News Releases

Releases that pertain to the Molokai and Hawaiian communities.

Helping Molokai Get Firewise

Wednesday, April 14th, 2021

Paniolo Hale News Release

As one of 15 communities across the State of Hawaii to be recognized as a certified NFPA Fire-wise USA Community, Paniolo Hale is partnering with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm ® in helping communities take steps toward safety with the national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day event on Saturday, May 1.

Preparedness Day encourages people and organizations to come together on a single day to take action to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risks. Individual and community actions remain a key component to reducing wildfire risk around homes and neighborhoods. In an effort to mitigate fire fuels for Molokai, the Division Manager of the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management Environmental Protection and Sustainability Division has helped Paniolo Hale to compile a list of items that the Molokai landfill will accept.…

Health Center Gets Funding

Wednesday, April 14th, 2021

MCHC News Release

Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) is one of 14 Hawaii Community Health Centers to receive American Rescue Plan funds to expand operations in response to COVID-19 vaccinations, increased testing, preventive and primary care expansion, direct transportation for patient care, including improving physical infrastructure and adding mobile clinic services.

Molokai Community Health Center has been awarded $839,500 of the $31,969,250 American Rescue Plan funds allocated to Hawaii Health Centers.

To further support this work, in late March, The Hawaii Community Foundation has also awarded MCHC $222,500 towards increased COVID-19 vaccination efforts and mobile clinic services to reach patients who are homebound, lack transportation to get to their appointments or seek care, or who may not have adequate broadband or device capability in their neighborhood to receive care by telehealth.…

Laptops for Moms on Molokai

Friday, April 9th, 2021

Office of Keani Rawlins-Fernandez News Release

At her March 30th virtual town hall meeting, Maui County Council Vice-Chair Keani Rawlins-Fernandez announced plans to distribute 20 Dell laptops to mothers and female caregivers with children in preschool to 12th grade, living on the island of Molokai.

“Our moms on Molokai are working so hard, raising and supporting their families,” said Rawlins-Fernandez. “With COVID forcing so many mothers to work from home, the situation has only compounded the need for technological support in their households.”

The trend towards remote work has increased the demand for innovative business solutions. In this context, services like https://www.virtualoffice-london.co.uk/

Free College Credit in Sustainability for HS Students

Friday, April 9th, 2021

PAAC News Release

This summer, 30 Hawaii public high school students have the opportunity to earn college credit for free through an online course focusing on sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Students will examine a broad spectrum of social, environmental, and economic concerns that all nations must confront in the face of issues such as climate change, hunger, and poverty. Special attention will be paid to how these issues impact Hawaii.

Molokai students are invited to apply, as this is a fully online course.

The course is offered by the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council (PAAC) and the College of Hawaiian Language (Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikolani and ʻImiloa Center) at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.…

Free MAC Classes Memorialize Two Artists

Friday, April 9th, 2021

MAC News Release

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) has been awarded grants from Maui County Office of Economic Development and Atherton Foundation. These grants, along with generous donations and recent fundraisers, allow Molokai’s only nonprofit arts education organization to offer three months (April, May, June) of free ceramic and mixed media arts classes for children, youth, adults, and seniors. The project, titled Panaʻi Aloha — Giving Back to Molokai, is the MAC’s way of celebrating its 10-year history and helping its island home cope with and revitalize during the ongoing pandemic. Panaʻi Aloha is dedicated to the memories of Eric Swenson and Felix Kehano, Jr.…

21 Molokai Farms Get Ag Micro Grants

Thursday, April 1st, 2021

MEO News Release

Maui County’s $2.5 million Agricultural Micro Grants Program, administered by Maui Economic Opportunity, purchased tractors, chippers and other supplies; put up fencing and sheds; and established an online presence for 105 small farms in the county – including 21 farms on Molokai.

With the program winding to a close, MEO Business Center Director David Daly said Monday, March 22, that his team is working on putting the finishing touches on the last couple of grants and the program.

The Agricultural Micro Grants Program was established to allow small Maui County farms to receive grants – up to $25,000 – that directly increase the availability of local produce, livestock, poultry and farm products while increasing agricultural capacity, productivity, name recognition and income.…

Farm Fresh Food Pantry Opens

Thursday, April 1st, 2021

MCHC News Release

Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) is pleased to announce the opening of our Community Farm Fresh Food Pantry in partnership with Maui Food Bank. Designated under Maui Food Banks’ Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), this program helps to provide food immediately to those who need it the most. Open five days a week, one can get fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein, as well as food commodities at no cost. MCHC’s Farm Fresh Food pantry is also the only Food Bank based pantry on Molokai now offering qualifying residents chilled and frozen food items, at any time of the month they need it; upcoming refrigeration expansion with MCHC’s certified kitchen will make it the largest and most accessible Food Bank site on island.…

MHS Student Earns First Place in Health Care Conference

Thursday, April 1st, 2021

MHS HOSA Club News Release

Molokai High School student Mallory Go placed first in the Epidemiology event in State Leadership Conference as a member of the MHS HOSA Future Health Care Professionals club. This top-three finish gives her an opportunity to attend the HOSA International Leadership Conference this summer. In addition, Aaliah Cariaga presented her Prepared Speaking recording and finished in the Hawaii top 10 with seventh place.

These results prove yet again that Molokai students can successfully compete at the state and international levels. This year was particularly difficult given the virtual event status. Hawaii HOSA event organizers are hopeful that a successful national vaccine program coupled with continued protective individual behaviors will end this pandemic.…

Discuss Energy Coop’s Plan to Bid

Thursday, April 1st, 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, April 3, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

At this workshop weʻll continue our discussion from last month about renewable energy workforce development on Molokai, including solar training for the Coop’s potential energy development projects. We will also discuss updates about the Coop’s plan to bid a 2.75 MW solar and battery storage project for Maui Electric’s upcoming Community Based Renewable Energy (CBRE) Request for Proposals (RFP).

This meeting will be held over Zoom and is open to all who would like to listen and participate.…

Nominate a Volunteer Hero

Wednesday, March 24th, 2021

County of Maui News Release

Do you know a volunteer hero on Molokai? Now is the time to recognize them! Nominations are being accepted for recognition of outstanding community volunteers, the County of Maui Department of Housing and Human Concerns’ Volunteer Center announced. The center will hold its annual Volunteer Heroes Celebration of Service in April.

The application deadline is at noon Thursday, April 1. To submit a nomination online, visit HandsOnMaui.com. The direct link to submit a nomination is handsonmaui.com/volunteer-hero-nomination-form/.

Individuals volunteering with a nonprofit, private or government volunteer program on Molokai, Maui and Lanai are eligible to be nominated; one application per organization will be accepted.…