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Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Maunaloa Receives $75,000 for Achievement

Wednesday, September 18th, 2013

Maunaloa Elementary School was one of 14 schools recognized last week by the Hawaii Department of Education (DOE). They were rewarded $75,000 for their high performance as part of the Strive HI standard implemented this year.

The Strive HI Performance strategy  is a new school accountability standard measuring student growth and success through math and reading assessment scores, science test scores, chronic absent rates, and the school’s effectiveness at narrowing achievement gaps. The DOE dispersed $1 million between schools placing in the top five percentile — with awards ranging from $20,000 to $90,000 — based on progress and performance. Maunaloa was the only school in Maui County to receive recognition.…

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MHS Athletics Struggle for Funding

Wednesday, September 11th, 2013

Molokai High School Athletics Department is struggling to keep afloat this year, lacking thousands of dollars needed for 196 students in the school’s 12 sports to participate in off-island games. Yet with a $40,000 budget shortfall for travel expenses, Athletic Director Hoku Haliniak is determined to keep Farmers sports programs intact.

“I refuse to cut away games,” said Haliniak. “There has to be a way — where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

To help raise money to save the program, Haliniak said Farmer faithful will be asked to pay an admissions fee to home games this year. Previously, admissions were charged to volleyball and basketball events, but baseball, softball and football will be added to the list this year.…

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Fall Sports Gear Up Continued

Wednesday, September 4th, 2013

Fall Sports Gear Up Continued

Steep hills and stiff competition is the theme for Molokai High School’s (MHS) cross country and air riflery teams, yet as another fall season arrives, they are keeping their eyes are on the prize.

Boys Cross Country

The boys cross country team was in the middle of the pack last year. According to 15-year head coach Gandharva “Mahina Hou” Ross, the farmers placed third in the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) championships and 44th out of 160 schools in the state championships.

This fall, the eight-man team is coming back with six returning runners and welcoming two freshmen.

“The returning group is all pretty much at the same level [as each other],” said Ross.…

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MHS Recognizes Student Success

Monday, September 2nd, 2013

Celebrating success is now a trend at Molokai High School (MHS). The students and staff filled the gym Thursday morning for the first recognition assembly of the 2013-14 school year. Recognition ceremonies were previously held occasionally throughout the year. Now, a monthly assembly will highlight student and faculty accomplishments to provide encouragement for academic and athletic excellence.

“It’s all about the support,” said MHS student activities coordinator Lisa Taka. “Each student should be recognized because it helps with their self-esteem and confidence and [the assemblies] show the school that’s it’s possible to attain and achieve goals.”

Maui County council member and MHS alumni Stacy Crivello presented awards to more than 40 students for excelling in statewide science and engineering competitions as well as last year’s Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) champions and all-star athletes.…

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Youth Water Activities

Monday, September 2nd, 2013

Youth in Motion News Release

Youth In Motion will be starting up on Monday, Sept. 9 with a 10-week program of activities. They include American Red Cross swimming and Stand Up Paddling.  The primary age group is 11 to 15 years old but 10 year olds may join if they can show commitment and are willing to listen and learn. Younger children and older youth/adults who choose to come or help for the Stand Up Paddling will be part of the Steward and Shepherd program and can still sign up. An adult must be present for anyone under 10 years old.…

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Healthy Eating for Keiki

Sunday, September 1st, 2013

Community Contributed

By Jon Mikami, RPh, and Kelly Go, RPh, Molokai Drugs, Inc.

Every week, you see another headline in the local and national news about the obesity epidemic in our keiki. One of the latest studies shows that obese children face not only long-term risks, but also more immediate ones. They’re more likely to have problems such as asthma, learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), and eating disorders, which might need an effective Eating Disorder Treatment Therapy to cure.

Yet keiki — and adults – are surrounded by advertising messages telling them to eat sugary, high-fat, often empty-calorie foods. It can feel like a chore to get kids to make healthier choices.…

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Back to School Brings Big Changes

Thursday, August 29th, 2013

Back to School Brings Big Changes

The school bell has rung, the 2013-14 school year is underway, and several changes are in effect for Molokai’s K-12.

Strive HI Scores

Last week, the state Department of Education (DOE) published school Strive HI scores, part of the new Strive HI Performance Strategy implemented this school year.

In May 2013, the DOE received federal approval to waive national No Child Left Behind (NCLB) criteria in order to better fit the needs of Hawaii schools.

The strategy holds schools accountable to achieve multiple standards to measure progress and college and career preparedness. It then places schools on a grading scale each year based on performance, achievement growth, graduation rate, and absences.…

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Fall Sports Gear Up

Wednesday, August 28th, 2013

Fall Sports Gear Up

The Molokai High School (MHS) Farmers are lacing up as fall sports return for another season. Record-breaking roster numbers, new competition, and more tournaments hosted on Molokai create high hopes and expectations for the green and white.

Girls Volleyball

Girls Volleyball is in full swing as they’ve just competed in their volleyball classic last weekend. According to Hoku Haliniak, MHS athletic director, This is the first tournament of its kind on Molokai.

Four teams from Oahu including Henry J. Kaiser High School, Waialua High School, and two teams from President Theodore Roosevelt High School gathered at The Barn Friday. Molokai finished the first day with a 4-4 record, which continued Saturday morning, according to Hoku Haliniak, MHS athletic director.…

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Molokai Girl Excels in Neuroscience

Thursday, August 22nd, 2013

Molokai Girl Excels in Neuroscience

Community Contributed

By Robin and Dano Gorsich

Molokai girl Makalele Gorsich graduated with honors from UH Hilo on May 11.  She earned a BA in Psychology and an Educational Certificate in Early Childhood Elementary Education.  In four years at the University she achieved a cumulative grade point average of 4.0.  In her Junior and Senior years she was named as a UH Presidential Scholar, the only member of her graduating class to receive this honor.  This May she received the Outstanding Psychology Student of the Year Award, the first time this award had been bestowed in a number of years.

Makalele is the daughter of Robin and Daniel Gorsich of Waialua Valley, Molokai. …

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Taking on the Big Blue

Thursday, August 15th, 2013

Taking on the Big Blue

Since Leahi Camacho, of Kona, Hawaii, was six years old, she said she and the water have been inseparable.

“For as long as I can remember, I have been a distance swimmer,” she said.

Now, the 17-year-old is attempting something not many have successfully accomplished: swimming the 26-mile Ka`iwi Channel between Molokai and Oahu. On Aug. 17 at 11 p.m., she plans to take her last steps on land for about 15 hours. Leaving from Hale O Lono, she will swim through the night for a planned landing the next day at Sandy Beach on Oahu. She hopes to become the youngest swimmer ever to swim the channel.…

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