News Releases

Releases that pertain to the Molokai and Hawaiian communities.

Molokai Tropical Fruit Growers Awarded

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

Molokai Tropical Fruit Growers Awarded

HTFG News Release 

The statewide Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG) named the recipients of its annual appreciation awards today at the 32nd Annual Hawaii International Tropical Fruit Conference at the Royal Kona Resort. The conference returned to an in-person format after two years of virtual gatherings due to COVID.

The annual awards honor individuals who advance—through research, education and practice—the use of tropical fruits to support a sustainable, local food industry. In addition, this year’s accolades include service awards chosen by each island chapter and “Dirty Fingers” Awards.

“The new award format is a way for each island chapter to offer recognition to one who has dedicated themselves to the HTFG mission of promoting all aspects of growing and marketing tropical fruit in Hawaii,” explained HTFG Executive Director Ken Love.…

PALS Winter Program Registration Open

Thursday, November 10th, 2022

Maui County News Release 

Online registration for the PALS Program Winter 2022 session begins today and continues through Nov. 15, the Department of Parks and Recreation announced.

The program is open to children ages 5 to 12 years old and will be conducted from Dec. 20 through Dec. 30, 2022. This will be the only registration period for the PALS Program Winter 2022 session on Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

For more information or to register for the PALS Summer 2022 session, go to mauicounty.gov/589/PALS-Program.

For more information, contact the PALS office at (808) 270-7404.…

$35K in AlohaCare Scholarships

Friday, November 4th, 2022

$35K in AlohaCare Scholarships

AlohaCare News Release

AlohaCare awarded seven $5,000 academic scholarships to Hawaii students from four islands — three from Maui, two from Oahu and one each from Molokai and Lanai. 

“Our annual AlohaCare Scholarship’s mission is to encourage workforce development and support students seeking careers in healthcare,” said AlohaCare CEO Francoise Culley-Trotman. “Our team is grateful that we are able to help students follow their educational dreams.” 

AlohaCare scholarships are granted to members or their dependents who are pursuing health-related post-secondary degrees or programs. The Molokai recipient is Michael Arce, who has been dedicated to the field of social work for 15 years.…

Annual Floating Lantern Ceremony

Friday, November 4th, 2022

Hospice Maui News Release

Join us for a multi-cultural event to honor loved ones who have died, with love, gratitude, peace and harmony. The annual Floating Lantern Ceremony will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Molokai Community Health Center, 4 to 6:30 p.m.  Participate and join others in decorating and assembling your own personal lantern to be released at dusk. One lantern per family provided. Bring your tabis if you want to walk in the water… it’s muddy.  While decorating and waiting for lantern release, enjoy music, taiko drums and hula. Food is available for purchase. The event is sponsored by Hospice Maui and Guzeiji Soto Mission.…

Topside Churches Annual Bazaar

Friday, October 28th, 2022

Topside Congregational Churches News Release

Our Topside Churches annual bazaar is back after two years and we look forward to seeing you there. The bazaar will be held on Nov. 5 at Kalaiakamanu Hou Church from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Plate lunch tickets are sold at the door until 11 a.m. for $10, with hundreds of items for sale and auction. The event is presented by the Hoolehua, Kalaiakamanu Hou, Kalua’aha and Waialua Congregational churches. This fundraiser helps our churches with expenses and more importantly, gives us opportunity to minister in our community.

Over the years, our community ministry included organizations that work to better our Molokai community have enjoyed using our facilities at Ho’olehua, Kalaiakamanu Hou, and Waialua Pavilion at little or no cost.…

Scholarship ‘Aha

Friday, October 28th, 2022

UHMCM News Release

The Native Hawaiian Scholarship ‘Aha will be back in person at the UH Maui College Molokai Education Center. Join us on Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. to meet with various scholarship representatives and financial aid resources. There will also be a FAFSA workshop available and a chance to win $500! Go to NHEA.net to register today or call (808)553-4490×2 for more info!…

Bayer Employees Donate Food Statewide

Wednesday, October 19th, 2022

Bayer Hawaii News Release 

Two weeks ago, Bayer Hawaii employees from the company’s Oahu farms presented 846 pounds of donated food collected by employees from Kunia, Haleiwa and Upper Kunia to the Hawai’i Food Bank in Oahu. Bayer employees donated more than 1,891 pounds of food in total across Oahu, Maui and Molokai. Molokai’s donation totaled 515 pounds.  

The food was collected by Bayer Hawaii employees as part of a larger statewide initiative held in September. Bayer works every day toward its vision of Health for All, Hunger for None. That’s why employees on Oahu, Maui and Molokai partnered with local foodbanks for Hunger Action Month to collect non-perishable food items to support members of the community who are experiencing food insecurity.…

Maui County Scholarship

Wednesday, October 19th, 2022

Jerman Foundation News Release 

Josh Jerman of Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers is once again offering the Josh and Souk Jerman Foundation Scholarship to encourage college-bound students to use their education to benefit Maui County.

Now in its 19th consecutive year, the Josh and Souk Jerman Foundation Scholarship program provides academic scholarships to local high school seniors who will attend an accredited four-year college or university. To date, the program has awarded more than $58,000 in scholarships to Maui, Molokai and Lanai students who have displayed a passion for returning to Maui County after college to contribute to the community.

Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded $1,000 scholarships to up to five recipients. In acknowledgment of students’ resilience in the face of adversity over the past two years, the Foundation will now award $1,000 scholarships to 10 recipients in 2023. …

New Play Structure at MEO Preschool

Wednesday, October 19th, 2022

MEO News Release 

Children attending eight Maui Economic Opportunity Head Start preschool sites are enjoying new play structures in a $506,000 renovation project completed two weeks ago.

The new play structures are open air with a lower profile and provide for better safety and supervision of children, compared to the old tower structures, some of which were put up as far back as 2005.

Six new play structures were installed beginning in August at Head Start sites at the Eddie Tam Complex in Makawao, Kihei Elementary School, Princess Nahienaena Elementary School in Lahaina, Luana Gardens in Kahului, UH-Maui College in Kahului and MEO Molokai offices in Kaunakakai.…

County Energy Cost-Savings Program

Wednesday, October 19th, 2022

Maui County News Release 

Maui County taxpayers can expect to benefit from $73 million in energy and water conservation cost savings from a 20-year energy cost savings agreement with contractor Johnson Controls.

“This is a fiscally responsible project that saves taxpayer dollars, creates local jobs, reduces our carbon footprint, and, importantly, frees up clean water that we can use for affordable housing,” Mayor Michael Victorino said. “Reducing dependence on fossil fuels means we are taking money out of an oil tanker and keeping it right here, investing in jobs for our residents.”

The contractor expects the project will create more than 40 local jobs for the engineering, project management and maintenance support.…