Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Molokai Farmers Football vs Lanai Pine Lads

Wednesday, September 20th, 2023

Molokai Farmers Football vs Lanai Pine Lads

By Maria Angst, Community Reporter 

On Sept. 9, the Molokai Farmers Football Team, with Head Coach Mike Kahale, traveled to Lanai City for a matchup against the Pine Lads. 

The Molokai Farmers improved their record to 2-0 with a 35-6 win over the Pine Lads. Tonka Kalilikane and Keith Gloor-Suafoa each scored two touchdowns with the addition of Kestan Tamanaha also scoring a touchdown reception for the Farmers.  

Kalilikane had scoring runs of 77 and 72 yards while Gloor-Suafoa threw TD passes of 27 and 18 yards. Kobra Cariaga-Abafo, the starting quarterback for the Farmers, delivered the initial touchdown pass before unfortunately succumbing to an ankle injury.…

MHS WIN Writers Start to Rock and Roll

Wednesday, September 20th, 2023

Community Contributed

By Ric Ornellas 

At Molokai High School (MHS) the new WIN periods are pushing students beyond their comfort zones. WIN means What I Need and take place only Thursdays for 70 minutes and last one academic quarter, or 10 weeks. Throughout the year, each student will have four quarters, 4 WIN periods, to explore, question, research, and decide which skills they will need for their future. The idea for the new WIN periods came from Ka’u Elementary and High School on Hawaii Island when a group of MHS teachers visited last year. They saw how the WIN periods at Ka’u helped students focus on the daunting task of planning for post-high school life.…

MHS Kicks Off Fall Sports

Wednesday, August 30th, 2023

MHS Kicks Off Fall Sports

By Maria Angst, Community Reporter 

Molokai High School’s (MHS) Farmers inaugurated the 2023 fall season with a win as they defeated the Lanai Pinelasses in girls volleyball at the Barn this past weekend.

On Friday night, Aug. 25, MHS’s volleyball team took the victory in three sets over the Lanai Pinelasses, 25-20, 25-18, 25-15. 

Saturday morning, the rematch was held, with Molokai again taking the win in four sets, 3-1. The Lady Farmers advanced the score the first two sets with scores of 25-17 and 25-15. Lanai found their way in the third set 25-15, but the Farmers came right back, winning the last set of the game, 26-24.…

Beginning of the Year Meeting for MHS

Wednesday, August 30th, 2023

Community Contributed

By Ric Ornellas The Molokai High School (MHS) School Community Council (SCC) invites parents, families and the community to a Sept. 20 in-person meeting at 3:30 p.m. at the MHS library to learn what’s in store for students in the 2023-24 school year. All Hawaii public schools have SCCs which play a vital role informing school communities about developing public education, shared goals for all school stakeholders, and are a venue to express opinions, and funding. All are invited to attend in-person to learn and share about MHS students’ successful learning and achievement.

MHS Principal Katina Soares, PhD, motivated teachers and students with her “watch words” for the new school year. …

MHS Fall Sports Outlook

Wednesday, August 16th, 2023

By Maria Angst, Community Reporter 

The school year has begun and sports are back at Molokai High School, with football and volleyball already practicing at full speed this summer. This year will be filled with excitement, as fall sports will be offering sideline cheer, eight-man football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, and boys and girls air riflery this season. 

Kaimana Kahale, a coach from the football team, said he is looking forward to an exciting season even though they have graduated many seniors.

“Though we have lost 18 senior players, we are still thrilled about this team which has brought out new additional athletes,” he said. …

A Whale of an Opportunity

Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023

A Whale of an Opportunity

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

A life-sized inflatable humpback whale named Kamakai visited Molokai last weekend through NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The kohola, or humpback whale, offered keiki the opportunity to explore the species’ biology, along with participating in educational activities, marine arts and crafts and movie showings of “Humpback Whale.”…

Molokai Students Learn Cybersecurity

Wednesday, July 26th, 2023

Molokai Students Learn Cybersecurity

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter 

The email starts as something benign: an inquiry from a distant family member, a reminder to pay for your Amazon Prime subscription, a promo for a credit card. You click the link and it’s all over from there – you’ve been hacked. 

Kaunakakai School fifth grade teacher Kawika Gonzales is helping students across Molokai navigate this complicated digital landscape with a recent summer camp called the GenCyber Program. As the lead instructor for the state-wide program, Gonzales led 10 Molokai students ranging from fifth to 12th grade in a weeklong investigation into the strange, marvelous, dangerous, complicated world of the internet. …

Youth Theatre Program for Teenagers

Wednesday, June 28th, 2023

Youth Theatre Program for Teenagers

Community Contributed

By Mahina Segario

Hokulani Children’s Theatre of Molokai (CTOM) is proud to announce our new Senior Division for those 13 to 18 years of age who would like hands on performing art opportunities in all performing art genres beyond just acting. I am working as an intern at CTOM under the AluLike work program as a community youth coordinator. I am tasked with producing a youth empowerment performance and recruiting youth wanting to develop talent in all areas of performing arts.

Is comedy, singing, dancing or becoming a writer your passion? Would you like to be a make-up artist?…

Molokai Cousins Victorious at State Rodeo

Wednesday, June 21st, 2023

Molokai Cousins Victorious at State Rodeo

By Jack Kiyonaga, reporter 

Two Molokai youth were named state champions at the Hawaii High School State Rodeo. Cousins Kahiwa Augustiro, age 18, and Bailey Sproat, age 16, put on impressive displays of horsemanship and athleticism at the June 9 and 10 rodeo at the New Town and Country stables in Waimanalo, Oahu. 

Along with individual victories, the Molokai duo took home first place together in the team roping event. 

“It was like nothing else,” said Augustiro reflecting on the weekend’s accomplishments. In addition to the team roping title, Augustiro came away with victories in bareback bronco riding, steer wrestling, and bull riding.…

MHS Alumna a Star in Astronomy Research

Thursday, June 8th, 2023

MHS Alumna a Star in Astronomy Research

By Catherine Cluett Pactol, Editor

When she was a freshman at Molokai High School in 2017, Mallory Go set her sights on the stars and proposed astronomy research that would become groundbreaking. She captured the first look at magnetic fields within the iconic and beautiful Horsehead Nebula. Six years later, a paper she co-authored has been published in an astronomy journal.

“[A nebula is] a big cloud of dust and the Horsehead Nebula is a very cold cloud of dust,” explained Go.

At the time, not much research existed on the Horsehead Nebula, which has a district and identifiable shape as its name describes.…