Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Monsanto’s Science Education Fund

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Monsanto Fund News Release

Molokai High School was among 14 Hawaii public schools and educational organizations recently awarded more than $12,000 in grants from the Monsanto Hawaii Science Education Fund. The program was established by The Monsanto Fund to support science education in Hawaii’s public schools.

Funds went to support a variety of programs at the schools including robotics, renewable energy projects, a watershed service learning fieldtrip, composting project, and equipment and supplies for chemistry and science classes.

Monsanto’s grant program is available on the islands of Oahu, Maui and Molokai where Monsanto employees live and work. Public schools serving students in intermediate grades through college for educational purposes related to science are encouraged to apply for Monsanto Hawaii Science Education Fund grants.…

Excused or Unexcused is Not the Issue

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Community Contributed

By Laura Peterson, Molokai Resource Teacher

You may be hearing more about the importance of consistent attendance in school these days.  Attendance in school is critical for keeping up with academics that are increasingly rigorous.

Many schools are taking research-proven steps to reach out to students who are absent.  An example of this would be a short face-to-face conference with a student upon return.  Another would be an offer to help students catch up on missed work, or a peer-to-peer tutoring program where a buddy is assigned to help the student catch up.  A home visit by school personnel or the school social worker is important if the concern needs to be personally delivered to the home.…

Girls Basketball Enjoy Undefeated Season

Sunday, January 5th, 2014

Girls Basketball Enjoy Undefeated Season

With an undefeated Maui interscholastic League (MIL)Division II record this season, the Lady Farmers took to their home court last weekend, looking to add another win under their belts against Hana. Today, they sit at a record of 8-0 after their final scores of 46-11 Friday night and 37-22 on Saturday.

“They are the only [Division II] team in the MILs [this year] with that record,” said Hoku Haliniak, Molokai High School (MHS) Athletic Director.

Girls basketball coach Lee DeRouin said Molokai has a history of strong athletes and a good basketball program and praised the team’s defensive skill—getting turnovers, transition points and easy baskets.…

Boys Basketball: Molokai vs. Seabury

Sunday, January 5th, 2014

Boys Basketball: Molokai vs. Seabury

Molokai High School Sophomore Kaimana Kahale moves the ball down the court during the season opener of boys basketball last Friday night against Seabury. The Barn shook as the crowd roared and stamped with excitement during their first game of two last weekend.

The Farmers came close to take to take the lead, however Seabury pulled ahead at the final buzzer with a score of 59 to 51. High scorers of the night were sophomore Jordan Boswell making 8 points and senior David Rapanot sinking 23.

“We did well, but there are a lot of things we need to improve on…[like] passing,” said Molokai coach Carl Adolpho Jr.…

Keeping the Lead

Sunday, January 5th, 2014

Keeping the Lead

MHS Girls Paddle First in MIL Race

The Molokai girls varsity paddlers took their first Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) victory of the season last month. The crew  — consisted of Kelsie Tanabe-Espiritu, Heather Place, Oli’i Hernandez, Waipuna Paleka, Chelsea Pua’a and Hi’ilani Kanuha –who crossed the half-mile finish line at 4 minutes, 44.25 seconds. King Kekaulike placed a close second at 4:45.79 and Seabury third at 4:50.38.

“We’re standing a hair ahead everyone [in the league],” said coach Tania Kaholoa`a. “These girls have been together for a few years…now is their time.”

Molokai placed second in their first race of the season earlier in December at Ka Lae Pohaku.…

Gift of Dictionaries

Sunday, January 5th, 2014

Gift of Dictionaries

Community Contributed

By Alison Place

Rotary Clubs and other civic groups throughout the nation donate the funds to provide dictionaries to third graders in their respective cities. Aptly called The Dictionary Project, the goal of the program is to assist all students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers, and resourceful learners by providing them with their own personal dictionary, according to the project’s website.

More than 130 Molokai third graders were the recipients of this gift from the Kihei Rotary Club. You can check here for the best Personalized Gifts For Him and get custom gift ideas to make the recipients feel special.On…

Students Learn Computer Code

Monday, December 16th, 2013

MEDB News Release

STEMworks™ students across the state are learning to write computer code as part of a nationwide campaign embraced by President Obama and featuring free tutorials designed to get students interested in computer science. Molokai Middle and High schools are two of 13 schools participating statewide.

The Hour of Code is an initiative developed by Code.org to spark interest among young people across the U.S. and help address the increasing demand for computer programmers in many fields.

According to Code.org, the number of computer programming jobs is growing at a rate twice the national average of computer science students.…

UH Funds MHS Student’s Research

Monday, December 16th, 2013

UH Manoa News Release

The University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Engineering and its Hawaii Center for Advanced Communications (HCAC) are supporting a Molokai High School student in her efforts to protect Hawaiian wildlife.

Sarah Jenkins, a junior at Molokai High, has already received recognition for her strong commitment to protecting Hawaiian endangered birds.  She placed second overall at the 54th annual Maui Science and Engineering Fair and later won first place for best Senior Research Project in the Animal Science Category from the Hawaii Academy of Science.  Her successful work is focused on improving the reproduction environment of the Hawaiian Coot and involves creating artificial floating nesting structures in Pipio Pond in the Mapulehu area. …

Molokai Swim Meet

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Community Contributed

By Malcolm Cooper, Maui Dolphins coach

Over the past year, Maui/Molokai Dolphins with the support of Maui County Aquatics and Molokai Parks, have been building a swim team at Cooke Memorial Pool as part of the Maui Age Group Swim Association.  On Tuesday, Nov. 26, we were able to hold a scrimmage-like swim “meet” at Cooke Memorial Pool during our normal 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. practice time, hosting Aka`ula School.

Jess Ford of Molokai’s Dolphins and Vicky Newberry of Aka`ula have been looking forward to doing something like this for quite some time.  Thirty swimmers from Aka`ula and 13 swimmers from Maui Dolphins (MDSC’s high school age swimmers helped out at the meet) participated in 30 events.…

Molokai Science Fair

Monday, December 16th, 2013

Molokai Middle and High School students presented their work in science, technology, engineering and the environment last week at the island’s Science Fair. Winners from both divisions will be representing Molokai at the 55th Annual Maui District Science and Engineering Fair in February.

Molokai High School had 14 students participated in the local judging process. MHS winners going to the county competition are: Sarah Jenkins, grade 11 with “Hot Biology- Hawaiian Coot;” Lily Jenkins, grade 9, “Effects of non-native lettuce on removal in land at Puko`o Road;” Shellamarie Keahi and Kilo Ka`awa Gonzales, grade 12, “Bioremediation using Vetiver Grass;” Cendall Manley, grade 9, “Lending a helping hand;” Kea`aokahonua Davis, grade 10, “The Keirsey Temperaments: Type  Distribution of Teachers;” Giesha Nunez, grade 10, “Innocence to Adolescences: Drug Impulse Growth;” Erik Svetin, grade 9, “The Effect of an Additional Stitch on a Baseball’s Movement;” Dathan Decker-Lee Bicoy, grade 9, “Soak up the Sun;” Sabrina Curtis, grade 10, “Rooting For a Cleaner Environment: Vetiver Grass vs.…