Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Bayer Scholarship and Grant Available

Wednesday, April 21st, 2021

Bayer Hawaii News Release

Applications are now being accepted for two education funding opportunities through Bayer, the 2021 Bayer Hawaii Life Sciences Scholarship and the Bayer Hawaii Science Education Fund.

The Bayer Hawaii Science Education Fund grant program is open to public schools serving students at the intermediate, high school and college grade levels on the islands of Oahu, Maui and Molokai.

Established in 2005, the Bayer Hawaii Science Education Fund helps provide Hawaii public schools with programs, tools, supplies and equipment to enhance science education in the schools, and encourages today’s students to consider a future career in the sciences.…

Molokai Robotics to Compete in World Championship

Wednesday, April 21st, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Despite many setbacks and navigating the obstacles presented by the pandemic, a Molokai robotics team has qualified for the VEX Robotics Remote World Championship and will compete virtually against hundreds of teams worldwide. Setting the bar high and proving that distance robotics is possible, the team has once again shown that Molokai is always up for a challenge.

The four students — eighth graders Maesilyn Yuen and Kalau’ihi Kaai, and seventh graders Genesis Nakihei and Mark Ragonton — coached by Edwin Mendija, learned and constructed their robots remotely, passing the robots between their families as they were developed.…

Free College Credit in Sustainability for HS Students

Friday, April 9th, 2021

PAAC News Release

This summer, 30 Hawaii public high school students have the opportunity to earn college credit for free through an online course focusing on sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Students will examine a broad spectrum of social, environmental, and economic concerns that all nations must confront in the face of issues such as climate change, hunger, and poverty. Special attention will be paid to how these issues impact Hawaii.

Molokai students are invited to apply, as this is a fully online course.

The course is offered by the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council (PAAC) and the College of Hawaiian Language (Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikolani and ʻImiloa Center) at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.…

Free MAC Classes Memorialize Two Artists

Friday, April 9th, 2021

MAC News Release

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) has been awarded grants from Maui County Office of Economic Development and Atherton Foundation. These grants, along with generous donations and recent fundraisers, allow Molokai’s only nonprofit arts education organization to offer three months (April, May, June) of free ceramic and mixed media arts classes for children, youth, adults, and seniors. The project, titled Panaʻi Aloha — Giving Back to Molokai, is the MAC’s way of celebrating its 10-year history and helping its island home cope with and revitalize during the ongoing pandemic. Panaʻi Aloha is dedicated to the memories of Eric Swenson and Felix Kehano, Jr.…

MHS Student Earns First Place in Health Care Conference

Thursday, April 1st, 2021

MHS HOSA Club News Release

Molokai High School student Mallory Go placed first in the Epidemiology event in State Leadership Conference as a member of the MHS HOSA Future Health Care Professionals club. This top-three finish gives her an opportunity to attend the HOSA International Leadership Conference this summer. In addition, Aaliah Cariaga presented her Prepared Speaking recording and finished in the Hawaii top 10 with seventh place.

These results prove yet again that Molokai students can successfully compete at the state and international levels. This year was particularly difficult given the virtual event status. Hawaii HOSA event organizers are hopeful that a successful national vaccine program coupled with continued protective individual behaviors will end this pandemic.…

Flag Football Starts for Middle School

Wednesday, March 17th, 2021

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter

Molokai Middle School is hosting a flag football season, creating an intra-school league to keep competitions safe.

This past February, the Maui Middle Schools Athletics Initiative, sponsored by the REACH Program, approved outdoor sports and Molokai Middle School is a participating member.

Coach Mike Kahale said instead of traveling to Maui to compete against other middle schools as they have done in the past, MMS launched the intra-school league.

“Normally, we would have just one team travel off-island to compete,” said Kahale, who is also the MHS head football coach. “Now we have four teams with over 40 student-athletes competing against one another here on Molokai.”…

Athletics Dept. Plans for Resumed Sports

Wednesday, March 17th, 2021

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter

Molokai High School athletics leadership is excited to be able to resume athletic workouts and practices with COVID-19 safety guidelines and protocols set forth by the Department of Education and Department of Health. Six sports can begin by the end of this month, with exact start dates to be announced.

“We highly encourage our spring sport student-athletes to update their current physical form and consent form during this time to be eligible to practice,” said Athletic Director Lee DeRouin. “Student athletes can pick up these forms at school during the day from [myself] or Athletic Trainer and at milsports.org…

Spring Sports Given OK to Practice

Wednesday, March 10th, 2021

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter

Athletic workouts for high school spring sports can begin on Monday, March 8, Maui Interscholastic League executive board president Jamie Yap confirmed last Thursday. The status of when and if competition can commence will be determined by the MIL athletic directors soon. Yap said he expects MIL executive director Joe Balangitao to convene a meeting of athletic directors soon.

Yap is very encouraged by the news. He said he feels it is crucial to get the spring sports onto the field in some sense because that season was the first to be canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic last March.…

New Roof and Bleachers Coming for Kaunakakai School

Thursday, February 18th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Kaunakakai School, along with other schools on island, will be getting improvements as part of the state’s Capital Improvements Project (CIP) funds. Last week, Gov. Ige released $750,000 for Kaunakakai Elementary to receive roof and gutter replacements for buildings B and D, along with construction of bleachers and School canopy installations.

Gov. Abercrombie said the funding will help schools and benefit Hawaii’s students by maintaining and upgrading school facilities. “These projects continue to fulfill our commitment to a new day for the people of Hawaii and stimulate the economy,” he said.

Last summer, state Legislature passed a $5.1 billion budget for CIPs, of which $533 million was allocated for Maui County.…

Punana Leo Preschool Enrollment Open

Friday, February 12th, 2021

Punana Leo Preschool Enrollment Open

Punana Leo News Release

Since implementing strict health and safety protocols at its preschool campuses statewide last summer, ‘Aha Punana Leo (‘APL) keiki (children) and kumu (teachers) have been able to return to the classroom, and continue to engage and thrive in safe learning honua (environments) with-out incidents of COVID-19 at any of its sites.

“With the support of our Ke‘ena Kamali‘i, Hui Makua Punana Leo o Molokai, and the County of Maui Early Childhood Resource Office, we’ve been able to provide our keiki and staff, a safe and clean learning/working environment,” said U‘i Ramos, Punana Leo o Molokai site director.…