Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

Teachers Speak Out for a Fair Contract

Sunday, November 25th, 2012

Teachers Speak Out for a Fair Contract

Molokai teachers are joining public school educators around Hawaii to raise awareness for their efforts of negotiating a fair contract with the state. Since July 2011, teachers have been working under a contract imposed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie, which included wage cuts and higher healthcare premiums. The Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) union has been unsuccessfully trying to negotiate a contract with the state for the past year and a half, and teachers are frustrated with the lack of movement on a new labor agreement.

“We are trying to go through the proper protocols but the governor would prefer to mandate rather than negotiate,” said Tania Manaba-Will, the Kaunakakai Elementary School HSTA representative.…

Molokai Volleyball Player Earns Honors

Sunday, November 25th, 2012

Molokai Volleyball Player Earns Honors

Linfield College News Release

Linfield Volleyball’s top offensive weapon Kailana Ritte-Camara, a sophomore from Molokai, has been named to the 2012 All-Northwest Conference Volleyball Second Team. The honor was announced last week following a vote of the league’s coaches.

The sophomore outside hitter led the Wildcats with 2.73 kills per set, totaling 259 for the year. She ranked 11th in the conference in that category, while also adding 27 assists, 27 service aces, 298 digs and 27 total blocks.

Ritte-Camara registered double-digit kills 15 times during the 2012 season, including a season high of 17 against Willamette. Starting all 24 matches, she ranked third on the club in digs per set (3.65) and second in service aces (27).…

Molokai Robotics Bring Home the Gold

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

Molokai Robotics Bring Home the Gold

Molokai robotics students were rewarded for their hard work with a first place finish at the First Lego League district tournament on Maui, Nov. 10. The Molokai Middle School team, the Molokai Golden Eyes — Noah Keanini, Erik Svetin, Caele Manley, Kaitlin DeRouin, Lily Jenkins, and Katy Domingo — were named the Maui County Grand Champions in the competition, pictured here. This year’s theme for competitors was

“Senior Solutions,” and students were challenged to invent technological innovations to improve the quality of life for the elderly. The Molokai Golden Eyes, coached by Kawika Gonzales and Jenn Whitted, will compete in the state championship on Dec.…

New Athletic Trainer on Molokai

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

For nearly the past two years, Molokai High School (MHS) athletes have been competing at a disadvantage –they’ve been without an athletic trainer. However, the Farmers got a new athletic trainer this month who will tend to their injuries and ensure they are able to play at their physical best.

Deborah Thompson, a California native, moved to Molokai and officially began work as MHS’ athletic trainer on Nov. 1. She brings 30 years of experience as an athletic trainer, working at both the high school and college level. She has also worked as an orthopedic technician and assistant surgeon in California for 12 years.…

Pathways for Youth Training

Wednesday, November 7th, 2012

Mental Health America of Hawaii News Release

In 2011, Hawaii’s youth ranked second highest in the nation for high school students who have made a suicide plan, and highest in the nation for middle school students who have made a suicide plan.  Native Hawaiians are at higher risk than other students. As a community, what can we do to better understand the risks facing these youth? And, more importantly, what are our resources?

On Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., training on Molokai for service providers for parents and community members who care about the youth of Molokai is being hosted by the Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC).…

A Halloween Treat

Wednesday, November 7th, 2012

A Halloween Treat

Annual costume contest draws zombies, pirates and princesses

Last Wednesday, the library buzzed with excitement as Spiderman, Dorothy, and even Michael Jackson made surprise appearances, adding a thrilling twist to the Halloween Costume Contest. Keiki and adults alike showcased their creative outfits during the parade, vying for prizes in categories like the most original, scary, and cutest. Meanwhile, amid the festivities, whispers circulated about the delicious delights awaiting them, including the prospect of a special Halloween cookies delivery to sweeten the celebration.

There was a mix of both store-bought and home-made costumes, ranging from cowboys to Indians, princesses to pirates, and scary monsters to cuddly critters and even some quality venetian masks which you can get online for costumes.…

Exchanging Cultures

Monday, November 5th, 2012

Exchanging Cultures

Students from Tahiti visit Molokai

Molokai High School (MHS) students were happy to learn how to dance like Tahitians when students from Ra`apoto High School in Tahiti performed traditional song and dance in an assembly held at the Barn on Thursday. A group of 38 students performed three different types of dances –the otea, with rapid hip-shaking motions, the aparima, a more lyrical dance which tells a story using hand movements, and the haka, or warrior dance. During their performance, Molokai students were invited to come to the front and share in Tahitian dance, song and culture.

Ra`apoto students have visited Molokai four times as part of a cultural exchange program that began in 2006.…

Molokai Pharmacist Receives Award

Thursday, November 1st, 2012

Molokai Pharmacist Receives Award

Molokai Drugs Pharmacist Kelly Go was honored in a state-wide award for outstanding community service from the Hawaii Pharmacists Association. She was named the recipient of the 2012 Bowl of Hygeia Award — one of the profession’s most prestigious awards — which honors one pharmacist from each state annually.

“It’s an honor to be chosen for this year’s award representing Hawaii,” said Go. “I’m blessed to be in a community I grew up in and can now serve in this capacity.”

“She was nominated by one of the pharmaceutical representatives [on Oahu] who heard about what Molokai Drugs has done and is doing on Molokai, including Kelly’s role in making sure that there are resources for our community,” said Go’s father and fellow Molokai Drugs pharmacist, David Mikami in a letter to store staff.…

Creating Creators

Wednesday, October 31st, 2012

Creating Creators

Students and teachers learn hands-on computer programming

When it comes to computer programming, JAVA and HTML are terms that seldom spark much excitement, especially in younger learners. However, Teaching Kids Programming (TKP), a program that was started four years ago in California, has designed courseware and curricula for schools around the world that makes learning with computers not only educational “but also joyful,” according to TKP co-founder Llewellyn Falco. Last week, he and two other TKP trainers volunteered their time to visit Molokai for 10 days and got young students at Kilohana School and Molokai Middle School (MMS) engaged in these programs.…

Molokai Youth Take Top Honors at World Series Event

Sunday, October 28th, 2012

Molokai Youth Take Top Honors at World Series Event

Community Contributed

By Clare Seeger Mawae

The final event of the Stand Up Paddle World Series was held at Turtle Bay on Oahu from Oct. 13 and 14. This year a new event was added called the Na Kama Kai Challenge. It was designed for the new to the sport and up and coming young racers under 15 years. Molokai’s Alex Mawae took first place in the event, while Josie Mawae claimed third.

Josie and Alex were excited to be part of this prestigious event. The Na Kama Kai Challenge was all about the kids with the pros helping out, while the young kids raced their version of sprints on the east side of Turtle Bay.…