Announcements

Department of Education Complex News

Monday, February 4th, 2008

Department of Education Complex News

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.

Read Aloud Program Update

Saturday, February 2nd, 2008

Read Aloud Program Update

Future dates for the Read Aloud Program at Maunaloa and Kualapu`u elementary schools

Maunaloa Elementary School will host five more sessions; Feb. 5 and 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 five more 5:45-7:45 p.m. RAP sessions; Feb. 6 and 20, March 5, April 23 and May 7. For more information contact the school liaison Leila Elia at 567-6900. Families can also contact the Kualap`uu Family Facilitator, Tarrah Horner, for more information on how to get involved. Horner can be reached at 567-6900 ext. 231, or email tarrah_horner@notes.k12.hi.us

Promote Healthy Dating Habits

Saturday, January 26th, 2008

Violence Awareness and Prevention Week begins 

Dating violence is a serious issue. Teens remain the most likely age group to experience intimate partner violence. Unhealthy relationship patterns that develop during adolescence can set the stage for future domestic violence.

Whether teens date casually or seriously, they need to know the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. 

A major step to prevention begins in the home.  

“Simply put, parents play an important role in promoting healthy teen dating relationships.  Talk to your child about healthy dating, meet your child’s boyfriend/girlfriend, and help your child be aware of unhealthy relationship behaviors such as cyber control,” Tula`i Project Investigator Susana Helm said.

The issue is particularly important in Hawaii, where violence continues to occur at alarming rates, according to studies conducted by the Tula`i Project and the Asian/Pacific Islander Youth Violence Prevention Center.

Dating violence ranges from anything involving physical or emotional abuse, to pressure to participate in unwanted sexual activities.

Individuals and families can learn more about how to prevent dating violence during National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week held Feb. 4-8.

On Molokai, the Domestic Violence Shelter can provide assistance. Teens can call the hotline for free, confidential, and anonymous help: 567-6888.

Fathers Talk Story

Friday, January 25th, 2008

Workshop offers parenting know how

By Jennifer Smith

The Mediation Center is offering men a chance to talk story about parenting. A 12-week workshop for fathers will begin on Feb. 6.

Program facilitator Taylor Kawaa has offered the workshop for the past two years. Meeting for about an hour on Wednesday evenings, participants discuss the different challenges and successes they may be encountering as fathers.

“I’m not here to change people’s lives. They will change on their own,” Kawaa said. “(I) offer ideas of trying to cope with their relationships, with their wives or their children.”

Obituaries

Tuesday, January 15th, 2008

CHELSY KAWAILANI STONE-LAWELAWE (female) 16 years old of Honouliwai, Molokai.

Chelsy was born on May 18, 1991 in Honolulu, Hawaii. She passed away on January 3, 2007 in Kaunakakai, Molokai.

Chelsy is survived by her loving parents Vonda Stone and Frank Lawelawe of Kaunakakai, Molokai, her companion Brandon Lima of Honouliwai, Molokai and her brothers Stanton Lawelawe of Kaunakakai, Waika Lawelawe of Kaunakakai, Brandon Lawelawe of Kaunakakai, Waikolu Stone-Sardinha of Kaunakakai. Chelsy is also survived by her sisters, Courtney Lawelawe of Honolulu, Hawaii, Desiree Stone-Lawelawe of Kaunakakai, and Summer Stone-Sardinha of Kaunakakai.

Friends may call on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at the Waialua Congregational Church in Waialua, Molokai.

Obituaries

Tuesday, January 15th, 2008

CHELSY KAWAILANI STONE-LAWELAWE (female) 16 years old of Honouliwai, Molokai.

Chelsy was born on May 18, 1991 in Honolulu, Hawaii. She passed away on January 3, 2007 in Kaunakakai, Molokai.

Chelsy is survived by her loving parents Vonda Stone and Frank Lawelawe of Kaunakakai, Molokai, her companion Brandon Lima of Honouliwai, Molokai and her brothers Stanton Lawelawe of Kaunakakai, Waika Lawelawe of Kaunakakai, Brandon Lawelawe of Kaunakakai, Waikolu Stone-Sardinha of Kaunakakai. Chelsy is also survived by her sisters, Courtney Lawelawe of Honolulu, Hawaii, Desiree Stone-Lawelawe of Kaunakakai, and Summer Stone-Sardinha of Kaunakakai.

Friends may call on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at the Waialua Congregational Church in Waialua, Molokai.

Obituaries

Tuesday, January 15th, 2008

 

 

CHELSY KAWAILANI STONE-LAWELAWE (female) 16 years old of Honouliwai, Molokai.

Chelsy was born on May 18, 1991 in Honolulu, Hawaii.  She passed away on January 3, 2007 in Kaunakakai, Molokai. 

Chelsy is survived by her loving parents Vonda Stone and Frank Lawelawe of Kaunakakai, Molokai, her companion Brandon Lima of Honouliwai, Molokai and her brothers Stanton Lawelawe of Kaunakakai, Waika Lawelawe of Kaunakakai, Brandon Lawelawe of Kaunakakai, Waikolu Stone-Sardinha of Kaunakakai. Chelsy is also survived by her sisters, Courtney Lawelawe of Honolulu, Hawaii, Desiree Stone-Lawelawe of Kaunakakai, and Summer Stone-Sardinha of Kaunakakai. 

No Ordnance at the Dump

Tuesday, December 18th, 2007

No Ordnance at the Dump







Molokai landfill cleared of munitions debris

By Léo Azambuja

The Molokai landfill got its own clean up this year. As of Dec. 18, the last remnants of old munitions debris was packed in containers and shipped away, according to a press release by Senator Daniel K. Inouye.

“To our knowledge, everything was properly inspected and removed from the site,” said Mike Souza, County Landfill Worksite Supervisor. “I think everything is fairly secure at this point.”

When old munitions were first discovered in the Molokai landfill four months ago, Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares asked Senator Inouye for help providing federal assistance to remove ordnance from the dump.

According to the senator, after American Technologies, Inc. was awarded a federal contract in September, approximately 670 pieces of munitions debris were found, none of which contained explosives.

“The successful cleanup means the Molokai landfill is safe; it does not pose a threat to the community,” Inouye said.

“I wish to thank Maui County, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the contractor, American Technologies, Inc., which is certified by the Enviromnental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, for a job well done,” Inouye said.

However, not everyone was happy with the outcome. Environmental watchdog Carroll Cox said that the hiring of American Technologies Inc. is an “insult to taxpayers.” In early 2004 the company was hired by the army to clean up unexploded ordnance in Papohaku Ranchlands, where the military conducted exercises.

In March 2004 American Technologies hired Boswell Trucking, now Makoa Trucking, to carry all the “scrap and/or explosive contaminated metal from Papohaku Ranchland Bombing target.” All of the material was dumped at the Molokai landfill, even though the dump did not have a permit to accept or process hazardous waste.

Cox said that now the Senator is glowing, bragging that he did such a great job in cleaning up the dump. However, American Technologies, the same company that was responsible for dumping the ordnance at the landfill, was now paid $185,000 to clean up the mess.

Hawaiian State law says that “fines may be levied on the generator of the waste, even if they hired someone else to dispose of the waste.”

“Shame on you,” Cox said he told Inouye. “Where were you when they were dumping all that ordnance there?”

Molokai Middle School Students of the 2nd Quarter

Tuesday, December 18th, 2007

Congratulations to the following Molokai Middle School students, who were recognized as "Students of the Quarter"! Students and parents were treated with pizza from Molokai Pizza Cafe on Dec 12 and 13.  

7th Grade
Abigail Adachi, Kahea Akina, Maka Alameida, Hauoli Falealii, Keola Kahalewai, Charles Kamelamela, Shaelan Kaneakua, Kay-Dee Kawano, Kaiulani Laemoa, Esther Lopez and Alisha Mollena Na O.


8th Grade
Kyle Klemp, Kaipoi Kondo, Nolan Nartatez, Sammilyn Pule-Kaahanui, Ehukai Rawlins, Emily Spires and Brianna Tangonan.

Water Commission Seeks Community Input

Saturday, December 15th, 2007

Water Resource Protection Plan in public review phase

By Jennifer Smith

In an attempt to hear public testimony on their draft Water Resource Protection Plan (WRPP), the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) visited Molokai Tuesday night.

WRPP is part of the Hawaii Water Plan that, according to the state, “provides the overall guidance and direction for managing Hawaii’s water resources.”

CWRM created the WRPP in 1990 and submitted an updated draft for public review in October 2007. The commission is asking community members to provide input on the draft update in order to identify any issues of concern, as well as possible areas in need of expansion.