Island Youth

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

Learning All Summer Long

Monday, October 31st, 2011

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.”

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.

Tutu’s Corner

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Column by Tutu and me Traveling Preschool

Molokai Students Go To Work During Fall Break

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

Community Contributed
Submitted by Diane Abraham
 
This fall intersession, a group of dedicated fourth, fifth and sixth graders voluntarily attended classes at Kualapu`u School. One class in particular focused on U.S. and Hawaiian history, social responsibility and community civic involvement. Here’s what happened during one afternoon.
 
Malama ka aina
Written by Kakela Napoleon-Dudoit, Keale Napoleon-Dudoit, Zahya Dudoit and Courtney Winfrey
 
You hear a lot about ‘malama ka aina’ but we decided to put words into action: walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
 
Inspired in part by our class’ beach clean-up last Feb. 1, we decided we could do something to help our community now and not just grumble and talk about it. We got plastic