News Releases

Releases that pertain to the Molokai and Hawaiian communities.

Former Molokai Resident Receives Nursing Award

Monday, May 30th, 2011

Former Molokai Resident Receives Nursing Award

Brigid Mulloy, a certified nurse midwife (CNM),  has been named the 2011 Distinguished Alumna for the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing at the University of Wyoming.  Mulloy was the featured speaker at the School of Nursing Convocation Ceremony on May 7, where she spoke to an audience of 500 people about her experiences as a midwife on Molokai. She was also honored at that ceremony for her excellence in clinical practice as a CNM and for her outstanding community contributions.

Brigid is well known on Molokai where she lived from 1994 to 2010, and practiced for 13 years as a nurse midwife and was the director of the Molokai Women’s Health Center. She delivered over 250 babies during her time on Molokai, the oldest of which have now graduated from high school. Brigid and her husband Claud Sutcliffe are now living in Waimea on the Big Island.

In 2007, she was recruited to work at the North Hawaii Community Hospital’s Family Birthing Unit, where she joined a practice with JoAnn Johansen, another CNM who worked many years on Molokai. This opportunity gave Brigid the chance to grow professionally as a midwife, and to pursue other interests, such as taking Elderhostel groups to experience Easter Island. She continues to be involved in the work her father, the late University of Wyoming anthropology professor, Dr. William Mulloy, began with the support of the University of Wyoming in the 1950s. She was instrumental in the creation of the William Mulloy Library, a research facility for archeologists and the people of Easter Island. Brigid was also invited by the University of Wyoming in 2007 to represent her father at the opening of the new anthropology building on the Laramie campus.

For more information, visit uwyo.edu/NURSING/alumni/alumni-distinguished/2011-mulloy.html

Energy Assistance Available

Sunday, May 29th, 2011

Do you need help to pay your electric or gas bill?  If so, Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) may be able to help you.  Every year, we help more than 200 families apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).  Last year’s eligible applicants received an average of $717 which was directly credited to their utility accounts.  

Applications will be accepted from June 1 – June 30, 2011.  To apply for LIHEAP, call MEO at 553-3216 to schedule an appointment for June.  At your appointment, you will need to have:

●    A valid and current photo ID (Hawaii State driver’s license, State of Hawaii ID),
●    Social security numbers for all household members over one year of age,

Camp `Olelo Hawaii

Sunday, May 29th, 2011

Ka Honua Momona News Release

'Auhea 'oukou e nā makamaka o Moloka'i Nui a Hina. Eia 'o Ka Honua Momona e 'imi nei i nā 'ohana hoihoi i ka 'ōlelo a me ka lawai'a.  E mālama 'ia ana kekahi papahana lawai'a ma o ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i ma ka lā 26 o Iune a hiki i ka lā 2 o Iulai. 

Ka Honua Momona, in partnership with Hawaii Marine Program Conservation International, is pleased to offer a free Hawaiian language Lawai`a Ohana Camp to our Molokai ohana. The camp will teach the protocols and policies of pono fishing, and be held from Sunday evening, June 26 through Saturday evening, July 2. The program will be hosted at Ali'i fishpond with excursions to other areas of the island. Space is limited! Deadline for camp participants and positions is Friday, June 10.

Trade In Your Ice Box

Sunday, May 29th, 2011

Hawaii Energy, the state’s energy conservation and efficiency program, is joining forces with community partners to bring 100 new Energy Star® refrigerators to Molokai residents.

The Hui Up program is supported by the following federal stimulus funds as well as community and business partnerships:
•    America Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
•    Blue Planet Foundation
•    Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), State Energy Office
•    Hawaii Energy, Conservation and Efficiency Program
•    Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.
•    Refrigerant Recycling Inc.
•    Servco Home and Appliance Distribution

Kalaupapa Future Discussed at Public Open House

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

National Park Service News Release

Kalaupapa National Historical Park is in the process of developing a General Management Plan (GMP). The GMP will describe the general path that the National Park Service and its partners intend to follow in managing Kalaupapa over the next 15-20 years.

The open houses will provide a forum for discussing four different future visions for managing resources and opportunities for visitors at Kalaupapa. These preliminary alternatives represent many statements and ideas that were provided by the public during earlier phases of the planning process.

Celebrate AmeriCorps Week on Molokai

Monday, May 16th, 2011

Community contributed by Siri Anderson

Celebrate AmeriCorps Week with us!  AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in solving community problems.  Please stop by our Kualapu`u Business Center office to hear about our unique Molokai program which offers educational award opportunities and financial literacy, career and job search support.   

Summer Reading

Monday, May 16th, 2011

Beginning May 31 through July 1, readers of all ages are invited to participate in the 2011 state library Summer Reading Program. The free five-week programs at public libraries will feature outstanding, family-friendly storytelling performances by noted storytellers and artists. This year’s theme at Molokai Public Library (MPL) is “One World, Many Stories.”

Featured will be a children’s, teens and adult program, and MPL will also be hosting a few events open to the public.

•    June 14 – Native American flute playing with Connie Fleenor, 10 a.m.
•    June 21 – Pet Tales featuring Lyndon and DeeDee and Chyna, stories by Ehulani, 10 a.m.

Habitat Celebrates Women Builders

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011

Habitat Celebrates Women Builders

Molokai Habitat for Humanity News Release

Molokai Habitat for Humanity (MHFH) celebrated the efforts of women who contribute to building and supporting affordable housing for families in need at the first ever “Women Build” event on May 4 at Paddlers Inn.  In three teams of five, Molokai women competed to build 8-foot wooden picnic tables which were later raffled off to supporters, as a fundraiser for MHFH.  Teams competed for gift baskets from Lowes and L&R Farms and a $100 cash prize that was donated to the winning team’s favorite charity.  When the drills stopped and the dust cleared, team “Big Guns” was crowned champion.  Teams “HI Finest” and “Solid” tied for a close second. The event served a multi-purpose agenda for MHFH to highlight the mission of Habitat for Humanity, honor hardworking women, and acknowledge Lowes for their support, as well as continuing partnerships and opening doors for new ones between MHFH and the Molokai community. 

In addition to the 15 participants, around 80 people joined in the festivity by cheering on the teams, celebrating at the awards ceremony and enjoying the awesome musical duo of Raymond Hiro and Hanalei Lindo.  Prize giveaways included four 8-foot wooden picnic tables; potted plants donated by UH Maui-Molokai Farm (James Boswell); Angel Maid Cleaning service (Vicki Boswell); shirts and caps (Paddlers Inn); and event gift baskets (Lowes/Habitat for Humanity).

Thank you to all the Board of Directors of MHFH; Lowes (Kahului); Paddlers Inn (Curtis, Mike and Kamuela); Aaron Boswell; James and Vicki Boswell; MCC Farms; Bucky Espaniola; George English; Debbie Kelly; Priscilla Maliu; Raymond Hiro; Hanalei Lindo; event participants; KMKK Radio, 102.3 FM; and the Molokai community.  Your love and support is greatly appreciated.  Stay tuned for more exciting events and community gatherings sponsored by MHFH.

Go Green, Win Green

Friday, May 6th, 2011

Berry Company News Release

Students around the state are looking to raise the bar on last year’s recycled telephone directories. The Berry Company LLC, publisher of the Hawaiian Telcom Yellow Pages, announced the launch of its annual telephone directory recycling program, Think Yellow, Go Green.

Schools on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui and Molokai will compete to recycle the most telephone directories with the goal of surpassing last year’s recycling totals and winning cash prizes.

“Last year, our schools helped collect 64 tons of telephone directories across the neighbor islands,” said Scott Szczekocki, client services regional director for Berry. “The community response has been tremendous, and I look forward to another strong campaign this year.”

Adult Day Care Receives Grant

Friday, May 6th, 2011

Na Pu`uwai News Release

Na Pu`uwai is pleased to announce that its Adult Day Care Center, the Senior Enrichment Program located at Home Pumehana’s senior living facility, is the recipient of a $100,000 community grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA).  This award will support our kupuna who attend the adult day care and who participate in its range of activities.