News Releases

Releases that pertain to the Molokai and Hawaiian communities.

Developing Resilience Hubs

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

Maui County News Release

The Maui County Office of Climate Change, Resiliency and Sustainability is discussing the formation of Resiliency Hubs in Maui County. 

“Resilience Hubs help communities respond to natural and other disasters to expedite emergency recovery,” said Mayor Michael Victorino. “These hubs work best when they are customized to meet specific community needs. So please participate in the workshop closest to where you live. In this era of climate change and extreme weather, there’s no such thing as being over-prepared for the unexpected.”

Community input will help determine what services will be offered in Resiliency Hubs, but they are envisioned as places, most of the time, for residents, businesses and organizations to come together for workshops, events and training.…

Free Energy-Savings Kit

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

Hawaiian Electric News Release

Molokai residents are invited to pick up a free kit containing energy-saving items to help reduce energy use at home on Wednesday, May 11, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the drive-through locations on the island. The events will be held at Kaunakakai, Maunaloa and Kilohana elementary schools. 

Hosted by Hawaiian Electric in partnership with Hawaii Energy and the County of Maui Department of Water, the drive-through events will be distributing one kit per vehicle, first come-first served and while supplies last.

The kits include energy-saving light bulbs, water-saving faucet aerators and other items to help residents reduce energy use and manage their energy bills.…

Molokai Organizations Get Funding Awards

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

Sen. DeCoite News Release

Thirteen organizations in Maui County were chosen to receive grant-in-aid (GIA) awards from the Hawaii State Legislature, including some on Molokai, Senator Lynn DeCoite (District 7 –Hana, East and Upcountry Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoʻolawe) announced last week.  

“For two years during the height of the pandemic, the Legislature has been unable to grant aid to organizations across our state,” said Sen. DeCoite. “This is why I am so pleased to announce a total of $2,188,694 has been allocated to help organizations across our district continue their impactful work that touches so many lives.”

The 13 District 7 organizations that received GIA awards are: Aloha House, Inc.…

Bali Painting Workshop

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

Bali Painting Workshop

MAC News Release 

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) is excited to collaborate with the East-West Center (EWC). The EWC Gallery’s April exhibition “Living Legacies: Paintings and Performances of Bali” featured both visual and performing arts of Batuan, Bali. Most of the paintings highlighted in the EWC Gallery exhibition were by artist I Madé Budi and his son I Madé Moja.

Moja is a painter, dancer, puppet maker and shadow-play artist from the village of Batuan, a traditional arts village in Bali known for its classical music and dance, fine woodcarving, and unique painting style. Batuan-style painting is unique from other regional styles and particularly famous for its darker color tones and magical themes.…

Statewide Craftsmen Exhibition

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

Hawaii Craftsmen News Release 

Hawaii Craftsmen is excited to announce that the 2022 exhibition will travel from Oahu to Maui.  The exhibition will begin on Oahu at the Downtown Art Center in mid-October, and then travel to the Maui Arts and Cultural Center Schafer Gallery through December. Molokai artists are invited to submit their work, and jurying will be held in person on Molokai in August. 

The 2022 juror will be Neida Bangerter, who is the director of the world-class Schaefer International Gallery at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center (MACC). As an artist, educator, curator and gallery director, Ms. Bangerter is uniquely qualified to bring her range of expertise, as well as her sensitivity to the tradition of contemporary Hawaii craft to the jurying process.…

MHS Student Gets Citizen-Scholar Award

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

HLTA News Release 

Last week, the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, in partnership with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and the Department of Education, hosted its 18th annual Citizen-Scholar Awards luncheon at the Prince Waikiki and distributed more than $60,000 in scholarships to 42 public high school seniors. Among them, was Molokai High School student Paige Fukuoka. 

“The Citizen-Scholar Awards is a signature HLTA event that provides us with an opportunity to focus on our educational and philanthropic missions.” said HLTA President and CEO Mufi Hannemann. “Reviewing their resumes and learning about their passions and aspirations is extremely humbling, and I am proud to be able to recognize them for their accomplishments.…

Water Use Plan Pop-Ups

Thursday, May 5th, 2022

Townscape News Release

As a part of our community outreach for the Molokai Island Water Use and Development Plan, Townscape, Inc., consultant to the Maui County Department of Water Supply, will have staff on island to conduct in-person outreach. 

We will be setting up a booth pop-up style at a variety of locations during the third week of May. The purpose of the outreach is threefold. We want to reach out to folks who have not been able to participate in the virtual meetings. We will share information about the work that has been done so far on the plan. And we want to better understand community sentiments and values for the island’s water resources.…

Leadership Changes at MEO Molokai

Thursday, April 28th, 2022

Leadership Changes at MEO Molokai

MEO News Release

Mahie K. McPherson officially took over as Maui Economic Opportunity Molokai Manager in late March and will run agency operations on the island while serving as liaison to the community and identifying needs.

McPherson joins the 57-year-old nonprofit Community Action agency after a diverse employment background. Prior to joining MEO, she worked at the county Department of Motor Vehicles and Licensing in Kaunakakai for 10 years as a customer service representative.

She spent six years in Kalaupapa as a facilities management clerk with the Kalaupapa National Historical Park and state Department of Health as business services supervisor and office assistant.…

Instrumental Concert

Thursday, April 28th, 2022

Instrumental Concert

MAC News Release

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Galliard String Quartet (Quartet) returns to Molokai to perform with the Molokai Instrumental Music Education Program (MIME) on Monday, May 9 at 6 p.m. at the Saint Damien Catholic Church.

The MIME program began as a 21st Century class in 2011, taught after school by Bob Underwood and open to anyone who wanted to connect with music. The Molokai Strings and Community Band performed at community events and evolved into MIME. During the pandemic, individual musicians finessed into the more polished Septet that has wowed Molokai audiences with songs from Beatles to showtunes to pop.…

New Artist in Residence

Thursday, April 28th, 2022

New Artist in Residence

MAC News Release 

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) Artist in Residence (AIR) program is back! Two years ago, poet and prose writer Frances McCue’s two-week residency turned into months as the pandemic hit, quarantine was ordered and travel became restricted. We are pleased to once again be able to provide visiting artists with a respite from daily responsibilities to enable them to concentrate on their work. Musician and composer Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti will be on Molokai from April 25 to May 6 to work on two commissioned projects — one for solo oboe and another for a violin and viola duo.

Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti is a Kanaka Maoli musician dedicated to the arts of our time.…