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Sophia Investigation Lingers

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Sophia Investigation Lingers

While the Feb. 10 fire that gutted St. Sophia’s Church has propelled plans to build the new Saint Damien Church, the fire’s cause still remains under investigation.

Now that the Maui County Fire Department has wrapped up its preliminary investigations, the case has been turned over to the Kaunakakai Police Department.

The pending investigation is open to the possibility of either arson or accidental cause.
 
"Often time investigations are left open until new developments or leads arise by talking to people or any kind of physical evidence is found," said police Sgt. Eugene Santiago. "Electrical [cause] has been excluded."

Mahina Martin, Maui County communications director, said the demolition permit application for St. Sophia's has been received by Maui County, processed by the Planning Department and currently under review by the Department of Public Works.

Name That Church
Throughout time, the St. Damien Catholic Parish – and its four churches – has weathered change, especially with its name.

Prior to St. Damien being canonized in October 2009, the parish was known as Blessed Damien Catholic Parish. Once the priest was declared a saint by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome on Oct. 11, the parish changed its name to St. Damien Catholic Parish in honor of the canonization.

Its four topside churches – collectively known as the Molokai Catholic Community – all retained their names except for St. Sophia’s, which will soon be known as Saint Damien Church.

Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, Kalua'aha


Located on the west end, St. Vincent’s was built in 1940 as a mission of the previous Sacred Heart Parish, whose priests still practice in Molokai today, in Ho`olehua. Mass is held at St. Vincent Ferrer once every Sunday.
 

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Math Does Matter

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Math Does Matter

Competing in a math tournament is never easy. It often requires complete brain function, the ability to think quickly, and superb calculations – most of which are way too strenuous for the average adult.

But for a few Kaunakakai Elementary School mathletes, it’s as easy as riding a bike or tossing a football.

Last Saturday was Molokai’s first time competing in an elementary-level math contest, which saw keiki from 11 other public and private Maui schools participate.

Among the 82 contestants were eight Kaunakakai students who traveled to Maui High School, where they exercised their math muscles and took third overall.

The annually-held Math Matters Competition awarded Pukalani Elementary with first place and Wailuku Elementary with second. Kaunakakai didn’t place individually.

are appropriate, some are hard.”
 
The competition, put together by engineers and former math teachers, was centered around problem solving, and was compiled into several rounds, including individual and team rounds.
 
“We’ve been practicing multiplication, fractions, dividing and percentages,” Hoarai Pou said. “I’m really excited because this is my first competition.”

Potter said the kids (as well as their selective teams) were chosen to represent Kaunakakai based on state testing scores and recommendations of teachers.

The Kaunakakai students were sent to the math competition by the 21st Century Grant, a federal program that provides schools with enrichment activities and helps students meet state and local standards in core academic subjects.


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New Bulbs for a New Future

Monday, March 8th, 2010

It’s no secret that up to 90,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) will be flooding the homes and businesses of Molokai over the next two months in a joint venture to promote energy efficiency. And although this new effort is as ambitious as it is inspiring, it begs one question: Why Molokai?

It all began with the Blue Line Project in October 2009. Blue Planet Foundation, who is providing Molokai with the free bulbs, partnered with Molokai teachers, students and organizations in a project designed to target the impact of predicted sea level rise on Hawaiian coastlines.

Molokai community members involved with the Blue Line Project wanted to take further action in energy efficiency and extend it to Molokai.

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‘Good Season’ for Wrestlers

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

‘Good Season’ for Wrestlers

Out of the eight Molokai High wrestlers sent to the state finals on Sunday at Blaisdell Arena in Oahu, Charisse Manley (130 lbs) placed fourth overall for the girls, and Delfin Corpuz (152 lbs) placed fourth for the boys, while Mikayla Pico (98 pounds) placed sixth overall.

Coach Ben Venenciano said five other Molokai wrestlers took fifth, and the team as a whole did fairly well.

“It was a good season, a good year,” he said. “We got a lot of compliments.”

The other wahine wrestlers that advanced were Kaulanarose Akaka (125) and Chelsie Davids (220) for the girls, placing 15th overall. The kane wrestlers Simon Blair (130), Kevin Dudoit (135) and Darius Caparida (160) placed Molokai at 16th overall.

that hard work pays off, discipline makes you better – not only as a player, but as a person. They learn to accept the highs with the lows.

"All-in-all I'm so proud of them. The island of Molokai should be so proud of these girls."

Coach Hooper would like to give a big mahalo to the parents for support, participating in the girls' basketball interests and bringing them to practice; as well as the athletic department, community, coaching staff, concession workers, and the girls for a great season and “putting up with me as a coach – I push them hard."

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Kaunakakai Recognizes ‘Gifted’ Kids

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Kaunakakai Recognizes ‘Gifted’ Kids

Kaunakakai Elementary School had a vision for its "gifted and talented" keiki, and is finally progressing into reality.

The school is re-initiating a Gifted and Talented Program for children who qualify under state and federal guidelines.

In Hawaii, the average for identified gifted and talented students is seven percent. Sandra Czajkowksi, complex resource teacher, said studies have shown these kids are often distracted, unchallenged and bored in the classroom, and therefore need alternative class work and programs to suit their specific needs.

"Many of times these students don’t have an outlet,” she said. “We want to meet and exceed state standards with opportunities to pursue areas of interest beyond the regular curriculum.”

school year.”

Kaunakakai Improves NCLB Scores

Since 2007, Kaunakakai Elementary School’s scores for the Hawaii State Assessment have significantly improved year after year.

In 2009, Kaunakakai’s scores were above the No Child Left Behind Act’s (NCLB) standard with reading at 62 percent compared to 58 percent, and math at 56 percent compared to NCLB’s 46 percent.

Espiritu contributes the improved scores to both the hard work of teachers and students. And with the help of a newly-implemented study that helps teachers create and modify lesson plans to better educate students, Espiritu hopes to see a continued growth in scores.

Called “Lesson Study,” the experiment consisted of teachers teaming up with a specific goal in mind, and then constructing lesson plans that would be taught and observed by other teachers. The lessons were then tweaked, taught once more, and reactions of the students were later discussed.

Espiritu said the study – which was conducted for two months beginning in January – was extremely positive for the teachers, and helped established new teaching techniques.

Currently, Kaunakakai is still a school in “restructuring” under NCLB guidelines, and in order to progress needs to make its Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in two consecutive years.

“We have one year down,” Espiritu said. “We just need to make it this year to get out.”

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90,000 Free Bulbs Coming to Molokai

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Within weeks, 90,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) will be shipped to Molokai in an effort spearheaded by Blue Planet Foundation to reduce the island's carbon footprint.

The project entitled "Go Green, Carbon Clean" (or Molokai CFL Project), will kick off with a shipment of 44,000 bulbs arriving in Molokai around the third week of March. The bulbs will be distributed to residents and businesses interested in swapping out their old-style incandescent bulbs for new, energy-efficient CFLs – at no charge.

"The mission is to make Molokai a sustainable community," said Francois Rogers, Blue Planet Special Projects Director. "If a single island can go entirely lighting efficient, then it will be the model for other islands to do so as well."
 

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Church Awaits Verdict

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Church Awaits Verdict

As St. Sophia’s Church continues to be investigated for the Feb. 10 fire that gutted its interior, the cause still remains “undetermined,” though electrical has been ruled out, according to Darrin Almeida, Maui Fire Department lead investigator.

As parish priest Clyde Guerreiro continues to hold church services at the Molokai Community Health Center, he says their goal to spend Christmas Mass 2011 in the new Saint Damien Church (slotted to be built once St. Sophia’s is demolished and building permits are processed) has now become reality.

“We’re set to finish ahead of schedule,” Guerreiro said. “Possibly three months ahead, or even more.”

Guerreiro said they’re currently awaiting demolition permits from Maui County as well as bids from license contractors to begin the process of taking down St. Sophia’s.

Currently, the adjacent building known as the Damien Center (previously Stanley’s Coffee Shop) is being used as the church’s office.

Guerreiro said all three buildings (the church and both adjacent buildings used for administration and religious education) will be demolished to make room for the new Saint Damien Church, and eventually accompanied by a book shop and Saint Damien museum.

Although the core of the church was charred and masked in soot and ashes, the tabernacle – a safe-like box at the front of the church – was still intact and would be incorporated with the new church.

Guerreiro said the church is receiving great amounts of support with expediting the rebuilding process, especially from the mayor’s office of Maui County and Diocese of Honolulu.

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Weekend Sports Yield Mixed Results

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Weekend Sports Yield Mixed Results

Saturday’s Maui Interscholatic League (MIL) wrestling tournament at Lahainaluna High School saw Molokai finish second overall with 14 wrestlers – nine boys and five girls – advancing to the state championship meet.

While Lahainaluna High finished first overall with a total of 250 points for their boys’ team and 137 points for their girls’ team, Molokai didn’t trail too far behind.

Molokai’s Kevin Dudoit took first in his 135-pound class, while second-seeded Mikayla Pico took first for the girls at 98 pounds.

Other Molokai girls to take first in their weight class were third-seeded Kaulanarose Akaka at 125 pounds and Chelsie Davids at 220 pounds.

from 12 to eight. Unfortunately, they only send the championship team.”

Girls’ Basketball

Although a second consecutive state championship title was not far from reach for the Molokai High girls’ basketball team, Kaimuki High’s 41-32 victory over the Lady Farmers denied them the crown.

Friday night’s Division II championship game at Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu saw the second-seeded Bulldogs sweep the title, leaving the top-seeded Lady Farmers to finish their season at 11-1.

With a fierce defense, the Bulldogs limited Molokai’s lead scorers Kalei Adolpho and Danna-Lynn Hooper-Juario. While Adolpho scored 12 of the Farmers 32 points, Hooper-Juario was confined to four.

The game also saw the final high school performance of four Molokai seniors including Hooper-Juario, Jamie and Jolenta Duvauchelle, Puna Kawamae – all of whom started in Friday’s game.

Coaches were not available for comment.

 

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Lady Farmers Clinch MIL Tournament, Advance to Semifinals

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Lady Farmers Clinch MIL Tournament, Advance to Semifinals

Wednesday at Kalani High, the Molokai High girls’ basketball team won its quarterfinal game against Kaiser, 67-56, advancing them into today’s semifinals of the state championships.

Seeded No. 1, the Lady Farmers (11-0) gained a 15-8 edge in the first eight minutes of Wednesday’s game against the Cougars, which increased to 38-24 at halftime. After a third-quarter tie, Kaiser outscored Molokai by three points, only to lose it shortly thereafter, when the Lady Farmers came back to win it.

The Farmers are going on to play Kahuku Thursday at 7 p.m. at Kalani in their semi-final game.

Last weekend, the Lady Farmers left the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) tournament the same way they arrived: undefeated. In a two-game tournament at Hana, the Molokai High girls’ basketball team snagged the overall league title by an average of 49 points.

The girls took a 54-18 victory their first game, and then had a blowout second game with a score of 72-8.

“It was a team effort,” assistant coach Kevan Dudoit said. “All of our players gained post-season experience. Not many teams can say that.”

Dudoit said the girls go into every season with one goal – to be state champions.

“This year, they want to come back to Molokai with a second state title,” he said.

Boy’s Basketball

Although Molokai High’s boys’ basketball team was defeated by Lanai Friday, the boys retaliated and stole a win Saturday, 58-40 over the Pine Lads.

Molokai coach Lee DeRouin said during Friday’s game the boys came out with too much energy that resulted in some foul trouble and an “over-extended defense.”

“They came out Friday playing too hard,” DeRouin said, “and Lanai took advantage of our misses.”

The boys came out Saturday more relaxed, and with more patience, DeRouin said – ultimately giving them the victory.

Molokai senior Alvin Ringor scored the game’s high of 16 points, Kamakana Duvauchelle-Andrade followed shortly behind with 15, and Julien Bumatay had 10 to lead the Farmers into a split win against Lanai.

“It had been three to four years since Lanai had lost,” DeRouin said. “It was a big win in a hostile environment.”

DeRouin contributed the comeback to a “great” collaborative effort by the team and said the win will help fire up motivation when the boys face off with Lanai again next week for the MIL tournament.

“They need to rest physically and mentally,” DeRouin said.

The boys’ team finished its regular Division II season at 5-3, and will meet at the War Memorial Gym in Maui on Thursday for the MIL tournament.

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Time Well-Served

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Community contributed

Provided by Gwen McGwin

Lieutenant Commander Rudy McGwin grew up on the Hawaiian islands of O`ahu and Moloka`i. His father, Donald McGwin, a decorated Air Force Chief Warrant Officer, exposed him to life in the military at an early age. Rudy enlisted in the Coast Guard in January 1980 to “see the world.” After graduating from Radioman “A” school in Petaluma, California the summer of that year, he received his first set of orders to (ta-da!) – COMMSTA Honolulu. So much for seeing the world!

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