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Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Molokai Case Increase Slows, Schools Prepare for 2nd Quarter

Wednesday, October 7th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai had one new COVID-19 case last week on Sept. 29, logging a total of 19 cases during the pandemic to date.

Molokai schools are on fall break this week but as the second quarter of the school year begins, some schools will continue face-to-face learning while others will stick with a virtual model.

Kilohana and Maunaloa Elementary schools will continue face-to-face learning into the second quarter. Kualapu’u School will resume with a mix of full day, half day and virtual instruction on Oct. 12 after break. Kaunakakai Elementary, Molokai High and Molokai Middle schools will begin second quarter with fully virtual learning.…

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Youth Photography and Puni Ke Ola

Wednesday, September 30th, 2020

Youth Photography and Puni Ke Ola

By Susana Helm, Jackie Ng-Osorio, Becka Adolpho – UH Manoa; Kanoelani Davis, Honeygirl English, Shaye Lauifi – Ahupuaʻa O Molokai

Puni Ke Ola (PiKO) uses photography to engage youth in learning more about how traditional Hawaiian beliefs and practices promote health and can eliminate substance use in their own lives, as well as among their families and communities. Led by Molokai Kumu Kanoelani Davis and University of Hawaii at Manoa professor Susana Helm since 2015, the photo strategy has been aligned with Hawaiian culture. In PiKO, haumana take pictures while they participate in culturally immersive huakaʻi.

This year due to the pandemic, huakaʻi will be conducted virtually until it is safe to go live again, so youth may take photos around their own homes and communities.…

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Mahalo for School Cooperation

Wednesday, September 30th, 2020

Kaunakakai Elementary School would like to give a big mahalo to all of our parents, guardians, grandparents, aunties and uncles for all their support in this distance learning situation. It’s awesome to see so many adults helping their keiki with online learning; logging into virtual meetings, helping students follow daily schedules, contacting teachers for tech support, picking up meals at our grab-n-go, bringing students into school for assessments, picking up supplies and learning packets, and much, much more. Our families are doing a tremendous job at home and we are so grateful for the level of involvement, commitment, and patience from our families in this ordeal.…

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Molokai School Meal Changes

Wednesday, September 16th, 2020

DOE News Release

This is an announcement about precautions being taken due to a positive COVID-19 case involving a Molokai High School employee. The affected employee was last on the Molokai High School campus on Friday, Sept. 4, and had minimal interaction with staff and no interaction with students. Any impacted areas were professionally cleaned and disinfected over the weekend.

The case had the potential to indirectly affect meal service at multiple campuses.

We extend a sincere mahalo to Rep. Lynn DeCoite for her kokua in securing an alternative provider for student meals during this temporary period. This will allow for uninterrupted grab-and-go meal service for our students.…

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11 Active Cases on Molokai

Wednesday, September 16th, 2020

11 Active Cases on Molokai

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Last week brought a significant increase in positive COVID-19 cases on Molokai, culminating in four cases being confirmed last Friday that brings the island’s case total to 13, as of Sunday. Two of those 13 were Molokai’s initial two positive cases back in April, while the island currently has 11 active cases, according to Mayor Michael Victorino, logged in August and September.

Rep. Lynn DeCoite called the situation “alarming,” though she said none of Molokai’s cases had required hospitalization as of last Friday.

“Travel has to do with some of them, incubation time has played a role in some of this, family-related also and it is starting to sprawl across the island from East to West, which is what is really alarming now for us,” DeCoite told KITV Friday.…

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Two More COVID Cases Last Week

Wednesday, September 9th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Two more Molokai residents tested positive for COVID-19 last week, bringing the island’s case total to six since the pandemic began. One of the cases was a county Dept. of Public Works employee, prompting testing of about 20 coworkers at the Molokai baseyard, all of which came back negative as of last Wednesday, according to Maui County. Retesting was done for about 10 employees as a precaution, with news of the results not released as of Sunday.

The Department of Public Works was notified of the employee’s positive test last Monday afternoon. That individual went into self-isolation at home and department ordered deep cleaning of the baseyard and vehicles last Tuesday morning, according to a county release.…

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Another Positive Case, Kualapu’u School Closed

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

A second recent COVID-19 case was confirmed last Saturday, bringing the island’s total to four since the pandemic began. Kualapu’u School is closed for five days as a result of a student being exposed.

It was unclear as of Sunday whether the new case was connected to last week’s positive case.

Lydia Trinidad, principal of Kualapu’u School, wrote in a letter to the school community Saturday that at that time, that no students or staff at the school had tested positive.

“In light of the specific information available to us and out of caution, Kualapu’u School campus will be closed for at least five days, beginning Sunday, Aug.…

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Reading Program Makes a Difference in Mana’e

Wednesday, August 26th, 2020

Reading Program Makes a Difference in Mana’e

By Marina Lafaele

During this pandemic, we can all agree that COVID-19 has taken a toll on our state, our community and mainly our keiki who are still adjusting to numerous changes. Some of those changes are hard to adjust to, but with help from a dedicated teacher and inspiring advocate, Cynthia Luafalemana, the best is yet to come.

Mrs. Luafalemana’s efforts align with the collaboration of Gary O. Galiher Foundation and Kilohana Elementary School to preserve the Kilohana Surf Reader Program. This innovative program has been dedicated to the Kilohana Elementary School pre-K to sixth grade students for over 20 years.…

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Pursuing Careers in Healthcare

Wednesday, August 26th, 2020

By Daylen Casino, former HOSA club president and student recruiter

“Through HOSA, I got connected with and trained by health professionals at the Molokai General Hospital, gained hours of health-related community service, met fellow health-pursuing students, and most surprisingly had fun while achieving all of this,” said Misty Parker, who graduated from Molokai High School in 2016 and spoke as a former member of the MHS HOSA – Future Health Professionals Club.

Established in 2005, the MHS HOSA has created opportunities for students who are interested in the health field, and for those who want to explore their career options. Students who are interested in health field can also look into  LAC Healthcare Solutions, a leading healthcare business solution firm.…

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Schools Back in Session, Amid Last Minute Changes

Wednesday, August 19th, 2020

Schools Back in Session, Amid Last Minute Changes

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Monday brought a return to school for some campuses on Molokai under various blended learning models, while two schools, Kaunakakai Elementary and Molokai High, announced over the weekend they will implement 100 percent virtual learning for the first several weeks.

Two weeks ago, the Dept. of Education announced Oahu schools would start the year with four weeks of distance learning, due to continued a rise in COVID-19 cases. Last week, a second announcement extended distance learning to all schools in the state, except those on Molokai and Hana.

“The decision to move ahead with Molokai’s reopening plans was community-driven,” said Nanea Kalani, a spokesperson for the DOE, explaining why Molokai schools were among the only in the state to return to campus on Aug.…

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