Aka`ula School Receives Large Grant from OHA
Aka`ula School News Release
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Molokai High School students won’t have to fuss over what to wear to class next year. Their options just grew slimmer.
On March 12 the School Community Council (SCC) passed a new edict that will require students to wear uniforms – aiming to take effect during the 2010-11 school year.
Rodney Nelson, MHS math teacher and SCC member, said the 11-2 vote in favor of uniforms stemmed from the overall belief that mandatory dress instills a positive and professional learning environment.
“Various studies have shown that uniforms bring a decrease in violence, students attending class more, less write-ups, uniformity and school spirit,” he said. “The SCC deals with educational impact. These are the kinds of things we look at when making decisions.”
Molokai High School Goes to Washington D.C.
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Community Contributed by Diane Mokuau
Following a 17-year tradition, 17 Molokai High School students and three co-advisors left Friday, March 12, 2010 for Washington D.C. to participate in the Close Up program.
Since 1990, Molokai High School students and their families have raised thousands of dollars to annually travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in this exciting program. At Close Up students and their teacher-chaperones explore the inner workings of Washington, meet with elected officials – such as Senators Inouye and Akaka and Representative Hirono – policy experts and media, and live and learn with peers from across the country.
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For these students during their weeklong stay, Washington will become a living classroom.
Twenty-nine high and middle schools from Hawaii will participate in Close Up 2010 with Molokai High School having the largest participation at 17 students.
To follow the Close Up groups’ daily happenings, go to http://www.molokai.k12.hi.us/, click on the school logo, and locate the Close Up site. Students will be posting their reactions and reflections day-by-day.
Come join them on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at the Molokai High School Library where the students will be able to show their appreciation to their parents and the Molokai community for their support. They will share what they’ve seen and learned in Washington, DC in a multimedia format that will recount stories and behind-the-scene efforts that made Close Up 2010 a mobile community of learners for the Molokai community.
Mo`omomi Meandering
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By Maluhia Mendes-Medeiros, with Kealakai Alcon
From a series by O Hina I Ka Malama (Molokai High School Hawaiian immersion students) which focuses on place-based scientific inquiry.
Welina mai me ke aloha e na makamaka ‘o Molokai nei. ‘O Maluhia Mendes-Medeiros ko’u inoa. A ‘o Kealakai Alcon ko’u hoa pakana. I keia makahiki pili ko maua pahana ‘epekema I ka ‘aina ‘o Mo`omomi.
Aloha, my name is Maluhia Mendes-Medeiros. With my partner Kealakai Alcon, we focused our project this year on Mo`omomi.
First quarter we did a project, based upon the limu of Mo`omomi. We were required to create a booklet, model, and power point. We had the privilege of taking a field trip to Mo’omomi to gather specimens for our research.
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We have to keep in mind that we should only take what we need, and preserve for our future generations. The removal of invasive limu is an advantage, because it creates a less stressful environment allowing native limu to re-generate and re-populate.
Limu is one of the main food sources for our native fish. Without limu the life cycle of the oceans ecosystem diminish, and native species as well as many others would die off. It is very important to preserve our limu of Hawaii.
Our second quarter project focused on invertebrates of Mo`omomi. On a return visit we observed invertebrates found along the shoreline and collected specimens such as Sea Cucumbers, Wana, and ‘Opihi. In school we dissected them to observe and study their body parts. Overall this quarter we learned about invertebrate diets, habitats, purposes, and uses.
On a third trip to Mo`omomi we studied fish, so we went diving and saw them in their own habitat. We also observed tide pool fish and gathered some of them to bring back to our classroom aquarium.
We enjoy place-based learning because it allows us to be better involved and engaged in the task at hand. Place based learning allows for hands-on activities providing a more fun learning environment for students, and we learn about our culture and develop Hawaiian skills that our kupuna use. Throughout these trips we learned skills that can help us in our future.
We would like to say mahalo to Mac Poepoe, Mervin Dudoit, and The Hui Malama O Mo’omomi for the transportation and access to the facilities.
Mahalo nui loa no ka ho’olohe ana mai. I na he ninau kau, mai hilahila e noe aku. Mai na Haumana ame na Kumu ‘o ‘O Hina I Ka Malama.
Eco-Students Ignite Action
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Nothing breaks up a monotonous school year better than a field trip. In the name of science and sustainability, Aka`ula School makes it their business to provide students with three such trips. Their PRISM program provides “real life application” to environmental issues, inspiring kids to tackle a range of issues from illegal hunting to carrying on Hawaiian sailing traditions.
“Kids this age are always told they can’t – can’t drive, can’t vote,” said Dara Lukonen, coordinator for PRISM. “They have a strong sense of social justice that we need to capitalize [on].”
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Another part of the symposium is a keynote speaker – a community member who has done their own work in an environmental field for Molokai. This year Penny Martin spoke about her experience sailing in the Hokule`a, a full-scale replica of a Polynesian voyaging canoe, in 1976. She said she discovered how much the ancient Polynesians and Hawaiians knew about nature – stars, tides, botany – and how it helped them sail from Oceanic islands to the Hawaiian islands over a thousand years ago.
“Everything you need is here,” she explained. “If you take care of the land, it takes care of you.”
Adult Daycare Moves Forward
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After resolving a four-year parking lot issue, the adult daycare program at Home Pumehana has been granted a step forward. The Molokai Planning Commission (MPC) voted unanimously to extend the county special use permit to Hale Mahaolu. Hale Mahaolu is landlord of the Home Pumehana retirement center in Kaunakakai - the facility which would house the program.
Vice-chair Steven Chaikin said the planned facility is a valuable service to the community.
“Obviously [Molokai’s] adult daycare needs are going to continue,” he said.
The application was filed in 2006, but halted when off-site parking could not be appropriately consolidated into the area. The County of Maui resolved the issue, but due to the length of time, the permit was set to expire in July 2016.
Commissioner John Sprinzel suggested extending the permit, starting from this year, to give the permit a full 10 years. MPC agreed and voted to extend the special use permit to July 2020.
Extending Home Pumehana into a daycare requires an additional license, which Judy Mikami of Na Pu`uwai said is still pending. Na Pu`uwai, a community-based health organization, will be staffing the new center.
Students Visit Commission
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“It’s great to see you engaged and involved in the process,” Chaikin said. “You are the future of this island.” He also encouraged them to voice their thoughts at the next Molokai Community Plan, a public event every 10 to 20 years.
As one commissioner who became active in Molokai affairs at the same age as these students, Mikiala Pescaia was proud to see them get involved as well.
“I look forward to seeing you one day sitting in this seat,” she said.
Commissioner Resigns
Chaikin also announced that commissioner Teri Waros, owner of Kalele Bookstore and Divine Expressions, offered her resignation. Waros stated that scheduling conflicts were the reason for her resignation.
Close-Up with the Close-Up Keiki
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After a rocky start, which included 12-hours of delays through Honolulu and Chicago, the Close Up group made it to Washington D.C. on March 13!
The group of 17 keiki has visited quite a bit of D.C.! The White House – although they weren’t able to go inside – memorials, some of the Smithsonian Museums, and met with Hawaii’s Senators Inouye and Akaka and Represenative Hirono.
Check out their photos and the messages straight from the students’ mouth: at the Close Up website.
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Math Day Rocks
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Community Contributed
By Linda Venenciano, Kelli Ching, Monique Chyba & Joshua Kaakua
There was no warning of an impending natural disaster on March 6, but something extraordinary was underway. A team of 28 University of Hawai’i mathematics, engineering, and science students and faculty led approximately 70 keiki and their grown-up in hands-on activities, inspiring them to pursue STEM (science-technology-engineering-mathematics). Ten different 30-minute activities were created—“Airplanes and Brains” had kids craft superior paper airplanes; tangram puzzles encouraged kids to use geometric skills to solve problems; Lego robotics led kids in building and programming robots; and a favorite among the younger ones was the building of 3-D structures using candies and toothpicks.
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Attendees of the event had comments like, “We should have more activities and make it longer,” “It lets me use my strengths I never got to use,” “It was good and fun to us,” “Math Day Rocks,” and “I hope we have another math day!”
There was one suggestion for a STEM competition between the Moloka‘i students and the college students. Look out UH Rainbows, the Farmers are calling you out!
The organizers of the event initiated plans to continue STEM mentoring on Moloka‘i. The NSF-funded SUPER-M project will provide a fellowship to a mathematics graduate student as she brings modern mathematics research to Moloka‘i schools. This is scheduled to begin in the 2010-11 school year. For more information about SUPER-M see http://www2.math.hawaii.edu/superm.
Another effort to promote STEM mentoring is being led by the NHSEMP. The program aims to encourage more students from Native Hawaiian communities to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. NHSEMP is exploring the possibility of returning to build computers with Moloka‘i students. NHSEMP was also responsible for the generous iTouch, iPod, and iShuffle raffle prize donations. For more information see http://nhsemp.eng.hawaii.edu/.
Support for this event came from the UH Student Equity, Excellence, and Diversity Office but this would not have happened without additional support from various entities on Moloka‘i. The organizers would like to extend a huge MAHALO NUI LOA to the folks who helped make this event a success through their enthusiasm, tireless efforts, and generous contributions: The Venenciano Ohana and Lisa Takata and Ohana for hosting the group; Moana Dudoit, Raquel Dudoit and the Dudoit bus service and sound system; Shannon (U‘i) Lima, the Gear-Up Project, Kelly Dudoit, Tanya Mendija for funding the dinner-meeting; Rachel Adshire, Keala Hula and Ana Madela for preparing us the dinner, running the sign-in table and many, many other details; MHS Principal Denise Kelly, Mr. Johnathan Smith, Mrs. Malia Lee and the MHS student volunteers; Joshy (Boy) Pastrana for hosting NHSEMP in Halawa valley, Kimberly Svetin for her incredible PR efforts; the County of Maui, Moloka‘i Parks and Recreation Department for their support; Dan Emhof for the public service announcement, MEO-Molokai for their assistance; and the schools, teachers, and community for encouraging students to attend the event.
The aloha spirit that defines the Friendly Isle resonated throughout and was awesome to experience. It was the first time experiencing Moloka‘i for most and it will certainly be a long cherished memory for all. It was an honor to be received so warmly by the community.
What Does a Veteran Mean to You?
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Community Contributed
By Larry Helm
The Molokai Veteran Association held a contest, asking keiki ages eight to 10 “What a veteran means to you.” Two winners were selected, Michelle McGuire and Kade Apuna, both fourth graders at Kualapu`u Elementary and who each won a bike! The bikes were donated by Paul Laud of Bicyle Recycle on Maui. Laud is the president of Maui County Veterans Council. Below are their winning essays.
Kade Apuna
To me, a veteran is a hero. They are the men and women who give their lives for our country and our freedom. I know lots of veterans and some of them are my papas and uncles and I think they are heroes because they are special people to me.
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A veteran is a person who fought for my freedom. A veteran is brave. If they had to, they went away from their family and could have been killed, but went for all of us. I believe in the veterans. My Grandpa was a veteran. Even though I did not know him, he fought for me and my family.
What Book got you Hooked on Reading? Contest
First Book News Release
Hawaii won the nation wide contest and now the 50,000 books are on their way to Hawaii. Thanks to all of you who voted and made us the winner.
The books will arrive in March. There will be a First Book 50,000 Book Celebration on March 25th on Oahu and the books will be distributed on March 26th. All past recipient of a First Book grant should be on the list to receive books, it is very important that you check frequently with www.firstbook.org and follow any and all directions.
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