House Fire in Ranch Camp

Wednesday, January 25th, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Community Reporter 

A family of four has been displaced after their home caught on fire on Jan. 17. By 5:33 p.m., four fire engines had been dispatched to the scene of the house fire on Kikipua St. 

The Maui County Fire Department reported that the residential fire in Ranch Camp was knocked down by 5:45 p.m. and extinguished by 6:55 p.m. but not before much of the house was destroyed by flames. No one was home or injured at the single-family residence, according to the Fire Dept. 

Ruled an accident, likely caused by an electrical malfunction, an estimated $125,000 in damage occurred as a result of the fire, said fire officials.…

Apply for Bayer Science Education Fund

Wednesday, January 25th, 2023

Bayer Fund News Release

Applications for the 2023 Bayer Hawaii Science Education Fund are now available to eligible public schools interested in obtaining a grant to support their science curricula.

 Since 2005, this Bayer Fund grant program has awarded over $348,000 to public schools in Hawaii for programs, tools, supplies and equipment to enhance their students’ science education. All public schools serving students at the intermediate, high school and college grade levels on the islands of Oahu, Maui and Molokai are eligible to apply.

 There will be two grant periods in 2023. To be considered for the next grant period, completed applications plus supporting documentation must be received by Wednesday, March 1.…

Teams Celebrate Seniors

Wednesday, January 25th, 2023

Teams Celebrate Seniors

By Sage Yamashita, Intern Reporter

It was a sentimental celebration in Farmers sports this week as seniors were honored, athletes brought their teams to victory and the soccer and paddling teams ended their season. 

Girls Basketball traveled to Maui for the Maui Interscholastic League Division II tournament. They first competed against Seabury, beating them with a score of 51 to 8. This win secured their spot for the HHSAA DII Girls State Championships, which will mark the Lady Farmers’ first appearance at states since 2016. The MIL tournament didn’t stop there. The girls competed against Lanai Pinelases for the championship, which they lost 62 to 31.…

Molokai CERT Training

Wednesday, January 25th, 2023

County of Maui News Release

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. 

Using the training learned in the Hybrid CERT Basic Training and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Molokai CERT training will take place in person on Saturday, Jan.…

Data Science to Help Revitalize Fishponds

Wednesday, January 25th, 2023

Purple Mai’a News Release 

Three local organizations — Purple Maiʻa Foundation, Kuaʻaina Ulu ʻAuamo, and Hohonu, Inc. — are launching the Loko Iʻa and Coastal Monitoring Project that will kokua up to 30 Hawaiian Fishpond restoration groups across the state. The project engages local communities in the design process and will work with them to gather insights on the biggest barriers to fishpond restoration for food production.

Hawaii’s fishpond practitioners, coastal communities and local government will have access to real-time environmental data that will support biocultural restoration, climate change monitoring, resilience planning and mitigation. In addition to providing operational support, the sensor and data tools deployed can serve a broad audience for educational outreach and workforce development activities.…

Kupu Internships Open

Wednesday, January 25th, 2023

Kupu News Release 

Kupu, Hawaii’s leading conservation and youth education nonprofit, is hosting the Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps Summer Program (HYCC-Summer), which offers an intensive hands-on experience into the world of conservation. The deadline is quickly approaching and Kupu is inviting applicants to apply on Molokai, Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island. Application deadline is Feb. 17. 

The program runs for seven weeks from June 5 to July 23. If selected, participants are partnered within a team of like-minded individuals and each week they will get to explore and serve within a different partner site, which holds new adventures, challenges, teachings and opportunities for personal growth.…

HMSA Kaimana Scholarships

Wednesday, January 25th, 2023

HMSA News Release

The Hawaii Medical Service Association is celebrating the 18th year of its Kaimana Awards and Scholarship Program, which honors Hawaii high school seniors and their schools for excellence in academics, athletics, community service, healthy activities and sportsmanship. Applications are now available online and are open to graduating high school seniors, including those on Molokai. 

HMSA will award up to 15 students $5,000 scholarships each. To be eligible, applicants must graduate from a Hawaii high school in 2023 with a 2.75 or higher GPA, which is verified by a school transcript that is submitted by a school faculty member. Participation in at least one Hawaii High School Athletic Association league-sanctioned sport during one or more of their high school years and involvement in community service projects in addition to school activities is required.…

Noa Emmett Auwae Aluli

Wednesday, January 25th, 2023

Noa Emmett Auwae Aluli

Noa Emmett Auwae Aluli, M.D., age 78, passed away Nov. 30, 2022 at Kaunakakai, Molokai. Born on Oahu in January 1944 and raised in Kailua, he graduated from St. Louis College ʻ62 (St. Louis High School) and Marquette University ʻ66. Dr. Aluli taught at Damien High School and Kailua Intermediate before graduating in the first class at the University of Hawaii Medical School ʻ75 (John A. Burns School of Medicine, JABSOM). 

Dedicated to the health and well-being of Native Hawaiians, Dr. Aluli was a family practice primary care physician at the Molokai Family Health Center (46 years), a Medical Director of Molokai General Hospital and an Adjunct Assistant Medical Professor at JABSOM.…

Air Force Lease Expires on DHHL Parcel

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

More than 300 acres of land in the Ho’olehua and Pala’au areas of Molokai that had previously been used by the U.S. Air Force was returned to the Dept. of Hawaiian Home Lands last week. 

The USAF leased the lands from DHHL under a 25-year lease at $40,270 annually, which expired on Dec. 31, 2022. The USAF used the lands for radio and communications equipment, installation and maintenance, according to a press release from the governor.

Gov. Josh Green announced last week what he called a “long overdue” transfer for Molokai homesteaders. 

“This day is long overdue for the beneficiaries and residents of Molokai,” said Green in the press release.…

Shared Solar Projects Moving Forward

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Two renewable energy projects on Molokai are set to move forward in what represents the state’s first community-owned and -designed solar plus battery projects. In a partnership between Ho’ahu Energy Cooperative Molokai and Hawaiian Electric, the projects are anticipated to meet more than 20 percent of the island’s energy usage and serve about 1500 Molokai households. Both are expected to be operational in mid-2025. 

Pala’au Solar and Kualapu’u Solar projects will be the first on the island in a shared renewable energy program under Hawaiian Electric known as community-based renewable energy (CBRE). Molokai subscribers to the program, particularly renters who cannot install their own rooftop solar panels, will benefit from lowered electric bills, according to Ho’ahu. …