News Releases

Hackathon Launched to Protect Marine Life

Wednesday, July 9th, 2025

UH News Release
The University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program (Hawai‘i Sea Grant) and Papahanaumokakea Marine Debris Project (PMDP) have launched the inaugural Marine Debris Hack-A-Thon, a cutting-edge challenge that calls on individuals or teams to develop new, innovative tools that can be used to cut and remove derelict fishing nets.
Derelict fishing gear, often referred to as “ghost gear,” poses a severe risk to marine life, coral reefs and coastal communities. Current methods for removal are often labor-intensive and limited by existing tool capabilities. This competition seeks to harness the collective ingenuity of Hawaiʻi’s brightest minds to develop solutions that can make a tangible difference in ocean conservation.…

Molokai Land Trust Acquires Kahanui Wetland for Restoration

Friday, June 27th, 2025

Molokai Land Trust News Release
In a significant collaboration among county, state, federal and private partners, a 45-acre wetland parcel in Kahanui on Molokai’s south shore, which includes a portion of the Punalau loko i‘a, was recently acquired by local conservation nonprofit Molokai Land Trust (MLT) for restoration and management.
The $653,850 acquisition closed April 9. Previously privately owned, this sale was possible with assistance from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), and funded by a US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant ($398,850); a County of Maui Open Space, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources and Scenic Views Preservation Fund ($210,000); and private contributions ($45,000).…

Growing Gardeners

Friday, June 27th, 2025

CTAHR News Release
Funded through a grant from the County of Maui, CTAHR recently completed the first cohort of our Seed 2 Harvest gardening program — a hands-on, workforce development course focused on small-scale annual food production.
Designed for beginning gardeners, the program provided both technical skills and real-life growing experience that students can take into home gardens, community efforts, or future farm ventures.
Participants were guided through the full growing cycle, from seeding and transplanting to harvest. Crops included tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, arugula, cilantro, radishes, lettuce, and Swiss chard — offering students a diverse set of planting, care, and harvesting experiences.…

Hawaiʻi Students Earn Top Awards at National History Day

Friday, June 27th, 2025

Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities News Release
Hawaiʻi students won top awards at the National History Day (NHD) competition at the University of Maryland June 8-12. Student historians from across the state showcased their passion for history, demonstrated exceptional research and presentation skills, and responded to judges’ interviews with knowledge, confidence and enthusiasm.
Hawaiʻi History Day students in grades 4 to 12 from 46 public, private and charter schools on Molokai, Kauai, Maui, Oahu, and Hawaii who advanced through school, district, and state-level competitions earned the opportunity to compete at the national level. Hawai’i students competed in Junior (grades 6-8) and Senior (grades 9-12) Divisions, as individuals or groups (2 or 3 members), amidst fierce competition from nearly 3,000 students from all 50 states, international schools and U.S.…

Wailau Land to Be Permanently Protected

Thursday, June 19th, 2025

The Conservation Fund News Release

The Brown Family Trust has announced that its land in Wailau will be permanently protected for the benefit of the Molokai community. 

The Sacharuna Foundation, which has been active in land protection on Molokai for 40 years and was a leader in The Nature Conservancy’s successful effort in 1988 to permanently conserve the Mo’omomi Dunes, will assume title to support local stewardship and empower community leaders in their vision to restore and malama this land. In the words of Molokai native Wailana Moses — a part-time resident of Wailau with over 25 years of experience in natural resource management:

“Wailau is a unique and special place to many families on Molokai and we are so grateful to the Brown family for this incredible contribution.…

MEO Seeking Public Input on Poverty Causes

Thursday, June 19th, 2025

MEO News Release

Maui Economic Opportunity has been gathering community’s input on the “causes that could lead to poverty” in Maui County and encourages more submissions before the survey’s deadline of Wednesday, June 25.

So far MEO has received more than 200 responses, which will be used to develop a Community Needs Assessment and a three-year Community Action Plan to address the needs. The causes of poverty for assessment on the survey include cost of living, financial literacy, affordable housing, food insecurity, and many others.

The Community Action Plan, which has been a staple of MEO’s efforts to support people in need in Maui County, will cover 2027-30.…

Local Man Flown to Oahu After ATV Accident

Thursday, June 12th, 2025

Maui County News Release
Firefighters responded to the report of an ATV accident involving three males, with one seriously injured, two miles from the nearest paved road above Kawela on Molokai June 2 at 12:19 p.m.
Firefighters used utility vehicles to access the patient, a 78-year-old Molokai resident, and begin initial treatment. Additional fire and Emergency Medical Service personnel were brought to the scene by off-duty fire personnel using a UTV. The patient was evaluated at the scene by EMS and prepared for transport.
Rescue 10 personnel aboard Air 1 lifted the patient from the accident scene and transported him to a landing zone at One Ali’i Park, where he was transferred to a medivac helicopter and flown to Oahu.…

MAC Hosting Ceramic Artist

Thursday, June 12th, 2025

MAC News Release

The Molokai Arts Center welcomes Artist in Residence Sheldon Tsu-Yao Wong of Honolulu, Hawaii. As an artist, Sheldon uses clay to explore and dissect ancestral stories, exploring themes of ownership, belonging, and the politics of memory. 

He will be on Molokai from June 5 through 20 working on a project aimed at creating a dialog between the viewer, the material, and the island, exploring how we archive our existence and make our presence known through tactile and visual expressions.

“For my time on Molokai, I intend on working on a series of work that continues to explore the meaning of touch in all aspects: with the Earth, connection to ancestry, and the legacy of our archives.…

HDOA Giving More than $500,000 for Specialty Crop Grant Programs

Thursday, June 5th, 2025

By HDOA News Release

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA), Market Development Branch (MDB), is accepting applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) for Fiscal Year 2025. The funding for this year’s program totals $512,663 and seeks project proposals that increase the competitiveness of Hawai‘i’s specialty crops. Award amounts range from $20,000 to $50,000.
Under the program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) allocated funding to each state based on the value of the specialty crops produced. Specialty crops are defined by the USDA as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). Much of Hawai‘i’s diversified agriculture falls under this specialty crop designation.…