Island Youth

Molokai Students Visit Pearl Harbor

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

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

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.…

Grand Champions

Thursday, December 6th, 2012

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. …

Scoring Green Hair

Sunday, December 2nd, 2012

Molokai High School (MHS) Principal Stan Hao may have looked like his usual self when he showed up for school last Thursday morning, but by lunchtime, he was sporting a flashy new look –spiky, green hair. At the start of last school year, Hao promised MHS students that if they reached Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards, he would dye his hair green for the day in front of the entire school. Though MHS did not technically meet AYP standards due to a shortfall in graduation rates, their double digit gains in both the math and reading portions of the Hawaii State Assessment (HSA) last year were noteworthy.…

Middle School Most Improved in the State

Sunday, December 2nd, 2012

With great achievement comes great reward, and Molokai Middle School (MMS) students have certainly earned both. They were recently recognized by the Department of Education (DOE) as the most improved school in the state. Not only did they make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards for the first time since they separated from the high school eight years ago, but they made significant, double-digit improvements in both reading and math.

“It is my privilege to come here because you are the best performing school in the entire state of Hawaii,” said the Board of Education Chairman Don Horner at an academic achievement celebration assembly held at the school last Thursday.…