Local Poet Shares Recent Works
By Billy Howl-Sinnard
aina
it's time
to look at the good
the locals
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The Read Aloud Program invites families to enjoy an evening of food, family and literary fun.
By Siri Anderson
Student Achievement
Congratulations to all Molokai schools for making significant and continuous academic growth! All six Molokai were invited to the Hawaii Distinguished Schools Award luncheon on Oahu, honoring their outstanding achievement in both reading and math from School Year 2005 through 2007.
As a parent or guardian, you can help the schools continue to address raising your child’s performance by:
- Coming to parent-school meetings and workshops
- Supporting your child’s good study habits;
- Reviewing your child’s homework and test results; and
- Setting goals with your child.
RAP - Read Aloud Program
The Read Aloud Program (RAP) is a fun filled family program that promotes reading aloud and helps parents and children share good books and build a lifelong love of reading.
Maunaloa Elementary School will host four more sessions; Feb. 19, March 4, April 22 and May 6. For more information contact the school liaison Kimberly Kaii at 552-2000.
Kualapu`u Elementary School will also host four more RAP sessions; Feb. 20, March 5, April 23 and May 7. For more information contact the school liaison Leila Elia at 567-6900.
Free Tutoring Available!
Qualified students can receive free tutoring in reading and math. Qualification is based on free/reduced lunch status. Parents, guardians and kupuna, please take advantage of these valuable services, designed to boost student achievement by filling out an application form today! Applications are available in school offices.
Free Books!
Molokai keiki and their parents are invited to take advantage of a special reading opportunity. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library provides free, high quality, age-appropriate books every month to registered children, who live in designated communities, from the time they are born up until kindergarten. This is made possible through a collaborative partnership among the Dollywood Foundation, the Hawaii Department of Human Services, the University of Hawaii Center on the Family and our elementary Schools.
To register your child, go to the office of the elementary school nearest to where you live to complete an application. Books will begin arriving via the U.S. Postal Service between eight to ten weeks after a registration form has been submitted.
Kudos to:
In a special Kaunakakai School assembly this fall, Malia (DeCourcy) Sakamoto was named “Everyday Hero.” The Everyday Hero Award, sponsored by Papa John’s Restaurant, recognizes teachers who instill a love for learning in students, respond to student needs and support peers by sharing effective instructional practices, experiences and expertise to maximize student learning. Along with Malia Busby, Mrs. Sakamoto developed the nationally recognized FACT (Families and Classroom Teachers) Program which effectively teams Kaunakakai teachers and families to support learning in a fun and natural way.
In his first year as the girls’ volleyball coach, Molokai Middle School vice principal, Matthew Helm, was named Coach of the Year by the MIL (Maui Interscholastic League). Leading his team to second place in the MIL and fourth place in the state championships was an outstanding accomplishment, as this was. Congratulations to both the team members and their coach!
Molokai Middle School students won first prize at the 35th Annual Na Mele O Maui song contest for their division. Na Mele is dedicated to cultural preservation and the perpetuation of Hawaiian language and arts. The winning song, “E o Molokai’ was composed by a Molokai resident, Awapuhimele Napoleon and taught to the middle school students by her younger sister, Luana Keonaona Po’okela Napoleon, and aunt, Iolani Kuoha.
Lifelong Learning
K-12 Molokai teacher teams from all schools have been working to ensure instruction in writing and mathematics is consistent across all grade levels and schools. Meeting monthly, teachers are collaborating to align the State Standards into a “Molokai” document that will detail what students should be able to know, do and understand in both math and reading.
ETS (Educational Testing Service) continues to provide rigorous professional development in math and reading. As the complex restructuring provider, ETS has been charged with helping our schools increase student achievement. Molokai teachers have additionally been fortunate to participate in workshops offered by nationally recognized educational leaders including Cindy Strickland (Differentiated Instruction) and Anne Davies (Assessment for Learning).
Upcoming Complex Events
Please join us at our annual complex community meeting highlighting school Academic/Financial Plans. Enjoy dinner courtesy of the Molokai complex. Our school principals, complex personnel and ETS Providers, Pat and Carol Nordquist will be on hand to discuss focused strategies to improve student achievement and ways parents can support learning. Feb.13 at the Kaunakakai School Cafeteria 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Two Thumbs Down for Steve Morgan’s Satire
By Alona Demmers
When a writer pens his thoughts on paper, whether it’s the plot for an adventure movie or a witty satirical article for the local paper, one can assume that there is a purpose or a motive behind the effort. After all, why would someone spend all that time formulating ideas on a subject and then typing it in the computer knowing all this hard work is purposeless and futile.
With this in mind and being someone who enjoys a “good” satire (given my sometimes wicked sense of humor), I jumped at reading Steve Morgan’s satirical article “La’au: The Movie, only to find it short of amusing and without legitimate motive. Aside from perhaps a boost to the writer’s ego (if that’s legitimate enough), hard as I try, I could not convince myself that there was a valid, corrective reason for why this article came to be or should even exist , not to mention, published. A satire exposes human folly and vice to ridicule with the intent to inspire social reform. Perhaps I need someone to enlighten me since the only motive I could scrape from this article in its simplest form is ill spirited and in its most productive form inciting intolerance and discord . I would venture to say that even the most positive person out there will fail to squeeze an ounce of inspiration for social reform from the aforementioned satire.
Na`iwa, Makahiki Piko
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Ancient grounds come alive.
With arms supporting each other, student athletes joined together before last Friday's Makahiki games in Na`iwa.
By Jennifer Smith and Léo Azambuja
Today most people associate Makahiki with Kaunakakai Ball Field. However, for centuries, Na`iwa, one of the most breathtaking and significant places on Molokai, opened its grounds for the seasonal Hawaiian games.
Descending upon the green hills overlooking Ilio Point, the island’s most accomplished athletes of past and present would compete in feats of skill and strength in this spiritual center."This is a place where our kupuna watch us. Where our ancestors cheer for us," Aka`ula Middle School teacher Lei Ah Loy said. ‘There is a lot of mana up here."
Keeping the tradition alive, nearly 150 middle school athletes from all over the islands trekked to Na`iwa to participate in the Makahiki games last Friday.
"We are trying to teach all of the kids how important this place is," Ah Loy said. "Without the kids the games would just die out."
Entering the grounds, student athletes from Molokai, Hawaii, Maui and Oahu made ho`okupu, an offering to Lono, the god of peace and fertility honored during Makahiki. Students offered items representing the lands they came from. Salt, breadfruit and dried fish were among ho`okupu placed on the ku`ahu (stone altar) for Lono.
Students competed with bare feet in tall grass fields. Events happened simultaneously, with 8 kg stones being tossed in one area and checker boards set up in another. Some of the other games played included hukikahi kanaka (rope pull to unbalance opponent), haka moa (chicken fight), hukihuki (tug-of-war) and heihei wawae (100 meter sprint).
Molokai Middle School Vice Principal Matthew Helm said the Friendly Isle has a history of strong athletes.
"I want the students to understand people used to come to Molokai to compete here," Helm said.
Molokai was once the training center for athletes in the islands. But the Makahiki games in Na`iwa were canceled after Molokai Ranch purchased the land in 1918. Over half a century later the games would be revived during the Hawaiian Renaissance.
This year’s celebration marks the 28th year since the revival of the Makahiki games on Molokai.
The Ranch now opens Na`iwa once a year for student athletes to compete.
Ah Loy said she would like to see the entire Makahiki grounds opened up; to see all of the games played up in Na`iwa.
Until then the rest of the games will continue to be played on Kaunakakai Ball Field.
This year spectators gathered at the ball field to watch teams from all over the state battle against each other for glory.
Beginning at sundown on Friday, the kane and wahine games continued on through the late hours of the chilly night. Molokai’s Kahaku Ritte-Camara took the wahine’s first place, while Kauai’s Kaina Makua took the kane’s top honors.
Saturday’s event started with a parade of all the competing schools. Each team honored a kupuna, and brought ho`okupu to Lono, which were displayed on a rock structure facing the games.
Hundreds of brightly-clad school-children filled the bleachers placed on the field, adding color and smiles to the day.
The games officially began when organizer Walter Ritte passed on the microphone to master of ceremonies Wayde Lee, who spent the next several minutes cheering the school-children.
"I say chicka-chicka boom!" Lee called to the children, who would then repeat his words in a vibrant chorus. His energy and humor kept the crowd going for the rest of the day.
Meanwhile, Makahiki organizers offered uala, fruit and donuts to cheering fans.
A full day of athletic competition concluded with a celebration outside of Mitchell Pauole Center. Live music and several ono food booths kept the crowd lively and well-fed.
Mahalo to all of those who competed in the games or cheered on the competitors. A special Mahalo to sponsors and volunteers who made the Makahiki games possible.
Schools competing in the Makahiki games at Na`iwa included Molokai Middle School (Molokai), Aka`ula (Molokai), Kanu o Ka `Aina (Hawaii), Maui Prep (Maui), Kamehameha Schools Kapalama (Oahu) and Nanakuli (Oahu).
Dump Still a Problem
Residents don’t have a place to discard appliances and cars.
Press Release
The Maui County Department of Environmental Management, which oversees county landfills, recently disclosed in a press release that it will be hiring a consultant to evaluate Molokai Landfill with the intention of developing a short term plan for the collection and recycling of vehicles and appliances.
“We realize this is a difficult situation for the residents of Molokai and really appreciate their help in temporarily holding off bringing their vehicles and appliances to the landfill while we seek the required permits,” county spokesperson Mahina Martin said. “Department staff are working as hard as they can to keep the current landfill in compliance while finding a way to respond to the island’s needs.”
La`au Point a No-Brainer
Molokai Ranch's John Sabas was recently quoted in the Maui News stating that supporting the La'au Point development on Molokai is a "no-brainer."
Ahh, that explains a lot: According to this quote, the executives of Molokai Ranch, and others who support this development, (apparently) have no brains! (Or, at least, are choosing NOT to use the ones they have.)
Thank goodness the rest of us opposing the development are actually using ours to think critically and carefully about this issue. In doing, we recognize that building 200 luxury estates for "pentamillionaires," in a sacred and pristine area, on an island that has critical unresolved water issues, as well as a unique lifestyle her people hope to maintain, is simply not a good idea. (No matter how much of their land Molokai Ranch offers to give inexchange.)
Hands Off Taro
GMO rally shakes up first day of Hawaii Legislature
By Jennifer Smith and Leo Azambuja
Hawaiian rights advocates banded together last week at the Capitol Rotunda to protect taro, a core staple of Hawaiian culture. The Hawaii Legislature kicked off the 2008 session with several hundred demonstrators rallying in support of a bill asking for a 10-year moratorium on genetically modified (GMO) taro.
Senate Bill 958 was first proposed last year. However, after passing through the Senate the bill was blocked in the House of Representatives by House Speaker Calvin Say and Agriculture Committee Chairman Representative Clift Tsuji. The Representatives said the bill was too complicated and controversial at the time, but would be revisited in the next session.
Holding the Representatives to their word, this year bill supporters stood outside the Capitol to ensure their voices were heard.
“Last year they treated us with no respect, they wouldn’t even give us a hearing,” Homestead farmer Walter Ritte said. “This year I’m almost positive we’re going to have a hearing.”
“Calvin Say and Clift Tsuji have the power to hear SB958. To not do so will be a direct insult to the Hawaiian people and taro farmers,” said Sarah Sullivan, Statewide Coordinator at Hawaii SEED, a non-profit organization that helps educate the public about possible GMO risks.
Two-time Vice-Presidential candidate Winona LaDuke, along with other Native American leaders from the mainland were invited by Hawaii SEED to participate in the rally.
“I was very moved by the rally and the presence of the Hawaiians at the legislature,” LaDuke said. The well-known indigenous rights leader has been fighting her own battle with the legislature in Minnesota, trying to prevent the genetic engineering of wild rice, a staple of the Ojibwe tribe she comes from.
“The University of Minnesota, similar to the University of Hawaii, wants to have the ‘academic freedom’ to do this work, but does not take the academic responsibility for the contamination which will inevitably result,” LaDuke said.
Possible contamination of non-GMO crops topped the list of demonstrators’ concerns, as did cultural issues surrounding taro.
“The GMO taro bill is unique: This is a cultural issue, both for the farmers and the Hawaiians,” Sullivan said. “This is an entirely separate issue from other GMOs.”
Mentioning 2700 municipalities that have not accepted GMOs, LaDuke said, “We are sure this will increase when the health impacts become more recognized, as there are no long term studies.”
Taro farmer and Molokai resident Herbert Hoe traveled to Oahu with the Hui Kalo group to join the rally. “I think we influenced the legislators to take a serious look at what we are saying,” he said.
Hoe and Ritte, along with hundreds of demonstrators, camped out for two nights on the lawn outside of the Hawaii Capitol.
“We had people marching on every level in the Capitol,” Ritte said. “We were presenting taro plants to all of the legislators. Each legislator got a taro plant.”
If the Agriculture Committee reviews and recommends SB958, the bill will go to the house for a floor vote. “We plan to fill the whole chamber with people when it comes up to a floor vote,” Ritte said.
“If the floor vote is positive, it goes to the governor for a signature and it becomes law,” Ritte said. “We are very close.”
Other opening day events for the Hawaii Legislature included a celebration honoring UH-Manoa’s Western Athletic Conference champion teams and a special performance from the University Lab School All-City Band.
Agenda items for the 2008 Hawaii Legislature include environmental protection, healthcare access, sustainability, homeless services and public school repair and maintenance. The Legislature also opened with a newly organized bipartisan House ethics committee.
Artists Corner: Kealoha Pa
Now that I’ve introduced you to one of Molokai very own artists, take a drive down Kamehameha Hwy around the 2 mile marker, look for the yellow and red sign out front that reads “Studio Kealoha,” introduce yourself, talk story and who knows? You may even get invited to a bar-b-que along with an art lesson.
Money for School
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Molokai Senior Receives Gromet Scholarship
Apo was among 25 Gromet Scholarship winners who were honored on Dec. 27 in Honolulu. She will receive a $20,000 4-year scholarship, which she plans to use in pursuing a degree in nursing at Southern Oregon University this fall.
The Gromet Foundation was founded in 1990 by Mr. Ben Gromet, a well-known businessman in Honolulu, in memory of his late wife, Janice. The scholarship program began in 1993 and is currently one of the largest college scholarship providers in Hawaii
New EIS an Improvement
A satirical look at the proposed La`au development.
In regard to the EIS I have a suggestion that could really work if implemented. I was reflecting on an old science fiction movie the other night called “Silent Running”. Not sure if anyone remembers this flick or not but in the movie the last bit of ecological habitat left in the universe is concealed in what appears to be a giant plexi glass dome.
But here’s my thought, rather than put the area of ecological habitat inside the dome, we put the development inside. Think of it, the La’au development could be inside a giant plexi glass dome. You might ask what are the advantages 1) Those who live in the dome would be totally isolated from the rest of the community and wouldn’t have to deal with insults or bad vibes (2) the dome would conceal unwanted noise from encroaching hunters and shield from the occasional stray bullet (3) Phobic mainlanders and outsiders who can’t handle insects and wild life could live in a remarkably clean and antiseptic environment (4) With no available water for La’au, a plexi glass dome could work something like a giant green house collecting moisture on it’s walls. (5) Plexi glass is transparent and still offers outstanding views. This is extremely important when taking real estate values into consideration.
There are certain complexities that would have to be dealt with such as bird kukae collecting on the upper portion of the dome but this issue could be easily dealt with. In fact, with the EC board no longer having to be pestered by the community, it is possible that this board could take the time necessary to plan and strategize such a design. I am exited as we reach out to protect the people who will live at La’au and help to prosper those who will benefit from such a project.
Mahalo,Steve Morgan
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