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Dispelling the notion that bandanas and old jeans should be garb of choice for community service work, young women flaunted sparkling gowns and radiant dresses while collecting donations at the Food Drive for Fashion and Prom Expo at Hotel Molokai last Saturday.
Stage directing the exuberant fashion show and spearheading the effort to raise awareness about the local fight against hunger was Christian Kapono, a 22-year-old who recently moved to Molokai last summer.
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Amid jokes by county officials throwing each other in the pool, community members, lifeguards and administrators gathered last week to bless the re-opening of Cooke Memorial Pool. Molokai’s only pool underwent six months of renovations to its facility – revamping the roof, adding handicap accessibility ramps, and gutting the bathrooms.
“Thank you for your patience and understanding,” said Zach Helm, district supervisor for the county Department of Parks and Recreation. “The public of Molokai depend on this…if it shut down, everyone would be impacted.”
Residents who often use the pool were at last week’s blessing, including Aka`ula School’s swimming students.
“I’m excited to start training, to work on my strokes,” said seventh grader Kori-Lee DeRouin, adding that her favorite stroke is butterfly. “We’ve waited a while.”
Aka`ula School will be hosting a swim meet for all interested island youth in May. Parents or students should contact Vicki Newberry at 567-6981.
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Polynesian Voyaging Society News Release
A small group of culturally conscious Hawaii youth are headed to Christchurch, New Zealand to provide much-needed assistance to those coping with the effects of the tragic Feb. 22 earthquake. The natural disaster claimed 161 lives with hundreds still unaccounted for. Thousands are still struggling without water, electricity, proper sewage, or access to government services and aid.
Six members of Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Kapu Na Keiki program, Moani Hemuli, Haunani Kane, Waimea McKeague and Jason Patterson of Oahu; Cliff Kapono of Hawaii island; and Niegel Rozet of Maui, are planning to deploy to the disaster area within the week. The team is comprised of voyaging navigators and apprentices, trained first responders, and a journalist. Working with their hosts, Ngai Tahu people, they will offer person-to-person relief in the city center and more isolated rural areas surrounding Christchurch.
Maori (native) communities within the region have rallied to support those devastated by the earthquake. They have opened their marae (meeting houses) as temporary shelters and are helping to administer much needed medical assistance and provide food and water to displaced families. The Ngai Tahu iwi (tribe) is the principal Maori iwi (tribe) in New Zealand’s South Island; their tribal offices, located in Christchurch were badly damaged in the quake. Nevertheless, tribal members have been working tirelessly to assist those left homeless by the natural disaster.
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Community Contributed
Column by Tutu and Me
Po`okela means excellence, to exceed, to excel. In the Hawaiian culture, everyone has not only their kuleana, responsibility, but also an understanding that we should do more than what is expected whenever possible. It’s a feeling in your na`au (literally: guts; figuratively: of the heart or mind) that you should do not only what is asked, but to perform beyond what is expected. In school, it means doing assignments not only thoroughly, neatly, and turning it in on time but putting a cover on the report, adding illustrations and doing extra research. The same is true in the workplace – not only performing up to expectations but taking the initiative to do more than you are asked. This is po`okela.
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In order of first to third place, below are results of last weekend's Hawaii High School Rodeo Association (HHSRA) first shows of the 2011 season.
HHSRA MOLOKAI DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL SHOW #1
Barrel Racing: Chelsea Sakamoto; Moani Rawlins; Taylor Keliihoomalu
Pole Bending: Moani Rawlins; Liloa Akoi; Chelsea Sakamoto
Tie-Down Roping: Jake Sakamoto
Breakaway Roping: Chelsea Sakamoto
Goat Tying: Liloa Akoi; Chelsea Sakamoto; Taylor Keliihoomalu
Dally Team Roping: Kainoa Kamakana/Liloa Akoi; Jake Sakamoto/Chelsea Sakamoto
Double Mugging: Dylan Godsey/Moani Rawlins
Steer Wrestling: Dylan Godsey
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For three minutes, Noah Archuleta, age 11, pushed himself to get as many tricks in as possible. He pulled aerials and attempted board tricks, and in the end, won second place for division one (11 and under) in the third annual Freedom Skate Contest.
“Butterflies, I got the butterflies,” Archuleta said after finishing his round. “I like the moment when you complete the trick, it’s the best feeling in the world.”
Last Saturday, Surfing the Nations hosted their third annual skate contest at Molokai’s skate park. 50 contestants turned out, nearly double that of last year’s contest. According to organizers, the annual contest is held to promote safe and healthy activities among the island’s youth.
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Community Contributed
By Marla Spencer, Program Manager
During the past several years, I’ve witnessed firsthand amazing achievements of our young people, many of whom had all but given up on attaining their dreams.
In places like Molokai High, Molokai Middle, Baldwin High, and Kalama Intermediate schools, I’ve seen lives turned around, cycles of poverty broken, and new incredible opportunities created.
As the Maui County program manager for Paxen Huli Ke Alo About Face! Family of Programs, I’ve served with a team of approximately 10 instructors and support staff to provide work-readiness, academic and life skills training and education to more than 250 Maui and Molokai students each year.
Community Contributed
Column by Tutu and Me
Colors have a profound effect on our lives. They can bring about emotional responses that trigger sensory memories. Our language is full of colorful connotations. A green traffic signal means to go. Our bank balance can be in the black, meaning that we have a balance, or in the red meaning that we have no balance. We could be feeling blue because we lost our job. Colors symbolize countries, schools, families, cultures and causes.
Color preferences can begin for young children even before the age of one. Babies have been observed reaching for the same color block, book, toy or food item. Young children choose and can name their favorite color between the ages of two and four years.
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Molokai high school students and younger keiki found their inner-paniolo as they trotted and galloped across the red dirt at this weekend’s Hawaii High School Rodeo Association (HHSRA)’s first matchup, at Molokai Ranch Arena.
With cattle mooing in the background, a sunny day and a slight wind, it was a perfect combination for a competitive wrangling.
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“I remember when a lot of these kids would have to be walked around the barrels - now they are running around by themselves,” Jimmy said.
The next HHSRA rodeo will be March 26 and 27 at the Molokai Ranch Arena, beginning at 9 a.m.
Rodeo results will be posted at TheMolokaiDispatch.com this week, and be in next week’s Dispatch.
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Updated.
Bob Underwood is on a mission to change lives with a new afterschool music program. It incorporates a number of instruments, including the violin.
“I only do this because I love music,” said Bob Underwood, a first grade teacher at Kaunakakai Elementary School. Underwood is currently offering violin classes through the 21st Century program, and hopes to expand to trombone and trumpet classes soon.
He is joined by bandmate and friend, Rob Stephenson, president of Molokai Chamber of Commerce. Stephenson teaches saxophone, flute and clarinet at Kaunakakai Elementary; Underwood offers his violin classes at Kaunakakai, Kualapu`u, and Maunaloa Elementary. Between the two, there are around 40 students involved, ranging from kindergarteners to senior citizens.
Underwood has been playing bass guitar since his college days and now wants to pass the torch on to his students. He believes that music can further students in other subjects as well.
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For those who are interested in learning one or more of these instruments, contact Bob Underwood at Kaunakakai Elementary School 553-1730
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