Author Archives: Jessica Ahles

Students Learn Computer Code

Monday, December 16th, 2013

MEDB News Release

STEMworks™ students across the state are learning to write computer code as part of a nationwide campaign embraced by President Obama and featuring free tutorials designed to get students interested in computer science. Molokai Middle and High schools are two of 13 schools participating statewide.

The Hour of Code is an initiative developed by Code.org to spark interest among young people across the U.S. and help address the increasing demand for computer programmers in many fields.

According to Code.org, the number of computer programming jobs is growing at a rate twice the national average of computer science students.…

UH Funds MHS Student’s Research

Monday, December 16th, 2013

UH Manoa News Release

The University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Engineering and its Hawaii Center for Advanced Communications (HCAC) are supporting a Molokai High School student in her efforts to protect Hawaiian wildlife.

Sarah Jenkins, a junior at Molokai High, has already received recognition for her strong commitment to protecting Hawaiian endangered birds.  She placed second overall at the 54th annual Maui Science and Engineering Fair and later won first place for best Senior Research Project in the Animal Science Category from the Hawaii Academy of Science.  Her successful work is focused on improving the reproduction environment of the Hawaiian Coot and involves creating artificial floating nesting structures in Pipio Pond in the Mapulehu area. …

Molokai Swim Meet

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Community Contributed

By Malcolm Cooper, Maui Dolphins coach

Over the past year, Maui/Molokai Dolphins with the support of Maui County Aquatics and Molokai Parks, have been building a swim team at Cooke Memorial Pool as part of the Maui Age Group Swim Association.  On Tuesday, Nov. 26, we were able to hold a scrimmage-like swim “meet” at Cooke Memorial Pool during our normal 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. practice time, hosting Aka`ula School.

Jess Ford of Molokai’s Dolphins and Vicky Newberry of Aka`ula have been looking forward to doing something like this for quite some time.  Thirty swimmers from Aka`ula and 13 swimmers from Maui Dolphins (MDSC’s high school age swimmers helped out at the meet) participated in 30 events.…

Update on Molokai Animal Shelter

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Shields’ Animal Shelter Foundation News Release

The Shields’ Animal Shelter Foundation continues to make strides to bring an animal shelter to Molokai.  We would like to thank the Molokai community for the positive response at our spring community meeting. Since then we have had some setbacks, but many more successes.

Executive Director Debi Buechel spent the summer on Molokai meeting residents and attending community gatherings. Director of Development and Operations Nevyn O’Kane spent nearly six months on Molokai and the neighboring islands securing business relationships and researching operations at Maui, Lanai, Kauai and Hawaii Island’s animal shelters. Director of Humane Education and Community Outreach Victoria Velinski spoke with educators at these facilities to improve our education program.…

Molokai Science Fair

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Molokai Middle and High School students presented their work in science, technology, engineering and the environment last week at the island’s Science Fair. Winners from both divisions will be representing Molokai at the 55th Annual Maui District Science and Engineering Fair in February.

Molokai High School had 14 students participated in the local judging process. MHS winners going to the county competition are: Sarah Jenkins, grade 11 with “Hot Biology- Hawaiian Coot;” Lily Jenkins, grade 9, “Effects of non-native lettuce on removal in land at Puko`o Road;” Shellamarie Keahi and Kilo Ka`awa Gonzales, grade 12, “Bioremediation using Vetiver Grass;” Cendall Manley, grade 9, “Lending a helping hand;” Kea`aokahonua Davis, grade 10, “The Keirsey Temperaments: Type  Distribution of Teachers;” Giesha Nunez, grade 10, “Innocence to Adolescences: Drug Impulse Growth;” Erik Svetin, grade 9, “The Effect of an Additional Stitch on a Baseball’s Movement;” Dathan Decker-Lee Bicoy, grade 9, “Soak up the Sun;” Sabrina Curtis, grade 10, “Rooting For a Cleaner Environment: Vetiver Grass vs.…

Prolotherapy for Pain Relief

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Community Contributed

By Sheila Mohammed, MD, PhD

In response to widespread interest in an article printed a few weeks ago about prolotherapy on Molokai, I will share more information on various facets of this therapy. Prolotherapy is a permanent cure for painful conditions, and I will be offering appointments on Molokai Dec. 22 through Jan. 4.

There are different kinds of prolotherapy and the procedure is customized to the individual patient and the presenting musculoskeletal conditions.

One type, called simple prolotherapy, uses dextrose to stimulate the healing process combined with dilute lidocaine used as a numbing agent for patient comfort.  Dextrose stimulates the body to bring in fibroblasts and cytokines to injured cartilage, tendons and ligaments to give a spurt of healing. …

Molokai’s Oldest Banyans

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Molokai’s Oldest Banyans

Community Contributed

By Arleone Dibben-Young

Molokai’s first banyan tree was given as a gift from Rev. William C. Love to Mrs. Sophie B. Cooke in 1908 and planted at the Molokai Ranch assistant manager’s house at Kualapu`u where the family had moved when her husband George P. Cooke began employment as bookkeeper and assistant manager of the American Sugar Company and its subsidiary the Molokai Ranch.  Later that year a young tree propagated from this banyan was planted at the shoreline of the Kaunakakai assistant manager’s house. This house was remodeled in 1945 and opened as the Seaside Inn, and remodeled again in 1950 as the Pau Hana Inn.…

Native Hawaiian Scholarship Workshops

Monday, December 16th, 2013

UH News Release

The University of Hawaii (UH) is reaching out to Native Hawaiians who are interested in pursuing a college education.  The effort is part of a statewide initiative to bring Native Hawaiian scholarship and financial aid opportunities to underserved communities across the state.

In that spirit, the UH is partnering with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, GEAR UP Hawaii, Pacific Financial Aid Association and the Native Hawaiian Education Association to present the 2013-2014 Native Hawaiian Scholarship `Aha.  The series of free presentations is open to high school students, parents, teachers, current college students, adult students, counselors or anyone interested in learning about the resources and financial aid available to Native Hawaiian students, the criteria and eligibility requirements.  …

Mateo Appointed as County Clerk

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Maui County Council News Release

Former Maui County Council Chair and Molokai representative Dennis “Danny” Mateo has been appointed as the new County Clerk. After serving as a councilmember for 10 years, Mateo has recently worked as Executive Assistant to Mayor Alan Arakawa.

“He is a consummate professional,” Council Chair Gladys Baisa said. “He dedicates every ounce of himself to the job. Let’s get going, we have lots of work to do!”

Mateo addressed council members’ concerns about a potential conflict of interest about being a former elected official and currently working for the administration.

“I don’t see a conflict and in fact, I think it helps,” Mateo responded.…

Two Tips for Healthy Plants

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Community Contributed

By Joe Kennedy

Aloha everyone, especially to all you folks who are planting things to eat. I would like to point out a few basic things that might help save work and make your plants grow even better.  The first thing is to leave the fertilizers such as manure, urine, compost on top of the ground next to your plants. There’s no need to work it in, which could backfire because too much could feed the microbes too fast resulting in using up the nitrogen and starving the plant. When you leave it on top, the nutrients are slowly released. …