 7, Cohort 2 will start on Nov.…

Schedule Change for Property Tax Payment Window

Wednesday, July 31st, 2024

Maui County News Release

The Molokai Real Property Assessment office at Mitchell Pauole Center will be accepting property tax payments on Mondays and Tuesdays only through Tuesday, Aug. 20.

For property tax payments and circuit breaker questions, call 1 (800) 272-0117 and ask for Real Property Treasury or call direct at (808) 270-7697. Tax payments also can be mailed to County of Maui, Department of Finance, Treasury Division, 110 ‘Ala‘ihi St., Suite 108, Kahului 96732.

For other property questions, call 1 (800) 272-0117 and ask for Real Property Assessment or call direct at (808) 270-7297. Visit our website at mauicounty.gov/rpt or email rpa@co.maui.hi.us…

Upcoming Art Bar

Wednesday, July 31st, 2024

MAC News Release

Join the Molokai Arts Center (MAC) and Molokai artist Perry Buchalter for the next Art Bar at Hiro’s ‘Ohana Grill – “Painting Beneath the Sea.”

Buchalter, who is loved for his creativity and his entertaining teaching style, will be directing you through this painting exercise.

“There is much documentation on how colors begin to disappear the farther they move away underwater. First the vibrant reds and oranges, then yellows, browns, followed by greens, blues, and violets. Come and take a journey as we explore how to paint a simple underwater scene, or more advanced based on your skill level.…

Artists Sought for Climate Change Residency Program

Friday, July 26th, 2024

DLNR News Release

The Hawaiʻi State Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission (CCMAC) is seeking four kamaʻāina artists to join its Artist Climate Change Action Residency program.
The selected artists will have the opportunity to engage in the development of key topics from the Climate Action Pathways, including land stewardship, energy efficiency, cultural knowledge, transportation decarbonization and community resilience. Artists will participate in monthly subject matter meetings from September to November 2024 and will have the chance to visit related projects on the ground.
“This initiative represents a creative approach to raising awareness about climate change and inspiring action,” said Victoria Keener, Research Professor at Arizona State University and Senior Fellow at the East-West Center in Honolulu, who is part of the Artist Residency committee.…

Applications Open for College Courses

Friday, July 26th, 2024

Maui College News Release

Apply now for Fall 2024 at hawaii.edu/molokai. The application deadline is Aug. 9. If you need help with the admissions application, contact the EOC office at (808) 553-4490 x 2. We have a lineup of in-person courses and many online options through Maui College.

The following courses are either tuition-free or have tuition funding available and will be held live at the Molokai Education Center: AEC 110 Basic AutoCAD, AG 101 Home Gardening, CARP 120 Basic Carpentry Skills, OSH 100 First Aid, CPR & AED, PHYL 141/L Human Anatomy and Physiology and the lab component. We hope to see you in the Fall.…

Hawai‘i Ant Lab Offering Free Workshop

Friday, July 26th, 2024

CTAHR News Release

Ants have become a major pest, both indoors and out. To address this issue, the Molokai Cooperative Extension Service is teaming up with Hawai‘i Ant Lab for a free training workshop on Aug. 1 from 3-5:30 p.m. at our office in Hoolehua.
The focus of the training will include the background and biology as well as prevention, detection and identification of various ants found in Hawai‘i. This training will include both classroom and hands-on outdoor activity.
Registration is required by emailing andreace@hawaii.edu with your name, phone number and number attending in your group. Space is limited.
Molokai Cooperative Extension is a part of the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR).…