• Failure notice from provider:
    Connection Error:http_request_failed

  • Submission Deadlines

    Advertising

    Thursday 4pm

    October 23, 2025

    Content

    Friday 4pm

    October 24, 2025

    To print on:

    Wednesday

    October 29, 2025

  • Join us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Google Plus Subscribe via RSS

Education

Tutu’s Corner

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Tutu’s Corner

Community Contributed

Column by Tutu and Me

Po`okela means excellence, to exceed, to excel. In the Hawaiian culture, everyone has not only their kuleana, responsibility, but also an understanding that we should do more than what is expected whenever possible.  It’s a feeling in your na`au (literally: guts; figuratively: of the heart or mind) that you should do not only what is asked, but to perform beyond what is expected. In school, it means doing assignments not only thoroughly, neatly, and turning it in on time but putting a cover on the report, adding illustrations and doing extra research. The same is true in the workplace – not only performing up to expectations but taking the initiative to do more than you are asked. This is po`okela.


Getting keiki out of the house in the morning is a challenging task. Getting to Tutu and Me consistently is good. Getting to Tutu and Me and being on time for the morning circle is superb. Attending consistently and arriving on time with both caregiver and keiki smiling and ready to go is po`okela.

All of the wonderful toys and equipment at the Tutu and Me site are fabulous. All of the “homemade” activities – the cardboard box canoe, refrigerator, puppet theater, etc. are awesome. The extra effort the staff gives in creating these things is from their hearts, and with aloha is po`okela.

Try This at Home:
•    In daily activities with your keiki, po`okela should be recognized and praised.
•    Po`okela is learned through observation and modeling.  When a task has been completed well, describe and explain this to your keiki. For example: “Look! Daddy washed the car. Not only the outside but the inside too. He did a really good job, didn’t he?”
•    Recognize and praise keiki when they do something well. For example: “You not only put away your toys but your sister’s as well! That’s an excellent job!”

Remember: Kulia i ka nu`u – Strive to reach the highest. Motto of Queen Kapi`olani.

Contributions from Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool, a program of Partners in Development Foundation.  Tutu and Me is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Springing into Play

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Springing into Play

Heading out of winter and into the hot summer months, student athletes at Molokai High School are preparing to end the current school year proudly, representing tennis, track and field, and baseball.

Tennis
With a first year coach and a team mainly comprised of new players, the boys and girls tennis team are ready to break new ground.

“They’re all fresh, [and] that’s the best kind,” said coach Katie Brind. “I can show them the correct form.”

Brind, who has been playing tennis since she was six, joined the team this year after watching her niece play last year.

She is joined by returning volunteer assistant coach, Renee Montizor, who said the team did very well learning the fundamentals over the past few weeks. Montizor said Brind has just finished ranking the players, which matches players based on their skill sets, to determine how they will play in their matches. Also because the team is novice, they will mostly play in double sets.

.”

Kikukawa is joined by eight other athletes, including those training for the ‘field’ part of track and field. Assistant coach Rodney Nelson will be training freshman Rendy Jacobs in the shot-put, and senior Kalei Adolpho will be training again for her state-qualifying high jump. Adolpho, who recently signed an athletic scholarship to play volleyball next year at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, qualified for the state championships in the high jump after just one meet – the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) championships.

The track and field team will head to Maui on March 11 for their first meet at War Memorial stadium.

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Raising the Bar

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Public schools around the state are sometimes the first ones to feel budget cuts. Schools on Molokai are doing the best they can with what they have.

The island’s school principals met for a talk story last week and all of them agreed that they need to focus on preparing kids for the real world and foster parental support.

Get Ready For College
Kaunakakai Elementary School Principal Janice Espiritu announced that the school would not have any combined classes next year. Espiritu is confident that the school is preparing their students for the not only for middle school, but beyond.

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

High School Rodeo Results

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

High School Rodeo Results

In order of first to third place, below are results of last weekend's Hawaii High School Rodeo Association (HHSRA) first shows of the 2011 season.

HHSRA MOLOKAI DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL SHOW #1
Barrel Racing: Chelsea Sakamoto; Moani Rawlins; Taylor Keliihoomalu
Pole Bending: Moani Rawlins; Liloa Akoi; Chelsea Sakamoto
Tie-Down Roping: Jake Sakamoto
Breakaway Roping: Chelsea Sakamoto
Goat Tying: Liloa Akoi; Chelsea Sakamoto; Taylor Keliihoomalu
Dally Team Roping: Kainoa Kamakana/Liloa Akoi; Jake Sakamoto/Chelsea Sakamoto
Double Mugging: Dylan Godsey/Moani Rawlins
Steer Wrestling: Dylan Godsey


Junior Wrangler (6th-8th grade) SHOW #3
Barrel Racing: Brooke Keliihoomalu; Kapua Lee
Pole Bending: Brooke Keliihoomalu; Kapua Lee
Boys Goat Tying: Jayden Tabilangan
Girls Goat Tying: Brooke Keliihoomalu; Kapua Lee
Girls Breakaway Roping: Kapua Lee
Ribbon Roping: Jayden Tabilangan/Kapua Lee

Junior Wrangler (6th-8th grade) SHOW #4
Barrel Racing: Kapua Lee; Brooke Keliihoomalu
Pole Bending: Kapua Lee; Brooke Keliihoomalu
Boys Goat Tying: Jayden Tabilangan
Girls Goat Tying: Kapua Lee; Brooke Keliihoomalu
Girls Breakaway Roping: Brooke Keliihoomalu
Ribbon Roping: Jayden Tabilangan/Kapua Lee


HHSRA MOLOKAI DISTRICT KEIKI (3rd-5th grade) SHOW #1
Barrel Racing: Meleana Pa-Kala; Nicole Kamakana/Noel Tancayo; Alyssa Dudoit
Pole Bending: Nicole Kamakana; Kodie Place/Noel Tancayo; Rex Kamakana
Boys Goat Tying: Rex Kamakana
Girls Goat Tying: Noel Tancayo; Meleana Pa-Kala; Alyssa Dudoit
Breakaway Roping: Rex Kamakana; Meleana Pa-Kala; Alyssa Dudoit
Reach Roping: Rex Kamakana; Meleana Pa-Kala; Alyssa Dudoit
Calf Mugging: None
Calf Riding: Noel Tancayo; Peter Keliihoomalu Jr; Ikaia Felsinger
Heel-o-matic: 18 points Rex Kamakana/Nicole Kamakana; 18 points Alyssa Dudoit/Noel Tancayo; 17.5 points Ikaia Felsinger/Meleana Pa-Kala

HHSRA MOLOKAI DISTRICT KEIKI (3rd-5th grade) SHOW #2
Barrel Racing: Noel Tancayo; Alyssa Dudoit; Nicole Kamakana/Rex Kamakana;
Pole Bending: Nicole Kamakana; Noel Tancayo; Rex Kamakana
Boys Goat Tying: Rex Kamakana
Girls Goat Tying: Nicole Kamakana; Noel Tancayo; Alyssa Dudoit
Breakaway Roping: Rex Kamakana
Reach Roping: Rex Kamakana/Noel Tancayo; Ikaia Felsinger; Alyssa Dudoit/Nicole Kamakana
Calf Mugging: Ikaia Felsinger/Noel Tancayo’; Rex Kamakana/Peter Keliihoomalu Jr
Calf Riding: Peter Keliihoomalu Jr; Ikaia Felsinger; Alyssa Dudoit
Heel-o-matic: 18 points - Ikaia Felsinger/Meleana Pa-Kala; 17.5 points - Alyssa Dudoit/Noel Tancayo; 10 points - Rex Kamakana/Nicole Kamakana


HHSRA MOLOKAI DISTRICT KEIKI (K-2nd grade) SHOW #1
Barrel Racing: Lane Kamakana; Ciana Place; Keilana Duvauchelle
Pole Bending: Lane Kamakana; Ciana Place; Keilana Duvauchelle
Goat Undectorating: Lane Kamakana; Ciana Place; Keilana Duvauchelle
Reach Roping: Lane Kamakana; Keilana Duvauchelle

HHSRA MOLOKAI DISTRICT KEIKI (K-2nd grade) SHOW #2
Barrel Racing: Lane Kamakana; Ciana Place; Keilana Duvauchelle
Pole Bending: Lane Kamakana; Ciana Place; Keilana Duvauchelle
Goat Undectorating: Lane Kamakana; Ciana Place/Keilana Duvauchelle
Reach Roping: Lane Kamakana; Keilana Duvauchelle

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Winter Sports Wrap Up Successes

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Community Contributed

By Ke`van Dudoit

A big mahalo goes out to all our Molokai High School winter athletes for another great season. Molokai was able to claim two Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Championships, in girls basketball and girls canoe paddling. Mikayla Pico, Rizpah Torres-Umi and Charisse Manley were also MIL champions in girls wrestling.

Posted in , commentsAdd your comment

Get Your Skate On

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Get Your Skate On

For three minutes, Noah Archuleta, age 11, pushed himself to get as many tricks in as possible. He pulled aerials and attempted board tricks, and in the end, won second place for division one (11 and under) in the third annual Freedom Skate Contest.

“Butterflies, I got the butterflies,” Archuleta said after finishing his round. “I like the moment when you complete the trick, it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Last Saturday, Surfing the Nations hosted their third annual skate contest at Molokai’s skate park. 50 contestants turned out, nearly double that of last year’s contest. According to organizers, the annual contest is held to promote safe and healthy activities among the island’s youth.

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Beach Clean Up

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Beach Clean Up

My class participated on Feb. 1, 2011 in a worldwide beach clean-up. There were schools from Molokai, Big Island, Oahu, California, Oregon, the east coast, and even from distant places such as Japan, Spain, Italy and Kosovo.

Our Special Field Trip
By Stasia Kaahanui

Ms. Abraham’s class went on a field trip on Feb. 1, 2011 for a beach clean-up. When we got there, we started picking up rubbish. We found nets, glass, cigarette butts, metal frames and a big tall bamboo pole. We kept track of what we found. We searched everywhere. We even saw a turtle.

We did some research on what we found. A cigarette butt will last from one to five years, but some experts say they won’t denigrate ever. A glass beer bottle that we found can last up to one million years. The fishing nets we found can last up to 600 years. They can kill poor sea creatures, including the turtle we saw.

We did this beach clean-up because all the things we found on the beach can go into the ocean, which affects the ocean and pollutes it. All the animals can die and get tangled up. We are helping the beach to be clean. Our ocean is important because some animals provide food and medicine, like the coral reef. In ancient times, Hawaiians of old took great care of their ocean and aina. People from all over the world can give their best effort to make a difference.


I Live In the Ocean
By Chevy Augustiro

I am naturally curious and like to play with unusual things. My natural predators are sharks and killer whales.

But some of my worst predators are nets and fishing lines. Once, I got stuck in a net and almost died. My friend actually did: he choked to death. He saw some silver things floating in the water and thought it was food.

I like to eat fish and lobster, and I learned to avoid shiny silver things. Sometimes I play with aliens – at times called people – that can swim in the ocean too. But they run if I come toward them. Unfortunately, these aliens left a six pack soda ring and it got stuck around my mouth. I starved to death and can no longer swim or sunbathe on the beach.

Can you guess what I am?

Posted in commentsAdd your comment

Cuts to Youth Programs Detrimental

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Community Contributed

By Marla Spencer, Program Manager

During the past several years, I’ve witnessed firsthand amazing achievements of our young people, many of whom had all but given up on attaining their dreams.

In places like Molokai High, Molokai Middle, Baldwin High, and Kalama Intermediate schools, I’ve seen lives turned around, cycles of poverty broken, and new incredible opportunities created.

As the Maui County program manager for Paxen Huli Ke Alo About Face! Family of Programs, I’ve served with a team of approximately 10 instructors and support staff to provide work-readiness, academic and life skills training and education to more than 250 Maui and Molokai students each year.

Posted in , , , commentsAdd your comment

Tutu’s Corner

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Tutu’s Corner

Community Contributed

Column by Tutu and Me

Colors have a profound effect on our lives. They can bring about emotional responses that trigger sensory memories. Our language is full of colorful connotations. A green traffic signal means to go. Our bank balance can be in the black, meaning that we have a balance, or in the red meaning that we have no balance. We could be feeling blue because we lost our job. Colors symbolize countries, schools, families, cultures and causes.

Color preferences can begin for young children even before the age of one. Babies have been observed reaching for the same color block, book, toy or food item. Young children choose and can name their favorite color between the ages of two and four years.


At Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool, we add colors and color words throughout the school year in various learning areas, such as Playdough, painting and indoor art. We also strive to correlate color to our thematic focus, such as, red and green at Christmas, and pastels in spring.

Try This at Home:
•    Start by finding out what your child’s favorite color seems to be. Teach your child that color name first. It will then be easier for your child to match, and discriminate that favorite color with other colors.
•    As your keiki dresses, talk about the colors of the clothes worn for that day. Make sure that your child has clothes in his/her favorite color.
•    As your keiki puts a colored food in his or her mouth (e.g., colored goldfish cracker) name the color.
•    Play “I Spy” color games with your keiki while walking, traveling, shopping, and waiting in the doctor’s office, etc. Say, “I spy something yellow,” and let your child guess what the object is.
•    Buy or borrow picture books on colors. There are many good ones.
•    As you plant seeds in your garden with your child, ask him/her to guess what color the plant, flower, fruit or vegetable will be.
•    Visit the painting easel every time you come to preschool. Let your child mix primary colors (red, blue, yellow) and discover the world of secondary colors.

Remember, expanding young children’s awareness to the world of colors is a relatively easy process that pays high dividends when they reach formal school age.

Contributions from Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool, a program of Partners in Development Foundation.  Tutu and Me is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Posted in , , commentsAdd your comment

Not Horsing Around

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Not Horsing Around

Molokai high school students and younger keiki found their inner-paniolo as they trotted and galloped across the red dirt at this weekend’s Hawaii High School Rodeo Association (HHSRA)’s first matchup, at Molokai Ranch Arena.

With cattle mooing in the background, a sunny day and a slight wind, it was a perfect combination for a competitive wrangling.

“I remember when a lot of these kids would have to be walked around the barrels - now they are running around by themselves,” Jimmy said.

The next HHSRA rodeo will be March 26 and 27 at the Molokai Ranch Arena, beginning at 9 a.m.

Rodeo results will be posted at TheMolokaiDispatch.com this week, and be in next week’s Dispatch.


Posted in , , , commentsAdd your comment