News Releases

Releases that pertain to the Molokai and Hawaiian communities.

Bayer Makes Molokai Food Donation

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

Bayer News Release

In support of World Hunger Day, Bayer Hawaii donated more than 2,700 pounds of food to the Institute for Human Services (IHS), Maui Food Bank and Molokai Salvation Army on Thursday, May 27.

“Making a positive impact by giving back to our island communities has always been a priority for Bayer Hawaii. And with so many of our neighbors currently struggling in the wake of the pandemic, the need to improve Hawaii’s food sustainability has never been greater,” said Alan Takemoto, community affairs lead at Bayer Hawaii “Mahalo to our employees across Oahu, Maui and Molokai for their generous contributions.”…

2 MHS Seniors Receive Memorial Scholarship

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

FMHMSF News Release

Two Molokai High School graduates have been awarded $2,000 each, a laptop and a Da Kine backpack by the Kukui Malamalama Scholarship program in memory of Kekuhaupio Likua. The scholarship award is administered by the Friends of Molokai High and Middle Schools Foundation (FMHMSF). The Kukui Malamalama Scholarships are funded by local residents that are interested in seeing more of our students continue their education after high school.

This year’s recipients are Ashawna-Leah Bicoy and Hulu Kekahuna Ah Van.

Ashawna-Leah plans to attend Arizona State University and major in social work.

Hulu Ah Van will be attending Bethany College in Kansas majoring in athletic training.…

Energy Coop Tech Review Continues

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

Ho’ahu Energy Coop News Release

Hoʻahu Energy Cooperative Molokai, a new local entity formed to support community-owned energy projects, invites you to join us for our next virtual workshop on Saturday, June 12 from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

This workshop will be Tech Review Day, Part 2! In May, we learned about some of our options for different solar panel modules to install for our projects. This week we will learn about battery storage technologies and then we will discuss our priorities in selecting which equipment we would install.

The workshop continues the Coop’s work to design solar and battery storage projects for Maui Electric’s upcoming Community Based Renewable Energy (CBRE) Request for Proposals (RFP).…

Summer Meals for Youth

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Do you have children and want to take advantage of free meals over the summer? Do you have a student who relies on school meals to stay fed? Even though school is out of session for the summer, free grab and go meals will be available at four school locations across the island, for all Molokai youth aged 1 to 18, regardless of school enrollment status.

The meals will be provided by Kualapu’u School from June 7 to July 16. Meal pick up sites and times are Kilohana Elementary School between 11:45 and 12 noon, Kaunakakai Elementary School between 11:15 and 11:45 a.m.,…

Mallory Go Awarded Top Scholarship

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

Mallory Go Awarded Top Scholarship

HLTA News Release

Two Maui County seniors were recently named the top statewide Scholars in the Citizen-Scholars award program through the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association (HLTA) while another was named the top scholar for Maui County. Mallory H. Go of Molokai High School, who was selected as the top female scholar, will attend Brown University in the fall where she intends to study Public Health and Japanese.

Hana High and Intermediate School’s Owali Moea‘i was chosen as the top male scholar and will attend Brigham Young University – Hawaii where he will major in Computer Science and Hawaiian Language. King Kekaulike High School Senior Aleth Sabugo was announced as the top scholar for Maui County and will attend the University of Hawaii – Maui.…

Molokai Water Use and Development Plan

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021

Townscape News Release

Please join us for a Hoʻolauna Meeting, the first community meeting to discuss the Molokai Water Use and Development Plan, on Wednesday, June 9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The State of Hawaii Water Code requires each county to develop a Water Use and Development Plan and Maui County has chosen to develop separate plans for Molokai, Lanai and Maui to better address the unique needs of each island. The Molokai Water Use and Development Plan will analyze the island’s water resources and project how future water needs will be met.

The Water Use and Development Plan for the island of Molokai is being updated in a collaboration of Townscape, Inc.,…

‘Music of Kalaupapa’ Awarded

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021

Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa News Release

Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa was presented with a Preservation Media Award by Historic Hawaii Foundation for its virtual concert, “The Music of Kalaupapa.”

The concert was recognized during a virtual ceremony recently along with seven other preservation projects and five individuals who were acknowledged for their longtime commitments to preservation of the islands’ special places and cultures. The Preservation Honor Awards by Historic Hawaii Foundation (HHF) are considered to be the highest recognition of projects in Hawaii that perpetuate, rehabilitate, restore or interpret the state’s architectural, archaeological and/or cultural heritage.

“The Music of Kalaupapa concert celebrates and memorializes the music and songwriters of Kalaupapa,” wrote Kiersten Faulkner, Executive Director of HHF in the congratulatory letter to Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa.…

Hawaiian Electric Urges Hurricane Preparedness

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021

Hawaiian Electric News Release

The 2021 Central Pacific hurricane season starts on June 1 and Hawaiian Electric is advising customers, both residential and commercial, to be prepared and have emergency plans in place.

Hawaiian Electric crews work year-round to harden the company’s five island grids so they are better able to withstand the effects of powerful storms. A major focus of Hawaiian Electric’s efforts to build resilience involves reinforcing poles, lines and other equipment. The utility also spent $18 million in 2020 to clear trees and vegetation from around power lines and equipment, resulting in fewer and briefer outages during storms.…

OHA Awards Nonprofit Grants

Wednesday, May 26th, 2021

OHA News Release

A Molokai program is among 14 nonprofit organizations statewide that received grant awards from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs totaling $1.25 million that will support the Native Hawaiian community through its new ‘Ohana and Community Program Grants. The funding is intended to help reinforce and strengthen Native Hawaiians’ ‘ohana (family), moʻomeheu (culture) and ʻaina (land and water).

On Molokai, Maui Family Support Services, Inc., is awarded $41,199 for their “Ho‘owaiwai Kaiaulu Project – Molokai” to provide a continuum of programs to strengthen the physical and mental wellbeing of Native Hawaiian ‘ohana and keiki, to increase their social and emotional competence, and improve ‘ohana strengths and resilience.…

Laptops for Molokai Moms

Wednesday, May 26th, 2021

Laptops for Molokai Moms

Keani Rawlins-Fernandez News Release

Shortly after Mother’s Day, on May 14, Maui County Council Vice-Chair Keani Rawlins-Fernandez distributed 20 Dell laptops provided by the Hawaii Commission on the Status of Woman through the generous donation of a private citizen, and a freight transportation donation by Mokulele Airlines from Maui to Molokai.

The Commission made these computers available to moms and female caregivers to ensure digital equity, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the way we work, learn, pay bills, and live. It made technology even more critical to survival.

Through the help of a selection committee, applications were reviewed and scored based on specific criteria.…