Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

New Book from Bayer

Wednesday, May 17th, 2023

Bayer HI News Release 

As part of its ongoing support for education and agriculture, Bayer Hawaii is sharing copies of its “Hawaii’s Farm to Table” activity book for children via online download and to various community groups, including several on the island of Molokai.

Created as an educational tool about the important role that farmers play in food production – from planting seeds and caring for crops to harvesting and delivering fresh products to their customers – this 36-page book is chock full of fun, creative activities that explore where some of our foods come from.

 In April, Bayer’s Molokai team gave away free copies of the book to MEO’s Head Start program, and to fourth graders at Kaunakakai Elementary School as part of the school’s Earth Day celebration.…

Concert on the Lawn

Wednesday, May 17th, 2023

MAC News Release 

A music performance by the Molokai Instrumental Music Education Program (MIME) will be held on Friday, May 19 at 6 p.m. on the lawn of the Molokai Public Library. Students from Kualapu’u and Kaunakakai elementary schools’ 21st Century program will perform introductory music as well as Shostakovich and Copland. This is a free event and all are welcome! 

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) is the fiscal sponsor for this program which is led by Bob Underwood. Underwood has graciously and with dedication taught music performance to Molokai’s keiki and adults for over 12 years. This program is offered free to elementary students during the school year and instruments are provided.…

Spring Sports Close Out the Season

Wednesday, May 10th, 2023

Spring Sports Close Out the Season

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter

The Maui Interscholastic League Division II champion Farmers Baseball team took on the state tournament last week. The Farmers were ultimately defeated by Damien, 7-2, and Konawaena, 9-2. The Farmers finished the year with a 13-4 record and their ninth consecutive MIL DII title. 

“Mahalo Molokai for all the love and support! Mahalo Mr. Schonely, Lee and faculty, parents for all the help this season, my ohana for getting my back and most importantly the boys that had to deal with me throughout the season, until next season,” said MHS Baseball Coach Keahi Rawlins in a Facebook post. …

A’o Aku; A’o Mai: What I Learn, I Teach

Wednesday, May 10th, 2023

A’o Aku; A’o Mai: What I Learn, I Teach

Community Contributed

By Sara Jane Larkin, Teacher

First graders at Kilohana School used the prompt, “This is not a day you have already had. It is a day that you dream to have. My very best day starts with…” to write about their best day. …

Fresh Veggies a Hit with Molokai Students

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

Fresh Veggies a Hit with Molokai Students

By Paul Hanley, Community Reporter

A small group of fifth and sixth grade students assemble outside the gate of the school garden in Maunaloa. They chant an oli written specifically for the ahupua’a of Kaluako’i. Their kumu, Wendy Espaniola, responds, inviting them to enter.

The students, each holding a clip board, scatter around the garden and sit down to begin their kilo. Taking their time, sitting in silence, they look up, down, and around and record their observations. They then assemble to share often subtle reflections, about cloud patterns, the color of the sea, the movement of insects, and the need to weed the garden.…

A’o Aku; A’o Mai: What I Learn, I Teach

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

A’o Aku; A’o Mai: What I Learn, I Teach

Community Contributed

By Sara Jane Larkin, Teacher

First graders at Kilohana are studying fresh water on Molokai. We are learning about where it comes from, where it goes and why it is so valuable — waiwai.  Our Project Based Learning goal is to have outdoor hand washing stations that reclaim the water used for handwashing to water our grass and our gardens.  We are calling our project the Waiwai Wai Project.…

Baseball and Volleyball MIL Champs

Wednesday, April 26th, 2023

Baseball and Volleyball MIL Champs

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter 

For the ninth straight year, the Farmers are Maui Interscholastic League Division II Champions in baseball. The decisive victory came Saturday, April 22 with a 11-2 win over Seabury. The Farmers will head to the state tournament to contend for the state title. After falling to Seabury 16-2 on Friday, the Farmers were faced with possible elimination from the state tournament and their first MIL D-II pennant loss since 2012. Ho’olei Arce pitched a complete game in the turnaround win. 

Boys’ Volleyball team completed its regular season in style with a win over Lani on Friday. The Farmers finished the season with a perfect 9-0 record and the MIL D-II title for the first time since 2018.…

Keiki and Teen Fests

Wednesday, April 19th, 2023

Keiki and Teen Fests

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter

The fifth annual Keiki Fest and second annual Teen Fest took place Saturday, April 15 at Mitchell Pauole Center. Hosted by the Molokai Community Action Team, both events featured free food, music, games and resources for hundreds of keiki and teens and their families. 

Tylor Tanaka, part of the Molokai Community Action Team, explained that the events fall in April to signify National Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness month. 

“This month we recognize the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. Sexual assault prevention services and supports developed by this collaboration can help to protect children and strengthen families,” explained the Molokai Community Action Team in a Facebook post. …

Molokai Youth Wins 2nd in Recycled Fashion Show

Wednesday, April 19th, 2023

Molokai Youth Wins 2nd in Recycled Fashion Show

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Eleven-year-old Molokai resident Rose Elder earned second place in a county-wide fashion show highlighting recycled materials. Her “Warrior Against Pollution” costume, made with marine debris she and her dad collected on Molokai beaches, won her high praise alongside adult first and third place winners from Maui in the annual Trashion Show presented by nonprofit Malama Maui Nui last weekend. 

Rose said she sketched her design based on the materials she found. 

“I wanted it to be a warrior who’s wearing pollution like a shield,” she explained. “We like to go to the beach a lot, me and my dad, and gather trash at Mo’omomi.…

STEM Support

Wednesday, April 19th, 2023

STEM Support

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter 

Molokai STEM programs received a boost last Friday thanks to the Molokai Island Foundation’s annual fundraiser. The concert and dinner event at the Molokai Community Health Center went to fund robotics programs at local schools through the Malama Education Fund. 

STEM, standing for science, technology, engineering and math, covers a wide range of educational programs on island. To know more of STEM education, you can check out Google’s Kamau Bobb.

One of the highlights of the event were the robotics displays put on by Kaunakakai and Maunaloa Schools, and Molokai Middle and High Schools. Lines of  crane-like machines operated with computer coding.…