Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

On and Off Field, Football Excels

Monday, October 24th, 2011

Without the opportunity to join the Molokai High School (MHS) club football team, many players would have spent the last three months “staying home,” said senior quarterback Keola DeMello. Others could be “getting in trouble, most likely,” added free safety Kaloko Akina, another senior.

Instead, the 30-man squad spent that time on the field, running through hours of practice, drill after drill, day after day.

Motivation was not lacking last weekend, as Molokai surged ahead to a 40-2 halftime lead en route to the win. Making efforts to mix up their offense, the Farmers scored in the air and on the ground, with senior Shauden Pedro tallying one each way. Noah Caparida added another touchdown, while fellow sophomore Koa Traxler-Ortiz had two and intercepted a St. Anthony attempt in the end zone.

The team’s 13 seniors were honored in a ceremony after the game, with many saying they can’t wait to come back and cheer next year’s squad.

“It’s exciting,” said senior Enoka Kalilikane. “They better step up – they gotta step up.”

Kahale thanked the Molokai community for their immense support throughout the season, the players for their hard work and time in making the season a success, and his wife, Nicole, who he called “the motor behind the scenes.”

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Shoots, Shooters

Monday, October 17th, 2011

Online version updated Tuesday, Oct. 18.

James Corpuz and Kayla Matson are right on target.

Following strong performances at their league air riflery tournament last Saturday, the duo will represent Molokai at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) championship on Oahu this weekend.

Both the Molokai High School boys (1834 points) and girls (1825) squads placed second overall at the meet, which wrapped up the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Div. II season. Seven boys teams and six girls teams participated.

Matson, who took last year’s MIL crown, placed fourth of 41 shooters with 472 points. She returns to states seeking to improve upon last weekend’s performance, she said.

“When we were shooting, we were all definitely really nervous but excited … I guess that pressure kinda got to us,” she said. “I definitely wanna be doing better [at states] … but most of all I wanna shoot how I was at practice back home.”

Corpuz placed sixth of 60 shooters with 482 points. He, too, has high hopes for Oahu.

“I feel good,” he said Sunday. “This is my last year of being in high school and I try my best, and I’m gonna push myself to do better [at states].”

Chelsea Simon also qualified as an alternate shooter at the HHSAA tournament, placing fifth with 463 points. The shooters are some of 12 seniors wrapping up their time with the squad – a 19-person team that will be sad to see them go, said coach Eddie Gorospe.

“Coach Henry Corpuz and I were really proud of them,” Gorospe said. “We’re gonna miss them very much.”

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Football Undefeated

Monday, October 17th, 2011

The Molokai High School (MHS) club football team remains undefeated as it enters this Saturday’s season-ending home game.

The Farmers defeated Seabury Hall 58-6 on Maui last Saturday, bringing their record to 3-0.

“It was a well-played game and the boys really executed,” said head coach Mike Kahale.

Keola DeMello rushed for 269 yards and four touchdowns (TDs), while Noah Caparida added 110 rushing yards and one TD.

Jayven Dudoit-Tabilangan returned an interception for a 30-yard TD.

The Farmers are in their second year of a three-year plan to become sanctioned by the Maui Interscholastic League. They host St. Anthony at the MHS field Saturday at 11 a.m.

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Volleyball Struggles, Looks Ahead

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

The Molokai High School (MHS) girls’ volleyball team hit a tough stretch last week, losing back-to-back games to visiting Hana a week after suffering their first Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) loss in years.

Hana swept Saturday’s matchup at the MHS Barn (25-21, 25-19, 25-15) after taking a 3-1 win Friday night (26-24, 22-25, 25-11, 25-16).

On Sept. 30, host Seabury snapped the Farmers’ MIL unbeaten streak dating back to 2007 with a nail-biting five-set match (23-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-17, 15-10).

However, the Farmers earned a win Oct. 1, sweeping host Maui Prep (25-13, 25-11, 25-20). Their MIL record stands at 5-3 as they look forward to a trip to Maui this weekend, when they revisit Seabury (Oct. 14, 6 p.m.) and Maui Prep (Oct. 15, 6 p.m.).

Head coach Matt Helm said his players’ effort showed at times during their struggles last weekend, but lapses in communication left the Farmers open to Hana’s attack.

“Our inexperience really showed today,” he said Saturday, referring to his team’s youth – including nine new players this season and only three seniors.

One of those seniors, outside hitter Natalia Levi, suffered a broken foot in the first set Friday night, rendering her unable to play for the remainder of the season.

Despite the losses, several players tallied impressive stats against Hana. Leenell Hernandez (13 kills, 10 digs, 1 block), Shaniah Mollena-Lopez (9 assists) and Carol Kahee (9 digs) excelled on Saturday, while Hernandez (14 kills) and Lehiwa Pedro (6 kills) stood out Friday.

Helm said he and his squad will work on a different lineup this week and improving court communication as they continue to defend their state championship title.

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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

gloves and large rubbish bags and cleaned up just one block on Farrington Avenue in Kualapu`u. In just that one short block, we filled up two of the largest-sized bags you can get!

We picked up all sorts of rubbish: slippers, a baby slipper, diapers, beer bottles, cans, plastic containers, candy wrappers and at least 100 cigarette butts. We even found a large piece of busted-up PVC pipe that we had to carry separately because it couldn’t fit into the bags.

To be honest, we were pretty disgusted. We thought people really meant it when they say it’s our kuleana to malama ka aina. Try putting rubbish where it belongs then, not back to litter our earth next time, please.

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Texture Fish

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

Community Contributed by Koki Foster

When you visit the Kaunakakai public library, make sure to check out the terrific “texture fish” exhibition. The fish were created by students at Kualapu`u School. The after-school ceramic class is taught by Koki Foster and sponsored by grants from 21st Century. The students listed below may pick up and take home their work before Friday, Oct. 14.

Li’u Busby, Carly Dudoit, Nahoa Lima-Villa, Kairi Lima-Villa, Leilyn McComas, Ava Morris, Raven Morris, Rusty Morris, Marlina Pupuhi-Kamai, Olivia Tuisamatatele, Shadow Wong, Secret-Lee Wong.

Posted in Announcements, Art, Community, Culture & Art, Education, Island Youth

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Happy Campers

Monday, October 10th, 2011

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Televisionaries

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

If you turn on the TV next week and see a few familiar faces, don’t be too surprised.

try.”

Buchalter agreed, saying his students usually come to him with no media experience, but through their learning in the class, the Hiki No video is “98 percent all by them.”

“If this thing is pulled off the way I envision it,” he told students during a recent class, “it’ll be a hit.”

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Football on Fire

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

Keola DeMello scored four touchdowns and Noah Caparida added three as the Molokai High School (MHS) club football team rolled to a 54-22 victory over host St. Anthony last weekend.

Head Coach Mike Kahale said players were excited to play their first game refereed by Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) officials on a regulation size field, and were motivated to make up for a loss to the Trojans last season. They channeled their excitement into a 40-0 halftime lead en route to the victory, which included additional touchdowns from Shauden Pedro, Braddah Ka`ai and Kaloko Akina, who scored on a 75-yard punt return.

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