Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Molokai Boxer to Enter National Competition

Thursday, January 24th, 2013

Molokai Boxer to Enter National Competition

Molokai Southside Boxing Club News Release

Three young boxers from Hawaii, including Hunter-Gabriel Manaba of Molokai, made the cross-country journey to the first-ever USA Boxing Junior World Team Open held in Reno, Nevada January 7 to 11. The event showcased many of the nation’s top 15 and16 year old boxers vying for the opportunity to represent the U.S. at the 2013 AIBA Junior Men’s World Championships.

Tournament action began with preliminary rounds on Monday, Jan. 7 and Tuesday, Jan. 8 at the Grand Sierra Resort & Spa with each session beginning at 6 p.m. nightly. Kauai native Kristopher Alcos did not advance to the quarterfinals which took place on Wednesday, Jan.…

Christmas Bicycles

Friday, January 11th, 2013

Christmas Bicycles

Community Contributed

By Bruddah Frank M. Lawelawe

For the past two years, Pastor Rick, Brother Kyle, my son Brandon and I have been blessed with the comfort of giving back to this community and the families of Molokai. We’ve helped those that are less fortunate during the Christmas season.

An anonymous donor from Maui donates about 40 brand new bikes every year, shipped over on the Maui Princess just days before Christmas. The bikes are distributed at Kaunakakai Baptist Church, and my job is to go out in the community in search of those who need a blessing. I try to find those who didn’t get the year before, just to make it fair.…

Strong Weekend for Basketball

Thursday, January 10th, 2013

Strong Weekend for Basketball

Photo by Rick Schonely, caption by Dispatch Staff

The Molokai High School Boys Basketball team swept Lanai last weekend in two home games played at Kaunakakai Gym. On Friday, the Farmers edged out the Pine Lads 62-53, with Hauoli Falealii scoring 22 points for Molokai, David Rapanot added 19 and Paka Adolpho had 16. On Saturday, the boys again beat Lanai 49-39. High scorers were Falealii with 25 points and Adolpho with 10. The boys will be playing against St. Anthony at home this weekend.

The Molokai Girls Basketball team also had a strong weekend over the Pine Lasses in Lanai City.…

Special Olympics Basketball Takes Gold

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

The Molokai Special Olympics basketball team is on a roll bringing home the gold, taking the championship on Oahu for the past seven years, according to Molokai Special Olympics Coordinator Rita Kalahiki. This year, though, they played with a mixed team of both veteran and less experienced players — and still won gold last weekend at the annual statewide Holiday Classic.

“The team was too good, no one would play against them,” said Kalahiki of the basketball team’s success streak. So in order for the competition to agree to play against Molokai this year, Kalahiki said she had to mix up the island’s three teams of different levels — A, B and C teams — to form two new A teams.…

Molokai Students Visit Pearl Harbor

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

Molokai Students Visit Pearl Harbor

Community Contributed

By David Tomiyama, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility Public Affairs

A Molokai Middle School student robotics team saw science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in real world applications while touring Hawaii’s largest industrial employer, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Nov. 30. The students descended into an underground space with pumps capable of emptying a 53 million gallon dry dock. They also toured USS Hawaii, one of the U.S. Navy’s most technologically advanced ships, a Virginia-class fast attack submarine.

“It was one of the best experiences of my life,” said seventh-grader Noah Keanini.

The students were on Oahu to compete in a First Lego League robotics competition.…

Building Bridges

Monday, December 10th, 2012

Building BridgesTeams from Molokai Middle School win Maui County bridge competition

The girls at Molokai Middle School (MMS) are breaking all preconceived notions that boys are better at math and science. Last week, two all-girl teams from Molokai –the Red X and the Smurfettes –won first and third place in the Maui Economic and Development Board (MEDB’s) annual popsicle stick bridge competition, which tests students’ engineering skills. Five teams from around the county competed in this year’s competition, now in its fourth year.

Molokai’s team “Red X,” with Sarai Galam, Gabrielle Aquino and Paula Maroto, won first place. Their popsicle stick bridge withstood 85 pounds, over 50 pounds more than second place, a team from Maui, which held about 30 pounds.…

Ku Ka Lau Lama 2012

Monday, December 10th, 2012

Ku Ka Lau Lama 2012

Under the spreading branches of the banyan tree at the Molokai Community Health Center, Aka`ula School parents and supporters enjoyed a prime rib dinner during the school’s annual Ku Ka Lau Lama fundraiser. The event raises money needed for purchasing school supplies and equipment, as well as funding the financial aid program for Aka`ula students. One of several annual fundraisers for the school, it also featured a large collection of silent auction items and the opportunity for guests to donate school supplies to the giving tree.

“It’s a challenge for nonprofits and schools across the board, so we’re extremely grateful that the community is willing to help support educational choice,” said Victoria Newberry, one of the founding teachers.…

MHS Athletes Ready for Winter Season

Sunday, December 9th, 2012

As the holiday season nears, most students are getting ready for winter break, but athletes at Molokai High School (MHS) have been busy preparing for their upcoming season. Swimming, Wrestling, Girls’ Canoe Paddling, Girls’ Basketball and Boys’ basketball have all been training hard in hopes of making it to the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) championships this year.

Swimming

Water sports are a large part of the lifestyle on Molokai, so naturally the Friendly Isle has produced some of the state’s top swimmers, including state-record holder Ilia Reyes, whose time for the 50 meter freestyle qualified him for the Olympic trials last year.…

National Recycle Day at Kilohana

Thursday, December 6th, 2012

National Recycle Day at Kilohana

Community Contributed

By Val Hart

To celebrate National Recycle Day on Nov. 15, the Kindergarten and fourth grade students of Kilohana Elementary School presented visual, verbal, and written displays concerning changes humans have made on the world. To support environmental education in the schools and in the community, we are emphasizing the three Rs — Reuse, Reduce and Recycle – and practicing it in our daily lives. Also, by pledging to support positive environmental practices, we are gaining a better understanding about the connections existing between humans, our natural resources, and the natural environment.

Kaua Kaili, and Justice Luafalemana showed a display on erosion, including pictures of the hazardous conditions that develop on our roadways during heavy rains.…

Grand Champions

Thursday, December 6th, 2012

Grand Champions

The Molokai Middle School robotics team, the Molokai Golden Eyes, won the First Lego League state championship last Saturday at the Neil Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. Team members Noah Keanini, Erik Svetin, Caele Manley, Kaitlin DeRouin, Lily Jenkins, and Katy Domingo competed against 52 other teams from around the state, and became the first team not from Oahu to ever be named the grand champions. Coached by Kawika Gonzales and Jenn Whitted, the Molokai Golden Eyes will be representing Hawaii at the national competition held in the spring of next year. The team is pictured here with Sarah Tamayose, Hawaii First Lego League president, at right. …