News Releases

Releases that pertain to the Molokai and Hawaiian communities.

Molokai’s 1st Little Free Library Open

Wednesday, October 28th, 2020

Molokai’s 1st Little Free Library Open

Kawela Plantation Homeowners Assn News Release

Just past mile marker 4.5, at the entrance to Kawela Plantation II, you will find Molokai’s first Little Free Library. A global phenomenon, the small, front-yard book exchanges number more than 100,000 around the world in over 100 countries. Now, with the support of the Kawela Plantation Homeowners Association, Molokai’s new Little Free Library will join the movement to share books, bring people together and create communities of readers.

“Our Little Free Library doesn’t just belong to us, it belongs to Molokai,” say Kawela Plantation residents, who introduced the idea of installing the library. “It’s our hope that this Little Free Library will bring a little more joy, a little more connection and a whole lot more books to our community.”…

Festival of Hope Provides for Families

Wednesday, October 28th, 2020

Festival of Hope Provides for Families

CFS News Release

Child and Family Service (CFS) hosted the Festival of Hope for Families, a walk-up event offering local individuals and families support resources, services, and food gift certificates from Oct. 12-16. Part of a series of statewide events, Molokai’s Festival of Hope for Families helped provide needed supplies, resources, and family-friendly activities to those in need during the pandemic crisis.

This family-focused festival followed social distancing guidelines and required that all attendees follow safety guidelines when walking up to the Child and Family Service Molokai Office where groceries, food gift certificates, Community Resource Kits, PPE items and advice, and education resources were distributed.…

$1M in Small Business Mortgage and Rent Relief

Wednesday, October 28th, 2020

County of Maui News Release

Mayor Michael Victorino announced Wednesday the launch of a $1 million Small Business Mortgage and Relief direct payment program to provide a lifeline for businesses struggling to survive COVID-19 impacts. The County of Maui is partnering with the Maui Chamber of Commerce, which is administering the mortgage and rent relief program.

“Commercial rent and mortgage relief is a top priority for most businesses,” Mayor Victorino said. “This CARES Act funding provides a lifeline to help businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, providing goods and services to our community and jobs that keep food on the table for local families.…

Workshop for Renewable Energy Cooperative

Wednesday, October 21st, 2020

Shake Energy News Release

On Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 to 11 a.m., Shake Energy will host another virtual public meeting to further our progress on designing renewable energy projects on Molokai to be locally owned and operated. This follows in a series of community workshops hosted on Molokai about Community-Based Renewable Energy (CBRE). These meetings are held regularly every two weeks to continue the effort to formalize this energy cooperative and design the projects it will own and operate.

At the meeting this weekend, we will be hosting interviews from energy development companies that are interested in partnering with us to submit our bids to Hawaiian Electricʻs Request for Proposals (RFP) for Phase II CBRE projects on Molokai.…

Aerial Electric Line Inspections

Wednesday, October 21st, 2020

Hawaiian Electric News Release

As part of efforts to maintain reliable service, Hawaiian Electric will be using a helicopter to perform routine power line inspections on Molokai on Thursday, Oct. 29 and Maui on Friday, Oct. 30, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Dates and locations are subject to change depending on weather.

Routine aerial inspections of Hawaiian Electric’s equipment, including electrical lines, poles and substations, are necessary to maintain stable and reliable electrical service for the Maui County community.

For questions about this work, the public can contact Hawaiian Electric’s Customer Service Center at 871-9777.…

Quarantine Exemption for Medical Travel

Wednesday, October 21st, 2020

County of Maui News Release

Mayor Michael Victorino announced that Maui County residents traveling for medical purposes will be exempt from quarantine and will not need to take a pre-departure test for COVID-19.

“We know many of our residents in Maui County need to travel briefly to Oahu for medical purposes or to undergo medical procedures or treatment that’s not available here at home,” Mayor Victorino said. “This exemption allows for same day or overnight travel for patients get their needed treatment. Hopefully, it will reduce the amount of anxiety they experience in an already stressful situation.”

This exemption is available only to those not subject to any other quarantine.…

More Time, Funding for Small Business Relief

Wednesday, October 21st, 2020

County of Maui News Release

The County of Maui has added another $1 million to the Kokua Maui County Small Business Recovery and Relief Fund, and small businesses now have until Oct. 31 to apply for grants of as much as $7,500.

The additional $1 million in CARES Act funding brings the Kokua Maui County Small Business Recovery & Relief Fund’s total funding to $7 million. The fund was established in a partnership with local federal credit unions to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19.

So far, 859 applications have been approved, with more than $5.6 million disbursed. Twenty-four Molokai businesses have been awarded nearly $143,000, and three Lanai businesses have received over $18,500.…

Molokai Farming Cost-Reimbursement Program

Wednesday, October 21st, 2020

County of Maui News Release

The County of Maui Office of Economic Development announces a second round of funding is available for the Molokai Farming Cost-Reimbursement Program.

Molokai farmers were allocated $23,213 in the first round of funding to help them comply with federal food regulations. Now, total funding available through this program is $221,535.

The program provides cost reimbursements to farmers and ranchers on Molokai to assist with the costs of compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act and state food safety laws. The total amount of cost reimbursement to any one applicant shall not exceed $5,000.…

New Partnership Brings Whale Sanctuary Education

Wednesday, October 14th, 2020

New Partnership Brings Whale Sanctuary Education

NOAA News Release

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the nonprofit organization ʻAina Momona have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to develop new outreach and educational projects for the community of Molokai. It is the first MOA between the sanctuary and a nonprofit on the island of Molokai.

ʻAina Momona is a Molokai-based Native Hawaiian nonprofit organization, founded in 2017 by Executive Director Walter Ritte and Trisha Kehaulani Watson, both former sanctuary advisory council members.

“We’re excited to partner with NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary on the stewardship of Molokai’s resources,” said Ritte. “Our reefs and ocean are important sources of food for our island people, who rely heavily on a subsistence economy.…

Election Places of Deposit

Wednesday, October 14th, 2020

Maui County Clerk News Release

Maui County’s General Election Places of Deposit — except for those located at Voter Service Centers, such as Molokai — will open on Oct. 8, County Clerk Kathy Kaohu announced.

“We are opening most Places of Deposit on the same day ballot packages for Maui County voters are scheduled to be mailed out,” Kaohu said. “This means in addition to mailing their ballots back to us, voters will also be able to drop off their ballots at our designated Places of Deposit as soon as they have completed their voting.”

The Place of Deposit opening date was officially changed on Oct.…