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Education

Treading Water

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

Treading Water

Construction at Cooke Memorial Pool in Kaunakakai could not have come at a worse time for the Molokai High School (MHS) swim team.

The team normally practices at Cooke, which closed early last month for renovations to the facilities’ roof, surrounding walkways and locker rooms. Now, more than two weeks into the season, swimmers still haven’t been in a pool.

The team didn’t hear about the pool closing until late September when the county announced the construction. With limited options, coach Jessie Ford went looking for a private pool large enough – regulation size is 25 yards long – for the team to practice in.

After a month of searching, she found a resident on the west end with a two-lane 50 meter-long lap pool wiling to help out.

Problem solved? Not so fast.

Practicing on property not owned by the county or school carries too many risks, said MHS Athletic Director Camie Kimball.

“We run into liabilities issues with that,” she said, adding that the offer – though generous – probably won’t work.

Kimball said she is talking with the county about the team’s options, which could include getting into Cooke before construction is complete. The pool’s concrete perimeter was recently torn up to install new plumbing for the locker rooms.

“Right now, it’s not really safe to have anyone up there,” said Mike Mangca, recreation leader at Cooke.

The pool could reopen before construction is complete as soon as the area is cleared of “hazardous conditions,” according to Stephen Grogan, a Parks and Recreation planner. This could be as early as Thanksgiving, he added optimistically. 

Grogan said the county tried to schedule the construction to have “the least amount of impact.”

“There’s no time that has no impact,” he said. The pool’s busy season is the summer and swimming lessons are in the fall, so October to December was a rare “window of opportunity.” Construction is expected to be complete by the end of next month.

Despite the lack of pool time, Ford said she has not written the season off, instead filling practices with running, weigh lifting and yoga to improve the swimmers’ balance.

“A lot of that stuff is really good preparation for getting into the water… I’ll just keep them sweating,” she added.

Still, at some point they have to start swimming. If they’re not in the pool by mid-December, Ford said she would be “hesitant” to compete.

Many Maui swimmers they face in competition train year round, so MHS swimmers are already at a disadvantage. Still, the team is trying to stay positive.

This is junior Gyson Aalona’s third year on the team. As frustrating as the situation is, he said he doesn’t think a few weeks without swimming will be a detriment to the season. 

“We’ve always been at a disadvantage, and we did good last year…I think we have a pretty good chance,” he said.

“All we can do is stay optimistic and do the best with we’ve got,” Ford added.

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A Time to Celebrate

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

A Time to Celebrate

The scene at the Maunaloa Recreation Center last Wednesday gave little hint of the years-long struggle to secure the future of Maunaloa Elementary School.

Music drifted out the door and down the block, where kids escaped to laugh and play in the last few minutes of sunlight.

The only cues of the community’s campaign were the hand-made protest signs that lined the hall’s walls – “Keiki Our Future,” “Save Maunaloa School.”

After all the hand-wringing and worrying over the school’s fate, still grappling with the disappointment of Molokai Ranch shuttering its operations there, Maunaloa residents were relived to have a reason to celebrate.

The event was meant as a thank-you to the community, said Maunaloa Principal Joe Yamamoto, whose support helped convince the Board of Education (BOE) that consolidating the school with Kaunakakai Elementary roughly 18 miles away was not the answer.

“It’s been our message throughout -- you take away the school, you take away the heart of the community,” Yamamoto said. “It’s a hub.”

Despite improving tests scores and its meeting federal benchmarks under No Child Left Behind, the state targeted the school for consolidation, looking to save at least $270,000 a year, according to official estimates.

In September, after two years of back-and-forth between the BOE, state officials and Maunaloa residents, the board voted unanimously to keep the school open with its full staff intact, swayed largely by the outpouring of community support for the school.

“It was really overwhelming throughout the whole process,” said Elly Abafo, an educational assistant at the school. She was also a student at Maunaloa, as were her mother, children and now grandchildren.

Many at last week’s banquet likened the school to a second home for its 71 students, who all know their classmates, teachers and principal.

“It makes learning fun up here cause there’s only little bit kids,” said student Keola Sotelo-Mellokeanini.

Nearby, Leilani Kaina, whose daughter Johalei Kaina-Kahoalii, 5, is in kindergarten at the school, said she feels more comfortable sending her to a school closer to home.

“Everybody is one big ohana so parents don’t have to worry about the kids being safe,” Kaina said. Avoiding the drive to Kaunakakai every morning is also a relief, she laughed.

The school’s closure would not just have hurt its students and parents. Jonathan Espaniola, who works in the school cafeteria, said the staff was “very nervous” throughout the process.

With a limited business base, finding new jobs in Maunaloa would have been difficult. The town is still hurting over two years after Molokai Ranch shed 120 jobs in a single day, primarily in Maunoloa and on the west end. The school closing would have meant yet another blow to employment there.

But for now, workers like Espaniola are safe – and couldn’t be happier.

“I still have a job!” he said excitedly.

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MHS’ Adolpho Signs with Warriors

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

MHS’ Adolpho Signs with Warriors

Molokai High School senior Kalei Adolpho signed with the University of Hawaii (UH) last week, formally accepting a full scholarship to play for the Warriors women’s basketball team next year.

The six-foot-one-inch Adolpho said she felt “excited, honored, nervous” about playing for UH. She had been in talks with recruiters since her freshman year and made a verbal commitment to the school last year.

Finally, last Wednesday, surrounded by her Farmers coaches, classmates and family, Adolpho signed a national letter of intent, making her commitment official.

“University of Hawaii should be very proud of what they’re getting… A kid like Kalei doesn’t come around very much,” said basketball coach Mike Hooper.

Adolpho will also play for the UH volleyball team next year.

During her career at MHS, Adolpho lettered in basketball, volleyball and track and field. As a junior, she was named the league’s Female Athlete of the Year.

Last month, she helped the girls’ volleyball team capture its first state title, capping off a 12-0 season.

Adolpho’s mom, Vesta, said it is a relief to have the commitment on paper.

“There was never really any question of where she was going to go,” she said.

Adolpho will be attending UH Manoa and has not declared her major.

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Tutu Talk

Friday, November 12th, 2010

Tutu Talk

Community Contributed

Column by Tutu and Me

It is important to note that children’s perception of music follow their development. For example, newborn babies begin life by developing trust versus mistrust in the environment. They are soothed by quiet singing and rocking, which helps them formulate trust. They are frightened by scary sounds, which lead to mistrust.
By the time a child reaches ages two to three, they show increased language development, and can jump, run and walk to music. At this age, children learn and enjoy action songs.

Children use songs and rhythms to communicate their thoughts and feelings. Music heightens children’s listening skills. Music fosters a positive self-image by helping children feel successful in musical activities. Many songs focus on children.


At Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool, we give children many opportunities to explore music through singing, dancing, playing instruments, and creating bodily movements.

Try This at Home:
•    Sing familiar songs with your child every day
•    Make a homemade kazoo – secure wax paper at one end of a toilet paper roll with a rubber band. Blow through the open end while humming a tune.
•    Make a homemade tambourine – place rice or beans between two paper plates, secure the edges of the plates with tape. Shake the tambourine with one hand or tap it with the heel of the other hand. Beware of the choking hazard of the beans.
•    Make a homemade drum – cover and decorate the outside of an empty coffee can. Replace the lid and beat with hands or wooden spoons.
•    Make homemade sand blocks – glue coarse sand paper to two smooth blocks of wood. Rub the blocks together to make music.
•    Play classical music for you and your child. Bach is a good choice.
•    Dance to music with your keiki.

Remember: Music is important in the lives of children
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.

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Maunaloa Heads to Mo`omomi

Friday, November 12th, 2010

Maunaloa Heads to Mo`omomi

Community Contributed

‘It Was Classic’
By Maria Angst
In the morning, we drove in cars to Mo`omomi and it was bumpy.  We were going up, down, and side to side. It was classic!
As we walked on the footpath, we saw a white native plant.  It is soft and fluffy.  It only grows at Mo`omomi.  It is called `ena `ena.
At Mo`omomi beach we saw flags that marked where the shear water bird nests were. We saw a baby sheer water bird. The bird looked like a grayish cotton ball. The shear water bird also has a short wedge tail. It rested peacefully under a flat rock.
Next, we ate lunch in a cave that looked like an upside down sand dune. It looked spectacular! Uncle Ed gave us juice to drink because we listened and paid attention. On our hike, we also saw tree snail fossils. We learned that the ancient Hawaiian people ate turtle, and that there are deer at Mo`omomi.
Last, we picked rubbish from the beach.  There were bottles, cans, floaters, toothbrushes, and lots of plastic.  Birds think the rubbish is food and eat them and they die. 

Lesson Learned
By Vaai Seumalo
When we went to Mo`omomi beach, we learned that Uncle Ed and his crew cut down the kiawe trees to help the native plants. 
We looked at the native wedge-tail shear water birds.  We learned that sometimes monk seals come to the beach.  A long time ago, there were many green turtles that would also come to Mo`omomi beach.  Hawaiian used to eat the turtle that they caught.  They also ate crabs and fish.
At Mo`omomi, there are different kinds of rocks.  There are sandstones, imu stones, and stones used for tools.
We picked up some rubbish.  Uncle Ed said that some boaters dump their rubbish in the sea and it ends up on our beach.
I enjoyed my Mo`omomi Beach fieldtrip!

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Room to Grow

Thursday, November 11th, 2010

Aka`ula School plans to add high school grades, starting with ninth grade next fall.

Administrators at the private school, which currently teaches grades five through eight, are weighing the option of adding grades 10 through 12 at the same time or in subsequent years.

The school would likely hire another full-time teacher, part-time support staff and incorporate some online instruction, said Head of School Vicki Newberry. The school plans to hold a community meeting next month to present more detailed expansion plans.

The idea is to start small.

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Pharmers, Gleeks Win Big

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

Pharmers, Gleeks Win Big

UPDATE – Three Molokai teams have advanced to states – the Molokai Forget-me-Nots were given a spot at the state tournament to represent Maui County.

Last weekend, a collective group of Molokai keiki proved they had the creativity and innovative minds to not only design and program robots, but actively create solutions to real problems using science and technology.

At Hawaii’s FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League competition on Maui, 40 Molokai students ages 9 to 14 competed against 20 other teams in a challenge that explored biomedical engineering.

Two of Molokai’s seven teams, the Kaunakakai Pharmers and Molokai Gleeks, earned themselves spots at the contest’s state championship set for Dec. 11 on Oahu.

“They got started in March and have been working hard ever since,” said Pharmers coach Heidi Jenkins. “They’ve put in about 600 hours.”

This year’s challenge was judged on teamwork, a robot design and performance, and a project that required kids to research a community health care problem and produce viable solutions.

The

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Tutu’s Corner

Friday, November 5th, 2010

Tutu’s Corner

Community Contributed

Column by Tutu and Me

The Hawaiian value ho`omaika`i means to be grateful or thankful.  It is very important to teach the attitude of gratitude to our children. There are so many things to be thankful for: healthy children, gainful employment, food, a place to live, a happy family, friends, and good health in general. Peace, kindness, goodwill, to name a few. A little known secret about gratitude: the increase in blessings is proportionate to the increased gratitude that a person possesses.

At Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool, we are thankful everyday to be able to bring such a wonderful program to our community. We truly appreciate the families who participate in this program with us. By modeling our attitude of gratitude through words and deeds, we hope that our keiki will begin to imitate, learn and practice.


Try this at Home:
•    Teach your children to say mahalo or thank you. Help them to appreciate things that are given to or done for them.
•    Model gratitude; let them see and hear you thanking others for their kindness.
•    Write or create thank you cards together when someone gives them a gift.
•    Know that it’s okay to not give your child everything that they ask for. Help your child appreciate things more by allowing them to work for, or wait for some things.
•    Let your child hear your daily acknowledgements of blessings, such as being thankful for their good health, rain, sunshine, etc.

Remember, children who learn to be grateful and appreciative will grow up to be adults who enjoy the fruits of gratitude: bountiful blessings.

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.

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School Considers Dress for Success

Friday, November 5th, 2010

Kaunakakai Elementary School is starting the process to get uniforms – after a request by a student.

“I was on my way to an SCC [School Community Council] meeting last year when a student on the playground asked, ‘why can’t we have uniforms?’” said Principal Janice Espiritu.

So she brought it in front of the SCC, who has been moving the idea along ever since.

Acting head of the uniform committee is parent and SCC representative Kelly Go, who sent a letter to all families that attend Kaunakakai, polling for their opinion.

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Teaching ‘Simple Agriculture’

Friday, November 5th, 2010

Teaching ‘Simple Agriculture’

Community Contributed

By Alison Place

Simply defined, horticulture means “cultivation of gardens” or “simple agriculture without many tools.” And Mondays and Tuesdays after school at Kilohana Elementary, first through sixth grade students are attending this hands-on and interactive class – allowing them to get down and dirty with plants, soil and worms.

Val Hart began the class in August, teaching her 16 students about soil sampling. They tested the garden’s soil and found the soil’s pH is seven – perfect for the native Hawaiian garden and herb garden they were planning behind the school. One of the first projects they worked on was creating a compost box. They practiced vermicomposting using red wigglers. The group also studied wind to determine the proper placement of plants in gardens.

“Using worms and microorganisms to turn food waste into compost is called vermiculture,” said sixth grader Jake Samaniego. “It can be done anywhere in the world, and is one of the best fertilizers for your garden.”

Their vermi worms did not all survive outdoors, so the students turned it into a bug and worm box instead. They use this bug box to collect specimens to observe under microscopes. Once the bugs were identified, the students researched them to determine if they were helpful to the garden or not. Students regularly feed the worms and bugs to keep their specimens alive.

“I enjoy working with slimy worms. I like learning about soil, worms and plants,” said first grader Maya Lima.

Students have learned that technology plays an important role in the science of horticulture and vermicomposting. They have learned to incorporate computers for research; digital cameras and high definition video cameras to gather data; and learned to use microscopes with video capabilities and soil sampling kits. Some of this equipment has been made available through the loaning library of the Maui Economic Development Board Women in Technology program. The soil sampling kits were made available through the Digital Bus program. The class is funded by the 21st Century Grant “Connecting Molokai M’s: Me, My Mind, My Mana`o.”

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