Education

Keiki with Culture

Thursday, April 18th, 2013

Keiki with Culture

An annual celebration of Hawaiian culture and language drew hundreds of attendees last Saturday. Punana Leo O Molokai Hawaiian language preschool held its fundraiser Ho`omau event at Lanikeha Community Center in Ho`olehua, which also serves as the school’s campus. In addition to entertainment and musical performances by Molokai’s immersion programs from preschool to high school, crowds of supporters also browsed a variety of booths. Local food vendors, crafters and organizations showcased a wealth of community diversity.

But they day was really about `Olelo Hawaii and supporting the youth who speak it. Uilani Ramos, Punana Leo site coordinator, said it’s important to learn the language young.…

CFL Bulb Recycling Protocol

Thursday, April 18th, 2013

CFL Bulb Recycling Protocol

Blue Planet & Sust `aina ble Molokai News Release

Over the past two years, Molokai residents who have participated in the “Go Green and Carbon Clean” program organized by Blue Planet Foundation and Sust `aina ble Molokai have been benefiting from the energy savings of highly efficient compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs, which use 75 percent less electricity than incandescent bulbs.

The nearly 40,000 bulbs installed in Molokai homes today represent an important first step in moving the island toward energy self-sufficiency. The project’s success was made possible by the collaborative efforts of students, teachers, businesses, and community leaders.

Blue Planet Foundation and Sust `aina ble Molokai want to ensure that the community is aware of the proper usage and disposal recommendations for CFLs.…

Young Woman of Promise

Wednesday, April 17th, 2013

Young Woman of Promise

Molokai High freshman Momi Afelin already has a resume full of science and engineering accomplishments, and can now add another feather to her cap. She was recently awarded the Young Woman of Promise award by the Maui County Committee on the Status of Women (CSW) as part of the group’s celebration of Women’s History Month.

In keeping with this year’s national theme for the month, “Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics [STEM],” the committee received more than 20 nominations throughout the county for several awards. The Young Woman of Promise category recognized the accomplishments of girls in STEM ages 14 to 21.…

Sunshine in a Bag

Wednesday, April 17th, 2013

Sunshine in a Bag

Initiative addresses child hunger

While most children on Molokai fall asleep every night with a full stomach and go to school well-nourished, there are some who don’t. To help combat child hunger, the St. Damien Catholic Parish is spearheading an effort to provide food to elementary students in need, as well as assist families in creating a sustainable backyard garden.

Starting last Friday, the Sunshine Backpack and Ohana Garden project, or Kukunaokala, will distribute backpacks of food twice a month to selected students at Kilohana, Kaunakakai and Kualapu`u schools. Students are chosen for participation based on referrals from school staff, and parents must give permission for their children to receive a backpack.…

Molokai Middle Takes Second for STEM

Wednesday, April 17th, 2013

Molokai Middle Takes Second for STEM

Community Contributed

By MMS STEM Program Students

Molokai Middle School’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs took second place in the state at the Second Annual State of Hawaii STEM Week Awards Banquet held at the Hawaii Convention Center on April 9. Molokai Middle School (MMS) was represented at the ceremony by eighth grade STEM alumni students.

Under the umbrella of STEM, the award recognizes the accomplishments of MMS across all STEM-related efforts and programs including Robotics, Science Fair, Bridge Building, Math Counts, and STEM Conference.

The STEM institutional awards ceremony recognizes outstanding students, educators, and participating schools from Hawaii’s various STEM organizations.…

Molokai Math Day

Thursday, April 11th, 2013

MHS News Release

Molokai High School’s Math Department, in partnership with Aka`ula School and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, announces the Fourth Annual Molokai Math Day, to be held this Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Lanikeha Center. This year’s Molokai Math Day will showcase more than 25 interactive, hands-on stations for students of all ages, from 3 to 103 years old. Participants will explore a variety of Common Core standards-based activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

These range from solving numeric and geometric puzzles to predicting, observing, measuring and collecting data. Stations will be manned by a mix of Molokai High and Aka`ula School students who are partnered with graduate students from the UH Manoa Math Department.…

Lady Farmers Take Weekend Series

Thursday, April 11th, 2013

Lady Farmers Take Weekend Series

MHS Athletic Staff

The Molokai High School Lady Farmers Softball Team split a pair of games two weeks ago with the Lady Dragons from Hana and then won the series by taking the tiebreaker.

Amanda Venegas-Makaiwi went the distance for Molokai in the opener and picked up the win in an 11-5 victory.  Venegas-Makaiwi gave up five hits and struck out five in seven innings of work.  She walked six and hit one Hana batter.

A misplayed fly ball put the Lady Dragons up by a run in the top of the first but the Farmers took advantage of four Hana errors to score four runs without the benefit of a hit. …

Molokai High Artists Earn District Honors

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard News Release

High school students through Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District competed in an arts competition sponsored by the district’s congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard. All three Molokai High School students who were among 16 finalists received honors in the contest, Gabbard announced last week. MHS’ Kierstyn Esteron earned third place, while she and fellow MHS students Rizpah Torres-Umi and Eliana Kalilikane-Garces won the “People’s Choice” contest on Gabbard’s Facebook page.

Eighty contest entries were received from high school students throughout the district. Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives.…

‘A`ole GMO’

Sunday, March 31st, 2013

‘A`ole GMO’

The main streets of Kaunakakai were closed Saturday morning as people young and old marched through town, carrying signs and shouting protests aimed toward Monsanto and calling for clear labeling of food made with genetically modified organisms (GMO).

Molokai activist Walter Ritte and Oahu resident Dustin Barca organized the series of rallies called March in March that took place across the islands throughout the month. The marches on Maui and Kauai had more than 2,000 participants each.

“This is equal to the other islands because in its own way, it’s making just as much noise and raising just as much awareness,” Barca said about the Molokai rally, which had about 200 marchers.…

Future Scientists Get a Sense of Our Past

Friday, March 29th, 2013

Future Scientists Get a Sense of Our Past

Community Contributed

By Bradford Duval

Every few years, science teacher Erron Yoshioka along with 15 eager science club members and two other teachers travel to Molokai from Moanalua High School on Oahu. During their spring break, they take in Molokai and gain a shared sense of history and perspective on some of the old ways and how it relates to their scientific lessons and explorations.

Sharing knowledge with those willing to learn is a specialty of 2013 Umu Kai Award winner Uncle Mac Poepoe’s, and on the students’ recent trip to Mo`omomi, learn they did.

Starting at the main pavilion, the students were able to learn about pono fishing techniques, and how traditional Hawaiian practices tie in to the science of fishery management.…