Catherine Cluett Pactol

5 days ago | themolokaidispatch.com | Catherine Cluett Pactol

By Jack Kiyonaga, EditorMother’s Day this year featured a special “Malama Your Mama” fundraiser for Molokai’s Aka’ula School students. Held annually, the fundraiser goes to support financial aid for student tuition. Aka’ula is the only private school on Molokai, serving 25 students from 5th to 12th grade. This year’s event, held at the Molokai Community Health Center, played host to more than 200 residents.

5 days ago | hawaiipublicradio.org | Catherine Cluett Pactol

A new $20 million housing project for West Maui educators just broke ground. The rental complex will feature 47 units and provide much-needed housing for teachers displaced by the fires. Officials say the housing will help bring stability to Lahaina’s classrooms. “This project is about creating a real path for educators to stay rooted in Lahaina, in the community that they serve,” said Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi at a groundbreaking ceremony last week.

1 week ago | hawaiipublicradio.org | Catherine Cluett Pactol

Summer wildfires have hit the Upcountry Maui community of Kula the past two years, fueling community efforts to ensure area residents are better equipped for the worst-case scenarios. “I really think it is about peace of mind, it is about security, but then it's about being prepared,” said Jordan Hocker, board president of the Kula Community Association. Earlier this month, the group wrote a letter to state officials asking for two 500,000-gallon water tanks in Upcountry Maui.

1 week ago | hawaiipublicradio.org | Catherine Cluett Pactol

Lahaina residents can now use shoreline areas near Lahaina Harbor for recreation. The harbor itself is still closed, but after requests from the community, Maui County officials have opened up areas on the north and south ends of the harbor for noncommercial use. It's been a popular recreation spot for surfers and beachgoers for generations. The county says now that debris removal work is done in the area, limited shoreline access can be allowed.

1 week ago | hawaiipublicradio.org | Catherine Cluett Pactol

More than 1,500 mini-bouquets of fresh flowers were put together by over 100 volunteers on Lānaʻi last weekend. On Monday, those flowers were placed on every marked grave on the island — thanks to the volunteers and the staff of the Lānaʻi Culture and Heritage Center. “The Memorial Day program is a way for us to really remember Lānaʻi’s history, not only in the events that happened, but the people that have also come before us,” said Jana Kaopuiki, board president of the Center.