News Releases

Releases that pertain to the Molokai and Hawaiian communities.

Free Meals for All Public School Students

Wednesday, July 21st, 2021

DOE News Release

All students at Molokai public schools are among Hawaii’s 257 public schools that will receive free breakfast and lunch meals for the entirety of the 2021-22 school year, thanks to a nationwide waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The waiver aims to minimize the possible spread of COVID-19 at schools across the country by eliminating meal payment transactions in school cafeterias, settings where students and cashiers may not be able to maintain proper social distancing. Federal funds will reimburse state education departments for meal costs.

“This has been a challenging time for our ʻohana, and I am proud to continue our safety net support through actions that improve food security for our students while providing economic relief for our families,” Superintendent Dr.…

Your Dream for Molokai Energy

Wednesday, July 14th, 2021

Molokai Clean Energy Hui and Hoahu Energy Cooperative News Release

The Molokai Clean Energy Hui (MCEH) will begin an island-wide, community-led renewable energy planning process this year. When you dream about renewable energy in the future, does it include electric planes, electric tractors, 4×4 pickups that do not need gas, cheaper power bills, or solar battery backup so you are not affected by blackouts? What is your dream?

Molokai’s renewable energy plan’s success is dependent on community participation. MCEH’s first Zoom community meeting is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 4. Plan to attend because renewable energy affects your ohana’s future, and join the “Molokai Renewable Energy” Facebook group for updates and information.…

In-Person College Resumes

Wednesday, July 14th, 2021

UHMCM News Release

We are excited to announce that the UH system has resumed full in-person services as all offices and buildings have reopened here at UH Maui College Molokai. Please feel free to stop by if you need any assistance enrolling in this upcoming Fall semester. Phone and virtual appointments are also available, call 553-4490 to schedule.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @molokai_education_center to access our diverse listing of upcoming training and workshops. We will be offering exciting credit and non-credit programs for keiki through kupuna throughout the rest of the year. E hoʻonaʻauao honua ʻoiai ma ka hale.…

Cancer Fund Gets $9K Grant

Wednesday, July 14th, 2021

Cancer Fund Gets $9K Grant

Molokai Cancer Fund News Release

Molokai Cancer Fund received a grant for $9,000, which will help Molokai residents diagnosed with cancer and are undergoing treatment with travel to Honolulu or Maui. Travel costs can be so expensive for those who have limited or no travel benefit from their health insurances (underinsured or uninsured).

This is the first grant funding received from Bayer and we will keep helping our Molokai Cancer patients and their caregivers through people’s donations and through our annual Walk for Ohana Fundraising event which was halted due to the pandemic. On behalf of Molokai Cancer Fund, we would like to express our best gratitude to Bayer Molokai, especially to Dawn Bicoy who always keeps us informed and to Stacie Sasagawa from Oahu who also sends reminders.…

Planning for Molokai’s Energy Future

Wednesday, June 30th, 2021

MCEH News Release

We must go slow, to move fast. This proverb is true for Molokai’s renewable energy needs.

In 2017, Hawaiian Electric Companies (HECO) revealed a statewide plan including Molokai for 100 percent renewable energy by 2020. However, Molokai is not even close to the goal. Molokai has an abundance of rooftop solar, but customer options for roof top solar are limited due to technical limitation with the grid.

Over the last decades, four large-scale renewable energy developers have come and gone without completing projects for various reasons, primarily costs and roadblocks with HECO. Today Molokai remains dependent on expensive and environmentally damaging fossil fuels.…

$5M in Rental, Utilities Assistance for Native Hawaiians

Wednesday, June 30th, 2021

CNHA News Release

In a continued partnership with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) is expanding the Native Hawaiian Rental and Utilities Relief Program to include all eligible Native Hawaiians living in Hawaii. Prior to this program, only beneficiaries on the DHHL Waiting List who are at least 50 percent Hawaiian, were eligible for assistance using the DHHL funding.

This new allotment of funds was made possible through the American Rescue Plan of 2021 and is part of the DHHL COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program. This round of funding is available to all Native Hawaiians whether or not they are on the DHHL Waiting List.…

Kualapu’u School Gets $20K for Science Ed

Wednesday, June 30th, 2021

Kualapu’u School News Release

Kualapu’u Public Charter School received a grant for $20,000 from Bayer Fund, which will be used to continue our science education program in Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, and Life Science. The grant will also support island-based field trips so students will learn these science concepts in action and in their own community.

Principal Lydia Trinidad reports, “Our students love field trips and we are excited we can continue our science instruction outside the walls of the classroom,” said Principal Lydia Trinidad. “This year, especially after COVID-19 restrictions, we want to take our students outside! This is our fourth year of receiving support from Bayer and we have all the curriculum to implement our science program.…

OHA Awards $1.77M in COVID Response Grants

Wednesday, June 30th, 2021

OHA News Release

Programs helping to mitigate learning struggles endured by young learners during the pandemic, provide psychiatric services to Native Hawaiians and provide food to vulnerable Native Hawaiian communities are among the grant awardees announced today by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

A total of 15 Hawaii nonprofit organizations on five islands will receive a total of $1.77 million in grant awards through OHA’s COVID-19 Impact and Response Grants. The grant program is being offered for the first time to help the community address the multiple impacts of the global pandemic.

On Molokai, KUPU was awarded $55,042 for its “Conservation Leadership Development Program” to provide employment opportunities for early and developing professionals (17 years or older) who want to commit to a career in conservation.…

Wildland Fire Training This Week

Wednesday, June 30th, 2021

MFD News Release

From Wednesday, June 30 through Friday, July 2, the Maui Fire Department will be conducting a series of live fire wildland training exercises on Molokai. The training will be taking place on a parcel of DHHL land southeast of the intersection of Maunaloa Highway and Pu’upe’elua Avenue in Ho’olehua. The training will occur daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during this time.

During the training, Molokai residents can expect to possibly see smoke and flames in the immediate area.

These training evolutions give Maui Fire Dept. fire fighters on Molokai an opportunity to train in realistic conditions to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season, while at the same time eliminate some of the wildfire fuel loads.…

Molokai Teachers Renew National Board Certification

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2021

Molokai Teachers Renew National Board Certification

NBCT News Release

Molokai High School Librarian Diane Mokuau and Student Services Coordinator Laura Peterson are two of thousands of teachers across the United States to renew their certification as a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT).

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is excited to celebrate these teachers along with the more than 20,000 teachers currently pursuing Board certification – seen as the profession’s mark of accomplished teaching.

“The pandemic truly tested the mettle of anybody working in a school setting — including teachers and their students,” said Peggy Brookins, NBCT, President and CEO of The National Board. “Those teachers who renewed their Board certification this year voluntarily chose to challenge themselves, reflect on their practice and confirm that they are teaching to the highest standards.…