Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Students Set Sights on International Fair

Friday, February 27th, 2015

Students Set Sights on International Fair

At Molokai High, young scientists are doing groundbreaking studies to solve problems in their own backyards.

One group of students is turning invasive seaweed on the island into a profitable resource. Another is researching the destructive effect mangroves will have on Molokai’s coastline, finding that the trees have invaded over 60 percent of the island’s fishponds. These two projects won top honors at the Maui County Science Fair, and were chosen to represent Molokai and Maui County at the international level competition this spring.

“March of the Mangroves,” by Lily and Sarah Jenkins and “Investigating Agar Extraction” by MHS classmates Alexandria Simon, Amber Afelin and Kea`aokahonua Davis earned first and second place respectively at the county event on Feb.…

Return to Youth in Kalaupapa

Friday, February 27th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

They were waiting for me in the clearing at the foot of the Kalaupapa trail when I drove up in my Paddy Wagon. It had taken these young people and their adult adviser a casual hour and a half to hike from topside Molokai to Kalaupapa. It was obvious that this quintet of teens and their adviser, Mr. Edgar Alvarez, from St. Damien Parish in Kaunakakai were excited about their visit to our unique settlement, the land of Saints Damien and Marianne.

Shortly thereafter back at the parish house, I learned that a couple of the girls were members of the Farmers’ Basketball team who represented Molokai High School so honorably on the court in recent weeks.…

Stand Up World Tour at Turtle Bay

Friday, February 27th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Clare Seeger Mawae

The opening of the Stand Up World Tour for 2015 was the Turtle Bay Women’s Pro along with the Na Kama Kai Youth Challenge leading to the main event, the Sunset Pro at Sunset Beach. Alex Mawae from Molokai had the experience of his young life with challenging conditions, big surf and being around kids who just ripped in the surf. The World Tour has always had the Na Kama Kai events added in for young and upcoming paddlers to attend. This year at Turtle Bay, the youth outnumbered the women with 20 youth competitors.…

Preventing Child Sex Abuse

Friday, February 27th, 2015

Consuelo Foundation Molokai News Release

One out of four girls, and one out of five boys are sexually abused.  Research suggests primary prevention education can increase your child’s ability to self-protect, report, and seek help..

In partnership with the Hawaii Sexual Abuse Treatment Center (SATC), Consuelo Foundation’s Molokai Child Abuse Prevention Pathway (MCAPP) currently offers a series of lessons at a few Molokai schools on personal safety, respecting boundaries, recognizing unsafe situations and getting help.

Call us at 660-2619 for more information about primary prevention education for your child.…

Tournament Brings MIL’s Best to The Barn

Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

Tournament Brings MIL’s Best to The Barn

For the first time in school history, Molokai hosted the boys’ Division II basketball Maui Interscholastic League Championships from Feb. 18-20, and with it, came the Farmers’ final shot at the state championships. Five teams competed in The Barn, with Seabury Hall claiming the league title and a berth at states.

In the opening game on Feb. 18, Molokai kicked off the tournament with a resounding 58-48 win over Hana.

After being down for most of the first quarter against the Dragons, Molokai pulled ahead on sophomore guard Michael Sterner’s three three-pointers. All of the Farmers were shooting well, and Molokai led 28-21 at the half.…

Seabury Crowned MIL D-II Champs

Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

Seabury Crowned MIL D-II Champs

Seabury Hall won a sixth consecutive Maui Interscholastic League Division-II Boys Basketball championship last Friday, defeating Lanai 59-49 in the MIL tournament final at The Barn.

The Spartans (10-0) clinched the league’s lone berth to the D-II state tournament and won their 32nd straight MIL game.

Jaxson Stinger scored 27 points for Seabury, and Jordan Haylor added 10.

The Spartans led by just one point at halftime, 26-25. They outscored the Pine Lads 24-15 in the fourth quarter.

Kerl Manuel scored 16 points for Lanai (7-3), sinking four three-pointers. Ezekiel Bolo scored 15 points, and Markus Koep had 10.

“I have to give Lanai a lot of credit, they played hard for their coach and they played well as a group,” said Seabury Head Coach Scott Prather.…

Five Farmers Swim in State Preliminaries

Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

Despite not qualifying for the final round of the state championships, Molokai swimmers recorded their best relay times of the season in the state preliminaries, said Head Coach Jess Ford. Two weeks after medal-winning performances in the MIL championships, five Molokai swimmers competed in two team events at states last week Friday.

Sophomore Kahale Ramos, junior Keao Ross and seniors Luke Kikukawa and Michaiah Soares swam as a team in the 200-yard medley relay and came in 18th with a time of one minute and 54.64 seconds. Ross, Kikukawa, Soares and senior Tanner Mosher raced in the team 200-yard freestyle relay and came in 17th at 1:39.99.…

First Place for 3 Farmers

Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

In the MIL’s regular season finale last weekend, Molokai won three different divisions. Kui Han beat out Lahainaluna’s Connor Mowat for the 285-pound title, while Saydee Makaiwi (127) and Cendall Manley (145) emerged as Molokai’s girls’ champions.

The battle between Han and Mowat has raged all season. The two have traded titles in the four meets they’ve competed, and each has come out with two victories against the other.

This weekend the Farmers will compete in the MIL championships. While Molokai has performed comparatively well in the field this season, with the third most titles out of the nine competing schools, Head Coach Randy Manley said that many wrestlers are still young and gaining experience.…

Suicide Prevention Tip of the Month

Friday, February 20th, 2015

Community Contributed

By SPAM Youth

A person who is thinking of suicide may not ask for help, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want it. Most people don’t want to die, harm themselves or others, they just want to stop hurting! Remember the hardest step to take is to ask for help.  If you or someone you know is hurting themselves, go get help.

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

This message is brought to you by the Youth of Suicide Preventers Around Molokai (SPAM). We are a youth led group sponsored by Hawaii’s Caring Community Initiative under the Molokai Community Health Center.…

MEO Celebrates 50 Years

Friday, February 20th, 2015

Community Contributed

By Lyn McNeff, CEO, Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.

This year Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) celebrates 50 years of service to the people of Molokai and Maui County. MEO began in 1965 as nonprofit grass roots Community Action Agency chartered to fight poverty in Maui County.

For more than two generations MEO has been engaged in this effort through community advocacy and by providing needed services such as transportation, early childhood development, youth services, inmate reintegration back into the community, and micro loans and business development services to low-income entrepreneurs.

Continuing with efforts to expand upon our work in the community, on March 21, MEO will host our 50th anniversary fundraiser dinner “Dancing with Our Stars.”…