Island Youth

11th Annual Keiki Fishing Tournament

Thursday, July 17th, 2025

By Léo Azambuja
It appears the fish had no chance at Maurice Point last Saturday. With about 160 young fishermen — some skilled, some beginners — competing for prizes at a children’s fishing tournament, hundreds of fish were hooked over the weekend. Most, however, were returned to the ocean.
“It’s a catch and release (tournament),” said Robert Kalawe Jr., founder and organizer of the Annual Keiki Fishing Tournament. He added it is important to teach catch-and-release to children because it teaches them conservation at a young age, and also how to give back to the ocean.
Armed with bamboo poles distributed by the organization, every child had the same chance of catching the biggest fish when the 11th edition of the free tournament kicked off July 12 at 10 a.m.…

Kids Learn While Restoring Hawaiian Fishponds

Thursday, July 10th, 2025

By Léo Azambuja

Armed with aloha and good intentions, a group of children removed thousands of pounds of invasive species plus some debris from a loko i‘a, or Hawaiian fishpond, on Molokai’s south shore last week. 

“Yesterday, they removed invasive species, gorilla ogo, because we have a lot of gorilla ogo on the south shore of Molokai. And then today, we were just taking all the fence that was located by the second makaha (wooden gate),” said Tiani Cook, executive director of the nonprofit organization Ka Honua Momona.

About 15 children enrolled on Maui Economic Development’s summer program worked at the Kaloko‘eli fishpond in Kamiloloa last week.…

4-H Teaches Leadership, Responsibilities to Children

Thursday, June 19th, 2025

By Léo Azambuja
Several children of all ages showcased their animals during the annual 4-H Club Expo in Kualapu‘u earlier this month.
“It’s a youth development program,” club leader Lane Kamakana said. “We try to develop leadership, responsibility and life skills; and that’s the biggest point of our whole program.”
The 4-H season begun in November, when the kids started showing up for monthly meetings, according to Kamakana, a 4-H program alumni.
“Our steer project started in December, our swine project started in March, and our Clover Bud project started in April,” he said.
Thirty three kids showcased their animals at Lanikeha Community Center on June 7, in an event that started at 9 a.m.…

Waialua Keiki Surf Contest Kicks Off Season

Thursday, June 12th, 2025

By Léo Azambuja
A handful of children competed in the Molokai Keiki `O Ke Kai surfing contest in Waialua Beach last Saturday. The contest was the first in a series of four, which will ultimately qualify the overall top scorers to compete on Oahu next spring.
“At the end of the season, after the spring season closes, there is a state championship on Oahu, and our children are guaranteed slots in the semifinals,” event coordinator Malia Waits said.
She said six families showed up for the contest. About 10 kids got in the water, but only five decided to compete in the season’s opener.…

A Gathering to Celebrate Success

Thursday, June 5th, 2025

Community Contributed
By Dara Lukonen

Whistles and cheers from proud family members and friends rang out on Aka ‘ula School’s campus throughout the school award and promotion ceremony and high school commencement.
It was evident that students, staff, and families had formed strong bonds this year. This close-knit ‘ohana celebrated the awards ceremony where students were recognized for their academic achievement and growth, their citizenship, and their commitment to learning and community.
Following the awards ceremony, parents of eighth-grade students were called on stage to present a school kihei to their new high-school students. Donning the school kihei symbolizes the community leaders that students are anticipated to be.…