Island Youth & Schools

By Kanoe Davis

This month’s theme for Tutu & Me’s Ho’olaule’a reflected the many wonders of the sea. Keiki from 0 to 5 years old could be seen running around the grounds at Kualapu’u Recreational Center in their bright orange Ho’olaule’a 2008 t-shirts.

Tutu & Me is a program in which caregiver’s are able to take their children to the different sites to learn and interact with other caregivers as well as children their age. The program focuses in preparing the children for Kindergarten and providing resources for caregivers.

As you walk into the center there were many age appropriate booths set up from face painting, ocean themed balloon animals to even a place where keiki and caregivers could see, touch, and experience live fish, limu (seaweed), and crabs.

Uniforms and online courses discussed by school council.

By Catherine Cluett

The Molokai High School Community Council meeting revealed adaptations and additions that are changing school policies. Students are enrolling in online courses to supplement the curriculum, and uniforms may become a school requirement in the future. Principal Linda Puleloa, in her report, noted that the year had a “rough and shaky start” with a shortage of teachers, particularly in math and Japanese.

Two new math teachers have since been hired, although administrators were not able to find a Japanese teacher to fill the position. As a result, Japanese students have been enrolled in online courses allowing them to continue their studies. With Spanish students also learning online, students are being encouraged to pursue courses not offered at the school through online options.

Sixth annual event raised over $1,000 for isle youth groups.

From left to right Elle Cochran,Claire Seeger Mawae, Zane Schweitzer and Shawneen Schweitzer pose with mock-check of funds raised during 2008 Molokai Challenge.

By Albert Lanier

“Quality not quantity” was the phrase chanted- as if a mantra- on Saturday, August 30th by Clare Seeger Mawae, organizer of the Molokai Challenge which was held that day.
   
A handful of participants took their places in the 2008 edition of this now six year old event. The Challenge essentially consists of a crossing of the Pailolo Channel which commenced from DT Flemings Beach on Maui and concluded at Kamalo on Molokai.
   
There were four registered divisions: Stand-up Paddle Board, Windsurfing, Tandem Windsurfing and Kiteboarding.
    
Most of the participants took the stand-up paddle board route. Entrants Elle Cochran, Shawneen Schweitzer and her son 14 year old Zach Kekoa Schweitzer worked as a team.

Superintendent to make decision on results of Adequate Yearly Progress testing by end of August.

By Zalina Alvi

Kualapu`u School principal Lydia Trinidad is appealing Department of Education (DOE) results that say the school’s keiki did not met Adequate Yearly Progress targets as part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Earlier this month, the DOE posted the results on its website, which showed that while two Molokai schools – Maunaloa Elementary and Kilohana Elementary – are in good standing, four other schools on the island – Kualapu`u Elementary, Kaunakakai Elementary, Molokai Middle and Molokai High – are in line to receive state intervention.

Mosaic wall is the newest addition to school’s art installations.

From left to right, Kualapu’u School art teacher Koki Foster and students Nainoa Kahale, 3rd grade, Kaimana Kahale, 4th grade, and Tabby Fernandez, 3rd grade, admire their newest art project.

By Catherine Cluett

Art flourishes at Kualapu’u School as children proudly show off their newest project, a mosaic wall completed earlier last week. Students, parents, teachers, and staff at the school collaborated to create the project.

“One thing I love about the installation is watching the children interact with the mural -- by touching the tiles and discussing with each other their favorite pieces,” says Kualapu`u art resource person Koki Foster.

Inspiration
Besides acting as resource, Foster is also the inspiration for the project. Begun about a year ago, she says the mural was created partially in the classrooms, and partially during “Family Art Nights,” where parents and keiki had the opportunity to engage in the creative process together.

The permanent installation consists of about 250 ceramic pieces, individually created and glazed, and joined together on the wall by grout. The wall doubles as the back of a bench, creating a piece of both beauty and utility for all to enjoy.

Ninety tiles were made by teachers and staff at Kualapu'u, and `ohana and students made 160 tiles. The theme of the mural was left open, and artists were given the freedom to create whatever they wanted with the materials. The result is a colorful medley of themes and images, drawn both from reality and the imaginations of its creators.

The mural is one of several permanent, large-scale projects around Kualapu’u. The most recent work in progress is a painted mural entitled “Birds of the Forest,” which involves for the keiki both research of bird species and their artistic portrayal on a building wall.

Generous Benefactors
The project was made possible by a donation of $1,500 by Randy Antonio. The money was used to purchase clay and glaze for the tiles. In addition, each teacher received $150 of clay for students to use in the classroom throughout the year.

Kualapu’u School recently received a $6,000 grant from the Hawaii State Foundation of Arts and Culture for Foster’s latest collaborative community art project. Keep an eye out for “Math Discovery Islands” – benches around the school soon to be remodeled into creative unions of math, art, and utility.

Program provides learning opportunities for pre-kindergarteners.

Families with young children are encouraged to check out the new R.E.A.L. (Resources and Early Access to Learning) program at Kaunakakai School.

The program that began last January targets children 0-5 years old, with two short classes each day. Each day groups of children in the same age participate in enrichment activities.

The different learning opportunities provide a guided activity that enhances different developmental domains. Keiki then come together in a group time to sing, read books, and explore various concepts.

The parents have a group discussion time during each session to learn about child development, different stages, how to enhance learning at home, and to bring up any issues they would like to know more about. Topics include issues such as discipline, promoting fitness, supporting reading and writing, nutrition, and dealing with siblings.

Hard work and community support helped to send the island’s Catholic youth to World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Australia.

Molokai youth and ministry leaders show their hometown pride as they traveled to Sydney, Australia to join in the festivities of World Youth Day 2008.

By Zalina Alvi

After more than two years of fundraising, the youth of a Catholic parish on Molokai had the experience of a lifetime when they traveled to Sydney, Australia for World Youth Day 2008.

All those who went agreed that it was an amazing opportunity to share in cultural and spiritual fellowship with other Catholic youth from as far as away as Columbia and Poland.

Randall and His $5 Crab
After Randall Cabreros’s grandma Josie promised him $5 to catch a crab, he set to it with the kind of determination only a child can bring to the water. Although it took him nearly five hours, clearly the wait was worth it.

Bait for the big Ulua
Randy and Josh Cabreros are ready to hook some big Ulua. The eels they caught should make great bait.

Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps bridges the gap between conservation projects and island youth.

The young conservationists of the Molokai Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps (left to right from top): Nainoa Pedro, Jon Brito, Elroy Reyes, Nelson Rapanot, Paulette Tamashiro-Pelekane, Ka`ohele Ritte-Camara, Ashley Tangonan, Riare Perreira, Nicole Tachibana and John-Russel Phifer.

By Zalina Alvi

Deep in the bushes of Halawa Valley, a handful of young men and women are covered in mud, trying to restore a taro patch to its former vitality. They are pulling up weeds, learning about conservation work, and laughing and enjoying themselves as they do it.

Everyone wins at last meet in keiki surf competition.
Surfers from 3-year-olds to 12-year-olds had a blast in the water at the final meet of the 2008 Ko Molokai Keiki `O Ke Kai surf competition.  

By Jennifer Smith

Providing a summer of fun in the sun for the whole family, this year’s Ko Molokai Keiki `O Ke Kai three-meet surfing series went off without a hitch. After 19 years of watching local keiki catching waves, a packed Waialua Beach last Saturday illustrated the continued popularity of the event with residents from all over the island.

“It’s been great,” said Peter Angelsea, Ko Molokai Keiki `O Ke Kai competition director. He said a solid participation from 69 keiki this year and favorable conditions helped to make the event a success.