Kai Pelayo, Stupski Foundation named Volunteer, Benefactor of Year by MEO
Wildfire survivor and advocate Kai Pelayo and the Stupski Foundation, which gifted Maui Economic Opportunity $450,000 for early childhood programs, were named Volunteer and Benefactor of the Year respectively at MEO’s annual Volunteer Luncheon on Friday, Feb. 13....
Sedona Wachaiyu represents Head Start families on MEO Board
Sedona Wachaiyu has joined the Maui Economic Opportunity Board of Directors as Head Start Policy Council representative. She has a child in MEO’s Head Start preschool program and is a preschool educator. Her background includes work in nonprofit leadership, community...
A Hawaiian Homes homesteader who recently returned to Moloka`i is the first resident to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in Maui Economic Opportunity’s new CDL training program on the island. Kayla Luuloa passed her CDL exam on Feb. 5 and will be training to...
MEO Enlace Hispano holding tax prep workshop on Feb. 23
Maui Economic Opportunity’s Enlace Hispano will be holding a TaxPreparation Workshop from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 23, at MEO’s Wailukuoffice. Federal and state taxes and forms W-2, W-4, W-7, W-9 and 1099 will bediscussed. Marisol Trabanino, a licensed tax...
Applications for new round of Agricultural Micro Grant Program available
Applications for the popular Agricultural Micro Grant Program 6.0 – which offers up to $25,000 to Maui County small farmers and ranchers – are being accepted beginning today, Jan. 15, 2026, by Maui Economic Opportunity. The application period runs through Sunday, Feb....
MEO CEO Debbie Cabebe to retire in July; Maggie Batangan to succeed her
Maui Economic Opportunity will be undergoing a leadership transition in 2026 with Debbie Cabebe retiring as the seventh chief executive in the 61-year-old Maui County nonprofit’s history and Maggie Clark Batangan succeeding her as the eighth leader beginning Aug. 1....
Rental assistance may be available to wildfire survivor
Maui Economic Opportunity would like 2023 wildfire survivors to be aware that short- and long-term rental assistance for up to four months may be available through the Maui Relief TANF Program/Maui Relief Program for Wildfire Disaster Survivors. For program...
BDC Director David Daly named MEO Employee of the Year
Business Development Center Director David Daly was named Maui Economic Opportunity Employee of the Year at the nonprofit’s holiday gathering Dec. 19. David was selected from the cadre of the Employee of Month winners for 2025 and was the Employee of the Month for...
Maui County Kupuna P&CC installs officers
Margaret Cambra was installed as president of the Maui County Planning & Coordinating Council (P&CC), an umbrella organization of kupuna clubs countywide, at the council’s holiday gathering earlier this month. Cambra was elected for a two-year term. Other...
Agricultural Micro Grant Program 6.0 workshops set for Jan. 5 and 7
Two in-person workshops to provide information on the upcoming Agricultural Micro Grant Program 6.0, which offers up to $25,000 to small farms and ranches in Maui County, will be held in early January 2026. The grants are administered by Maui Economic Opportunity’s...