Education

Swim Team Bounces Back

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

The Molokai swam positively into the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) season last weekend. Six swimmers represented Molokai at the two meets: Lawaia Aalona, Michael Kikukawa, Michael Onofrio, Esther Lopez, Moriah Jenkins and Chelsea Simon.

“All swimmers had either personal best times or [swam their] time at the end of last season,” said coach Jessie Ford. “I felt their performances were exceptional given the challenges of the season.”

Challenges such as not having a pool. The swim team has been training at a private west end pool for the last month, but many practices were intermittent due to academics and Christmas break travel.

Aalona placed fifth in the 50 freestyle at 24.83 – beating his time last year by one second – during Friday night’s meet at Kihei Aquatic Center.

Returning swimmer Simon also dropped time in her 50 free, and competed in the tough 200 IM for the first time.

“I’m expecting her to surprise herself the next time she swims,” Ford said.

First-time swimmers Lopez and Onofrio burst onto their events with jitters that worked for them.

“Both of them surprised me quite a lot with how well they swam,” Ford said.

The second meet on Saturday, held at Kamehameha Maui, was more challenging for all, but “their effort on the second day matched the first,” she added.

“I’m proud of their tenacity, they stuck through a grueling season,” Ford said. Molokai boys came in seventh overall, but the girls did not place.

The swim team will head back to Kihei next weekend with more of their 10-member team, Jan. 21-22.

Posted in Education, Island Youth, Sports

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Inquiring Minds

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011

Community Contributed

By Malia Lee

Every year, Molokai High School students use what they learn in science class and apply it to a real and tangible problem. The Science Inquiry Project gives students the opportunity to use the scientific method to design their own learning experience and find relevance to their daily lives, using scientific investigation standards. The projects varied from solar desalination to hydrogen fuel cells to dog leg prosthetics.

This year, 15 students earned the top spots at the Molokai High Science Fair – ninth grade: Taylor Tamanaha, Paul Parker, Kilo Au Lani Kaawa-Gonzales, Laurentiu Jacobs and Mikah Matson; tenth grade: Michael Kikukawa, Michael Onofrio, Esther Lopez, Amanda Makaiwi-Venegas, Jake Sakamoto and Brittanie Nerveza-Shizuma; eleventh grade: Charisse Manley, Moriah Jenkins and Rhena Singh; twelfth grade: Edwin Menkija. Some of these students will be going on to compete this weekend at the Science Fair on Maui.

Many thanks to our judges from Monsanto (Ray Foster, Dawn Bicoy, Juan Carlos Paz and Mike Schlosser) and from Mycogen Seeds (David Gilliland, Eric Whitted and Scott Radi), Dick Glenn, Gene Anderson, Kurt Go, Omar Ozgur, Wade Buschner, and Angela Calhoun.

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Helm Voted Coach of the Year

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011

Corrected version.

Could the 2010 volleyball season get any better for Matthew Helm? He was recently voted as Coach of the Year in 2010 in Hawaii.

Voting was conducted by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser for the annual state-wide award. Coaches and sports editors from around the state cast their ballots.

“I was visiting my in-laws in Los Angeles and a colleague of mine texted me to congratulate me,” Helm said.

The message struck his curiosity, so he checked the internet for the Dec. 19 article in the Star-Advertiser.

Helm also won Coach of the Year for the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Division II for the third year in a row, according to the Maui News.

to go to college,” Helm said.

Secondary education is important to Helm. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education from the University of Laverne.

“High school only lasts so long, but if you can use volleyball as a venue to get into college, then it’s very rewarding,” Helm said.

Praise from His Peers
Fellow coaches from around the state have recognized Helm’s coaching ability.

“The success he has had is not a surprise to me and I’ve seen it through the progression in the kids,” said Chris Blake, head coach of Kamehameha Oahu “I think he did an exceptional job.”

Peter Baldwin, Punahou’s girls’ volleyball coach, is also supportive of Helm’s achievements.

“I was very impressed with how respectful his players are of not only each other, but opponents, coaches and families,” Baldwin said.

Helm wants to teach his players more than respect.

“It was never my goal to be recognized as coach of the year,” Helm said.” You just have to set your goals know that you can achieve anything. Those who are successful get back on that horse and keep going.”

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Molokai High Paddling Starts Strong

Friday, January 7th, 2011

The girls’ paddling team won the varsity race in their first regatta of the season at Ka Lae Pohaku on Maui last Saturday.

“It was such an unreal day,” said coach Tania Kaholoaa. “The weather conditions were really good, and the girls were nervous but they were ready. They were hungry.”

Kawena Puhi, Kailana Ritte-Camara, Leenell Hernandez, Jasmine Borden, Crystal Puaoi-Kawai, and Natalia Levi won the half-mile girls final with a time of 4:22.67, beating out second-place Baldwin High School. This is the first time in Kaholoaa’s three year coaching career at Molokai High School that the girls’ won a varsity race.

“[We will] keep training harder, you know everyone’s going to want to come back for us,” she said. “We need to hold our ground.”

Kaholoaa said her brother, Bozo Dudoit’s expertise was also “a big push for them.” Dudoit helps as an assistant coach, getting in the water with the girls in his one-man canoe.

The girls’ chemistry has a lot to do with their victory. Between paddling and playing volleyball in club competitions, many of the girls have trained together in a variety of sports for years. Paddlers like Puhi and Levi added something extra to the high school team this year, having only competed in club races before.

The girls’ meet their opponents again on Jan. 8 at Hanakao`o.

Boys’ Paddling
The boy’s wa`a had a victory of their own. With a novice crew, Molokai made it to the final race and came in sixth at 4:15.81.

“For such a young crew they did really well,” said coach Dave Gilliland. “Now they know what to expect.”

Gilliland’s team has one returning paddler – his son Eric, the steersman – with a crew of first-timers.

“They get on well together, they look after each other on and off the water,” Dave said. He added that during the winter break they will be working on fundamentals and fine tuning their starts. Eric added the crew hopes to be in the top four at their next meet.

The boys’ will also head to Hanakao`o on Jan. 8.

Posted in Education, Sports

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Na Mo`olelo Kalikimaka

Friday, January 7th, 2011

In place of traditional garb in the Nativity scene, flower-printed kihei and a bamboo-crafted manger dressed the stage for Ka La Hanaui `o Iesu, the birth of Jesus.

Kula Kaipuni o Kualapu`u, Kualapu`u school’s Hawaiian immersion program, performed their first Christmas play in over a decade at Mitchell Pauole Center last week.

Sparkling angels sang carols of Nawainei Keiki (What Child is This) and Po La`i E (Silent Night), the king and his guards performed a haka and keiki danced hula celebrating the newborn child.

“It was exciting because I got to play Mary and be the main actress. I hope to do it again next year!” said sixth grader `Okalani Schnackenberg.

Posted in Community, Culture & Art, Education

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Students Today, Leaders Tomorrow

Friday, January 7th, 2011

Community Contributed

By Dara Lukonen

Acclaimed speaker, author and Molokai resident W. Mitchell, shared his inspiring story with the students of Aka`ula School, their family and the community recently. Mitchell spoke about the leadership lessons that can be learned from Dr. Seuss’s “The Lorax.”

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.” He encouraged the students by explaining that anyone can be a leader and leadership knows no age limit.

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, do more, become more, you are a leader,” he quoted John Quincy Adams.

Mitchell spoke at Aka`ula School’s 14th annual PRISM Symposium on Dec. 10. PRISM stands for Providing Resolutions with Integrity for a Sustainable Molokai. This means students look at local issues and try to find answers by collecting a variety of viewpoints and information from the community. They use their data to make recommendations and write action plans. Students then create PowerPoint presentations to share with the community.

This year’s theme, “Being the Leaders of Tomorrow Today,” was inspired by the revision of Molokai’s Community Plan. Experienced students conducted small group investigations on issues. PRISM also included workshops, where the community could learn to could pound poi, wili a lei, or carve a fishhook from wood, among others. The younger and new students in the PRISM 101class also shared their video documentaries of the visioning project and their monk seal investigation.
Aka`ula also awards a PRISM Excellence Award – this year honoring eighth grader Luke Kikukawa, who time and again has taken on a leadership role amongst his peers, working toward improving our island's sustainability and lessening our environmental impact. Luke’s father summed it up best. “Luke is keen, sharp, and motivated. Once he has a thought it is immediately put into action. You cannot hold him back.”

It was apparent on Saturday that these students truly believed in their theme. By any definition they are leaders today working to make a better tomorrow for all of us.

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Aloha e na lehulehu o Molokai nui a Hina!

Monday, December 20th, 2010

He leo mahalo palena `ole keia i na kokua i kokua ia makou i ka makou hana keaka `olelo Hawaii “Ka La Hanau o Iesu.” Mahalo ia Po`okumu Lydia Trinidad no ke kako`o mau `ana ia makou i ko makou papahana. Mahalo pu makou ia `Anakala Mike Sabas a me kana hui ma Maui Parks and Recreation no ka `ae `olu`olu `ana ia makou e ho`ohana i ka hale kaiaulu`o Mitchell Pau`ole.
Nui ke aloha i na makua, kupuna, `ohana kekahi i kokua me ka lole, ka lei, ka pena`ana, ka ho`onaninani `ana i ke kahua, ke kukui a me na mea `e a`e e pono ai no ka hana keaka - `a`ole he hana nui ke alu `ia! Mahalo, mahalo mahalo. A i ka Hui Makua no ka ho`omakaukau `ana i ka mea `ai i ku`ai aku `ia – na `ohana i ha`awi manawale`a – ke aloha pau`ole.

Na makou,
Na Kumu Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapu`u: `Opu`ulani Albino, Kaleo LenWai, Kehau Orlando, Henohea Linker, Loke Han, Pili`ana Nae`ole-Starkey, Kamalu Poepoe

Posted in Community, Education, Hawaiian Culture, Island Youth, Letters

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Aka`ula Thankful for Community Support

Monday, December 20th, 2010

Aka`ula School would like to acknowledge and thank the community for your great support and attendance at our most recent fundraiser, Ku Ka Lau Lama (To Stand In The Light) held at Hotel Molokai on Dec. 4. Our Winter Wonderland event was elegant, fun, and enjoyable in every way. Indeed, it was a great success and attendees are looking forward to attending next year’s event.

Posted in Community, Education, Island Youth, Letters

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Anything But Elementary

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

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Swim Team Bounces Back

Inquiring Minds

Helm Voted Coach of the Year

Molokai High Paddling Starts Strong

Na Mo`olelo Kalikimaka

Students Today, Leaders Tomorrow

Aloha e na lehulehu o Molokai nui a Hina!

Aka`ula Thankful for Community Support

Anything But Elementary

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Advertising

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Education

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