Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Monsanto Hawaii Offers Two Scholarships

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

Monsanto Hawaii Offers Two Scholarships

Monsanto Hawaii News Release


Applications are now being accepted for Monsanto Hawaii’s two scholarship programs – the Monsanto Hawaii Life Sciences Scholarship and the Monsanto Hawaii Agricultural Scholarship.

High school seniors interested in a life sciences degree are invited to apply for the Monsanto Hawaii Life Sciences Scholarship. As many as 10 scholarships of $1,000 each will be awarded in 2013. This scholarship is open to graduating seniors of all high schools in Hawaii who will be attending an accredited college or university to pursue a discipline related to the life sciences (including agriculture, agronomy, biology, botany, genetics, horticulture, plant physiology, chemistry, crop science and soil science).…

Taking a stand against meth

Sunday, February 10th, 2013

Taking a stand against meth

Five girls from Ho`omana Hou High School saw first-hand how common meth was on Molokai, so they decided to take a stand. Partnering with the Hawaii Meth Project, they began a campaign to bring education and awareness to a community burdened by the dangerous drug. Ingesting Adderall through nasal administration may result in a range of short-term and long-term side effects, impacting both mental and physical well-being. For additional information, one can explore more info regarding these effects.

As part of their project, Makana Nahaku, Jayvelin Tabilangan, Tyliah Kaha`ulelio, Pomai Puailihau and Tati Pa`aluhi educated Molokai Middle School (MMS) students about the dangers of meth last Monday.…

Keiki Expo will be Big Fun for the Little Ones

Thursday, February 7th, 2013

Keiki Expo will be Big Fun for the Little Ones

The ninth annual Keiki Expo packed a lot of learning and entertainment into one morning at the Mitchell Pauole Center last Saturday.

Education and health was the driving force behind the Expo’s activities, but for the keiki, it was all fun and games. The “Diaper Dash” crawling contest had tots racing for the win, and Kala Juario got things moving with keiki Zumba. There was also a bouncing castle, giveaways and storytelling.

Event organizer Lori-Lei Rawlins-Crivello said the event shows parents of young children what programs on the island can help them and their kieki.

“Once the children get older, everything they do is part of the [school] system,” Rawlins-Crivello said.…

MHS Student Accepted into Harvard

Wednesday, February 6th, 2013

MHS Student Accepted into Harvard

 

Michael Kikukawa’s Ivy League dreams have come true.  With a list of colleges he had yet to apply for, the Molokai High School senior received an acceptance letter to Harvard this past December. The news opened a door for Kikukawa to prestigious school and proved to Molokai students that they too can find pathways to this kind of success.

“Anything worth doing is going to involve a struggle,” he said, noting the challenges he faced in pursuing his goal.

MHS Principal Stan Hao said Kikukawa’s successes exhibit what can be accomplished by setting a goal and working toward it.

“It shows that a great desire can be realized, even in a small rural community like ours,” he said.…

Sale Sproat on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’

Monday, February 4th, 2013

Sale Sproat on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’

Professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Sale Sproat is humble and shy by nature. But when the soft-spoken Molokai boy learned about a casting call for television show “The Ultimate Fighter,” he didn’t hesitate to answer it.

“Sale’s been dominating in Hawaii for three years,” said his Molokai coach, Beau Kikukawa. “He’s the top 185-pound fighter in Hawaii. That’s an accomplishment from a small community.”

Sproat was training at least six hours per day for fight on Oahu the following week when he shared his plans with fellow fighters of Molokai MMA club, Relentless MMA.

“I told my guys, I’m going to fly out [to Las Vegas] and try out,” he recalls.…

Lady Farmers Score MIL Title, Head to States

Sunday, February 3rd, 2013

Lady Farmers Score MIL Title, Head to States

As the overtime clock ticked down to its final seconds, Molokai High and Seabury Hall were tied for the tenth time and the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL)Girls Division II Championship was anybody’s game.

The Lady Farmers claimed the victory, though, with one solid shot and two successful free throws in the last 29 seconds, securing a 53-49 win. The Lady Farmers claimed the MIL Championship title and sent the fans and players into wild celebration, according to the Maui News’ report of the game, played at Maui High School’s gym. The win brought the Lady Farmers their tenth MIL championship since 1985, when the team first entered the league.…

First Book – Molokai Gives New Books

Friday, February 1st, 2013

First Book – Molokai Gives New Books

First Book – Molokai News Release

First Book – Molokai has awarded book grants to All God’s Children Preschool, Maunaloa Elementary School, Kaunakakai Elementary School fourth and fifth grade classes, the Kilohana    Reading Excel Program and Aka`ula School.  First Book Molokai provides an ongoing supply of new, high quality books to children to start their own home libraries they can share with their siblings and families.  They also receive bookplates on which to place their names celebrating the importance of book ownership.

The book grant we received from the Friends of Hawaii Charities has enabled our program to give enticing new books every month to each child that we serve.  …

Pulling for Peace: Ka Molokai Makahiki 2013

Thursday, January 31st, 2013

Pulling for Peace: Ka Molokai Makahiki 2013

 

Competitors from Kualapu`u and Kilohana Schools face off on opposite ends of the rope, and the crowd begins to roar as game official Hanohano Naehu announces the beginning of the match. With toes digging into the grass, students lean back on the line. On one side, Kualapu`u Principal Lydia Trinidad leans forward, her hands clenched, gesturing wildly to egg on her students. Kilohana Principal Richard Stevens paces the other end of the line, urging his crimson-clad athletes to hold tight. Smiles turn to grimaces, inching the ti leaf tied in the middle of the rope toward the victory line. With a final heave, Kualapu`u lunges for the win.…

Science Students Fair Well at Maui Competition

Sunday, January 27th, 2013

Science Students Fair Well at Maui Competition

Molokai science fair participants slept on mats in a Maui high school gym. They didn’t have their own labs to prepare their projects. They barely came up with the funds to go to the competition. However, they came home from last Thursday’s Maui Schools’ Science and Engineering Fair with many awards and recognitions, including a top honor.

Almost 30 students from Molokai Middle and High schools attended the event, and thirteen projects returned to the island with awards.

Sarah Jenkins, a 10th grader at Molokai High School (MHS), and her project “Artificial Nesting Structures for Hawaiian Coot Nesting Success,” earned the second place merit award.…

Ninth Annual Keiki Expo

Thursday, January 24th, 2013

Molokai Keiki Group News Release
Nine years ago, the first Molokai Keiki Expo was held, created by the Molokai Keiki Group (MKG). The event is like a “one stop shop” where families are encouraged to bring their child(ren) to engage in the many fun activities provided while parents have an opportunity to gather information, ask questions and access programs. This year’s Keiki Expo will be held on Feb. 9 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Mitchell Pauole Center.
The MKG was created in September 2004 by passionate community advocates as a grassroots effort to address the needs and gaps that exist on our island pertaining to early childhood and being pro-active in finding solutions.…