News Releases

MEO 60-Year Spotlight: The Molokai branch

Thursday, January 16th, 2025

MEO News Release

Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc., (MEO) is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025. The Community Action Partnership program, born of President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty and the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, was chartered on March 22, 1965.
MEO’s reach stretches from East Maui to Lanai City to Kaunakakai, Molokai, while offering most of the agency’s 30 programs in each location.
On Molokai, MEO offices and a Head Start preschool were completed in 1992 on 1.3 acres at 380 Kolapa Place in Kaunakakai. Prior to moving, MEO was located across the street from Kaunakakai Elementary and served as a “community hub,” recalled MEO Molokai Director Mahie McPh

erson, who leads a staff of 19.…

State Expands Keiki Medicaid Coverage 

Thursday, January 9th, 2025

Hawaii Dept. of Human Services News Release 

Hawaii families can have greater peace of mind when it comes to health care for their keiki, thanks to a new approval from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Under this change, children in Hawaii can stay covered by Hawaii’s Medicaid program, QUEST, without interruptions, as follows: children under age 6 will have continuous coverage until their sixth birthday. Children ages 6 to 19 will receive coverage for two years at a time.

This means families won’t have to reapply as often, reducing paperwork and making it easier to focus on what matters most: their children’s health and well-being.…

Film and Creative Content Funding

Thursday, January 9th, 2025

Hawaii Dept. of Business, Economic Development and Tourism News Release

Right now, Molokai creatives have a chance to bid for funding for their film and media projects.

The Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) Creative Industries Division (CID) Hawaii released on Dec. 31, 2024, a request for proposals (RFP) toward the development of small, mid-sized and microbudget film and creative media projects. Providing Phase I seed funding from the Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Fund, the solicitation is to support local filmmakers, media makers and content creators with the goal of supporting the growth of Hawaii-originated intellectual property (IP) for licensing, distribution and export.…

Agricultural Micro Grant Program

Thursday, January 9th, 2025

MEO News Release

Applications for the popular Agricultural Micro Grant Program 5.0 – which offers up to $25,000 in grants to Maui County small farmers and ranchers – will be available starting Jan. 9, 2025.
The $2 million Maui County-funded program, administered by Maui Economic Opportunity’s Business Development Center, is open to select startup and operating farms on less than 12 acres, and livestock ranches up to 40 acres.
The farms and ranches must possess a county business or state general excise license as of July 1, 2024. Preference will be given to women and Native Hawaiian-run operations.
The grants may be used to directly impact the availability of locally-grown produce, livestock and poultry and other related products.…

Molokai Community Health Center Expands Dental Services 

Thursday, January 2nd, 2025

Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) is excited to announce a significant expansion of its dental services, aimed at addressing the growing oral health needs of our community. This initiative underscores MCHC’s commitment to delivering accessible dental care for Quest individuals and families across Molokai.

The expanded dental services will include additional exam rooms and state-of-the-art equipment to improve efficiency and patient care. This upgrade will ensure that more individuals can receive timely treatment, helping to meet the growing demand for dental services in the area.

This initiative not only addresses the rising demand for dental services but also emphasizes the long-term value of maintaining oral health.…

Check Out the MAC Saturday Market

Thursday, December 12th, 2024

Molokai Arts Center News Release

Looking for a made in Molokai gift? Hungry for some ono food or desserts made with fresh local produce? Need coffee to start your Saturday morning? Check out the Molokai Arts Center (MAC) Saturday Market at the Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC)! MAC has partnered with MCHC to bring together local vendors, farmers, crafters, artists, and food producers for a homegrown, grassroots shopping experience. The market is open from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday under the tents at 30 Oki Place, across from Kaunakakai School.

The Saturday Market celebrates Molokai’s diversity and creativity. It is a vibrant and bustling gathering place, a community hub for vendors and shoppers, kama‘aina and visitors.…

Funding for Molokai Land Trust 

Thursday, December 12th, 2024

Sen. Schatz News Release 

Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz announced that Hawaii will receive more than $8.1 million in grant funding for coastal resilience projects on Molokai, Maui, and Oahu. The new funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will enable various restoration projects that will help reduce flood and wildfire risk, protect forests and coral reefs, and increase community resilience.

As part of the grant funding, Molokai Land Trust will receive $919,400 to identify suitable wetlands on Molokai for restoration. The project will develop a final design for two prioritized sites, conduct environmental compliance assessments, and increase community capacity to restore and maintain wetlands.…

Habitat For Humanity Helps Molokai Kupuna

Thursday, December 12th, 2024

Habitat for Humanity Maui News Release

Habitat for Humanity Maui announced it recently received a $16,500 grant from Lowe’s to help with the renovation of one Molokai home in critical need of safety-related repairs.
The funding will support Habitat Maui’s efforts to make homes safer and healthier and create stronger communities. With the support from this grant, Habitat Maui was able to help an elderly Molokai resident with repairs and safety retrofits so that they could safely remain at home while recovering from a previous fall. The front steps and flooring in the home were in disrepair and partially rotted. Habitat for Humanity Maui removed the rotten flooring, subflooring, and floor joists and installed new versions, including tile in the bathroom.…

MAC Artist in Residence

Thursday, December 12th, 2024

Molokai Arts Center News Release

The Molokai Arts Center welcomes the last Artist in Residence of 2024, Dr. Mary Therese Perez Hattori. A native Chamoru of Guåhan (Guam), Dr. Hattori was raised in the undulating limestone plateau of northern Guam, in the waters of the Philippine Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. She encourages the use of poetry to communicate cultural wisdom and values, to promote civic engagement, to build bridges for understanding and appreciating others and the environment, and to heal and empower others. She is an educator and poet who uses this art form to promote multilingualism, social justice, and bring forth the voices of often marginalized communities.…