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Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Schonely Awarded for Sports Reporting

Monday, June 4th, 2018

Schonely Awarded for Sports Reporting

 

The Molokai Dispatch’s sports reporter Rick Schonely was awarded by Molokai High School for his collaboration efforts with the school and highlighting student athlete accomplishments. Schonely was among a handful of community members and organizations honored with the school’s No Ka Heke award at a luncheon last week.

“Molokai High School acknowledges the contributions and collaboration efforts of our community partners in conveying the school’s vision and mission,” reads the award. “This award is given to our community partners who exemplify ‘No Ka Heke’ spirit of being ‘Molokai Mo Better.'”

Schonely writes weekly sports stories in The Molokai Dispatch, films Sports Report videos on social media, and sometimes even accompanies teams to off-island sporting events.…

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Celebrating the Class of 2018

Wednesday, May 30th, 2018

Celebrating the Class of 2018

 

Nearly half of this year’s Class of 2018 graduated from Molokai High School with college credits under their belt. This and many other achievements were celebrated last Friday evening by the 85 graduating seniors along with their families, friends, teachers, community members and dignitaries.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard joined the celebration, offering words of wisdom in her opening address.

“The details of every step along your future path are actually less important than answering the one very important question, which is, ‘What is your ‘why?’ What is your purpose? What is your motivation?’ she told the seniors. “Understanding your own personal answer to that is critical.”…

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Sports Year Wraps Up with Banquet

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018

Sports Year Wraps Up with Banquet

 

The accomplishments of this year’s Molokai High School student athletes were honored by the Athletic Department at their annual Athletic Recognition Banquet last Wednesday night at the MHS Cafeteria. After a nice roast pork dinner, served by Mikes Catering, all our student athletes and coaches were recognized by Athletic Director Lee DeRouin and his staff. The evening started off with the Parade of Athletes, in which all classes were recognized and athletes were introduced.

In a separate event earlier last week on Maui, eight Molokai student athletes were honored among this year’s Sports Spotlight Student Athletes, a program sponsored by Alexander and Baldwin.…

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Keiki Fest with a Cause

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018

Keiki Fest with a Cause

 

Molokai’s first Keiki Fest brought a crowd to Mitchell Pauole Center last Saturday for games, food, educational booths and services. It also raised awareness for a special cause. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and organizers of the first annual event — who wore blue in honor of the nationally recognized month — said the festival’s goal is to both celebrate keiki and raise awareness of the cause.

“We’re trying to take away the negative [connotations of prevention] and bring the positive,” said Tylor Tanaka, one of 12 members of the Community Action Team that organized Keiki Fest.

Tanaka said the event drew even more attendance than expected and its success will help them plan for an even bigger event next year.…

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Kamehameha Schools Funds Aka`ula Scholarships

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018

Kamehameha Schools Funds Aka`ula Scholarships

 

A new agreement between Kamehameha Schools (KS) and Molokai’s Aka`ula School will allow more children to attend Aka`ula through financial assistance provided by KS. The agreement was signed last week and the scholarship, called Ho`okahi Ka `Ilau (“wield the paddles together”), will offer tuition assistance and other support for Molokai students demonstrating financial need to attend the small, independent school for students in grades five through 12.

“Today is going to be a game changer for our school,” said Dara Lukonen, Aka`ula School principal, in a KS press release last week. “This partnership with Kamehameha Schools is going to allow us to offer opportunities to students we have not been able to reach yet.”…

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Kaunakakai School Stage

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018

 

With a little luck, some good weather, and the help of volunteer community members, Kaunakakai School will have a new outdoor stage in time for its May Day celebration on May 11. The 800 square foot raised permanent stage area, constructed with concrete and sod, will serve as a platform for school and community events like May Day, promotion and other celebrations and activities.

School Principal Daniel Espaniola said the project has moved forward thanks to a generous donation of materials from the Kanemitsu family whose daughter, Aiko, is a sixth grader at the school.

“Last year, I asked my mom if we could have a permanent stage outside our school,” Aiko told Molokai Planning Commissioners last week.…

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UH Volleyball Comes to Molokai

Thursday, April 19th, 2018

UH Volleyball Comes to Molokai

 

The Molokai community got the opportunity to experience top notch volleyball at their doorstep last weekend, when the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Volleyball team came to the island. They held clinics for youth players on Friday, and invited to the public to a practice and intra-quad scrimmage at the Molokai High gym on Saturday.

Head Coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, a decorated three-time Olympic volleyball player from Oahu, attended UH herself before her Olympic career and previously served as assistant coach for the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team.

“It’s great that we get to bring our girls here to experience this different culture,” she said of Molokai.…

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Judo Continues Top Finishes

Thursday, April 19th, 2018

 

The judoka of the Molokai High School Boys and Girls Judo team had an excellent showing on Maui last weekend, with all traveling student athletes finishing the top five in their third MIL competition of the season. Coach Lihau Maioho has his team is progressing towards the MIL Championships on April 28. 

“Molokai came out strong in this meet with the entire traveling team placing,” he said. “It was a good opportunity for them to implement their techniques they been working on for the past weeks.”

For the girls, Reese Raguindin finished third in the 115-pound division; Cameron Kahalewai was first, Payton Kaalekahi was second and Alana Morris placed third at 129 pounds; Campbell Kaalekahi was second at 139 pounds; Kawena Davis was second and Roseline English was third at 154 pounds; and Malia Keanini placed first at 220 pounds.…

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Molokai High Wins FAFSA Challenge

Friday, April 13th, 2018

 

Molokai High School blew away the competition when it came to percentage of students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The statewide organization Hawaii P–20 Partnerships for Education held a Cash for College Challenge for FAFSA completion to help promote postsecondary education. Molokai High finished in first place with a whopping 73 percent of students in the senior class completing the funding application. FAFSA is a required step in applying for federal grants, loans or work-study opportunities, and helps students and families identify their financial aid eligibility.

Not only did Molokai High come in 23 points above the state average for FAFSA completion, it also saw the greatest increase in the state over applications last year — 14.5 percent.…

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Volleyball Gets Wins on Lanai

Thursday, April 5th, 2018

Volleyball Gets Wins on Lanai

 

The Boys Volleyball team got two big road wins on Lanai last weekend at Pedro Dela Cruz in Lani City. Molokai won in straight sets on both days and improved their record to 6-2. Friday’s score was 25-20, 25-22, and 25-12. Saturday’s score was 26-24, 25-12 and 25-13.

Head Coach Hale Domingo knows playing at Lanai is always tough.

“Lanai being at home was a challenge for us and we knew they were going to have the crowd behind them and the momentum on their side most of the night but we hung in there and stole what momentum we could and we finished strong,” he said.…

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