Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

A Diverse Class of 2021

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

A Diverse Class of 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

In addition to Molokai High, two other on-island high schools celebrated the graduation of members of the Class of 2021 this year. Ho’omana Hou High School, graduated seven seniors this year, pictured here.

Aka’ula School celebrated four graduates.

Aka’ula School students spent the first half of this year with staggered in-person and virtual classes at their Kualapu’u campus, said Vicki Newberry. In January, the school, which encompasses grades five through 12, went back to full in-person learning.

“Because of the COVID pandemic, you were asked to grow up a little faster than usual and you were asked to make sacrifices in the senior year that you have been looking forward to for a very long time,” Dara Lukonen told this year’s graduates at their commencement.…

2 MHS Seniors Receive Memorial Scholarship

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

FMHMSF News Release

Two Molokai High School graduates have been awarded $2,000 each, a laptop and a Da Kine backpack by the Kukui Malamalama Scholarship program in memory of Kekuhaupio Likua. The scholarship award is administered by the Friends of Molokai High and Middle Schools Foundation (FMHMSF). The Kukui Malamalama Scholarships are funded by local residents that are interested in seeing more of our students continue their education after high school.

This year’s recipients are Ashawna-Leah Bicoy and Hulu Kekahuna Ah Van.

Ashawna-Leah plans to attend Arizona State University and major in social work.

Hulu Ah Van will be attending Bethany College in Kansas majoring in athletic training.…

Summer Meals for Youth

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Do you have children and want to take advantage of free meals over the summer? Do you have a student who relies on school meals to stay fed? Even though school is out of session for the summer, free grab and go meals will be available at four school locations across the island, for all Molokai youth aged 1 to 18, regardless of school enrollment status.

The meals will be provided by Kualapu’u School from June 7 to July 16. Meal pick up sites and times are Kilohana Elementary School between 11:45 and 12 noon, Kaunakakai Elementary School between 11:15 and 11:45 a.m.,…

Mallory Go Awarded Top Scholarship

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

Mallory Go Awarded Top Scholarship

HLTA News Release

Two Maui County seniors were recently named the top statewide Scholars in the Citizen-Scholars award program through the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association (HLTA) while another was named the top scholar for Maui County. Mallory H. Go of Molokai High School, who was selected as the top female scholar, will attend Brown University in the fall where she intends to study Public Health and Japanese.

Hana High and Intermediate School’s Owali Moea‘i was chosen as the top male scholar and will attend Brigham Young University – Hawaii where he will major in Computer Science and Hawaiian Language. King Kekaulike High School Senior Aleth Sabugo was announced as the top scholar for Maui County and will attend the University of Hawaii – Maui.…

Go for the Green Scholarships

Wednesday, May 26th, 2021

Go for the Green Scholarships

Rotary Club News Release

The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset announces the recipients of the two “Go for the Green” $2,500 scholarships. These scholarships are being offered to the selected students who will be attending an accredited college and must be pursuing a field of study that will benefit the environment. Reese Raguindin from Molokai High School and Manuel Kupa`a Castro from Lahainaluna High School were the recipients of the 2021 Go for the Green scholarships.

Raguindin will be attending Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. She will be majoring in education. She earned a 4.167 grade point average while being a leader in student government and various organizations at Molokai High.…

MHS Class of 2021: A Year of Challenges and Firsts

Wednesday, May 26th, 2021

MHS Class of 2021: A Year of Challenges and Firsts

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

It was the first time a Molokai High School commencement ceremony was held on the football field. The first class to graduate after a full year under pandemic conditions. And graduation represented the first time the class had officially been together all year.

Last Saturday’s graduation ceremony for the school’s 66 seniors was like no other. Though Farmer pride shone through, it was somewhat muted by the strict protocols of a COVID-19 ceremony. Graduates waited for the ceremony to begin in their cars in the parking lot, accompanied by only two attending family members. In a carefully orchestrated and secured process, they entered the football field one by one, sanitizing hands as they walked through the gate, and sat down to face their family members on chairs spaced six feet apart.…

Intern with Sen. Schatz

Wednesday, May 19th, 2021

Intern with Sen. Schatz

Sen. Brian Schatz News Release

Applications for U.S. Senator Brian Schatz’s 2021–22 High School Internship Program are now being accepted. The statewide program provides a hands-on learning opportunity about the U.S. Senate and encourages students to be leaders and advocates in their schools and communities. Molokai High School’s Ashawna-Leigh Bicoy is among the outgoing interns from the 2020-2021 program.

“This year’s interns were obviously very impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of being discouraged, they used this moment to advocate for better communication with their communities, increased physical and mental health resources, and expanded educational opportunities for students. I thank them for all of the great work they did this year,” said Sen.…

PALS Keiki Kare Summer Program

Wednesday, May 19th, 2021

County of Maui News Release

Online registration for the 2021 PALS Keiki Kare Summer Program on Molokai, Maui and Lanai will be open from May 16 to May 22, the Department of Parks and Recreation announced.

The program will provide working families with essential summertime child care and help strengthen family and community connections.

The program is open to children 5 to 12 years old. Program registration must be completed online only between Sunday, May 16 and Saturday, May 22. This will be the only registration period for PALS Summer Keiki Kare sessions on Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

The PALS Keiki Kare Program will begin Monday, June 14, and continue through Friday, July 23.…

MHS Graduation Ceremony

Wednesday, May 19th, 2021

MHS News Release

The Molokai High School Class of 2021 will be honored through a closed graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 22 at 4 pm. Commencement will be a hybrid of traditional ceremony on the Molokai High Football Field with in-person commencement for graduates and only two guests/family. The commencement program will also be live-streamed for family/community. The inclement weather alternative will be a drive-thru ceremony with graduates only on campus and guests/family will be in the car.

Unfortunately, the proceedings will only be open to graduates and their families. The community is invited to join our virtual commencement online on Akaku Molokaiʻs Facebook Page.…

Molokai COVID Cluster Continues to Grow

Wednesday, May 19th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

A cluster of more than a dozen COVID-19 cases on Molokai surfaced last week. The series of positive cases originated from Maui construction contractors who were working in a non-clinical, closed area of Molokai General Hospital and tested positive after their arrival, while working alongside Molokai workers.

“On Tuesday afternoon, MGH was notified that one of the contractors who had been on Molokai the previous week tested positive for COVID-19 on Maui,” said MGH President Janice Kalanihuia in a statement last Friday. “We immediately shut down the job and tested the12 people who were on-site at that time.…