Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Cop on Top Mahalo

Friday, September 11th, 2015

Cop on Top Mahalo

Community Contributed

Molokai new Area Director Josh Kamalo and I, along with Special Olympics Molokai athletes and volunteers, would to send out a big shout out and mahalo to our six awesome police officers who took to the scaffold in the hot sun. They called out their family and friends and anyone who would listen to them asking for donations to the Cop on Top fundraiser for Special Olympics Molokai.

This is the fourth year since bringing this event home to Molokai. Our athletes as young as 8 years old, family members and volunteers were walking throughout town shaking their bucket asking for donation.…

The Price of Play

Thursday, September 3rd, 2015

The Price of PlayNew fundraising campaign ‘Adopt-A-Team’ targets high cost of athlete travel

Molokai High School’s athletes are members of one of the most unique high school sports leagues in the country—encompassing three islands and miles of ocean between schools. With a limited budget, teams have to make some tough choices each season over which games to attend, since most are a flight or ferry ride away.

“For other schools to compete it’s a bus drive away, not across a channel,” said MHS Athletic Director DeRouin. “… When we try to get [non-league] teams to come here, they tell you it’s a cost issue.”…

Girls Volleyball Season Opener at The Barn

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2015

Girls Volleyball Season Opener at The Barn

The Molokai High School Girls’ Varsity volleyball team dropped their first two games of the season last weekend when they lost to the Hana Dragons on Friday night 3-0 (27-25,25-21,25-15) and on Saturday afternoon 3-0 (25-14,25-15,25-16).

“We have a young team this year but they played very well for their first games of the season,” said Head Coach Mahea Rawlins.

The Lady Farmers only have two seniors on the team this year. Kysha Kawano is a four-year letterman and Rawlins said, “she is doing well and she is very coachable and she leads by example and is a good team leader.”…

Farmers’ Season in Sight

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2015

Farmers’ Season in Sight

In a continuation of a two-part series, the Dispatch takes a look at the four sports kicking off this fall. Read Part 1 here.

Boys’ Air Riflery

With just four boys, Molokai barely meets the minimum number required to form a team.

“When you only have the minimum, if one shooter has an off day you’re stuck with that score,” said second-year boys’ head coach Daniel Imakyure, since the team can usually take the top four scores. “That presents the challenge.”

The Farmers are up for it. Returning shooters Jershon Kaalekahi, Joshaviah Cabreros and Cody Nip were all individual champions throughout the last season and led the Farmers to their first ever MIL boys’ title in the sport.…

Kualapu`u School Gets $15K

Friday, August 28th, 2015

Kualapu`u School News Release

Kualapu`u School has received a $15,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund to support teacher training and STEM curriculum development for the charter elementary school’s fourth grade students.

Project Kuka`ike (“knowledge bursting forth”) is Kualapu`u School’s STEM education program that serves students in grades K-6. Project Kuka`ike is designed to provide a robust, hands-on STEM education, with a focus on the environment and agriculture. It allows students to connect real-life observations and experiences to content and learning that significantly improves their achievement in science and math.

“Kualapu`u School has a four-year plan to strengthen and expand STEM teaching and learning for all students, and we are developing new standards-based, hands-on STEM curricula for each grade level, as well as professional development for our teachers,” said Lydia Trinidad, principal.…

Farmers First Look, Part 1

Wednesday, August 26th, 2015

Farmers First Look, Part 1

Last season was full of firsts for Molokai’s fall sports teams. Boys’ air riflery earned its first-ever Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) title. Girls’ volleyball hosted its first MIL championships. The cross country boys finished first in their division, while the football team competed in the league’s first eight-player title game. More experienced and just as hungry, Molokai athletes and coaches return for another exciting season. In a two-part series, the Dispatch takes a look at the four sports kicking off this fall. Read Part 2 here.

Football

Since eight-player football officially began in the MIL four years ago, Molokai has been one of the league’s top contenders.…

Solve a Mars Mystery

Wednesday, August 26th, 2015

Molokai Public Library News Release

Come and solve a mystery about a strange object found on Mars at a program at the Molokai Public Library on Wednesday, Aug. 26 from 6 to 7 p.m. We will use real data collected by Mars Rovers, amazing robots that send photographs to Earth. Using the practices of planetary scientists, we will investigate to find out if the object is a rock, a tool or a jelly donut?

You can also design a prototype for a new Mars Rover and decide what information it will gather about the Red Planet.

The program is provided by Alestra Menendez, a curriculum developer at the UC Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science.…

Child Abuse Prevention Scenarios

Friday, August 21st, 2015

Consuelo Foundation Molokai News Release

Though Molokai is a small community, we’re not immune from child abuse. Education is an important step in prevention. Parents, don’t be afraid to talk to your children about staying safe and healthy. Here are two scenarios that you can discuss with your children:

1) When Junior goes to the doctor, the doctor looks at all of his body parts to make sure he is not sick. The doctor checks his nose, his arms, his tummy, and his private parts. Is the doctor checking Junior’s private parts to keep him healthy? Yes or no?

The answer is yes, to keep Junior healthy.…

Students Show National Promise in Health Careers

Friday, August 21st, 2015

Students Show National Promise in Health Careers

Community Contributed

By John Van Ornum

At the end of June, the Molokai High School Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) club attended the National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California. HOSA is a student centered club that provides assistance, leadership opportunities and competitive venues to help prepare high school students for careers in healthcare.

Misty Parker was recognized on stage as she received the Barbara James Award for her service to the Molokai community. Luke Kikukawa earned a HOSA scholarship and was recognized with many other national recipients. Finally, Giesha Nunez served as a Hawaii HOSA state officer, helping to plan events and meetings for the national competition.…

Funding for Futures in Science

Thursday, August 20th, 2015

Monsanto Fund News Release

Monsanto Hawaii Science Education Fund awards grants to public schools serving students at the intermediate, high school and college grade levels on the islands of Oahu, Maui and Molokai. Applications are now being accepted. 

Established in 2005, the Fund helps provide Hawaii public schools with programs, tools, supplies and equipment to enhance science education in the schools, and encourage today’s students to consider a future career in the sciences. To date, the program has awarded more than $195,000 to public schools throughout the state.

Grant applications are accepted and reviewed twice a year.  The next application deadline is Oct.…