This year, I introduced a bill proposing to establish an essential rural medical air transportation pilot project to service Molokai and Lāna’i residents traveling to meet their medical needs and to bring in providers to service our rural communities. Though the bill didn’t pass, we were successful in securing $2 million to develop and implement the pilot project. If you would like to review the bill, testimony, and history of the measure you can find it all here.

The State Department of Health will spearhead this project. Details of the project are still being developed; however, the DOH will host Community Meetings on Lānaʻi and Molokai to discuss community needs and answer questions. The first meeting will be held on Lānaʻi on August 28. Details regarding the Molokai meeting will be released soon. Please call our office at (808) 586-6790 if you have any questions or need further information.

I am excited to see you all and am looking forward to hearing from the community on how this project can be designed to best meet your needs.

Molokai Library Expansion Funded!

Need Help Paying for Preschool?

The preschool tuition subsidy program, Preschool Open Doors (POD), is now accepting applications year-round. 

Act 153, Session Laws of Hawaiʻi 2024, signed into law on July 1, 2024, establishes a year-round application period for eligible parents and guardians of 3- and 4-year-olds to receive financial assistance for group child care or preschool.



POD provides monthly financial assistance to qualified low—to middle-income families for child care. Previously, POD accepted applications during intermittent three-month periods.

The POD monthly subsidy is based on monthly gross income limits and family size. Families who may have been over income limits in previous years may now be eligible. POD will accept applications through January 31, 2025, or until the funding limit is reached.



Interested families may apply online here or request an application from PATCH by visiting patchhawaii.org or calling 808-791-2130 or toll-free 1-800-746-5620. PATCH can also help families locate a preschool convenient for them.

New Fuel Facility at Kalaupapa

The National Park Service (NPS) completed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) to construct a new fuel facility at Kalaupapa National Historical Park that is now available through this link NPS- Fuel Facility Planning, and also found at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ under Kalaupapa National Historical Park.

After consideration of the environmental assessment and public, stakeholders, and agency comments, the finding concludes that the project will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment. Preparation of an environmental impact statement is not required. NPS thanks the public for its interest throughout the planning process.

The Park is located on the Kalaupapa Peninsula on the Hawaiian island of Molokaʻi. The facility will be located east of Staff Row and the Damien Loop intersection. The project aims to provide the Park and the settlement with a reliable, safe, easily serviceable fuel facility compliant with federal regulations and outside the tsunami inundation zone. The new fuel facility will replace the current fuel facility servicing Kalaupapa Settlement managed by the State of Hawaii Department of Health. The facility is proposed for construction in 2025. 

Additional details about this project and other Kalaupapa undertakings can be found at Planning - Kalaupapa National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).

LEGACY LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM

LAND ACQUISITION GRANTS

The State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Legacy Land Conservation Program, invites applications from state agencies, counties, and nonprofit land conservation organizations for Fiscal Year 2025 land acquisition grants.

The grants are to preserve and protect land, through acquisition, that has natural, environmental, recreational, scenic, cultural, agricultural production, or historic value. This includes park and trail systems that provide access to such land.

Approximately $6.7 million in grant funds is expected to be available for award through a competitive process that includes consultation with state agencies and legislators, investigations and recommendations from DLNR’s Legacy Land Conservation Commission, and approvals from the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Governor.



FORM 5 PACKAGE IS DUE ON AUGUST 23, 2024 

Full Application due October 11, 2024

For detailed information, visit the program website at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/llcp/ or contact the program office via email: legacyland@hawaii.gov or telephone: 808-586-0921.

The Capitol is OPEN to the public. However, it will continue to offer hybrid options for hearings and testimony.

Capitol Hours: Building hours for the State Capitol are 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. Photo identification is required for entry into the building. All guests will receive an entry wristband upon completing the security checkpoint.

Paid Public Parking: The Capitol parking lot has reopened for paid public parking.

Rep. Mahina Poepoe

District 13 House of Representatives

415 S. Beretania Street Room 331

Honolulu, HI 96813

(808) 586-6790

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