Island Youth

Molokai Robotics: A Legacy of Learning

Wednesday, March 29th, 2023

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Preparing for their regional competition on Oahu, Molokai High School robotics students spent their spring break practicing the delicate art of maneuvering blocks onto three levels using a robot they designed, built and programmed over the past several months. In the competition, they form alliances with teams from around the world, with a dozen other students and their robots all competing to perform the same tasks on a basketball-court-sized competition field. It’s a high-tech, high-pressure activity that costs thousands of dollars just to enter. 

But in their tiny workshop set up on Molokai High cafeteria’s stage area, students use the tools they have. …

A’o Aku; A’o Mai: What I Learn, I Teach

Wednesday, March 29th, 2023

Community Contributed

By Sara Jane Larkin, Teacher

In Kilohana School’s first grade class, one of our students had a loss of a family pet and he was grieving. I took the opportunity to talk a little bit about loss and grief with them. At the end of our conversation, I asked them to think of an animal or a person or even an experience where they had grief or loss, to close their eyes until they had a memory in their heart that made them smile when they thought about it. And this beautiful poem is the result, a composite written by all my students and myself. …

MHS Robot Takes the Spotlight

Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

The Molokai High School robotics team has built a masterpiece over the past several months – and they’re gearing up to compete with it this week at 2023 FIRST Robotics Hawaii Regional on Oahu, where they will be facing off against other teams from Hawaii, the continental U.S. as well as China, Japan, Singapore and Indonesia. Between March 23-25, the team will be showcasing their robot’s abilities to complete tasks like moving and placing cones and cubes, as well as the months of work they’ve put into designing, building, programming, practicing and overcoming obstacles with creativity and limited resources.…

A’o Aku; A’o Mai: What I Learn, I Teach

Wednesday, March 15th, 2023

Community Contributed

By Sara Jane Larkin, Teacher

Kilohana School first graders discussed ‘Auamo Kuleana. “I can carry a burden/responsibilities and still move forward to a goal.” It is a privilege to have this responsibility. It is important to remember that just because a person ‘auamo kuleana well, with a smile, it doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy. Here is what the class shared. 

Leah-Marie Makekau: “I will use what I know how to do.”

Kalea Ellis: “I will try hard things.”

Keaka Naki: “I will think about my friends and who I live. That will help me go on. 

Dallas Bicoy: “If it gets harder and harder, I will keep pushing and listen to the people helping me. …

A’o Aku; A’o Mai: What I Learn, I Teach

Wednesday, March 1st, 2023

Community Contributed

By Sara Jane Larkin, Teacher

Hawaii schools follow the Na Hopena A’O/HA framework.  This framework provides a system of expectations for all in Hawaii to aspire to.   HA means breath and the components of the framework are an acrostic of the letters in breath; belonging, responsibility, excellence, aloha, total wellbeing, and Hawaii.  With Makahiki season upon us, the talk of champions and excellence is constant.  In first grade at Kilohana School, I wanted to make time to enhance our total well being as well as our sense of excellence.  A warrior is someone who is as mentally strong and prepared as well as physically strong and prepared. …

Raising Funds to Open Doors

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter 

Thirteen promising Molokai High School Students are one step closer to their goal of traveling to visit East Coast colleges and career sites. The Molokai community came out to help them get there at a fundraiser last Saturday. 

Molokai College and Career Club (CCC) has been taking MHS students to the mainland for college visits for the past nine years. 

The trips are largely the brainchild of MHS teacher Ric Ornellas. Ornellas, a Molokai native, spent years of his life living in New York City following a college education at Middlebury College.  It has been his goal to expose Molokai students to broader education potentials and possibilities. …