News Releases

Releases that pertain to the Molokai and Hawaiian communities.

Rotary Scholarships Open

Wednesday, January 20th, 2021

HRYF News Release

Scholarships through the Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation (HRYF) are now open for applications. HRYF is a nonprofit charitable corporation founded in 1976. Its main objective is to provide scholarships for Hawaii youth to further their education after high school. The 10 Rotary Clubs in Maui County are now accepting applications for this scholarship award. Each Maui County Rotary club will select a deserving high school student to receive the $5000 scholarship award.

This award is non-transferable and can only be used for the first year of school. Funds are mailed directly to the school of choice and cannot be deterred for future use.…

Molokai’s Energy Coop Selects Developer

Wednesday, January 20th, 2021

Ho‘ahu Energy Coop News Release

Ho‘ahu Energy Cooperative Molokai invites you to join us for our first virtual workshop of 2021 on Saturday, Jan. 23, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

At this workshop you’ll have a chance to hear about the coop’s two important milestones over the last month: applying for incorporation for the cooperative and selecting an additional energy development partner. We also need your input on important upcoming decisions about our project proposal including:

Subscription model: setting goals and guidelines for who can sign up to save money on their energy bills from the project and

Physical project design: deciding where the project will go and what it will look like.…

Participate in Affordable Housing Plan

Wednesday, January 20th, 2021

HCA News Release

Maui nonprofit Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) will partner with Akaku: Maui Community Media to launch a months-long series of community meetings that will inform the County of Maui’s Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan.

Community meetings will be held for residents in the County’s eight community plan areas with follow-up meetings in plan areas determined most suitable for the building of 5,000 units of affordable housing over the next five years. Meetings will be limited to 100 attendees and held via Zoom to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Community area residents will be able to participate through online and phone call-in options with feedback managed through chat functions and facilitated discussion.…

4 Molokai Residents Join Fire Dept.

Wednesday, January 13th, 2021

4 Molokai Residents Join Fire Dept.

MFD News Release

Last month, the Department of Fire and Public Safety celebrated the graduation of its 36th Firefighter Recruit Class in Wailuku. The 19 firefighter recruits graduated from the Maui Fire Department’s 25 week Recruit Training Program, and four of them are from Molokai. The program is designed to train and evaluate fire recruits on the many skills and disciplines necessary to serve the public as a firefighter.

Fifteen firefighters will be joining the ranks with the Maui Fire Department and will be assigned to Maui County fire stations on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. They are: Mahonri Aiwohi, Kaikane Beam, Ross Bisera, Michael Carter, Joshua Galvan, Aaron Griffith, Cameron Layer, Ikaika Neizman, Daniel Place (of Molokai), Kenneth Puaa, Charles Puaa-Spencer (of Molokai), James Puaa Spencer (of Molokai), Daniel Silvestre, Matthew Wilburn, and Jacob Wolfson.…

Free After-School Program Teaches Watershed Learning Virtually

Wednesday, January 13th, 2021

Learning Endeavors News Release

A placed-based STEM watershed learning experience, called Champions of Coastal Resilience (CCR), is designed for after-school enrichment for grades 4-6 on Molokai. It is a virtual, seven-week action curriculum, facilitated by a Molokai-based instructor beginning on Monday, January 25, taking place from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays. Registration is now open.

This is a free opportunity offered by Learning Endeavors, a Wailuku nonprofit organization offering innovative education program development, in partnership with the Molokai 21st Century Community Learning Centers. The Champions of Coastal Resilience initiative is its newest program, starting on Molokai and soon expanding statewide.…

Molokai Kumu Develops Online Keiki Program

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020

Ka Hale Hoaka News Release

Ka Hale Hoaka, an online Hawaiian learning school, is pleased to announce its Keiki Program.

The 16-module program is targeted to students ages 5-11 and teaches Hawaiian language, music, chant, hula, arts, and crafts. The Keiki Program is designed to be implemented into the existing distance learning curriculum of elementary schools statewide.

The Keiki Program is taught by co-founder Maile “Kumu Maile” Naehu, a Kumu, Native Hawaiian educator, performer, artist, and community organizer from the island of Molokai. Naehu has taught Hawaiian immersion for Kamehameha Schools and is a resource teacher for the DOE.

“We founded Ka Hale Hoaka as a creative way to connect keiki to the rich, timeless teachings of Hawaii, especially as schools transitioned to online curriculum,” said Naehu.…

Last Workshop of the Year for Energy Coop

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020

Shake Energy Collaborative News Release

On Saturday, Dec. 19, from 9 to 10:30 a,m., we will host a virtual public meeting to further our progress on designing renewable energy on Molokai to be locally owned and operated by a newly forming Molokai Renewable Energy Cooperative.

This will be our last meeting of the year as a group and it will be a fun one! We will review our progress to date including physical project design, partner company selection and coop formalization and naming.

We will also join in a couple of fun design activities! If you want to receive a design kit, please contact us as soon as possible.…

NPS Seeking Kalaupapa Electrical System Improvements

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020

KNHP News Release

The National Park Service (NPS) is requesting input and manaʻo on options to rehabilitate the existing electrical system at Kalaupapa National Historical Park and the Kalaupapa Settlement. At this time, the park is initiating a 45-day public scoping period in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

The current electrical system at the park was installed in 1969 and is owned by State of Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) and the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. An overhead power line, owned by the Maui Electrical Company (MECO), follows the Kalaupapa trail and terminates at the 300kVA MECO-owned substation on the Kalaupapa peninsula; the existing overhead system is tied in and managed by the NPS.…

Electric Walk-in Payment Centers Permanently Close

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020

Hawaiian Electric News Release

Hawaiian Electric’s walk-in payment centers in Honolulu, Kahului, Hilo, Kona and Molokai, closed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, will permanently shut their doors due to declining use and customers adapting to other payment options.

The company is encouraging customers to enroll for online services through its Online Customer Service Center or mobile app. Online, customers may start, stop or move service requests, request payment arrangements through an authenticated channel, report payment, submit billing inquiries, schedule one-time or automatic bill payment, as well as report and check status on outages.

The payment centers were closed in mid-March to keep customers and employees safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they have remained closed.…

Education for Essential Careers

Wednesday, December 9th, 2020

UHMCM News Release

We have all grown a new appreciation for our health care professionals, grocery workers, educators, transportation specialists, and all other workers who put their lives at risk during this pandemic. Today, we send our gratitude and thanks to each of them.

We invite you to become a professional in one of these many aspiring jobs. Higher education is available locally here at UH Maui College Molokai campus. Learn more about the many degrees available through distance learning. For more information, visit us online at uhonline.hawaii.edu/programs or contact Theresa Tamanaha at 808 553-4490 Opt 3. Happy Holidays!…