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Squeals of delight were mixed with sea spray as Molokai kids experienced the ancient art of Hawaiian sailing canoes last Friday. The Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association (HSCA) held its third annual “Mahalo Molokai” event at Hale O Lono to thank the community for supporting them during their race season. The association, with teams on almost every island, races around the state every summer, sharing their love of the sport that carried their ancestors.
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The first keiki fishing tournament on Molokai proved a success on July 2, with more than 125 entries. The goal of the shoreline tournament on the island’s east end was to give children the chance to learn how to fish, practice catch and release techniques and most of all, have fun. More than 100 fish were caught, all weighing less than one pound. Entrants were judged on biggest catch or most caught.
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One of the tournament’s organizers, Jr Kalawe, said he has participated in many fishing events himself, and wanted to give his son the same opportunity. He added the event was such a success that they’re already planning it again for next year.
Keiki Fishing Tournament Results
Ages 2 to 5:
1. Olana Phifer
2. David Lima English
3. Tie: Khloe Bicoy, Tyahahua Cuello, Kailani Bicoy
Ages 6 to 9:
1. Taua Lima English
2. CJ Adolpho
3. Maya Lima, Saven Ka`ahanui
Ages 10 to 12:
1. Treyden Kalilikane
2. Kaniela Kaupu
3. Kea Sumarnap
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“I like chess because it’s fun and I like strategy games,” he said.
QLCC Direct Service Specialist Ebra Silva, who helped organize Saturday’s tournament, said playing chess teaches students and adults “critical thinking, planning, evaluation and analysis of their moves.”
“I think it just helps them to grow more as an individual, and in doing community events like this, it helps to bring the community together,” she said.
Local businesses donated prizes for the adult winners, with first place receiving about $250 to $300 of goods. Organizers purchased backpacks from Molokai Surf and filled them with school supplies for the keiki winners. All contestants received small prizes for participating.
Winners
Adult Division (age 18+)
1. Julian Torres, 5 points
2. Cheesung Stone, 4 points
3. Sam Kealoha , 2.5 points
Middle/High School Division (Grades 7-12)
1. Three-way tie: Ken Brito, Jayven Paleka-Wright and Cody Bocoboc; 4 points each
2. Two-way tie: Hanalei Dudoit-Enos and Logan Kamali`I; 3 points each
3. Two-way tie: Kelson Cabalar and Ray-Jay English; 2 points each
Elementary Division:
1. Clancey Wright, 4.5 points
2. Tehya Almazan, 0.5 points
Donors
Molokai Gifts & Things
Moana’s Florist
Upcountry Market
Hometown
Hotel Molokai
Maka’s Korner
Shop 2 Beauty Salon
Molokai Burger
Kat’s Beauty Salon
Hayaku’s
Kamakana Country Store
Kualapu`u Market
Misaki’s
Molokai Mule Ride
Coffees of Hawaii
Ironwoods Golf Course
Friendly Market Center
Kumu Farms
Rawlins’ Chevron Service
Molokai Drug Store
Mana`e Goods & Grindz
Molokai Surf
Denise’s Furniture
Paddler’s Inn
P & S Refrigeration, LLC.
Imports Gift Shop
Pancho Alcon/Hawaii’s Finest
Molokai Pizza Café
Kualapu`u Cookhouse
Simon & Friends Pet Shoppe
Atlas Hardware
Organizers would like to thank volunteers who donated their time, including Ted Takamiya, Cindy Brito, Anthony Fukuoka and Honey Girl English. Planners included Silva, Tubz Kalipi, Nyree Kang, Lani Ozaki, Barbara Kalipi, Kekama Helm and the support staff of QLCC.
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Lights flooded the Kaunakakai Ball Park last Friday night, with fans filling stadium seats ready to cheer the keiki on the field. But there were no strikes or homeruns during this performance – only “moos” and “oinks.”
More than 30 youth involved in the Molokai 4-H Livestock Club showed off the animals they’ve raised within the last six months at the annual Livestock Expo last weekend – a Molokai tradition participants say has been carried on for generations.
“The kids learn a lot… It teaches them all about being sustainable through backyard-raising animals,” said rancher Jimmy Duvauchelle, who served as emcee and whose children, grand-children and great-grandchildren have participated. “Molokai, we don’t got much, but we got plenty backyards.”
Junior and senior participants, ages 9 through 19, were judged with their steers and hogs Friday night. Participants scored in two categories: market, which judged the livestock’s marketability, and showmanship, which was based on keiki’s ability to display animals to the judge.
Six contestants showed hogs, herding them around a circular pen on the field’s diamond. 4-H volunteers followed with spray bottles, squirting the swine to keep them cool. Giggles erupted from young audience members when a hog snorted or made a dash across the dirt.
Jill Eguires, a former 4-H member from Oahu, judged the competition, awarding Rex Kamakana Jr. first place in the market competition for his swine, named Pork Chop. Acey Reyes placed first for her showmanship of Fat Pig.
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Noel Tancayo may be only 9 years old, but she’s no stranger to rodeos. The youngster won her ninth buckle at the 56th annual Makawao Rodeo during the July 4th weekend, placing first in the junior keiki barrel event and fourth in open wahine division.
“It’s actually pretty fun ‘cause you just experience riding a horse, and you feel like you’re falling off but you’re not,” she said.
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Pottery classes. Keiki learning how to sculpt or paint. Dance lessons. Workshops to teach local artists marketability, and for visiting artists to share the secrets of their craft. That’s what Molokai Arts Center (MAC) organizers envision as a vibrant workspace for community members to learn, teach and engage in art.
The vacant building behind Coffees of Hawaii might look sparse now, but it is already undergoing a transformation into what could become an artistic hub for Molokai.
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While school furlough days ended last year, education budget woes are not over. The Department of Education (DOE) is facing a $32.8 million budget reduction over the next two fiscal years. As part of the cuts, the DOE made adjustments to the weighted student formula, or per-pupil funding, as well as redefined the student enrollment required to be considered a small school. Sixty-four campuses around the state, including all schools on Molokai, will lose money as a result of the small school redefinition, according to DOE Budget Specialist Brian Hallett.
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Community Contributed
By Peter Angelsea
E komo mai! The first surf meet of the Summer Surf Series had 28 keiki surfers ages two to 13. They surfed their way through the day with a nice rising tide which brought perfect little knee-high sets. The weather was light trade winds, with the sun shining and the rain to cool us all off in between sets. This year marks the 22nd anniversary of this event brought to you by Ko Molokai Keiki `O Ke Kai and Friendly Isle United Fund.
Great surfing tricks were displayed by the youngsters: switch-foot, the coffin and even a standing-lotus. Many of the rides went all the way to the beach. Friends and parents enjoyed longboarding with the kids at the end of the meet.
This all couldn’t have happened without the help of the community at-large. Every year the ohana of Waialua opens up their neighborhood for the pure enjoyment of the keiki surfers and their ohana. And every year keiki surfers, friends, family and volunteers enjoy the nice beach, grassy area and fun-sized surf to practice on. We all want to thank everyone involved for the continued support of Ko Molokai Keiki `O Ke Kai Surf Meet!
The next surf meet will be on June 25 and it’s not too late to join the fun. Children who were age 12 or younger as of January 1, 2011 can participate (if you turned 13 after Jan. 1, 2011 you can still join). The last meet, with potluck pa`ina and awards ceremony afterwards, will be held July 9. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. and the meets begin at 10 a.m. Call 558-8110 for more info. We hope to see all you keiki surfers there!
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The Molokai High School (MHS) softball team finished last season with its first win at a state tournament in 10 years, a consolation semifinal victory over Kohala May 4. Now the team has another accolade to add to its list of accomplishments: Four of its players were placed on the Maui News All-Star team.
The Maui News puts together a list of the best players in each sport throughout Maui County, and recently named four Lady Farmers to its division II softball first team: pitcher Jasmine Borden, a senior; third baseman Tyra Reyes-Garces and outfielder Natalia Levi, both juniors; and second baseman Amanda Venegas Makaiwi, a sophomore.
Their male counterparts were also awarded places on the baseball All-Star first team. Seven baseball players were added to the list, including D-II Player of the Year, senior pitcher Kaoli Place. He was joined by third baseman Jubilee Tabilangan, catcher Kamakana Duvauchelle-Andrade , and utility/designated hitter Ryan Rapanot, all seniors; second baseman Ehukai Rawlins and outfielder Maverick Dela Cruz, both juniors; and shortstop David Rapanot, a freshman..jpg)
The Farmers won a dramatic 9-inning victory over fourth-seeded Radford in the state quarterfinals, with Place receiving a no-decision.
David Rapanot led the Farmers’ offense in that game with two doubles and three runs, while Ehukai Rawlins went 3-for-5 with three runs and Ryan Rapanot went 2-for-5 with two runs and three RBI. Maverick Kaulia Dela Cruz added a pair of RBI, as well.
McCutcheon, a former Farmer who was also voted D-II Coach of the Year by his peers, said the long list of Molokai students on the All-Star list was a good sign for the program.
“It just shows that we have a great group of guys,” he said. “It shows that Molokai’s here to stay…. It’s kinda good to see that coming back to Molokai, getting the recognition that they deserve.”
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A barge-full of opportunities has arrived on Molokai, keeping keiki engaged and entertained all season long. With lots of ways for keiki to play and learn – from playing soccer to picking papayas and, yes, even learning about worm poop – the island has something for every youth.
Seventh-Day Adventist Church
All ages are welcome to attend the Seventh-Day Adventist Church’s Vacation Bible School, which started Monday and continues through this Friday.
“We are hoping that they’ll learn more about God” during the camp, said church member Jaime Herman, who is leading the annual program for the first time this year.
Herman said keiki will learn five character qualities related to Christian principles, including contentment, self-control, diligence, faith and forgiveness.
Although the camp already started, keiki are invited to join Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Arrive at 5:45 p.m. any night to register. For more information, call Herman at 658-0480.
Department of Parks and Recreation
Whether your keiki wants to swim like a fish or hop like a frog, the Parks and Rec has two upcoming free programs to learn to swim and play volleyball.
Parents can visit the Kaunakakai Gym or pool to register their keiki for the learn-to-swim program, which includes four experience levels. The pre-school level is for 3- and 4-year-olds, while levels one, two and three are for ages 5 and up.
“What we do is assess the kids and put them in the appropriate class,” said Mike Mangca, Maui County’s recreation leader for Molokai.
Classes, which started June 21, are currently being held at the pool on Tuesdays and Thursdays through July 19. They are taught by instructors from Alu Like, a nonprofit organization dedicated to Native Hawaiians, and the county-funded program Play and Learn Sessions (PALS).
Mangca said he is still seeking coaches for the volleyball program, which will begin sometime in July. Coaches interested in volunteering may contact him at the Parks and Recreation Department.
“That’s usually what slows up our programs – there’s not enough coaches,” he said.
In the meantime, you can register for volleyball by visiting the Kaunakakai Gym by a flexible deadline of June 24. Classes will be divided into two age groups: 5 to 8 and 9 to 12, with one group practicing at the gym on Mondays and Wednesdays and the other on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Molokai Public Library
The library will wrap up its Children’s Summer Reading Program with two final performances. “Novel Destinations: There’s The Door?” is aimed at teens and young adults, hosted by three storytellers on June 28 at 3 p.m.
In “Irish Folk Tales with Storyteller Niall de Búrca,” this performer returns to Hawaii to tell tales of ancient Ireland in a show recommended for ages 5 and older on July 1 at 2:30 p.m.
Both performances are free. For more information, call the library at 553-1765 or visit www.librarieshawaii.org.
Molokai Baptist Church
With a new soccer field in the back of church property waiting to be used, pastor Randy Manley of the Molokai Baptist Church and volunteer Kurt Go are excited to host an upcoming soccer camp, taught by instructors brought to Molokai by the Colorado-based Uncharted Waters (UW) Sports Ministry.
“That’s why this is a great blessing for us,” said Go, who also serves as athletic trainer to the high school. “Soccer is one of the sports that [UW Sports Ministry] could do, and it was ideal because we have a brand new field.”
Manley added the program is “testing the waters” to potentially start a youth soccer program in the future.
The church will also host a separate basketball camp, to be held in the church’s gym and also taught by instructors brought to Molokai by UW. Both camps run from July 18 to 22.
“We’re… wanting to provide another venue for kids to have some good instructional organized activity during the summertime,” Manley said.
Both camps are available to keiki ages 6 to 12. Keiki ages 4 and 5 can partake in a special group called Team 45, where they’ll learn basic sports skills like throwing, catching, jumping and running.
Camps run from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and light snacks will be provided, Go said. In addition to learning about basketball or soccer, participants will also learn about scripture in separate morning sessions.
The fee for each camp is $30 per child. Interested parents can register up until the first day of camp by calling the church at 567-6689 or downloading an application from its website, www.molokaibaptist.com..JPG)
Learning about worm poop might not sound so cool at first, until keiki learn that the product – technically called worm castings – are a valuable part of agriculture in a process called vermiculture.
4-H leader Viola Mundrick-Wichman plans to host an introduction class to vermiculture sometime in July, with a date to be announced. While the class is intended for 4-H members, all ages of the public may also attend, she said.
Mundrick-Wichman said the class is an extension of 4-H’s Full Circle and Green Project, in which horse manure is used to fertilize papaya. The papaya seeds, which are natural de-wormers, are then fed to the horses to complete the environmentally-friendly circle.
“The natural progression in our process is to grow worms, grow their castings … and that’s what we use directly into our organic papayas,” Mundrick-Wichman said in describing the vermiculture process.
As another part of the Full Circle and Green Project, families may join 4-H members in picking the papayas every Wednesday on Keonelele Avenue near Howard Farm.
For more information and directions, contact Mundrick-Wichman at 560-6204 or tippy@aloha.com.
Summer Food Service Program
Families are invited to participate in the federally funded Summer Food Service Program to make sure their keiki are well-fed this summer. Put together by the PALS program, the initiative helps keiki who receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year.
Meals are served on a first come, first served basis, so interested parents should call Maui County Recreation Specialist Karen Deguilmo in advance at the PALS office at 270-7403 to be included. Information about the program – including locations, times, and instructions on how to participate – can also be found by calling the PALS office.
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