Education

Making the Connection

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

Maori visitors share history and talents.  

Island Keiki Medal at State Competition

Friday, June 27th, 2008

Wrestlers debut at the Aloha State Games.

By Uncle Pono

Smile’n with Freestyli’n when our wrestlers all became medalist at this year’s Aloha State Games.  On June 21, 2008, five of our young wrestlers not including the three MHS competitors, made way to Radford High School Gym in Honolulu to compete against Hawaii’s best in freestyle wrestling.  This is not the normal folk style wrestling performed throughout the high school season. Freestyle is only introduced in high school, but heavily competed at the college and Olympic level.  What an exposure for our children! 

Who do you find at off season competitions?  Champions!  All the familiar faces we’ve seen at this event were those who took home the Gold at the 2008 AAU Hawaii Wrestling Championships held on Maui.  Some of these competitors practice year round and earned their spot as a National Wrestling Champion.  This is most definitely a clue.
With over a hundred wrestlers at this once a year event, we were prepared to face off against elite competitors.  After the completion of our state tournament our wrestlers practiced everyday in preparation.

Throughout the competition, our four Molokai families filled the gym with excitement.
With cheers, hugs, tears and laughter, our wrestlers placed as follows;

Ichiro Asano,            Division:  Bantam, weight class: 42.4 lbs. – 47.3 lbs.  Silver Medalist
Zeff Dudoit,              Division:  Bantam, weight class: 47.4 lbs. – 54.9 lbs.  Silver Medalist
Jess Dudoit,               Division:  Bantam, weight class: 47.4 lbs. – 54.9 lbs.  Bronze Medalist
Chevy Augustiro       Division:  Bantam, weight class: 55.0 lbs. – 58.9 lbs.  Bronze Medalist
Kaila’oe Cabanting   Division:  Novice, weight class: 69.4 lbs. – 75.9 lbs.  Silver Medalist

Congratulations to all our wrestlers.  It’s because of your dedication, hard work, and desire day in and day out, you’ve earned your spot at the top.  Stick to practicing just a little everyday and you will all be Gold Medalist in a matter of time.

Special thanks to all the coaches, teammates, and parents who helped prepare our wrestlers for this event.  A “Super Shaka” to Coach Randy Manley for providing access to the opportunity for all in becoming an awesome wrestler.

Molokai in Vietnam

Friday, June 27th, 2008

Aki Masui tells the tale of a great visit.

Right: Mekong Delta 

Left: Kalo in Sapa

By Aki Masui 

Chao Molokai! Last summer Ka’ohele Ritte-Camara (Molokai High immersion school senior) and I, along with 18 other students from public and charter schools around Hawaii, travelled to Vietnam with the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council (PAAC) under the Summer Study Tour program.

Few people seemed able to believe that I was going to Vietnam!  Vietnam, “the only war we lost” and you’re going to it.  How could I be going to it?  It was over 30 years ago.  The war in particular is the most common and possibly only thought we as Americans have when we hear the word “Vietnam.” 

Before this trip, I too heard “Vietnam” and immediately I could see images of American planes dropping bombs, Napalm, and Agent Orange.

However, my very shallow generalization of Vietnam – the several thousand year history of an entire nation summarized by a single 10 year occupation – ended in my 14 day visit to the country. 

Before hopping on the plane for Vietnam, all 20 students along with the 3 adult chaperones attended a week long orientation where we acculturated with lessons in history and language, social norms and customs, and the general do’s and don’ts. 

Because we would be representing Hawai’i, it was necessary for our group to have some Hawaiian cultural training.  With great honor, Ka’ohele and I, along with a Lanai High School student, choreographed and taught the group Ka Uluwehi ‘O Ke Kai.  We later performed several times in villages, restaurants and schools and even taught a few of the locals too.
 
We arrived in Vietnam educated, flexible, and open minded.  Our willingness to try new and different things, especially foods, and to wake early every morning was matched only by our ability to endure the overwhelming humidity.  Someone in our group described it like “stepping outside and being covered in a very hot and wet blanket.” 

We began our tour in the northern city of Hanoi the nation’s capital and one of the two largest cities.  In Hanoi we enjoyed the world famous Water Puppet show and had our first experience crossing the street.  Let’s just say that crossing the street will shake even the bravest soul, even after you get the hang of it. 

Traffic appears to be chaotic with is a mass of “motorbikes” with a few cars and buses mixed in.  To cross the street you watch the stop lights and wait for the “walk” signal. When it finally comes, no one stops.  The traffic doesn’t even slow at all!  Faced with this dilemma we were forced to gather our courage and walk across. 

Here is the strategy that will save your life: Walk at a consistent pace, never run; maintain eye contact with motorists that are coming straight for you, yes the one that look they are going to run you over; Continue advancing until there are no more vehicles; 5) Last and most important, no matter what KEEP WALKING. 

After experiencing the Vietnamese city life we took an overnight train north of Hanoi to Sapa, a mountainous region covered in rice paddies and cornfields bordering China.  Three hours in a bus on a single lane dirt road and another three hours hike brought us to our home for that night in the Ban Ho village. 

We were hosted by a few families in their bamboo houses with a hardened dirt ground floors and second story bamboo floors with rather spacious two inch gaps.  Thankfully no one fell through, but it seemed like a definite possibility. 

That evening, in complete darkness, we were lead to the village square and treated to traditional songs and dances.  Here we performed our hula number for the first time. 

The following day we gave back to the community through what I’ll call an Adopt-a-Trail project where we walked around the village picking up trash on and around the paths that run through the village.  We also painted the village school house and planted trees to prevent erosion along an already eroding path.

My experience in the Ban Ho village nearly summarizes what I experienced throughout the trip: people that are friendly and welcoming with hospitality to rival our own here on the “Friendly Isle.”

My last story occurs on the southern tip of Vietnam in the Mekong Delta region during our second and final home stay.  On our journey there we enjoyed several cool lengthy boat rides through a network of river passages on the delta and walking was minimum.  I even had the opportunity to row my boat for a while, but the real fun began after our arrival at the home stay. 

Once night fell and engulfed the delta, it surprisingly lit up!  Having never seen fireflies before then, it took me a little while to figure out what was going on.  But soon the child in me and the magic of the fireflies took over and I found myself running around trying to catch a few and put them in a jar. 

After settling on a hammock playing my ‘ukulele, through the dim light I noticed a little boy standing across the lanai staring at me.  Very slowly, it took a good half hour, he made his way over to my hammock.  After I played another song for his enjoyment I asked him as best as I could if he wanted to play. 

Several welcoming gestures with my ‘uke and nods later we were sitting side by side on the hammock: future star ‘ukuleleist on the left and myself on the right.  He was about seven years old and one quick learner.  Instinctively I taught him how the play Surf, which seems to be everyone’s first song on the ‘uke. He picked it up not only faster than any seven year old I have ever seen but faster than anyone in general.  I was amazed. 

As a graduate of Molokai High School at the time and a future freshman at the University of Portland, I was overwhelmed trying to decide what to do with my life in college and afterwards.  I was considering a career in teaching, but I felt I could do more.  But after sharing that moment with the `uke playing seven year, I got the proud feeling of seeing someone succeed in something that I taught and it put me on top of the world.  Right at that moment I decided I was going to be a teacher.

I feel it safe to declare that our delegation represented Hawaii very well, not only in representing our culture through hula, but in being considerate and sensitive to the Vietnamese culture and social customs, norms, and traditions. 

I would like to send a huge mahalo to the Freemans, everyone at PAAC, and all the participants for making this trip possible and such a memorable experience. 

The trip was made possible by a grant from the Freeman Foundation.  The Summer Study Tour reflects PAAC’s mission to promote a greater awareness and understanding of foreign affairs issues with special attention to Hawaii's role in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Photos: all the pictures are by me or Sianha Gualano.  Most were by her.  She’s a good friend of mine so it doesn’t matter if the credit given is on the right pictures. 

`Opio Celebrate Peace

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

Martin Luther King Peace Poem Contest.

This is the second year of participation by Molokai Middle School students in the Dr. Martin Luthor King Poetry Contest on Maui. It allowed nine of our students the adventure of traveling to Maui. To enter this contest each student wrote an original poem dealing with peace.  There were first and second place winners in each grade level group.

In the Tavares center in Pukalani, Maui, there were a few hundred audience members including students, teachers, parents and guests.  Each school’s winners lined up beside a large raised stage awaiting their turn to read. The students’ name and school called each poet to center stage. 

There was nervousness; some of our team even said they would not read. Wouldn’t you be nervous to read your personal thoughts aloud to a very large group of strangers?  Yet at the moment that counted, every Molokai student stood up and read their poem. Each was received by applause from listeners who really appreciated their courage and poetry.  

This type of public speaking effort is priceless.  Our students now know they are more than winners - they are veterans.  Mayor Tavares gave each student a certificate of merit as they left the stage.

While waiting for the ferry to take us home, the students received a lot of positive support. Common sentiment during this discussion was that our students will be better prepared to meet their future professional responsibilities because of this and other public speaking activities.

We would like to congratulate Krysta Bocoboc, Justina Sharpe, Healani Mawae-Mollena, Abigail Adachi, James Duffy, Anuhea Tengan, Ka’iulani Laemoa, Fetuu Tilini and Susan Smith.

On behalf of Molokai Middle School we thank you for allowing our school to be part of the Martin Luther King
Peace poem contest.  We were inspired by the different poems read aloud at the awards assembly. 

Thank you Mayor Tavares; through her office staff, she graciously provided our students the cost of the ferry service to Maui. Thank you Mr. Zukeran for your efforts in promoting this activity and for lining up travel and working with the mayor’s office.

Mahalo,
Molokai Intermediate School.

La Hemo Kula 2008

Wednesday, June 25th, 2008

Ilia Reyes, Record Breaker!

Monday, June 23rd, 2008

Local boy out-swims competition in championship event.

On day 1, Reyes swam on the 400 M Freestyle Relay team.  Well-known for his quick starts, Reyes led off the relay and was followed by Brett Gomes, Mitchell Chong, and Kekoa Taparra.  The quartet finished within two seconds of breaking the state record.

The second day of competition for Reyes involved the trials of the 50 M Free and the 200 M Free events.  Reyes earned the top seed for the 50 Meter event and the fifth seed for the 200 Meter event in the morning prelims.  Although he placed fifth in the finals of the 200 M Free, Reyes and Gomes waged a tremendous battle in the 50 M Free and both swimmers were rewarded with a tie for the gold medal.

The day concluded with the 400 M Medley relay.  The Hawaiian record of 4:08.00 went crashing down after Chong, Kila Pickering, Gomes, and Reyes were done with their swims.  With Reyes swimming the anchor leg (freestyle) and splitting a :54.29, the foursome clocked an outstanding 4:05.29 to close the day's swims.

On Saturday, Reyes had only one individual event but it was his specialty, the 100 M Free.  Entering with a seed time of :55.74, Reyes swam a :54.45 in the prelims and earned the top seed for the finals.  In the finals, Reyes blazed to a :53.71 and another gold medal.

As they did the night before, the team of Chong, Pickering, Gomes, and Reyes closed the day's events by bringing down the 200 M Medley Relay Hawaiian record of 1:52.82, lowering the mark to 1:51.70, and adding another gold medal around their necks in the process.

Sunday's events brought the anticipation of the meet concluding with another record.  The final event was the 200 M Free Relay.  Again, Reyes led off and was followed by Pickering, Chong, and Gomes.  The record of 1:39.30 didn't stand up to the performance of the four swimmers as they established a new mark of 1:38.62.

For the meet, the Kamehameha Swim Club totaled 1,952 points and more than doubled the second place team.

Former age group coach Lloyd Yonemura teamed with Dain Kane behind the mics to call the action throughout the entire meet.  Both officials marveled at the performance of Yonemura's former swimmer.  "He's done very well since he left our pool and has faster swimming ahead of him.  Now that he's on the UH-Manoa swim team, he's training harder and longer.  You can see it in his performances and you can feel his confidence rising.  I'm so proud of his accomplishments over the years!"

Congratulations to Ilia and his teammates of the Kamehameha Swim Club!

Poetry Slam

Monday, June 9th, 2008

Kaunakakai students step up by bringing literary talents to the mic.

By Jennifer Smith

“You have nothing to fear from a poet, but the truth,” Mrs. Jenkins’ third grade class said, during last week Monday’s poetry slam at Kaunakakai School.

Second and third grade students from the school studied a wide range of poetry last semester with the help of kumu Alestra Menendez and `Anake Lauren Teriong from Kamehameha Schools and from their homeroom teachers Mrs. Arinoki, Mrs. Czajkowski, and Mrs. Jenkins.

The poetry slam night provided “a space where they can share what they have learned,” Menendez said. “We are always trying to push more - I was happy we had a chance to stop and watch the children enjoy their accomplishments.”

The students opened the evening with a lively Aloha song. The theme for this year’s workshops with kumu Alestra was Aloha, and each class began with a mele.

After the mele, the students took turns jumping in front of the microphone to share original poems with family and friends. From free verse poems telling where “I am from,” to beautiful Japanese haikus, most of the children memorized their poems, and several volunteered to perform additional pieces they wrote.

Parents, teachers, and community members also joined in on the open mic fun by sharing some of their favorite poems. One third grade mother, shared a poem with the audience and explained how special it was that the students were learning to do public speaking at such a young age.

“Poetry has been part of my life,” Principal Janice Espiritu said, after reading a poem from Shel Silverstein’s “A Light in the Attic.” “I love poetry.” The principal invited parents to borrow books from the school to share with their children.

As the evening concluded all of the keiki in the cafeteria were invited to join in on singing A Hui Ho.

“I’m really glad the kids enjoyed it so much,” Teriong said. “It gave them the opportunity to express who they are.”

“Anyone can do it - it just takes pen and paper,” Menendez said. “Poetry is one of the things you can use to let what is on the inside out.”

On Your Marks

Monday, June 9th, 2008

Keiki track and field games preliminaries for Maui competition.

Keiki Host Poetry Night

Sunday, June 8th, 2008

Kualapu`u School Poetry Club showcases skills.

By Maeva Cummings, Peni Tilini, John-Michael Mokiao-Duvauchelle, Naalii Lindsey-Argel, and Kilikea Hanchett (3rd grade students at Kualapu`u)

On Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at 5 p.m. Mrs. Labrador’s Poetry Club from Kualapu`u School read a variety of poems for their Poetry Night that took place in Mrs. Labrador’s classroom. The Poetry Club students were Maeva Cummings, Peni Tilini, Naalii Lindsey-Argel, John-Michael Mokiao-Duvauchelle, and Kilikea Hanchett-Lopez.

The students invited their families to the poetry night. Mrs. Labrador, Mrs. Lani, Mr. Labrador, Ms. Estes, and Ms. Seguritan also attended the poetry night.

All of the poems were by the famous poet Shel Silverstein. All students read the poem “Eight Balloons.” Each student also chose two poems of their choice to read for their families. Some of the poems read were “Homework Machine,” “Signals,” “Batty,” “Ations,” and “Hot Dog.”

To prepare for the Poetry Night, the students practiced for many months at home and at school. They were working on improving their reading fluency. It is important to improve reading fluency to be able to read accurately and smoothly. All five students made gains this year in reading fluency. They were awarded at poetry night for their achievements.