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Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

High Hopes for Hoops

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

The winter sports season is upon us, and Molokai High School (MHS) teams are gearing up for another exciting round of Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) play. So get out your green gear, read up on the basketball teams’ outlooks this season and keep it nearby for when The Dispatch previews paddling, wrestling and swimming next week.

Boys’ Basketball
The MHS boys’ basketball team earned a runner-up finish in the MIL last year – and this season, they want to go even farther.

“Our goals are to win the MIL championship and represent Div. II MIL in the state tournament, and if all goes well, to win the state championship,” said assistant coach Rick Schonely.

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Keeping Art Alive

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

Keeping Art Alive

Vincent Van Gogh had his “Starry Night,” and Landon Pawn-Kalilikane has his, too.

The Molokai High School (MHS) senior has been working on his adaptation of the iconic painting for the past week, perfecting the swirling blue skies and peaceful landscape during teacher Perry Buchalter’s art class. But while Van Gogh completed his piece in the south of France in 1889, Pawn-Kalilikane said his will be the modern Hawaiian interpretation: Instead of a dark tower-like structure, Pawn-Kalilikane will paint a palm tree; instead of a small European village, a coastal beach scene.

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Food Factor

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

Food Factor

Community Contributed by By Kalei “Pumpkin” Moss

For the past few months, four Molokai First LEGO League (FLL) teams have been working hard to prepare for the regional competition that was held on Maui the first two weekends in November.  This year the theme of the FLL competition was “Food Factor,” in which each team was given the task to design and operate a LEGO MINDSTORM robot and to research and create a solution to a problem that dealt with food safety.  Each team dedicated hundreds of afterschool hours through the 21st Century Grant, to brainstorm ideas for their robot and their research project, and some teams even choreographed routines to present their ideas to the regional FLL judges in an original way.

The “Molokai Blizzard Boys” team is based out of Kaunakakai Elementary School but is comprised of students from grades five through eight.  Led by their team coach Kawika Gonzales, they researched the problem of industrial freezers malfunctioning during non-store hours and causing food spoilage.  Their solution to the problem was to create a wireless sensor that transmits temperature information to an app on an iPhone, iPad or smartphone.   Their idea is so innovative they even have a possible investor that may want to patent the product.  They presented their research to the judges by doing magic tricks and were awarded the best robot design.  They will be moving on to the state competition held in Oahu in December.

The “Molokai Oompa Loompas” team is based out of Molokai Middle School and is made up of girls grades six through nine.  Led by Meg Fox, they researched the problem of people consuming meat that is undercooked or raw and may become sick because of it.  Their solution to the problem was a “pressurator” which uses pressure to crush any living things’ DNA, including germs, leaving uncooked meat germ free and safe to eat, but the meat is not distorted in any way.  The “Molokai Oompa Loopmas” presented their research to the judges through a song and dance routine that was based on “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” complete with costumes.  They won the Maui Tournament Championship Award, meaning they were the overall winners of the regional competition, and they will be moving on to the state competition on Oahu in December.

Congratulations and good luck to the teams that will be moving on to the state competition in December.  We are proud of all the teams and the hard work they have done to prepare for this year’s regional competition.  If you would like your child to participate in a 21st Century Grant funded FLL class or if you would like more information you can contact Joshua Adachi at Kaunakakai Elementary School at 553-1730.  Should you have difficulty getting in touch with Mr. Adachi, please contact Sandra Czajkowski at 658-0609.  Look for part 2 of the “Food Factor” article, in which we will highlight the Kualapu`u Elementary School and girls Kaunakakai Elementary School teams.

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Tutu’s Corner

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

Column by Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool

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Paniolo Pride

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Paniolo Pride

Whenever keiki in the Molokai Junior Roping Club (MJRC) saw Papa Cliff Dudoit raise his pointer finger, silently holding it in the air a few inches from his face, they didn’t need words to know what he meant.

Dudoit, one of the founders of the rodeo club, strived to teach Molokai’s youth not only the foundations of being a good cowboy or cowgirl, but of being a good person. And, as he explained, “number one was your attitude.” Raising that finger was a simple reminder to keep your attitude in check.

“In life, in roping and in everything else, leave your bad attitude at home,” he said. “If you have a bad attitude, you’re gonna have a bad day.”

Raina Dudoit, Cliff’s wife, said the club helped keep alive the paniolo heritage of their fathers and grandfathers while keeping keiki off the streets. Many have attended national championships and earned college scholarships through the club.

“The kids always had a place to come to,” she said. “It was an alternative to drugs and substance abuse.”

More than 60 youth participated last Friday before refereeing, emceeing and managing the adult competition Saturday – another important aspect of the roping club.

“The kids are running the show,” Cliff Dudoit said. “When they grow up in the sport, they gonna know what they talking about.”

He thanked the Molokai community and the MJRC for their continued support over the years and said he looks forward to extending the club’s legacy.

“We gonna continue to help. We not giving up,” he said. “We cowboys, man. We cowboy up.”

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Moonbots

Friday, November 25th, 2011

Community Contributed by Kalei “Pumpkin” Moss

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Tutu’s Corner

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Community Contributed

Column by Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool

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Molokai Teaches with Heart

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Community Contributed

Submitted by Diane Abraham

Each month, kumu from a different school island-wide are featured in articles written completely by the keiki to share their experiences with their most beloved teachers.  Below are submissions from Mr. Bear’s sixth grade class from Kaunakakai Elementary School.

Mrs. Yuen

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Learning All Summer Long

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Learning All Summer Long

Community Contributed by Kalei “Pumpkin” Moss

This past June, school may have ended for the summer but classes were still being held through the 21st Century Grant program.  Kaunakakai, Kilohana and Maunaloa Elementary Schools all held programs over the summer to help keep our children engaged and learning while school was out.

Kaunakakai Elementary School held classes that included violin with teacher Lauren Fischer, Nutrition and P.E. with teacher Ui Kalani and Space Camp with teacher Kawika Gonzales, who actually attended NASA space training.  Through collaboration with Officer Sonnie Ka`ai with the Molokai Police Department, first through sixth grade students were given the opportunity to not only continue learning what they were being taught in school, but also participate in a leadership class.  One day a week, the students were taught by one of four different members/organizations of the community.  Dan Emhoff representing Akaku taught the student how to create public service announcements; Chris Chow and Roselle Kamaile representing Alu Like spoke on drug prevention; Vicki Boswell and Liz Price from Napu`uwai did a heart guardianship program on nutrition and wellness; and Penny Martin representing Papahana Kuaola spoke on being a good steward of our land by being environmental conservationists.  At the end of the summer programs a Ho`oike was held for students to share with their parents and families the work they had accomplished.

Kaunakakai School also held a special week-long drama class that was open to all island students.  Through the direction of artists from the Maui Arts and Culture Center, the drama students acted, sang and even rapped in a play “Aloha Aina,” which showed the importance of taking care of the land through recycling and going “green.”

This summer the Kilohana School students used their creative sides with arts and crafts taught by Wanda Pascua and drawing and painting with Suzanne Olsson.  They were able to get their hands dirty in horticulture classes taught by Valerie Hart where they learned about gardening with worms and how to care for an herb garden.  Students also learned discipline and hard work in a Kenpo class instructed by Randy Foley, and the basics of playing instruments like the viola, violin and cello with Lauren Fischer.

Through a partnership with the Summer P.A.L.S program and the 21st Century Grant, Maunaloa School offered classes for students as well.  Students learned how to cook healthy snacks with Janna Espaniola and hula instruction with Kahana Deknees.  They also had math and reading classes with Lana Freeman, who taught pre-K through third grade and Wendy Espaniola, who taught fourth through sixth grade.

The 21st Century Grant programs are offered year-round at various schools island-wide and strive to offer classes to our students and community members that will assist them with their future endeavors.  Thank you to all those who participated in the summer programs this past year.   If you or your children are interested in participating in the 21st Century Grant program please contact Joshua Adachi at Kaunakakai School at 553-1730 or Sandra Czajkowski at 658-0609 for more information.

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Tutu’s Corner

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Column by Tutu and me Traveling Preschool

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