News Releases

Releases that pertain to the Molokai and Hawaiian communities.

Give Input on Renewable Energy Projects

Wednesday, May 10th, 2023

Ho’ahu News Release 

Come learn about and give input on the first community-owned solar projects on Molokai at a virtual meeting to be held May 20 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Residents can check hoahuenergy.coop/community-meetings/ for login information.

The purpose of the meeting is to share information about two community-based renewable energy projects proposed to be developed on Molokai in Kualapuʻu and Palaʻau and to solicit public comments to be filed with the Public Utilities Commission.

Hoʻahu Energy Cooperative Molokai (Hoʻahu) was first formed in 2020 by Molokai community advocates to enable our island residents to design and own renewable energy projects built on Molokai.…

Artist in the School

Wednesday, May 10th, 2023

MAC News Release

The Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) Artists in the Schools (AITS) provides grants to schools to bring in qualified, trained teaching artists from the Artistic Teaching Partners (ATP) Roster. The residency is designed to provide engaging, creative, and fun learning experiences based on the Fine Arts standards for all grade levels. Many of these teaching artists integrate their art form with other core curriculum areas, such as language arts, math, social studies, science, meeting both fine arts and other core standards.

This year, Kualapu’u Conversion Charter School was privileged to have poet Laurel Nakanishi work with 5, and Papa 6 classes. Laurel…

MHS Graduation

Thursday, May 4th, 2023

MHS News Release 

The Molokai High School Class of 2023 will be honored through a traditional ceremony on Saturday, May 20 at 4 p.m. in the MHS gymnasium. The community will be invited to join in-person or via livestream online on Akaku, channel 54, the Akaku app called “Maui Stream,” akaku.org, as well as the Maui/Molokai Akaku Facebook pages.

At the gymnasium, the doors will open at 3 p.m. and close at 3:55 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes for the graduate processional. Please be inside and seated prior to 3:55 p.m.

There are no COVID-19 restrictions, however there are no signs, tubes, balloons or air horns allowed in the gym.…

Wildfire Preparedness

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

Paniolo Hale Firewise Committee News Release 

Several wildfire preparedness events will take place on Molokai in the month of May. On May 4, 10 a.m. at the Molokai Public Library, Maui County’s Department of Fire and Public Safety Chief Lindo and Community Wildfire Ambassador Erin Peyton will be sharing simple steps you can take to best prepare your homes and families in case of structural fire or wildfire.

Other events include a virtual “Ready, Set, Go!” from 12 to 1 p.m., instructing on protecting your home yard and family from wildfires. Register at tinyurl.com/29wcktyp.

Additionally, for the month of May, Pacific Eatery will offer Hawaii Prevents Wildfire coloring placemats.…

Junior Lifeguard Program

Wednesday, April 26th, 2023

Maui County News Release 

Registration is now open for the 2023 Junior Lifeguard Program, the County of Maui Department of Public Safety – Ocean Safety Bureau announced. The one-week Ocean Junior Lifeguard program was designed to train boys and girls ages 8 to 17 in lifesaving water skills and to develop an awareness of beach hazards and ocean conditions.

Participants will become familiar with First Aid and CPR techniques, while improving their health and fitness. Beach programs will be offered on Maui, Lanai and Molokai. The program also promotes efficient lifeguard services by instilling essential safety knowledge and rescue skills in young participants.…

Congresswoman Holds Town Hall

Wednesday, April 26th, 2023

Rep. Tokuda News Release

U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda will hold additional town hall meetings across Hawaii’s Second Congressional District to hear from constituents. Tokuda previously held town hall meetings in Hilo, Oahu and Maui.

Rep. Tokuda will also hold Farm Bill listening sessions with farmers, workers, and agriculture producers.

The Molokai event will be held on Thursday, May 4 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Mitchell Pauole Center.   

For more info and to RSVP, community members should visit tokuda.house.gov/town-halls.…

Summer College Classes

Wednesday, April 26th, 2023

UHMCM News Release

Have you picked up our most recent course schedule for UH Maui College, Molokai? If you haven’t gotten your hands on one, call us and ask about our free summer courses. We are offering MATH100 Survey of Math and MAIN160 Small Equipment Repair tuition-free! 

If interested in any of these, contact amandaos@hawaii.edu for more information. We are also offering free sheltered classes for high school students in CARP 121 Framing and Exterior Finish along with BIOL 124 Environment and Ecology. Contact msterner@hawaii.edu for more information.…

Lessons and Fun at Kamp Kaohi

Wednesday, April 19th, 2023

Lessons and Fun at Kamp Kaohi

MEO News Release 

Sixteen middle and high school youth on Molokai learned about the negative effects of alcohol and “bad-vertising” of vaping and tobacco products  while having fun and developing their leadership skills at Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO)’s Kamp Kaohi.  

The overnight gathering on April 7 and 8 at Molokai Baptist Church was run by MEO Youth Services staff on Molokai and Maui and was the first camp for MEO’s year-old Kaohi youth program on Molokai.

Activities at the camp focused on tobacco/vaping, bullying, underage drinking and teen suicide prevention with informational, teambuilding and fun activities. For example, youth wearing goggles simulating drunken vision participated in a relay race.…

Torch Run for Special Olympics

Wednesday, April 19th, 2023

MPD Press Release 

The 38th Annual Troy Barboza Law Enforcement Torch Run  for Maui County, hosted by the Maui Police Dept., will begin on Friday, April 21 between 4 to 6 p.m. on Molokai at the Kalaiakamanu Hou Church across from Coconut Grove.  

This year’s event will continue on Lanai and conclude on Maui on Friday, April 28. 

The Law Enforcement Torch Run began in 1981 in Kansas and is the largest grassroots fundraising movement for Special Olympics. Known as Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the Flame of Hope into the Opening Ceremony of local competitions and Special Olympics State, Provincial, National, Regional and World Games. …

April Is Native Hawaiian Plant Month

Wednesday, April 12th, 2023

DLNR News Release 

Governor Josh Green, M.D. has proclaimed April as Native Hawaiian Plant Month, recognizing the diversity and biocultural value of roughly 1,400 native plant species, including many found on Molokai.

Native Hawaiian Plant Month also provides an opportunity to celebrate the successes made by rare plant botanists, who manage more than 420 endangered plant species statewide. The Plant Extinction Prevention Program (PEPP), a collaboration of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), University of Hawaii, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released an annual report detailing a series of rediscoveries and rebounds in rare plant populations across the archipelago.

Several plant species previously thought extinct were rediscovered through field surveys last year.…