Molokai Heritage Trust Moving Forward

Kawakiu Beach, om Molokai’s Westside, is accessible through Molokai Ranch lands. Photo by Léo Azambuja

The Molokai Heritage Trust (MHT) is more than halfway through its membership drive and community information sessions. About 20 people attended a meeting at Mitchell Pau‘ole Center July 15 — the third of 10 planned meetings. By the closing of this issue, three additional meetings were held on the island.
“We are hoping this is going to be the beginning of a monumental moment for Molokai,” said Zhantell Dudoit Lindo, a founding member of the trust.
Ultimately, MHT wants to purchase more than 55,000 acres of land — about a third of the island — owned by Molokai Ranch. The trust would then manage the lands through an elected Board of Directors.
“Protecting the health and vitality of our ʻāina is essential to our island well-being and our future. If you’re going to participate and you’re going to be a member of this trust, this has got to mean something to you,” Lindo said. “ʻĀina is our benefactor, and when we take care of it, it takes care of us, and we all will be healthy.”
MHT is accepting membership applications until Aug. 9. Only 10 days later, the Board of Directors — up to nine directors — will be voted in by the new trust members.
Prior to the membership drive, the five founding members — Lindo, James Spaniola, Malia Akutagawa, Keomailani Hanapi Hirata and Jason Sykes — plus facilitators Kawaipuna Kalipi and Matthew Kamakani Lynch, as well as other stakeholders, have participated in about 75 meetings since October, lasting two-to-four hours each.
“That’s the kind of dedication we are looking for in one board member,” Lindo said of candidates for the Board of Directors.
MHT already has held two membership drive meetings in Maunaloa, and meetings in Kaunakakai, Kualapu‘u, and Kilohana, plus an online meeting. Today, July 24, there will be another online meeting, and then three more presential meetings during the next couple weeks: July 25 at Kualapu‘u Community Center; July 29 at Mitchell Pau‘ole Center and Aug. 1 at Kilohana Community Center. All meetings will be held at 5 p.m.
To qualify to become a trust member, applicants can fill up either a paper or an online membership application form. There are two types of memberships; voting and non-voting.
Voting members participate directly in the work and governance of the trust, including electing the Board of Directors, participating in meetings and voting on issues. Voting members will also be able to nominate candidates for the turst’s board and be eligible to be nominated.
Non-voting members are divided in two categories: provisional members, who may not meet all the criteria to become a voting member but are on the path to it; and allied members, which are individuals or organizations who are interested in aligning with and supporting the trust.
Lindo said those who decide to become a member will have to commit to the values of the trust: Mālama ʻĀina, Kuleana, Ea, Kiaʻi, Mauli Ola, Kūkūlu, and Aloha Kekahi i Kekahi.
“This is important for you, because if you decide to become a member, these are the things that you commit to Molokai,” Lindo said. “You don’t just commit to be a member of this organization that’s going to buy Molokai Ranch, you commit to mauli ola; you commit to the restoration, well-being and sacredness of akua, ʻāina, kanaka and the eternal bond between them.”

All eligible members of the trust must be at least 18 years old, pledge to adhere to the principle of giving more to Molokai than they take from it, and accept and endorse MHT’s values, vision and mission.
Online applications are available at bit.ly/2024mhtmembership. In-person applications can be filled and turned in at the remaining membership drive meetings. Verbal applications are being accepted either in person or via Zoom through Kalipi at kawaipuna@sustainablemolokai.org.
The last day for membership applications is Aug. 9 (new membership applications will reopen at a later date). The first membership meeting is scheduled for Aug. 12. During this meeting, members will vote to ratify the trust’s bylaws and also to nominate candidates for the Board of Directors.
On Aug. 16, there will be a forum for the board candidates, open to all members. This forum will provide an opportunity for the members to meet and learn about the candidates. The voting for the Board of Directors is scheduled for Aug. 19.
Lindo said the founding members wanted to speed up the process because of two “major threats”: there are already people interested in buying the property, and the government may choose to do an eminent domain on the lands. In case there’s an eminent domain, Lindo said, the government could have total say on what to do with the property.
Visit molokaiheritagetrust.org for more information.