• Failure notice from provider:
    Connection Error:http_request_failed

  • Submission Deadlines

    Advertising

    Thursday 4pm

    January 29, 2026

    Content

    Friday 4pm

    January 30, 2026

    To print on:

    Wednesday

    February 4, 2026

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

Education

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.

Posted in , , comments1 Comments

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.

Posted in , comments1 Comments

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.

Posted in , comments1 Comments

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.

Posted in comments1 Comments

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.

Posted in , comments1 Comments

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.

Posted in , comments2 Comments

Tutu’s Corner

Sunday, October 10th, 2010

Tutu’s Corner

Community Contributed
Column by Tutu and Me

Why is it so important to give children choices? Young children don’t have much control over their environment. However, as children get older and become more independent, they will have to make choices without adults being present to guide them. That is why it’s important to give even young children the opportunity to make reasonable and appropriate choices.

In certain instances, such as health and safety, there is no choice. Children must adhere to certain limits, such as holding an adult’s hand when crossing the street. But in other areas, there is room to provide a choice. It’s usually best to give the child a choice of just two items; more than that may be confusing and overwhelming.

Try this at Home:
•    Give your keiki a choice of two shirts or two pairs of pants when they get dressed in the morning: “You can wear the red one or the blue one.”
•    Give your child a choice of two healthy vegetables at dinnertime.
•    Let your child choose the book you will read to them.
•    Let your child choose which activity they’d like to do.  For example, doing a puzzle or coloring.  When children choose their activity, they are more invested in it and learn more from it.

Remember…
Giving your child choices lets them have some reasonable and appropriate control over their environment and helps prepare them for more difficult choices later on in life.

Posted in , comments1 Comments

Aka`ula Race Results

Sunday, October 10th, 2010

Community Contributed
By Luke Kikukawa

The second race in the three-race Molokai cross-country run series was held Saturday, October 2 on the 3.5 mile Coffee's of Hawaii course. Field size was small with seven runners taking on the off-road challenge. The mid-course hill served again as the determining factor in final result positions. This time however, it was not the uphill portion, but rather the return run back down and around that separated the runners. The runs are being organized by myself, Luke, and Tanner Mosher, to fundraise for our school trip to Japan in the spring with Aka`ula School.

Race Results:
1. Sue Forbes – 27:40
2. Jesse Ford – 28:23
3. Chavis Purdy – 29:37
4. Ryan Link – 30:44
5. Frank Magri – 31:40

Posted in , , comments1 Comments

Not Vexed at VEX Tournament

Sunday, October 10th, 2010

Community Contributed

By Michael Onofrio
 
This weekend the Molokai High School VEX Robotics Team was pleased to be part of the third annual Maui County VEX Regional Robotics Competition. This year’s theme was “Round-Up”.

VEX Round Up is played on a 12 by 12 inch square. Molokai was represented by two teams, which competed in matches consisting of a 20-second autonomous period, followed by two minutes of driver-controlled play.

The competition was held at the Baldwin High School gym on Saturday, Oct. 2. Out of 24 teams from 13 schools, MHS ranked 6th (8th) and 21st (19th) place. Unfortunately, we had to leave before the final round to catch the ferry back to Molokai.

Posted in , , comments1 Comments

For Love of the Game

Sunday, October 10th, 2010

For Love of the Game

For the first time in nearly 50 years, Molokai High School athletes stepped out on the gridiron in T-shirts and cleats to play a sport once lost and now restored – football.

A team of 19 guys traveled to Maui last weekend to compete with Seabury Hall and St. Anthony in a “Jamboree” scrimmage as part of an eight-man football undertaking.

The boys played three rounds in 20-minute rotations, essentially playing each team three times. Players wore no helmets or padding, and were therefore held to one-hand touch.

Molokai “handily” defeated Seabury in all three games, with the defense not allowing the Spartans to score a single touchdown. At Kulamalu Pop Warner Field, Molokai quarterback Jordan Kamalii led a fierce offense, uniting with Jordan Gorospe and Raymond Lightfoot-Lani on several touchdowns.

“They dominated,” said Head Coach Mike Kahale. “I was extremely proud of how the boys played.”

challenging opponent,” Kahale added.

In their third game, Molokai players redeemed themselves in a 22-6 upset over the Trojans. Kahale highlighted the athleticism of Hauoli Falealii, who caught four touchdown passes throughout the day.

“Overall it was a very successful day,” Kahale said. “The boys felt good about their performance.”

A second scrimmage is set for Oct. 23 on Maui against the same two teams, which so far will be one-hand touch rules. On Oct. 30, Molokai will host its first exhibition game against St. Anthony, to be played in full pads.

Mahalo Molokai Football Supporters

It was history in the making as our boys hit the football field for the first time in over 50 years. Our first games against Seabury Hall and St. Anthony were a success!

First and foremost I’d like to thank the athletes. You persevered with this new football program even in the midst of criticism and skepticism. Thanks for sticking it out!  Wiwo`ole, Kupono, Lokahi!  Also, thank you parents for encouraging your child to think long-term and stick with the vision. 

Mahalo coaches Hanohano Naehu, Kaleo Pua`a and David Lima for your investment into the lives of our players.

Thank you Molokai community for buying Krispy Kreme doughnuts. This helped us travel to our first game. Sorry for the delay in delivery – we wanted to make sure you received the freshest doughnuts possible. Mahalo to the Molokai Princess crew for transporting the doughnuts.

To QLCC, Molokai Drugs, Kamoi Snack-N-Go and individual donors – a big mahalo for helping us get some new football helmets. To Al Paschoal, St. Anthony A.D., your support helped us get on the fast track so that our boys can practice/play in full pads this year.
   
We are still looking for financial support and investors in our football program. We are in need of monies for travel, suiting our players and a storage container to house all of our equipment. Please feel free to contact me at Molokai Farmers Football Fund, P.O. Box 254, Kualapu`u, HI 96757; by phone at 658-0834; or e-mail mikekahale@yahoo.com.

Coach Mike Kahale

Posted in , comments2 Comments