Cut to the Chase

Lānaʻi Park Complex will close its Fifth Street courts for repairs and renovations from January 27 through August 31. The courts are scheduled to reopen on September 1. Upgrades will include new fencing, light fixtures, and underground conduits, as well as the addition of a designated pickleball court. The adjacent facilities at Lānaʻi Park Complex will remain open. For more information, please contact the Planning and Development Division at (808) 270-7931.

Tree Felling and Trimming will take place at the corner of Queens and Ninth Street from Tuesday, January 28, to Friday, February 8. Please drive carefully in the area and follow instructions from the contractor on site.

Join the Department of Veterans Affairs on Tuesday, January 28, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Lāna‘i Senior Center. A VA Benefits Counselor will be available to answer questions about benefits and assist with the claims process. For more information, please contact pctc.vbahon@va.gov.

Ocean Networks is hosting a community informational meeting to discuss a proposed subsea and land cable system that will expand high-speed internet capacity. The meeting will take place on January 29, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Lāna‘i Filipino Clubhouse. This free event is open to the public, and refreshments will be provided. For more information, please contact Cliff Miyake at (808) 722-1908.

The Mālama 'Aina Foundation is hosting the Blue Water Exchange (BWE), a six-month program for young professionals ages 20-30 who are passionate about personal growth, cultural preservation, and environmental leadership. The priority deadline for applications is January 31, 2025. The program combines virtual learning, immersive travel, and hands-on conservation projects, allowing participants to collaborate with Indigenous communities in Hawaii and California, as well as local, state, and federal partners. For more information, click here.

Join the Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center for a volunteer event at Hiʻi Agricultural Heiau on Saturday, February 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Participants will have the opportunity to give back to the ʻāina and preserve a historic cultural site. For more information, please contact Kari at kari@lanaichc.org or click here to register. 

The U.S Department of Agriculture is hosting a free biofertilizer workshop on Saturday, February 8, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Pulama Lanai Community Garden. Attendees will learn how to make biofertilizers using local inputs to increase production, improve drought resistance, revitalize soil, and lower costs. Free seeds will also be available. For more information, visit hawaiiediblelandscaping.com. Free consultations are available for a limited number of farmers and gardeners who will receive a site visit with an ecological agriculture consultation on February 7. To apply for a free consultation, please email info@hawaiiediblelandscaping.com or contact 808-464-3657. 

The Lāna'i Cultural Exchange Program presents live music by Kamalei and Kamaehu Kawaʻa on Friday, February 14, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Lower Lobby of the Four Seasons Resort Lāna'i. This complimentary event is open to the community. For more information, click here.

Hawaiʻi Energy has opened applications for its Empower Grant program to help businesses save on energy costs, the company recently announced. The program launched in 2020 and is designed to help cover the cost and installation of certain energy-efficient equipment for local nonprofits, small businesses and restaurants on Hawaii Island, Lānaʻi, Maui, Moloka‘i and O‘ahu. For more information, visit their website.

The Alzheimer’s Association will host the Maui County Caregiver Support Group for Lānaʻi, Maui and Moloka‘i every third Tuesday of the month from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. To register, contact Shirley at 808-518-6648 or email her at shkan@alz.org.

HawaiiKidsCAN, Lānaʻi ‘Ohana Connection and Let’s Go Learn have created the ‘Ohana Learning Toolkit to help parents understand how their children are doing in school. The program is free of charge and is available exclusively to Lānaʻi families with kids from kindergarten through 12th grade. For more information or to register, click here.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture's Pesticides Branch has established the Pesticide Disposal Program to offer residents an environmentally friendly solution for disposing of pesticides. For more information and to review the list of accepted and unaccepted products, please call EnviroServices & Training Center at 808-456-3494, email wm@gotoetc.com, or visit the HDOA webpage at https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/pi/main/pesticide-disposal-program/.