News Releases

Releases that pertain to the Molokai and Hawaiian communities.

Writing Workshop

Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023

MAC News Release 

The Molokai Arts Center’s (MAC) Artist in Residence Noelani M. Piters is near the end of her residency, working on a short story collection centered around Hawaii, the Native Hawaiian diaspora, mixedness and what it means to belong. Her stories will explore how immigration, colonization, family myth, mixed experience, the relationship to the land, inheritance and kuleana complicate and create identity. This will manifest in fragmented narratives, characters who question the invisible barriers that delineate their various heritages, and visceral descriptions of locations with deep historical or personal significance.

Noe, who is a Chinese, Kanaka Maoli and Jewish writer living in San Francisco, CA, will be the guest of our next MAC Talk on Thursday, Aug.…

Artist in Residence

Wednesday, August 16th, 2023

Artist in Residence

MAC News Release

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) welcomes Artist in Residence Noelani M. Piters to our community. Noelani Piters is a Chinese, Kanaka Maoli and Jewish writer living in San Francisco, CA. She is a 2022 Kearny Street Workshop Interdisciplinary Writers Lab Fellow. Her poetry has been published in Reed Magazine and Pleiades, and she has contributed to The Rumpus and SOMA Magazine.

Noelani will be working on a short story collection centered around Hawaii, the Native Hawaiian diaspora, mixedness and what it means to belong. These stories will explore how immigration, colonization, family myth, mixed experience, the relationship to the land, inheritance and kuleana complicate and create identity.…

Molokai Irrigation System Rate Increase

Wednesday, August 16th, 2023

Molokai Farm Bureau News Release 

The Molokai Farm Bureau would like to remind those who receive water via the Molokai Irrigation System (MIS), that the Hawaii Department of Agriculture is holding a public hearing for their proposed 122 percent rate increase for water delivery services. An increase of 122 percent would increase an average monthly bill of $500 to $1,110 a month, or $1,000 to $2,220 a month. 

The public hearing will be on Aug. 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. by Zoom, at us02web.zoom.us/j/81478479811

Molokai residents can submit written testimony three different ways: via email at HDOA.ARMD@hawaii.gov; via fax at (808) 973-9467; or postal mail to Agricultural Resource Management Division c/o Department of Agriculture, 1428 S.…

Memorial Scholarship Honors Firefighter

Wednesday, August 16th, 2023

Live Like Tre Foundation News Release 

Molokai students can now apply for scholarships through the Live Like Tre Foundation. The application deadline for the scholarships is Sept. 15. Recipients of the awards will be announced on Oct. 15.

The Live Like Tre’ Foundation’s scholarship program is in memory of Tre’ Evans-Dumaran, a remarkable young man who lived his life with tenacity, kindness, and a passion for making a positive impact in his community. Tre’ was known as a scholar athlete who embraced learning in all aspects of life. Tragically, he lost his life while answering a call for help from the Maui County to serve and protect his community.…

Milestone in Renewable Energy Planning

Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

Molokai Clean Energy Hui News Release 

The Clean Energy Hui, a community-based volunteer group, submitted the Molokai Community Energy Resilience Action Plan (CERAP) 1.0 report to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on July 14. It marks another step towards Molokai meeting the 2045 state commitment for 100 percent renewable energy. 

The CERAP journey started in July 2021, when the Hui requested a PUC status conference to place on hold a Hawaiian Electric-proposed project at Pala’au and provide time for Molokai to develop their own community-based renewable energy plan. The unprecedented status conference request was successful, and the Hui began developing and executing the community-initiated and led renewable energy planning process in partnership with the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute which are the renewable energy technical advisors.…

Senate Committee Visits Molokai

Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

State Senate News Release 

Between July 26-28, members of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means visited multiple venues on Maui and Molokai, where they were met by state officials and community members who delivered presentations on their plans for a range of both Governor’s and Senate priorities, including economic and workforce development, investments in infrastructure, the coalescing of a food innovation network, and the future of Kahoʻolawe and Kalaupapa.

Hawaiian community priorities were also a focus of the Maui County site visits, taking the members from Maui to Molokai and ending in Kalaupapa. Chair Watson provided a progress report on the historic $600 million appropriation in 2022, with the encumbrance of the $200 million in Fiscal Year 2023 and the remaining $400 million expected by the end of Fiscal Year 2024 for homestead and infrastructure development statewide.…

County Grants Available

Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

Maui County News Release 

Nonprofit and for-profit organizations in Maui County, including Molokai, that offer or plan to offer programs or services in social welfare, youth services, alcohol and substance abuse, homelessness, youth centers or animal management are encouraged to apply for county Department of Housing and Human Concerns Fiscal Year 2025-26 grants.

The grant proposal application period opened Aug. 1 and continues until 4:30 p.m. Aug. 31. No late submissions will be accepted. Funding periods will be for fiscal years 2025 (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025) and 2026 (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026).

Application forms and instructions are found on the Department of Housing and Human Concerns’ Grant Management Division website, mauicounty.gov/252/Grants-Management-Division

Kupuna ‘Ai Program

Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

Sust’ainable Molokai News Release

Help us continue to provide fresh, locally grown foods to our island’s kupuna!

We’re thrilled to announce the ongoing pursuit of our Kupuna ‘Ai program, which allows community members to purchase fresh, locally grown food boxes and donate them for delivery to local kupuna in need. We’re collaborating with organizations such as the Molokai Rural Health Community Association, which has active kupuna programs, to deliver weekly community supported agriculture (CSA) boxes containing locally grown foods like kalo pa’a, bananas, papaya, and eggs via the Sustʻainable Molokai Mobile Market completely free of charge to our island’s kupuna. 

The Kupuna ‘Ai program was launched in March and is a way for us to give back to the community and support our kupuna, who have played such a vital role in shaping our island’s culture and history.…

Kanikapila Group Schedule Change

Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

Kanikapila Group Therapy News Release

Effective August, 2023, Kanikapila Group Therapy (KGT) will be meeting every Wednesday at the Kualapuu Recreation Center (Park) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. KGT is no longer at the Congregation Church Pavilion in Ho’olehua.

What do we do? We play music! All are welcome to come and join in or just sit back and enjoy the music.  You can follow KGT on Facebook at bit.ly/kanikapilaGT.

This is a free event open to the public.…

Subsistence Survey Update

Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

Sust’ainable Molokai News Release

Get a coupon for free poi or kalo pa’a when you complete the 2023 Molokai subsistence study update survey. Only available to the next 100 people who complete the survey as a coupon for Sustʻainable Molokaiʻs Mobile Market. All English-speaking Molokai residents aged 18 or older can take the survey one time. 

Why participate? It has been 30 years since we have had updated, island-wide information on subsistence practices like hunting, fishing, gathering, and farming on Molokai. The 2023 Molokai Subsistence Study Update is our chance to update our Molokai-specific data on subsistence practices and food security.…