Education

Molokai Youth Make the Journey of a Lifetime

Monday, August 4th, 2008

Hard work and community support helped to send the island’s Catholic youth to World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Australia.

By Zalina Alvi

After more than two years of fundraising, the youth of a Catholic parish on Molokai had the experience of a lifetime when they traveled to Sydney, Australia for World Youth Day 2008.

All those who went agreed that it was an amazing opportunity to share in cultural and spiritual fellowship with other Catholic youth from as far as away as Columbia and Poland.

“Even though we come from different parts of the world, we all have the same beliefs,” said Julie Bicoy, who enjoyed the chance to meet and commune with Catholic youth from around the globe.

World Youth Day is the largest gathering of youth in the world, and it took place this year from July 15 to 20 in Sydney, Australia. Participants enjoy a series of spiritual and cultural events throughout the week, culminating in a Final Mass with the Pope on the last day.

Donna Bicoy’s said the group’s visit to St. Mary’s Cathedral was one of her favorite experiences. “It was definitely the prettiest,” she said.

The youth were joined in their excursion by youth ministry leaders Gene Santiago, Julie Bicoy, and Bo Mahoe. Together, the parish prepared a presentation and potluck dinner on Aug. 6 at St. Sophia’s to share their experiences with the rest of the community who helped them on their journey.

“We had a lot of community support,” said Ayla Bicoy, one of the lucky few who were able to participate in the event.

The young men and women of St. Sophia’s Catholic Church and Our Lady of Seven Sorrows were able to raise the $3,500 per person needed to send them on this historic event through chocolate sales, a golf tournament, selling lunch plates, and sponsorship from the community. They went on the epic 10-day journey with other parishes from Maui and Oahu.

Molokai Youth Get Their Hands Dirty

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps bridges the gap between conservation projects and island youth.

By Zalina Alvi

Deep in the bushes of Halawa Valley, a handful of young men and women are covered in mud, trying to restore a taro patch to its former vitality. They are pulling up weeds, learning about conservation work, and laughing and enjoying themselves as they do it.

“We get to learn all kinds of ways to keep the environment healthy, and to preserve for our future generations (…) The knowledge will pass on to us, so we can pass it on,” said participant Riare “Queenie” Perreira.

In fact, for the past six weeks, the eager youth of the Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps have been traveling across Molokai, Oahu, and Kaho`olawe, working with various conservation projects as part of a summer program.

In exchange for once-in-a-lifetime experiences, skills in leadership and team-building, and a chance to play a role in maintaining the precious resources of our isles, they have been traveling from one location to the next and working non-stop.

“The program gives them the opportunity to do conservation work, get their foot in the door, to see what it’s like, and to build up their skills,” said Nicole Tachibana, a program leader on Molokai.

After team training on Oahu, the group moved on to the Keawanui Fishpond on the east side of Molokai. They spent a week moving rocks to help with restoration, building an ahu, and removing invasive species from the area, all the while learning about the importance of fishponds to our culture and our kuleana to preserve them.

The next week found the team in Kaho`olawe, where they helped to create a trail around the outside of the entire island in preparation for the annual Makahiki festival season, which is a four-month period beginning in late October or early November.

The rest of the six-week program included work with Kahonua Momona at the Ali`i Fishpond, removal of strawberry, guava and clidemia plants with The Nature Conservancy, and helping with the Molokai subcommittee of the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

All the young men and women working with the Corps on Molokai, most of whom were still in high school or had just graduated, felt that learning about their island and how to manage and preserve its resources were their main reasons for participating.

“I joined the program to preserve our nature and plants, and to learn about our island,” said Lynsey Dudoit-Alapai.

After each of these experiences, the participants, between the ages of 15 and 35, are expected to write journal entries about the importance of the work they are doing at each site, for which they are paid $1,000 at the end of the summer program.

This year, the Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps sponsored 15 teams of youth statewide, which included close to 150 members. The program provides assistance on six different islands in Hawaii including Kaho`olawe, and is sponsored in large part by the Department of Land Natural Resources and Kamehameha Schools. The summer program is part of Kupu, which supports other programs such as a year-round internship, community assistance program, and the Hana Hou internship program.

Participants must apply online at www.hawaiiycc.com by March of each year for the summer program, and those accepted will have all their accommodation and travel expenses covered by the program.

Another Great Ride

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

Everyone wins at last meet in keiki surf competition.

By Jennifer Smith

Providing a summer of fun in the sun for the whole family, this year’s Ko Molokai Keiki `O Ke Kai three-meet surfing series went off without a hitch. After 19 years of watching local keiki catching waves, a packed Waialua Beach last Saturday illustrated the continued popularity of the event with residents from all over the island.

“It’s been great,” said Peter Angelsea, Ko Molokai Keiki `O Ke Kai competition director. He said a solid participation from 69 keiki this year and favorable conditions helped to make the event a success. 

“The neat thing is that everyone pitches in,” Angelsea said. Parents, volunteers, local businesses, and even some generous members of the surf industry contribute to the event. “We can’t do it without them.”

While initially donations were few and far between, several people stepped up in the end to help shake the bushes and ensure that every participant received a prize after last Saturday’s final surf meet. The celebrations included an awards ceremony, potluck, and goodies for the keiki.

Angelsea and wife Minka Nelson have helped organize the event for the past eight years. Now with a one-year-old in tow, the demands of heading up the event are more challenging, but Angelsea said it is worth it. 

“It’s really satisfying to see it moving into its 20th year,” Angelsea said, explaining his appreciation for being able to support “the quintessential Hawaiian sport.”

He said next year will be a big deal, and he plans on taking full advantage of the year ahead to plan the event.

A Sad Farewell
Angelsea announced during last Saturday’s meet the sad loss of the owner of the property where the surf competition has been held for the last 19 years.

Robert Lindsey and his family have graciously allowed the organization to use the property, said Angelsea in an email. “We were all saddened to hear of his passing.”

Grades are in for Molokai Schools

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

Annual state progress report puts two Molokai schools at the front of the pack, and the rest in line for restructuring.

By Zalina Alvi

Two Molokai schools are among only 10 schools in Maui County to make the grade in annual state progress report.

Maunaloa Elementary is the only one on the island, and one of only four in the county, achieving what is called Adequate Yearly Progress, while Kilohana Elementary is in pending Good Standing (meaning they didn’t pass this year, but they have one more chance).

Meanwhile, Kualapu`u Elementary, Kaunakakai Elementary, Molokai Middle and Molokai High join 14 others in the county in line to receive state intervention, as a result of not meeting the proficiency levels for six years or more. A handful of other county schools are scattered on levels in between.

The progress reports are part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which tests students in grades 3 through 8 and grade 10 on reading and math. The idea is to assess whether schools are on their way to meeting a goal of 100 percent proficiency in the two areas by 2014.

This year, however, the scores needed to pass were raised from 44 percent to 58 percent in reading, and from 28 percent to 46 percent in math, which may account for the drop in the number of schools that are in good standing.

This year, only 113 Hawaii public schools, or 40 percent, met the proficiency targets, down from 184, or 65 percent, last year. In Maui County, the number went from 15 down to just four.

The proficiency levels are first applied to the school as a whole, and then to smaller groups that are categorized by ethnicity, poverty levels, English proficiency and special education needs. If even one of these groups are falling behind, the entire school will not be able to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress.

In 2008, 68 schools in the state, or 24 percent, did not pass because of one or two of these areas.

For those schools who achieved the lowest standing and get the label “Restructuring,” they will receive special training for school administrators and staff, as well as a private education consultant to help them develop strategies to increase student test scores and overall achievement.

Last week, Maui Complex Area Superintendent Bruce Anderson also traveled to New Orleans with about half a dozen school principals to receive similar training.

Department of Education Superintendent Pat Hamamoto, however, is remaining optimistic, and said she expected more schools in Hawaii would not make the grade because of the higher scored needed to pass.

“The true significance of the results is our students are applying and practicing what they are being taught in the classroom,” she told The Maui News. “Without a doubt, student achievement in Hawaii continues to improve.”

High school senior wins scholarship

Wednesday, July 9th, 2008

Whitney Apo of Molokai High School is one of five high schools seniors awarded $1,000 each by the Josh Jerman Realtor Maui Scholarship 2008.

Apo will major in Nursing at Southern Oregon University, with the goal of becoming a Certified Nurse-Midwife. By volunteering at the local hospital, Whitney learned that midwives do most of the birthing deliveries on Molokai.

“Midwives have the honor of bringing new life into this world, and to help families plan for the future,” she said. “I have chosen to commit myself to this career in health for both my own family as well as my community.”

In its fourth consecutive year, the Josh Jerman Realtor Maui Scholarship encourages college-bound students to use their education to benefit Maui County. More than 50 students applied for this scholarship.

A Vacation of Service

Wednesday, July 9th, 2008

Visiting church group comes ready to work.

By Jennifer Smith

While most people visit Molokai to relax and take in some sun, members of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Park came to the Friendly Isle ready to work. Reverend Daniel Russell traveled with 15 other dedicated Baptists for a little over a week preaching, teaching, and doing community service.

“We think it’s great,” Russell said. “We see not only the natural beauty, but also the beauty of the people.”

The church group spent the majority of their time helping to run Vacation Bible School (VBS) with Kaunakakai and Molokai Baptist churches. Teens and adults enjoyed a Christian Life Conference, while the keiki participated in the Olympic themed VBS. Activities included games, sports, and fencing and drama demonstrations from some of the visiting hosts.

The well-mannered visitors also split up in two groups last week Tuesday to help provide services to the community. Half of the group spent the day doing yard work for a Kaunakakai resident, while the other half helped clean up the Ahupua`a building in Ho`olehua.

The aged building served as the original Head Start school, according to Ochie Bush, President of the Ho`olehua Homestead Association. Since then, the site has hosted several other educational groups, Homesteader meetings, and Saturday swap meets. 

The Ahupua`a building could potentially help a group of hard working parents bring to life their shared vision of having all of Molokai’s Hawaiian Language Immersion programs on the island on one campus. Russell said his group was happy to help the parents who refer to themselves as KukulunuiaHina.

With sermons, service, and some cultural experiences in the sun behind him, Russell said the group truly enjoyed their Molokai experience. “We appreciate the diversity of the people,” he said, explaining that everyone was hospitable and friendly.

For more information on efforts to unify Molokai’s Hawaiian Immersion schools visit kukulunuiahina.com.