Island Youth

The keiki and `opio of Molokai

The Perfect Pick

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

The Perfect Pick

Micah Friel, 5, scoured the pumpkin patch for a few minutes before running over to the biggest one he saw, bending down to wrap his arms around his large selection, and lift it with all his might.  The pumpkin was almost as big as he was, and when his grandmother asked if he was sure he wanted to take home such a big one, he nodded with a smile.

Micah was one of many keiki who picked their perfect pumpkin Saturday morning at Heart of Aloha Church’s third annual Pick-A-Pumpkin Day.  The event, hosted at the church’s 4.2-acre parcel of land along Kalae Highway in Kualapu`u, featured hundreds of orange, white and green pumpkins to choose from, which they had started planting in June.…

MHS Athletes Clean Up the Wharf

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

MHS Athletes Clean Up the Wharf

While other students relaxed their fall intersession break, Molokai High School (MHS) student athletes were hard at work –and not just at practice. Last Wednesday morning, nearly 80 MHS athletes from the girls’ volleyball, 8-man football, track and field and air riflery teams gathered at the wharf with rakes, shovels and garbage bins in hand. They participated in the wharf clean-up, a community service program started three years ago by former athletic director Camie Kimball. There are three wharf clean-ups scheduled each year, with one for every season –fall, winter and spring.

“It’s important to give back to the community because the community is their number one support[er], especially on this island,” said current athletic director Hoku Haliniak.…

Sharp Shooters

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

Sharp Shooters

MHS Air Riflery hosts first home meet in 22-year history

Crouched on one knee, rifle pressed firmly into her right shoulder, Molokai High School (MHS) senior Mariah Kalipi remembers to breathe as she focuses in on a paper target 33 feet in front of her. Her left arm rests on her left knee, the fingers of her right hand pressed gently on the trigger, ready. Her eyes never stray from the target as she takes a deep but steady breath and fires. Those interested in the same sport may want to consider purchasing gunstocks for sale and AR-15 Rifles for Sale Online or at your local gun store.…

The Food and Wine Festival

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

The Food and Wine Festival

Community Contributed

By Dillon DeCoite

Editor’s note: The second annual Hawaii Food and Wine Festival took place Sept. 6 to 9, with Molokai’s L&R Farms’ Lynn and Russell DeCoite participated. The DeCoite’s son, Dillon, a middle school student at Aka`ula School, wrote a story about his parents’ success in the Aka`ula monthly newsletter, reprinted here.

The Food and Wine Festival, in Kaanapali, Maui is located on the golf course. Twelve farmers and 12 chefs partner up to cook produce raised by island farmers. My mom and dad partnered with two chefs from the Westin Kaanapali Hotel. The dish they made was wild boar bacon with Molokai sweet potato gnocchi.…

Art at Aka`ula

Sunday, September 30th, 2012

Art at Aka`ula

As the sun set slowly over the hills of Kalae on Friday, students, teachers, families and friends gathered to enjoy Aka`ula School’s “Celebrating the Arts” exhibit. The annual exhibit, which first started in 2006, features the works of Aka`ula students and some family members who donate their art to raise funds for the school.

“It really is about getting [the students’] artwork out into the community,” said Dara Lukonen, one of the school’s founding teachers. “New students have been very surprised and awed when they see their work displayed –sometimes it is as simple as putting a mat on it and lighting.”…

Molokai Swim Club a Reality

Friday, September 28th, 2012

Community Contributed

By Robby Coleman

Rumors of a year-round swim club forming on Molokai have been circulating around the island for many months. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Malcolm Cooper, head coach of the Maui Dolphins Swim Club (MDSC), who obtained a permit from the county and the support of Zachary Helm and Michael Manga, from the local Parks and Recreation, the swim club is now reality.

Beginning 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 1, the Molokai Chapter of the Maui Dolphins will hold its first practice at Cooke Memorial Pool. Regular practices will be held Monday through Thursday (except holidays) every week of the year after regular pool hours.…

Home Field Advantage

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012

Home Field Advantage

Farmers Football beats Hana 42-0

The Farmers football team dominated their home field against Hana High Dragons on Saturday, winning 42-0. This was the first home game of the season, and the win brings their record to 1-1, having been defeated by Seabury Hall last week on Maui.
The Farmers’ offensive line scored five touchdowns in the first half and one in the second. Their solid defense kept Hana from scoring any points the entire game.

“The best thing [about this game] was that everybody had an opportunity to play,” said Molokai High School’s (MHS) head coach Mike Kahale after the game.…

Prize Fighters

Sunday, September 23rd, 2012

Prize Fighters

The crowd at Molokai High School’s Barn cheered wildly as the official raised 15-year-old Michaiah Soares’ hand as the winner of his match. Soares, who has been training with Molokai Southside Boxing Club for the past two years, defeated his opponent Tre Acang after three two-minute bouts. The win brings his amateur fighting record to 3-1.

Fighters from across the state traveled to compete in the Molokai Southside Boxing Invitational, the first sanctioned amateur boxing event on Molokai. Other victors from Molokai included Jordan Manangan, age 10, Kazmero Zeithammel, 13, Simon Blair, 19 and Hunter Manaba, 15. The event on Saturday featured 21 matches.…

All Good Things Must Come to an End

Wednesday, September 19th, 2012

Community Contributed

By Kalei “Pumpkin” Moss

As they say, “all good things must come to an end,” and so does the 21st Century grant program. The 21st Century grant program, which is federally funded, has just entered its fifth and final year. The grant was designed to run for five years, with funds decreasing each year; so in its final year, the budget for the afterschool program is half of what it usually receives, meaning fewer classes can be offered. With the tight funds, administrators of the 21st Century grant program have decided that in its final year, the focus will be on educational activities which promote student achievement in reading and math.…

A Running Start

Wednesday, September 19th, 2012

MHS’s cross country runners gain experience at MIL meet

Seven of the 14 girls from Molokai High School’s (MHS) cross country team traveled to Hana for the season’s third Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Meet on Saturday. Though none of the girls placed, the runners, who were all freshmen, got their first taste at competing in a cross country meet.

“I was proud of them because they gave it their best effort and that’s all I could ask for,” said Coach Eugene Santiago.

They started training five weeks ago, running for about three miles every practice at various locations like Ironwood Golf Course, the track at MHS, the fields at Coffees of Hawaii and along the highway.…