Neighbors, alumni and friends behind Molokaʻi’s students
The Friends of Molokaʻi High & Middle Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) run entirely by volunteers. For 25 years it has raised money on Molokaʻi and beyond, and put it to work for the students and staff of both schools.
Why the Friends exist
Teachers and coaches often find it easier to get direct help through the Friends than through the Department of Education. That speed is the point.
“To enhance the quality of student life at Molokaʻi High and Middle Schools by providing competitive opportunities that strengthen a healthy and caring community.”Our mission
Our purpose
To provide the physical and financial tools needed to carry out that mission: supplies and equipment, travel, scholarships, programs and the people who make them happen.
How it started
It began with a series of talk-story sessions between Ron Kimball, Molokaʻi Island Program Coordinator for Kamehameha Schools, former Molokaʻi High principal Clifford Horita and alumnus Greg Helm. The athletic department began every school year more than $20,000 short. Joining the Maui Interscholastic League meant every competition was off-island, and state travel money hadn’t kept pace with airfares.
In July 2001 their idea became a 501(c)(3), with Ron as its first president and Greg as a founding board member. Gifts to the Foundation are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.
What it grew into
Athletics is still close to the Foundation’s heart, but its reach now covers both schools: scholarships, college and career programs, science and robotics, agriculture, the arts, safe graduation celebrations, and thank-yous for the staff who make it all work.
Twenty-five years, a few milestones
From a talk-story idea to nearly $1 million in savings and investments working for students.
- 2001The Foundation is born
Talk-story sessions between Ron Kimball, former principal Clifford Horita and alumnus Greg Helm become a 501(c)(3). Ron is its first president.
- 2004–05Two schools, one Foundation
The Department of Education separates the intermediate grades from Molokaʻi High. The Friends keep supporting both campuses in Hoʻolehua.
- 2014–15A record year of giving
Donors give $276,263 in a single year, and the Foundation’s savings and investments more than double.
- 2020–21A pandemic year
The Friends fence the farm, store pandemic supplies, build outdoor tables and keep Project Graduation and senior traditions going.
- 2022A new athletic bus
With two partner foundations, a $78,720 bus replaces a 20-year-old one for the 2022–23 season.
- 2022–23College readiness
Support begins for AVID, which takes students on college visits and helps them plan life after high school.
- 2024Paddlers give back
Molokaʻi Hoʻe and Nā Wahine O Ke Kai crews donate $10,000 through the Oʻahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association.
- 2025–26A record year
$303,625 raised and $203,053 put to work, including 10 paid internships and a cultural exchange to New Zealand.
- 202625 years of Friends
Nine volunteer board members, nearly $1 million in savings and investments, and the same goal as day one.
Funds that keep giving
Gifts that aren’t earmarked for a specific need are invested conservatively, under the board’s investment policy, so they keep working for students for good. You can direct a gift to any of these funds.
Friends Endowment
Keeps the Foundation going for good. Investment income supports the mission every year.
Hui Paʻani Athletic Fund
Investment income goes to Molokaʻi High athletics. As the fund grows, so does the support for student athletes.
Randy Kobayashi Fund
In memory of principal and educator Randy Kobayashi, for general needs. It has helped the wrestling team and bought microscopes for the science building.
Yola Meyer Forbes Fund
Created by Dr. Owen Forbes in honor of his mother. Its income pays for the yearly Yola Meyer Forbes Scholarship.
Open books
The Foundation files a Form 990 with the IRS every year, and anyone can read them. In the 2025–26 fiscal year it raised $303,625, spent $203,053 on students and programs, and ended the year with $998,557 in savings and investments.
Spent on students, year by year
Total spending each fiscal year (July–June), from the Foundation’s IRS filings.
View as a table
| Fiscal year | Raised | Spent | Total assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 (July 2025–June 2026) | $303,625 | $203,053 | $998,557 |
| FY2025 (July 2024–June 2025) | $255,681 | $122,870 | $861,608 |
| FY2024 (July 2023–June 2024) | $136,441 | $119,479 | $722,797 |
| FY2023 (July 2022–June 2023) | $157,723 | $155,675 | $650,317 |
| FY2022 (July 2021–June 2022) | $249,733 | $114,548 | $609,688 |
| FY2021 (July 2020–June 2021) | $41,385 | $41,292 | $598,907 |
| FY2020 (July 2019–June 2020) | $59,487 | $45,107 | $500,590 |
| FY2019 (July 2018–June 2019) | $69,090 | $34,566 | $483,112 |
| FY2018 (July 2017–June 2018) | $77,985 | $40,098 | $449,686 |
| FY2017 (July 2016–June 2017) | $103,815 | $66,703 | $411,799 |
| FY2016 (July 2015–June 2016) | $111,494 | $111,298 | $380,687 |
| FY2015 (July 2014–June 2015) | $287,432 | $71,921 | $378,491 |
| FY2014 (July 2013–June 2014) | No IRS data published | ||
| FY2013 (July 2012–June 2013) | $38,400 | $40,279 | $167,391 |
| FY2012 (July 2011–June 2012) | $80,081 | $65,481 | $167,769 |
Friends of Molokai High & Middle Schools Foundation · 501(c)(3) · EIN 91-2102491 · Tax-exempt since July 2001.
Friends & partners
Thank you to the people, businesses and foundations who have made, and keep making, our students’ dreams come true. Big projects like the new buses happened because partners covered most of the cost.
Foundations & organizations
- Bayer (formerly Monsanto)
- Central Pacific Bank Foundation
- Charles & Mitch Ota FoundationAVID college readiness
- County of MauiInter-island travel grant
- Freeman Family Foundation
- Goodfellow Bros. Foundation
- Hawaiʻi Community Foundation
- Maui Economic Opportunity
- Oʻahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing AssociationMolokaʻi Hoʻe & Nā Wahine O Ke Kai crews
Molokaʻi businesses
- Molokai Drugs
- Friendly Market Center
- Misaki’s Inc.
- Kamoi Snack-N-Go
- Rawlins Enterprises
- Pancho Alcon Ltd.
- Kamaile Alcon (KKM)
- Dana Takashima, DDS
Friends
- Dr. Owen Forbes
- Jan Kobayashi
- Keith Amemiya
- Mike Grinnelle
- Mike Spaulding
- Alumni and friends of both schools
- The Molokaʻi community
- Many donors who prefer to stay anonymous
Help a Molokaʻi student get there.
Every gift is tax-deductible, and goes to work for students at Molokaʻi High and Molokaʻi Middle School.
Checks payable to Friends of Molokai High & Middle Schools Foundation · PO Box 1618, Kaunakakai, HI 96748 · EIN 91-2102491