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Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Students Name Monk Seal

Wednesday, August 4th, 2021

Students Name Monk Seal

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Molokai students got to name a Hawaiian monk seal born on Molokai during the pandemic. The one-year-old male seal was gifted his name, Kepuhinui, meaning “the great one of Kepuhi Beach,” during a haku inoa, or name weaving exercise, by almost 20 second grade Hawaiian language immersion students at Kualapu’u School.

Most young monk seals get identification tags attached to their hind flippers, but the seal, previously identified only with a fading bleach mark L4, finally got a culturally meaningful name in added to his identity in May.

The naming process used environmental, geographical, astronomical and cultural information particular to a specific seal to weave together a unique name, according to the Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR).…

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MAC Member Art Show

Wednesday, July 28th, 2021

MAC News Release

The 10th annual Molokai Arts Center (MAC) Member Show will be virtual again this year! It’s time to put the final touches on artwork created within the last three years (2019, 2020, 2021) for submission.

Artwork must be dropped off with an Entry Form at the MAC studio between Aug. 8-15. The Entry Form with drop-off instructions will be available on the website (or email molokaiartscenter@gmail.com) beginning Aug. 1. A maximum of three works may be submitted by current MAC members. Keiki Affiliates and MAC program school-age participants may also submit work for prizes.

Deadline for submission is Sunday, Aug.…

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Lead in Molokai School Faucets

Wednesday, July 28th, 2021

Lead in Molokai School Faucets

By Catherine Cluett Pacol

Water faucets and drinking fountains at schools around the state are being tested for lead content. So far, a faucet at Kilohana School has topped the charts for the highest lead content found in Maui County. Water sources with lead content detected higher than the project action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb) are no longer being used while monitoring continues.

About four percent of the water samples collected so far from faucets and drinking fountains at selected Hawaii public schools and child care facilities show elevated concentrations of lead.

The project, launched in February, is a joint effort between the Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Human Services (DHS).…

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Coffee Leaf Rust Found on Molokai

Wednesday, July 28th, 2021

Coffee Leaf Rust Found on Molokai

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

A pathogen devastating for coffee plants has been confirmed on Molokai among wild coffee plants. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) detected coffee leaf rust (CLR) on June 14 during a survey of feral coffee in Kaunakakai. Further surveys detected more CLR on the east side of the island. The disease is now found on all major Hawaiian Islands.

CLR is a devastating coffee pathogen first discovered in Sri Lanka in 1869. It can cause severe defoliation of coffee plants, and both the leaf and berry growth can be affected and greatly reduced. Long-term impacts of CLR includes severe dieback, with crop losses ranging from 30 to 80 percent, according to HDOA.…

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More Art Classes Coming

Wednesday, July 21st, 2021

More Art Classes Coming

MAC News Release

Molokai Arts Center’s Saturday Youth Arts Classes have been growing and with limited space due to current safety protocols, we are adding special weekday classes!

Prior weekly sign up is required. No walk-ins due to safety protocols. Email molokaiartscenter@gmail.com for sign up instructions along with current safety protocols.

Cost is $10/class or $25 Youth Loyalty Card (good for five classes; one punch per use by individual or family). Annual Family Members ($75/year) receive a 20 percent discount. Annual Friend Members also receive a 20 percent discount on adult classes. Payment can be made on molokaiartscenter.org or in person before class starts.…

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Free Meals for All Public School Students

Wednesday, July 21st, 2021

DOE News Release

All students at Molokai public schools are among Hawaii’s 257 public schools that will receive free breakfast and lunch meals for the entirety of the 2021-22 school year, thanks to a nationwide waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The waiver aims to minimize the possible spread of COVID-19 at schools across the country by eliminating meal payment transactions in school cafeterias, settings where students and cashiers may not be able to maintain proper social distancing. Federal funds will reimburse state education departments for meal costs.

“This has been a challenging time for our ʻohana, and I am proud to continue our safety net support through actions that improve food security for our students while providing economic relief for our families,” Superintendent Dr.…

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Molokai Wins at Makawao Rodeo

Wednesday, July 14th, 2021

Molokai Wins at Makawao Rodeo

By Rick Schonely and Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai paniolo came home well-decorated from the 4th of July Makawao Stampede rodeo on Maui. Sale Sproat was named the weekend’s coveted All Around Cowboy after a series of wins in various events, Kahiwa Augustiro placed third in bull riding and third in steer wrestling, while his brother Chevy Augustiro earned second place in steer wrestling, Sproat’s daughter, Bailey Sproat, won the second heat of steer undecorating, and Lane Kamakana competed as well.

After spending the first few days of the rodeo in roping events, Sunday brought five events for Sale Sproat. He won his first event of the day, Po’o Wai U, and gained a personal best of 17.26 seconds, before moving on to Ranch Bronc Riding, winning the event with an eight-second ride.…

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Kualapu’u School Gets $20K for Science Ed

Wednesday, June 30th, 2021

Kualapu’u School News Release

Kualapu’u Public Charter School received a grant for $20,000 from Bayer Fund, which will be used to continue our science education program in Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, and Life Science. The grant will also support island-based field trips so students will learn these science concepts in action and in their own community.

Principal Lydia Trinidad reports, “Our students love field trips and we are excited we can continue our science instruction outside the walls of the classroom,” said Principal Lydia Trinidad. “This year, especially after COVID-19 restrictions, we want to take our students outside! This is our fourth year of receiving support from Bayer and we have all the curriculum to implement our science program.…

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International Student Seeks Host Family

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2021

Johnson Harris, a 16-year-old from Liberia, is coming to Molokai as part of an International Student Exchange program. The International Hospitality Center (IHC) in Honolulu is looking for a host family willing to house this student for the coming school year. Given his background and interests, the IHC believes Johnson would adjust well to life on Molokai and make a contribution to the community.

In his home, Johnson lives with his parents, two brothers and two sisters. His daily home responsibilities include cooking, washing, and gathering fresh water for the family. His dream is to study agriculture.

He is part of the debate team at his high school, and enjoys playing soccer.…

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Raguindin Awarded $3K Scholarship

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2021

Takitani Foundation News Release

The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc. (Takitani Foundation) has awarded 10 high school seniors from Maui, Molokai and Lanai scholarship awards in its annual Legacy Scholarship Program. Baldwin High School senior Donna Kim was selected as Maui District’s Finalist, winning a $5,000 scholarship.

There were 61 recipients, one from each qualifying public and independent school in the state, who received scholarships based on academic achievement, community service and financial need. In total, the Foundation awarded $225,000 to students throughout the state in its Legacy Scholarship Program this year.

From Molokai High School, senior Reese Raguindin, daughter of Panciano and Erin Raguindin, received a $3,000 scholarship and will attend Pacific University in Oregon this fall.…

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