Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Molokai Robotics Tournament a Success

Friday, June 5th, 2015

Molokai Robotics Tournament a Success

Molokai Robotics Tournament a Success

MMS News Release

The 2015 STEM Day at Molokai Middle School (MMS) featured Molokai’s first ever island-wide Robotics tournament.   VEX IQ teams from Maunaloa Elementary, Kualapu`u Elementary and Kilohana Elementary were pitted against each other in the Elementary Division, while MMS teams were matched for the Middle School Division.

Coming out on top for the Elementary Division were teamwork champions and brother-teams Mana`e Style and Beast from the East from Kilohana Elementary, followed by teamwork finalists R0adrunn3rs from Maunaloa Elementary and Comets from Kualapu`u Elementary.

At the top of the Middle School Division were Teamwork Champions Dirty Tires and Hanapa`a followed by teamwork finalists 434 Mini and Nite Machas.…

Graduates Ready to ‘Rise Above’

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015

Graduates Ready to ‘Rise Above’

 

Seated just past the scoreboard that ticked down the closing seconds at hundreds of home games, Molokai High School’s graduating class counted down their final moments as seniors at last Saturday’s graduation ceremony.

“Isn’t it crazy how fast time has flown by?” said Kristin Tancayo in her valedictory speech. “We entered those gym doors almost four years ago for our welcome assembly as freshmen, and here we are now, just about an hour away from walking out those same doors with our high school diplomas.”

With a crowd of supporters packed into The Barn proudly looking on, MHS administrators awarded diplomas to 75 students.…

Bully Free Unity Pledge

Thursday, May 28th, 2015

Bully Free Unity Pledge

FAB News Release

Our Families Against Bullying (FAB) Project Bully Free youth classes that took place March 25 through May 27 at the Molokai Youth Center (MYC) is asking support from our youths and community. We have a large unity pledge banner available at the MYC for everyone to come out and sign, to pledge their support against bullying. The goal is to get 100 signatures by Aug. 31 to untie together as a community to end bullying in our schools.

We are very excited and hope that you all will take the time to come out and support our children of Molokai.…

Molokai Wins Big at International Science Fair

Wednesday, May 27th, 2015

Molokai Wins Big at International Science Fair

 

At the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), an event that included around 1,700 students from more than 75 countries, five Molokai students spent hours being grilled by Ph.D. holders and Nobel Laureates. In a room full of geniuses, Molokai proved it is home to some of the world’s brightest young scientific minds.

In the Earth and Environmental Sciences category, Molokai High School senior Sarah Jenkins and sister Lily Jenkins, a sophomore, won first place and a $3,000 award. Their project, “March of the Molokai Mangrove,” charted the spread of mangrove along Molokai’s south shore and its potential impacts on the island.…

Coaches, Athletes Honored at Banquet

Wednesday, May 27th, 2015

Coaches, Athletes Honored at Banquet

 

Another sports season, full of buzzer beaters, towering touchdowns and sizzling spikes, has come to an end at Molokai High School. Last week at Molokai’s athletic banquet, the school celebrated the 187 student athletes and nearly 50 coaches who participated in 16 different sports this season.

Every athlete in attendance got a recognition certificate and a moment on stage in the banquet’s first-ever Parade of Athletes. Coaches, many of whom juggled other jobs off the field, were honored with lei and greeted by every athlete.

“Sports is everything,” said junior wrestler Cendall Manley. “… It’s more than just being involved, it’s the family aspect.…

Molokai CORAL News Release

Friday, May 22nd, 2015

Summer Education Opportunity

Still looking for something for your child to do this summer? Molokai CORAL offers a free summer program for grades Kindergarten through 12th that runs from June 9 to July 10. Molokai CORAL, which stands for Creating Opportunities for Rigorous Academic Learning, seeks to develop high quality education programs that increase the academic achievement and learning readiness in reading, science, technology, engineering, math, and improves student knowledge of Native Hawaiian culture and language. This program is possible through the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools funded by the United States Department of Education Native Hawaiian Education Act and sponsored by Aloha Productions,  LLC,  in  partnership with Molokai High School.…

Kualapu`u School Students Planting Seeds of Peace

Friday, May 22nd, 2015

Kualapu`u School Students Planting Seeds of Peace

Community Contributed

By Greta Martinez, Kualapu`u School Librarian

January and February are months that highlight the theme of peace for two reasons:

Makahiki Games and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  During this time, in the Kualapu`u School library, students in Kindergarten through sixth grade learn the art of writing peace poems. 

This year, all the poems were submitted to the statewide 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Poem Contest, organized by the International Peace Poem Project in Maui. In Maui County, 22 Kualapu`u School students were proud winners of first and second prizes and were invited by Mayor Alan Arakawa and his wife Anne Arakawa to receive their awards at the awards ceremony on Maui.…

The Secret Lives of Monk Seals

Thursday, May 21st, 2015

The Secret Lives of Monk Seals

A year and a half ago, scientists and community members wanting to learn more about endangered Hawaiian monk seals decided to try a new method of observation. Instead of continuing to speculate and make assumptions about the life and habits of monk seals – much of which happens under water – they decided to record it on video. Attaching satellite trackers and cameras known as “critter cams” to the backs of seals allows biologists, students and the public to gain insight into the largely obscured life of this endemic sea mammal.

Most people observe Hawaiian monk seals sleeping on the beach or feeding right off the shore, said Charles Littnan, lead scientist of NOAA’s Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program.…

Softball Seventh in State

Wednesday, May 20th, 2015

Softball Seventh in State

 

In the first game of last week’s state softball championships, Molokai sports fans had sinking feelings of déjà vu. For the third year in a row, the Lady Farmers faced Division II nemesis St. Francis. For the third year in a row, the Saints won. In the last two years after being defeated in the first game, Molokai lost a second to be eliminated from the tournament.

However, this year’s team wrote a different story. Despite falling 14-2 to St. Francis last Tuesday, the Lady Farmers turned around and beat Kalaheo 14-3 on Thursday and Konawaena 13-3 on Friday in the consolation bracket.…

7 Judoka Compete at States

Friday, May 15th, 2015

7 Judoka Compete at States

Molokai’s introductory course in judo is complete. The Farmers ended their first-ever judo season at last Saturday’s state competition, and while none of them took home a medal, the coaches were pleased to see how far their developing judoka, or judo students, have come.

“Considering that these guys just learned judo about two months ago, making it this far, winning some matches, getting to states, that’s real good pretty darn good,” said boys’ Head Coach Eli “Lihau” Maioho.

Three Molokai judoka were seeded within the top four in their weight classes going into the tournament. Senior Kaila`oe Cabanting (115) and junior Kui Han (285) went in ranked third, while freshman Ikua DePonte (145) went in fourth.…