Education

All-Star Duo

Sunday, April 15th, 2012

All-Star Duo

Two Farmers named D-II Basketball All-Stars

Though the Farmers finished Maui Interscholastic League runner-ups last season, Molokai High Basketball players David Rapanot and Hauoli Falealii achieved high honors. They were named to The Maui News All-Star first team for Division II.

“They have high spirits and work really hard on the court,” said Coach Lester Delos Reyes, who has been working with the Molokai High Farmers for the past five years. “They set good examples for the other guys, which makes the coach’s job a lot easier.”

Hauoli Falealii, a junior in his third year on the team, leads the Farmers as co-captain and point guard.…

School Bus Services Face Cuts

Sunday, April 15th, 2012

This fall, Molokai High and Middle School students who ride the bus daily may need to figure out another way to get to school. The state Department of Education (DOE) is expecting its student transportation budget to be cut in half for the upcoming school year — a shortfall of about $20 million.

“For Molokai, it is likely that we will not be able to provide bus services for students going to middle and high school,” said Randy Moore, Assistant Superintendent for facilities and support services. “We are looking on a route-by-route basis to see if we can continue to run a bus from the far ends of the island like Maunaloa and east end.”…

Molokai Student Winners in Poster Contest

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Molokai Student Winners in Poster Contest

Dept. of Water Supply News Release

Kilohana Elementary School Kindergartener Kiara Lima took first place in her division in the county-wide Department of Water Supply’s third annual Water Conservation Poster Contest. The contest drew 543 entries from public, private and home schools around Maui County. Kualapu`u School’s Carly Dudoit also placed third in the Kindergarten division.

The goal of the contest was to educate Maui Nui’s youth on the importance of water conservation and to encourage them to take an active role in ensuring the sustainability of our islands’ water supply. This year’s theme was “Malama I Ka Wai,” or to take care of the water.…

Student Reflections

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Community Contributed

By Kumu Maile Naehu

Here are some beautiful reflections written by junior and senior wahine from Halau Ku Mana Public Charter School. My `ohana had the honor of hosting the `opio from Oahu during spring break. At the end of the trip, I asked them to write a mele/poem that reflected all of their observations and experiences while they visited Molokai. When they turned them in, I was in awe with the ability of these young women to eloquently express themselves and allow any reader to share in their experience. It is keiki Hawaii like all of you that inspire me to teach.…

Invasive Species Committee Honored

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Invasive Species Committee Honored

Hawaii State Senate News Release

The Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC), as well as its state-wide counterparts including the Molokai ISC, were recognized for their biological control program by the Hawaii State Senate. Molokai resident and MISC member Lori Buchan and other representatives received the award last week.

MISC was the first Invasive Species Committee to form in 1999. The group works to protect the Valley Isle from non-native and harmful species like coqui frogs, pampas grass, veiled chameleons, and miconia. The partnership brings together scientists, resource managers, foresters, botanists, wildlife biologists, and representatives from county, state, and federal agencies to contribute their time and expertise.…

Honolulu 5K Tryout Results

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Honolulu 5K Tryout Results

Community Contributed

By Sue Forbes-Kikukawa

The first tryout race for Kualapu`u School’s 5K Running Team was held on Saturday, March 31 on the Coffees of Hawaii plantation course. A special thank you goes out to the following volunteers who helped make this event happen: Kiku Donnelly, Katina Soares, Ian Haskins, Joyce Haase, Nohea Deponte, and Jesse Ford.

The second and final tryout for the 5K team that will compete on Oahu will be held on Saturday, April 14. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. at Coffees. Adult registration fee is $10. Youth race for free. Start time is 8 a.m.

Results from Saturday’s 5K:

Boys
1.…

State Scholastic Chess Tournament

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

State Scholastic Chess Tournament

Community Contributed

By Ted Takamiya

The game of chess involves a myriad of moves and variations. It was once estimated that there are 400 different possible positions after two players make just one move. The possible positions increase to 72,084 after each player makes his or her second move. Each player must weigh the options and make the best possible move to gain an advantage and hopefully checkmate their opponent. Quite a daunting task when you consider the amount of critical thinking that is needed. Can you imagine doing it over a nine hour period?

On Saturday, March 31, a team of 10 students from Molokai Middle School and three elementary school students participated in the 2012 Hawaii State Scholastic Chess Tournament on Oahu.…

Keep That New Year’s Resolution

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Keep That New Year’s Resolution

Community Contributed

By Kalei “Pumpkin” Moss

Did you make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight or get fit? Has that resolution come and gone? The dancercise class at Kilohana Elementary School may be the answer to finally keeping that promise. The 21st Century grant is now offering Dancercise at Kilohana Elementary on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 4 to 5 p.m.

Like all 21st Century grant programs, the Dancercise class is free and open to anyone who would like to attend. Led by Lani Sawyer, the class is guaranteed to get your heart pumping. Dancercise is a combination of cardio, aerobics, dance and stretching that will leave you feeling energized and a little sweaty.…

The Rakefish Makes a Splash

Sunday, April 8th, 2012

The Rakefish Makes a Splash

Kaunakakai Elementary sixth graders learn about ocean pollution.

What fish is 4 feet long, has a rectangular body, can travel on land, and has helped bring awareness to ocean pollution across the nation? Answer: the Rakefish.

The Rakefish is not a real fish but a large fish-shaped sculpture with a broken rake as a fin. The “fish” has journeyed from A.W. Cox Elementary School in Guildford, Connecticut to teach Kimberly Ka`ai’s sixth grade class at Kaunakakai Elementary school about ocean pollution. Kaunakakai Elementary will be the sculpture’s only stop in Hawaii before continuing to its next destination in Washington, D.C.

Molokai parent Suzette Onofrio, whose niece attends the elementary in Connecticut, acted as a liaison in the process of bringing the Rakefish Project to Hawaii.…

Celebrate National Library Week

Sunday, April 8th, 2012

 Hawaii State Public Library System News Release

Whether you are a job seeker looking for resources to find a new job, a parent looking for free activities for children or a student searching for your next favorite book, you belong at your library. Help us celebrate this year’s National Library Week from April 8-14 with a series of programs around the state, and on Molokai.

John Keawe, a self-taught slack-key guitarist, is a multiple Na Hoku Hanohano and Hawaii Music Awards recipient and a contributing artist on Hawaii’s first Grammy winner, “Slack Key Guitar Volume 2” (2005). Keawe will offer a tribute to the slack key style and include selections from the music of Raymond Kane, Leonard Quan, and others, in addition to presenting his original compositions, at the Molokai Public Library on April 11 at 3 p.m.…