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Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Molokai Metric and Rainbow Ride

Thursday, January 8th, 2015

Kualapu`u School News Release

Kualapu`u School invites all local cycling enthusiasts to come out and ride the Molokai Metric.  This first annual event features three course distances; 100K for the fanatical few, 60K for those who want to take on a challenge, and 25K for those who’d prefer a shorter spin.  All ride distances will begin at 7 a.m. from Hotel Molokai on Sunday, Jan. 18 (MLK weekend).  Ride courses will flow east along the Kamehameha Highway past Kamalo (the first turn around point) to Morris Point (the second turn around point) and then back to the Hotel.  From the Hotel, the 100K will make a second loop around Coffee’s of Hawaii and the Airport. …

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Molokai Boy Chosen for Samoa Bowl

Thursday, January 8th, 2015

Molokai Boy Chosen for Samoa Bowl

Thanks to his athletic talents, his heritage and more than 170 chicken katsu plates, local boy Ha`aloha Tanielu Aikala-Falealii became the first Farmer to represent Molokai football in American Samoa. Aikala-Falealii, a senior at Molokai High School, was selected to play for Team Hawaii in the Samoa Bowl, an annual game that pits Hawaii’s best Samoan football players against American Samoa’s all-stars. In the Samoa Bowl XII on Dec. 27, Team American Samoa won, 12-6.

Part Hawaiian and part Samoan, Aikala-Falealii was able to honor both of his cultures in the Bowl, said his father, Sepulona Aikala-Falealii. Sepulona, a police officer, grew up in American Samoa, a U.S.…

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STEM for Molokai Youth

Wednesday, December 24th, 2014

STEM for Molokai Youth

MEDB News Release

This year, Molokai’s students were among the thousands of youth empowered through science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills, thanks to the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB)’s Ke Alahele Education Fund. On Molokai, three programs received MEDB’s grant awards.

At Kaunakakai Elementary, funds went to support the school’s extracurricular robotics program, and a “weXplore” curriculum for fifth graders that promoted college and career readiness through a variety of inquiry-based STEM projects in the classroom.  At Molokai Middle School, funds were earmarked for the school’s robotics program that helped expose students to STEM opportunities and skills.

“MEDB’s grant funds are enabling local schools and organizations to create enriching STEM education programs,” said Ryan Churchill, MEDB Education Committee Chair.…

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Excellence in Spelling

Wednesday, December 24th, 2014

KES News Release

Throughout the month of November, students at Kaunakakai Elementary School (KES) prepared to take part in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Each student grades two through six was given a Scripps National Spelling Bee Study Guide with 100 spelling words to practice for their classroom Spelling Bees. The top two winners from each second through sixth grade classroom then advanced to our School Spelling Bee Championship that was held Tuesday, Nov. 25 in our school cafeteria.

Congratulations to the 22 Classroom Spelling Bee Champions who participated in our School competition: Grade 2: Daviano Ortiz, Kaye Marie Alvarez, Kaia Yamashita, Enzo Kansana; Grade 3: Aiko Kanemitsu, Katelynn Whitted, Kielyn Guzman, Navaehstiny Valdez Luafalemana-Kalauli; Grade 4: Sapphire Puaa-Mae, Lau Asuncion, Kealo Mahina, Meredith Go; Grade 5: KC Alvarez, Akone Manaba, Paige Fukuoka, Kristen Santiago; Grade 6: Dylan Coelho-Kelekolio, Kai`ina Afelin, Reese Raguindin, Kayla Clemens; Spelling Club Reps: Owen Svetin, Teruko Asano.…

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Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child

Wednesday, December 24th, 2014

KES News Release

On Friday, Dec. 12, Kaunakakai Elementary School (KES) held its annual Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child event.  This event is held on campus in the evening and is an opportunity for Kaunakakai School students to come and experience a night of fun and holiday cheer while their parents have free time to enjoy themselves and strengthen their relationships!

We had more than 115 children participate in the event this year where they made Recycled-Paper pencil holders to give as Christmas gifts to their parents, created Origami star Christmas decorations, decorated delicious holiday-themed cupcakes, ate dinner and watched a movie.…

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Molokai’s Miss Congeniality

Wednesday, December 24th, 2014

Molokai’s Miss Congeniality

This year’s Miss Hawaii Rodeo, Cheyanne Keliihoomalu, made history as the first contestant from Molokai to compete in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant earlier this month. She came home with what she called “an amazingly fun experience” and an award – being named Miss Congeniality, bringing with it a $1000 scholarship.

“It was a very tough week and so far out of my comfort zone,” wrote Keliihoomalu in a letter to the Dispatch. “However, it was an amazingly fun experience and I got to experience it with a phenomenal group of women from all over the country, who I can now call my friends.”…

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Ingenuity on Display in Holiday Expo

Thursday, December 18th, 2014

Ingenuity on Display in Holiday Expo

Trix cereal treats, ceramic fish and studies on legumes in soil—all of it came from the minds and hands of Molokai High students at the school’s Holiday Exhibition last Wednesday. A collaboration between the Fine Arts department and Career and Technical Education (CTE), the exhibition gave the public a glimpse of the projects students are creating to meet needs and solve real-life problems on Molokai.

As part of hypothetical businesses created in class, students offered samples of food, haircut services, jewelry and other products to potential customers passing through the exhibition in the school’s cafeteria. Aliana Eustaquio and Ida Pongmulee invented a business called Molokai Upcycling, taking used clothes and transforming them into newly designed jean shorts, skirts and bow ties.…

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Winter Sports Preview, Part 2

Thursday, December 18th, 2014

Winter Sports Preview, Part 2

Although the weather is turning colder, the Molokai winter sport athletes are just getting warmed up. With the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) winter season approaching, Molokai High’s teams are training to compete in basketball, paddling, swimming and wrestling. In the second of a two-part series, the Dispatch takes a look at these teams as they prepare to make their mark in the MIL.

Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball

The spotlight will be on Molokai basketball within the league this season. In February, the school will host the MIL Division II boys’ basketball tournament. Meanwhile, the girls will seek their third league title in a row and a place at the state championships.…

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Winter Sports Preview, Part 1

Wednesday, December 10th, 2014

Although the weather is turning colder, the Molokai winter sport athletes are just getting warmed up. With the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) winter season approaching, Molokai High’s teams are training to compete in basketball, paddling, swimming and wrestling. In a two-part series, the Dispatch takes a look at these teams as they prepare to make their mark in the MIL.

Wrestling

This season, the boys’ and girls’ teams have 19 wrestlers apiece. The girls’ roster is rife with experience, with 11 returning wrestlers, while the boys’ team welcomes a relatively young squad that includes seven returning wrestlers and six freshmen.

“The number of returning girls makes us strong ‘cause we’ve got some experience to work with,” said Coach Randy Manley, who added that this year’s squad is the biggest girls’ team he’s ever seen from the school.…

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Running the Rainbow

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014

Running the Rainbow

Covered in powdery colors of the rainbow, more than 300 participants of all ages laughed their way through the five-kilometer Turkey Rainbow Run/Walk at Kualapu`u School last Saturday morning. Participants of the first-ever Rainbow Run let out a cheer and filled the air with a palette of powders as the event kicked off, while a natural bow arched fittingly overhead.

“I’ve never seen this many people run a 5K race and be happy about it!” said Marshall Joy, a Kualapu`u School teacher. “It’s great to see all the smiles.”

Ty McComas, Registered Nurse at Na Pu`uwai, helped spearhead the event with the assistance of fellow Na Pu`uwai staff member Komela Horner.…

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