News Releases

MEO Supports Suicide Prevention Month

Wednesday, September 11th, 2024

MEO News Release 

Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO)’s Youth Services team participated in a ceremony Thursday marking September as Suicide Prevention Month in Maui County.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen read the proclamation. The event was organized by E Ola Hou Prevent Suicide Maui County Task Force and Mental Health America of Hawaii Maui County Branch, led by Danielle Bergan.

In his short talk, MEO Youth Services Director Dane Ka‘ae noted how suicide was a hush hush topic when he was growing up, but today “I can say the word ‘suicide.’ ” Ka’ae also noticed openness among youth on the topic of suicide.…

Book Sale Donations

Thursday, August 29th, 2024

The Friends of the Molokai Public Library

We hold a book sale quarterly to raise funds to fill needs the library has that are not covered by state library funds. Your purchases are so important and appreciated.

We happily accept donations of books from the public for these sales, but the following are items we cannot use and they will be discarded.

Please do not donate these items: cassette and VHS tapes, damaged materials, broken spines, loose pages, hi-lighted, written in or torn materials with excessive discoloration, moldy, dirty or insect-infested items, magazines, textbooks, encyclopedias, medical and law books over five years old, government reports, pamphlets or binders.…

$78k in HTA Funding for Molokai Organizations

Thursday, August 29th, 2024

HTA News Release

The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) is proud to announce the selection of organizations for its Community Stewardship and Regenerative Experiences programs, two key initiatives under the Community Tourism Collaboratives.

A 2024 technical needs assessment completed by HTA revealed key capacity-building activities that HTA could focus on to advance a regenerative tourism model for Hawaii. Following a highly competitive application and rigorous evaluation process, 24 organizations have been chosen to participate in these transformative capacity-building programs aimed at fostering regenerative tourism and preserving Hawaii’s cultural and natural resources.

“The selection of these remarkable organizations marks a significant step forward in our efforts to create a more regenerative and culturally respectful tourism model in Hawaii,” said Mufi Hannemann, HTA Board Chair.…

Local Students Named to Pacific University Dean’s List

Thursday, August 29th, 2024

Pacific University News Release

Several Molokai students have been named to the spring 2024 Dean’s List at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. The Dean’s List recognizes undergraduate students in Pacific’s colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business and Education who earn a grade-point average of at least 3.70 and complete 12 or more graded hours.

Saije Aiana, Kamalu Kaawa Richardson and Reese Raguindin are all on the spring 2024 Dean’s List.

Celebrating 175 years of purpose, Pacific University is Washington County, Oregon’s only comprehensive university. With undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, health professions and optometry, Pacific inspires its 3,600 students to think, care, create, and pursue justice in the world.…

Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month

Thursday, August 29th, 2024

Dept. of Health News Release

This year is the inaugural designation of September as “Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month” for the state of Hawaii. This recent enactment coincides with the globally recognized World Suicide Prevention Day, observed each year on Sept. 10.

“We must do more as a state to build more connection and more resilience in our communities, as we know these protect us from severe mental health challenges and prevent suicide,” said Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, M.D. “This is a personal issue for me and my family, as we’ve lost loved ones to suicide. There are too many families who have a similar experience and none of us wants to see another family go through the same heartbreak and loss.”…

Mental Health Support

Thursday, August 22nd, 2024

Molokai Mental Health News Release

Molokai Mental Health is now accepting Medicare. As we get older, sure we are wiser and we respond to life better than in our youth; we’ve learned a few tricks along the way. But life then deals us a whole new set of circumstances. Financial circumstances, physical health and ‘ohana responsibilities change, new worries about our children and grandchildren emerge, relationship challenges change, we become dependent on others, and the world is rapidly changing in many ways. There is plenty to worry and stress about these days. But we can get support, learn some coping skills to handle these new stresses and put that aloha back into our heart.…

A Special Night of Music

Thursday, August 22nd, 2024

Ho’ala Cafe & SipShop News Release

Kapena De Lima, son of well-known Kelly Boy De Lima and longtime member of the group Kapena, will be visiting Molokai for a special night of music, dinner and fun at Ho’ala Cafe & SipShop on Sept. 6 at 5 p.m.
Kapena, popular and talented winner of Na Hoku Hanohano awards, began playing keyboards for the group at age 11. Now, a well-known singer, songwriter and musician, he’s also a sought after producer and recording engineer.
Molokai’s own singer, songwriter and musician Tania Manabe will be sharing songs from her recently released CD “Me Ka Fiyah.”…

Exciting Things are Happening

Thursday, August 15th, 2024

Molokai History Project News Release

The Molokai History Project has received several educational grants, and we want to use them to provide events for our entire community. Our focus is on the students, with residents and visitors welcome at all events. The students will be asked to delve deep into research about our island. They will learn from our kupuna, and those who are experts, as they work doing what they love. The students will then be asked to share their results, thus creating exciting new ideas and projects for our island. We hope to begin in September and run through April, 2025, with monthly events.…