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Education

‘Another Year in the Books’

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

‘Another Year in the Books’

The three-mile course was muddy and hilly, and the weather was hot. But the Molokai cross county runners held their own at the high school cross country state championships last Thursday in Waipahu, Oahu.

The boys’ team sent two of their three qualified runners – Akona Adolpho didn’t attend due to illness. Senior Kevin Dudoit, a third-year state qualifier, ran 18:38.75 to place 57th overall, and sophomore and second-year qualifier Isreal Adolpho ran 21:07.85 for 151st place.

“They did good – kind of what I expected,” said boys’ coach Mahinahou Ross. “A good experience for Kevin – he was really steady and consistent throughout the season.”

Last year, Dudoit got 82nd. He credits his higher place this year to more miles ran at practice.

“I think I just ran harder [at states] because this year’s my last year,” he said.

Ross said after graduating some of his best runners over the past few years, he hopes to qualify as a team again with five runners returning next year.

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The girls’ coach Kelly Go said this was a good season, and a learning experience “for us both” – this was her first season coaching and she had a few first-time runners.

“Another year in the books,” Ross summed up.

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Shooting for Next Year

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010

Shooting for Next Year

Molokai sent four girls to compete at the air riflery state championships last week in Honolulu – and they’re already planning a return trip next year.

“The girls out there, they were a lot higher, but at least we know what to aim for,” said junior Kayla Matson. “We want to place next year.”

The Lady Farmers placed seventh in the team competition. Matson, who was the top female shooter at the Maui Interscholastic League championships last month, came in 33rd in the individual competition with a score of 467 out of 600. (For the championships, shooters did one round of prone, standing and kneeling each.) 

Junior Chelsea Simon finished 35th with 463, junior Nika Mendija finished 40th with 418 and freshman Mia Mendija finished 41st with 413.

“Their experience at the states gave them more of an appreciation of where they’re at and where they need to be,” said coach David Kalani, adding that all the girls plan on returning to the team next year.

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Cross Country Represent at State Championship

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

Cross Country Represent at State Championship

Molokai will be represented by four runners at this year’s state cross country meet, after both boys and girls Farmers placed 5th at the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) championships last weekend.

The boys’ team, with 122 points, placed fifth out of eight schools, and are sending three runners to race in Oahu. Teams must place in the top two to send the entire team to the state meet.

Senior Kevin Dudoit led the pack, placing eighth with 18:05.21. On his heels was teammate Akona Adolpho at 18:45.94, who placed 17th, and Isreal Adolpho at 24th with 19:12.75.

All three boys qualified for states last year, bringing in a close 11th place finish.

“[This year] was a good season – hard training and practice,” Dudoit said, adding his goal for the state meet is to run in 18 minutes flat.


 “I think she had a great run,” said coach Kelly Go. “She has a few days to recover and get ready for her final run of the season.”

The Hawaii High School Athletic Association Cross Country championships will be held at Waipahu, Oahu, on Thursday, Oct. 28.

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Tutu’s Corner

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

It is not uncommon for toddlers and young preschoolers to throw temper tantrums – crying, screaming and thrashing about.

Tantrums can be caused by frustration: your keiki wants something he can’t have, or his language ability is not developed enough to express his needs. Your child may be more vulnerable to tantrums when he is tired, hungry, bored or transitioning from one activity to another.

Try this to prevent temper tantrums:
•    Always bring a snack and a toy or book with you when you go out.
•    Give your child reasonable and appropriate choices, so that he has some control over his environment.
•    If you sense a tantrum coming on, redirect your keiki to another activity.

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Disaster Relief

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Disaster Relief

Anxiety attacks, severed limbs and third-degree burns were treated during a mock plane crash at Ho`olehua airport’s triennial emergency training simulation last Thursday.

As students from Aka`ula School tapped into their dramatization skills, the Federal Aviation Administration tested airport staff and Molokai’s police and fire departments for their compliance with emergency regulations.  The exercise also analyzed the communication between local emergency responders and their county and state counterparts.

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The Paniolo Way

Monday, October 25th, 2010

The Paniolo Way

Kapua Lee casts a firm grip around a calf’s neck as it wildly bucks for freedom during the mugging portion of Saturday’s rodeo at Molokai Ranch Arena.

Dozens of keiki, young adults, women and men tightened their buckles and slipped on their boots to participate in a rodeo put on by the Kamakana family. For some, it was their first time barrel racing, calf mugging or navigating a horse through weaving poles.

The next rodeo is scheduled for Nov. 13 and is open to anyone.

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Bull’s Eye

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

Shoot-shoot-shoot!

They’ve been saying it all season, and last week the Molokai High School air riflery team did just that, topping the girls’ division at last Saturday’s Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) championships. They finished first overall with 1,733, the combine score of the team’s top four finishers.

“They tore them to pieces,” said coach David Kalani. “They said ‘Molokai?’ Yes, Molokai! We’re here.”

The Lady Farmers beat out second place St. Anthony with 1,702 and third place Maui High with 1,664.

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School Uniforms Get Mixed Reviews

Monday, October 18th, 2010

School Uniforms Get Mixed Reviews

no meetings, no nothing.”

Mokuau disagreed, saying the SCC has been considering the uniform policy for years and kept parents informed throughout the process. Information was included in report cards, back-to-school packets and printed in the Dispatch as early as March 2009. A parent representative on the SCC even called parents of incoming freshmen to alert them to the change.

“It was not something that just happened the first day of school,” Mokuau said. 

Uniforms became mandatory on Sept. 1, a month after school started. They are meant to maintain a safe campus, improve education environment and enhance school pride, according to Mokuau.

Students can choose from four colors and three designs, but all are polo shirts. The new dress code also requires bottoms be no more than three inches above the knee.

“It’s not like every person looks the same,” Mokuau said.

Shirts cost $11-16. On Aloha Fridays, students are free to wear what they chose as long as its within dress code policy.

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Leaders in Waiting

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

Leaders in Waiting

.”

“This is our responsibility,” added Alex Gilliland, 13, who wrote the group’s vision statement.

Heavy Lifting
Asking a group of pre-teens to set the agenda for economic growth or education reform is not easy. The students said it took a few days for them to understand how to work together and flush out their ideas.

“I knew we were going to work,” said Decker Bicoy, 11, “but…”

“It was hard at first,” Tamanaha finished.

The students were also divided along school lines – the group included Aka`ula, Kualapu`u School, Kilohana Elementary and Molokai Middle School students, as well as one home-schooled student.

“It amazes me on such a small island that we polarize by community,” Newberry said. Fortunately, she added, in close quarters the students couldn’t help but bond. “Then the walls came down and it was a cohesive group with a vision.”

Christina Nakihei, 10, was one of two students from Kualapu`u School at the summit. She said at first it was scary being thrown into a group of kids she didn’t know, but by the end she felt at home.

“I just made friends with them this whole week!”

Yes We Can
The week wasn’t all work and no play – in between panels and visioning sessions, the kids fit in rounds of star gazing, campfire stories and hikes through Pu`u O Hoku’s grounds.

“Last night I stayed up way past bedtime,” Gilliland boasted.

On Friday, parents were invited to the lodge for a small reception. The students read the goals they had drafted and gushed about their week.

“I think this will be one of the experiences in my life that I never forget,” Hannah Alt, 11, told the crowd.

The group plans to reassemble quarterly to revaluate their vision and annually to host a multicultural festival. In 10 years, it will come together again to mentor a new group of Molokai students at the next Youth Visioning Project.

Until then, the students said, it’s up to them to effect change.

“We want the people of Molokai to see our vision and try to reach these goals,” said Kori-Lee DeRouin, 11.

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Lady Farmers Smash Maui, Lanai Teams

Monday, October 11th, 2010

Lady Farmers Smash Maui, Lanai Teams

After a week-long break packed with six off-island matches, the Molokai High School girls’ volleyball team returned home Sunday as the top seed for this weekend’s Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Division II tournament.

The Lady Farmers’ week began on Oahu with two exhibition games against top-ranked Punahou and No. 1 Kamehameha last Monday and Tuesday. Molokai (7-0) was swept by Punahou in four tough sets, 28-26, 25-23, 25-11, 15-13, before losing to Kamehameha, 27-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-22.

“We pulled off one set from Kamehameha,” said head coach Matt Helm. “We got the opportunity to start seeing competition that we don’t see in practice. It’s good for us.”

was the best game,” Helm said. “They were tall, big, had good ball control. It was a good test for us.”

Seven days and several matches later, Helm said the girls had a positive off-island experience and bonded as a team.

“When we travel, they get the opportunity to bond and come together,” he added. “It allows them to play even better.”

The team will make its way back to Maui on Thursday to face off with the winner of a Lanai and St. Anthony match in the MIL Division II tournament.

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