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Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Swinging into Spring Athletics

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014

Swinging into Spring Athletics

As the dust settles and winter sports begin to cool down, Molokai High School (MHS) spring athletics are just warming up, lacing up their spikes and practicing their swing for their pitches and putts.

Softball
The Lady Farmers are entering the spring season with hopes to not only match last year’s title as Division II Maui Interscholastic League Champions, but to also beat it by winning some games at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) state tournament this year, said Coach Coco Augustiro, in her 10th year with the program.

The team began conditioning and prepping for the season in January, while starting organized practice in February.…

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New MHS Athletic Trainer

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014

New MHS Athletic Trainer

Dalyann Barnett arrived on Molokai from Ohio on a Monday two weeks ago, and started work as Molokai High’s new athletic trainer the same day.

The school’s athletes have been without a trainer to ensure their health and safety during training and sporting events since last year. Before that, it had been two years since an athletic trainer had worked on campus. In situations like these, when injuries occur, it’s essential to consult specialists such as knee surgeons in Melbourne to ensure proper care and recovery.

“Dalyann is a gift from heaven,” said MHS Athletic Director Hoku Haliniak. “We now have someone on staff that will be able to assist our student-athletes and their injuries.”…

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School Absences Are Academic Losses

Friday, March 7th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Laura Peterson, Molokai Resource Teacher

The elementary schools and high school on Molokai have recently made revisions to their attendance policies.  This is for a good reason.  There is a clear correlation between, for example, missing school in Kindergarten and first grade, and mastering reading by the third grade.  Another correlation is that attendance in the ninth grade is directly related to successful graduation and post-secondary enrollment.

Illness is the first and foremost reason students can’t go to school.  It is important to keep them home when they are sick, but studies show that fewer than six percent of children miss more than 11 days due to illness.  …

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Local Lions Club Celebrates 75

Friday, March 7th, 2014

Molokai Lion Club News Release

Seventy-five years is a long time to be consistently active within a community. The Molokai Lions Club has achieved this status! On March 14-16, the Molokai Lions Club will celebrate 75 year of continuing public service to the community of Molokai.

The club invites all past Lion members to come and join the present members for one or both evenings of fun and fellowship at Home Pumehana. Both nights start at 5:30 p.m. There is a $10 charge for Friday night and a $15 charge for Saturday night’s banquet luau. Please contact Lion Jackie at 553-5006 if you plan to come.…

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Kualapu`u 5K Race #2 Results

Friday, March 7th, 2014

Kualapu`u School News Release

Dry road conditions prevailed this past Saturday, Feb. 22 for the second of six races in Kualapu`u School’s 5K Series.  After what seemed like an eternity of rain, the clouds parted, and runners were treated to a fast course along the Farrington Highway.   With the improved climactic conditions and an official-length course, more racers turned out and race times improved dramatically.

Elementary School Girls
1. Keahe Ross 25:33
2. Kapili’ula Naehu 31:12
3. Emmalee Duvauchelle 50:49

Elementary School Boys
1. Dylan Alavazo 24:46
2. Nico Wittenberg 28:47
3. Kahuhu Linker Meyers Moss 40:01

Open Women
1. Sue Forbes-Kikukawa 21:22
2.…

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A Legacy of Language

Sunday, March 2nd, 2014

A Legacy of Language

As a child, Kilia Purdy-Avelino remembers often listening to her grandfather carrying on effortless conversation with uncles and friends in `Olelo Hawaii, or the Hawaiian language. He was a manaleo, or grew up with Hawaiian as his first language, she said, and although he never passed down the gift to his family, it was always part of her life.

“He was my inspiration to get into Hawaiian language at all,” said Purdy-Avelino. “I made it my goal in life to learn the language and to be able to converse with him.”

However, only two years into her `olelo studies, her grandfather passed away, and in the course of earning her Masters degree in indigenous and culture education at University of Hawaii-Hilo, her goals included a larger mission.…

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Making History on the Mat

Sunday, March 2nd, 2014

Making History on the Mat

Molokai High senior Rizpah Torres-Umi is the first MHS wrestler to ever be named a four-time Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) champion. And she’s now ranked the number two 125-pound wrestler in the state this year.

“When I want something, I’ll go for it and I’ll get it,” she said, before competing in the state event on Friday and Saturday.

Molokai Lady Farmers had a strong team showing at states. Rizpah was accompanied to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Wrestling Championships by seven teammates – Karley Kaulili, Desiree Corpuz, Esther Torres-Umi, Alexandria Simon,
Saydee Makaiwi, Cendall Manley and Jasmyn Davis.

On the boys’ side, Iokepa Albino and Kuikamoku Han represented Molokai.…

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Salad Dressing Reunion

Friday, February 28th, 2014

Salad Dressing Reunion

Young Molokai entrepreneur Elijah Kaneshiro, now 20, created a recipe for salad dressing when he was eight. At 10, he went into commercial business, marketing his product at Outpost Natural Foods, Bamboo Pantry (now closed) and by special order.

That’s how part-time Molokai residents Donald and Joanna Sunshine know Elijah. Donald recounts their meeting in his book “Life’s Moments,” describing with humor how Joanna began talking with the 10-year-old, who he describes as personable, smart and articulate. Donald writes that he assumes Elijah has sold many bottles to such endeared and unsuspecting ladies. The story ends with Joanna buying three of Elijah’s $20 bottles of salad dressing, much to Donald’s adoring annoyance (he concludes by admitting the dressing is pretty good).…

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Lions Roar: Vision Screenings

Friday, February 28th, 2014

Lions Roar: Vision Screenings

Molokai Lions Club News Release

February was a big month for vision screening on Molokai. On Feb. 3-4, the Molokai Lions Club did their yearly school vision screening. Lion volunteers along with Doctors Karsten Lee and Carlys Higuchi from Maui Optix screened 395 children in four elementary schools and four preschools. Twelve children were found to have a possible problem and the school health aid will refer that finding to the parent.

This service has been going strong for many years and it’s been enhanced in the last several years with the help of the Maui doctors. Your support of the Lions Annual Walk for Sight helps the club defray the air cost for the doctors.…

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Winning Values from the Wrestling Mat

Thursday, February 27th, 2014

Though the Molokai Middle School wrestling program has only competed for two years, young athletes walked away with some big titles by the end of this season’s program. Rather than skill, Coach Benny Venenciano attributes their two, first-place tournament wins to passion and soul.

“When you have the will, the beauty of this sport is the balance of taking care of yourself physically and mentally, and doing your schoolwork,” said Venenciano. “At this developmental age, I wanted wrestling to be that sport for them.”

During the winter season, 19 athletes wrestled after school and about half had no prior wrestling experience, according to Venenciano.…

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