Education

No Cuts for Molokai School Bus Services

Sunday, July 8th, 2012

After a scare in April that bus services to Molokai Intermediate and High schools would be cut, parents and students will be relieved to learn that school bus services on Molokai will not be affected for the upcoming school year, according to the Department of Education (DOE).

The DOE finalized a list last Saturday of 103 bus routes across the state that would be cut due to the $17 million shortage of funds in transportation services. The DOE estimates 2,044 riders will be affected. The majority of those riders –about 1,864 students –are on Oahu, whose public bus transportation system, The Bus, may help to cushion the cuts.…

New Athletic Leadership for MHS

Sunday, July 8th, 2012

New Athletic Leadership for MHS

Athletics at Molokai High School (MHS) will be seeing some new faces this coming school year. With the start of the school year less than a month away, the newly-appointed athletic director, Hokulani Haliniak, is busy assembling her coaches new and old for the upcoming year.

Hokulani Haliniak, Athletic Director

Though originally from Honolulu, Hokulani Haliniak, the new athletic director who will be replacing the recently-retired Camie Kimball, has Molokai roots. Her father was raised on Molokai, and she spent many summers visiting family on the Friendly Isle. She said she had been wanting to return to Molokai for the past 25 years, and she finally got her chance with this position.…

Meet 2 of Keiki Surf

Thursday, June 28th, 2012

Community Contributed

Ko Molokai Keiki `O Ke Kai News Release

Early morning rain and clouds did not keep away 50 keiki surfers, who participated in the second summer surf meet on June 23 at Waialua beach. It was a bit challenging, with conditions including an extremely low tide, a huge sidelong sandbar and the chilly waters of Waialua stream. But the kids all took turns showing their skills riding waves; some catching their own waves, getting rides to the beach and doing awesome tricks. Participants were treated to a bunch of stickers, a bar of wax and even some birthday cupcakes.…

Molokai Grads to Study at Technical Institute

Thursday, June 28th, 2012

Molokai Grads to Study at Technical Institute

Community Contributed

UTI News Release

Three Molokai grads are headed to the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Avondale, Arizona after receiving financial assistance from the UTI Foundation. Jordan Gorospe, Kailen Inouye and James Corpuz are following in the footsteps of another Molokai graduate, who attended UTI last year and took a job in a Louisiana oil field.

The three students will begin classes on July 9. The opportunity will allow them to obtain careers as technicians. The grant was made possible through Hawaiian Island Fund, a relatively new funding program for Hawaiian students, according to Veronica Meury, vice president and executive director of the UTI Foundation.…

MHS Grad Recognized as Scholar Athlete

Thursday, June 28th, 2012

MHS Grad Recognized as Scholar Athlete

HMSA News Release

A Molokai student took top honors at last week’s HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship program that recognizes scholar athletes around the state. Charisse Manley of Molokai High School was one of our distinguished Kaimana Scholars and took home a $5,000 scholarship.

“The HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program is the only program in the state that rewards academics and athletics as well as sportsmanship and community service,” said Robert P. Hiam, HMSA’s chief executive officer.

The program started in August 2005, recognizes all-around accomplishments by high schools, rewards individual student athletes with scholarships, and supports coaches education. The program is sponsored by HMSA and administered by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association.…

Visiting Artist Ceramic Workshop

Thursday, June 28th, 2012

Visiting Artist Ceramic Workshop

MAC News Release

Molokai Art Center (MAC) is pleased to announce a two-week workshop featuring first-time visiting artist Professor Emeritus Ron Evans, ceramic artist for over 45 years. Ron’s own artwork consists primarily of crystalline glazed wheel-thrown forms and one-of-a kind art pieces. Ron has recently retired as a Professor of Art at the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California, where he taught for nearly 40 years. It was the only college in the U.S. to teach crystalline glazes. Combining science and mesmerizing beauty, crystalline glazes shimmer and shift much like holograms do and are
literally three-dimensional.

Workshops will include clay, studio time, glazes, firing and hands on instruction in crystalline glazes and raku.…

4-H Molokai Livestock Expo

Thursday, June 28th, 2012

Hawaii Farm Bureau News Release

Next month, Molokai youth will have a chance to show off their livestock and agricultural efforts, while community members will enjoy educational demonstrations, live auctions, food and other entertainment. The 4-H Molokai Livestock Expo is slated for Friday, July 13 and Saturday, July 14 at the Kaunakakai Ball Field.

4-H Molokai is partnering with The Hawaii Farm Bureau to educate the youth of Molokai about the many benefits of the 4-H programs established on island and across the U.S.

“Our keiki benefit by broadening their knowledge of good agricultural practices as well as the gaining knowledge of farming in Hawaii, commercially or otherwise” said President Ha`a Kamakana.…

Ilia Reyes: Making a Splash

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

Ilia Reyes: Making a Splash

This Thursday morning, Ilia Reyes is hoping he wakes up feeling good. It’s a big day for the Molokai-born swimmer. He’ll be competing in the Olympic trials — a goal not even his family dreamed of when he began swimming at Kaunakakai’s Cooke Memorial Pool at age 8.

“For swimming, you wake up that morning and you either feel good or you don’t,” said Reyes, who graduated from University of Hawaii last fall, where he set state records and proved himself against international competition.

The summer before his junior year at UH in 2009, he broke the Hawaii record for the 50 meter freestyle and qualified for the Olympic trials by making the cut — 23.49 seconds — in the event.…

Molokai Mom on a Mission: Eating Organic

Wednesday, June 20th, 2012

Community Contributed

 Opinion by Mercy Ritte

What does “organic” mean?
There are basically three ways that crops are produced: using agro-biotechnology, conventional techniques and organic methods. Comparing the three will give us a better sense of what “organic” means.

1. Agro-biotechnology involves genetically engineering or modifying a living organism (GMO) by inserting it with a new gene from another species. This method of farming also uses chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides to produce crops.

2. Conventional farming may not use GMO seeds. However chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides are used to manage plant growth, pests and weeds.

3. Organic farming uses manure and compost to fertilize the soil, beneficial insects, birds and traps to manage pests, rotate crops, hand weed or mulch.…

First Keiki Surf Meet of the Summer

Wednesday, June 20th, 2012

First Keiki Surf Meet of the Summer

Community Contributed

Ko Molokai Keiki `O Ke Kai News Release

The first surf meet of Ko Molokai Keiki `O Ke Kai had 44 surfers ages 2 to 13. They surfed their way through the day with a rising tide, light trade winds and the sun shining. Great surfing tricks were displayed by the opi`o; switch-foot, the coffin, nose rides and the stinkbug. Ohana and friends helped the kids catch the best waves and after the ride, get back out to catch another. Lots of families stayed to enjoy a surf session with the kids at the end of the day, either watching from the beach or out in the water.…