Education

Molokai Farmers Football vs Lanai Pine Lads

Wednesday, September 20th, 2023

Molokai Farmers Football vs Lanai Pine Lads

By Maria Angst, Community Reporter 

On Sept. 9, the Molokai Farmers Football Team, with Head Coach Mike Kahale, traveled to Lanai City for a matchup against the Pine Lads. 

The Molokai Farmers improved their record to 2-0 with a 35-6 win over the Pine Lads. Tonka Kalilikane and Keith Gloor-Suafoa each scored two touchdowns with the addition of Kestan Tamanaha also scoring a touchdown reception for the Farmers.  

Kalilikane had scoring runs of 77 and 72 yards while Gloor-Suafoa threw TD passes of 27 and 18 yards. Kobra Cariaga-Abafo, the starting quarterback for the Farmers, delivered the initial touchdown pass before unfortunately succumbing to an ankle injury.…

MHS WIN Writers Start to Rock and Roll

Wednesday, September 20th, 2023

Community Contributed

By Ric Ornellas 

At Molokai High School (MHS) the new WIN periods are pushing students beyond their comfort zones. WIN means What I Need and take place only Thursdays for 70 minutes and last one academic quarter, or 10 weeks. Throughout the year, each student will have four quarters, 4 WIN periods, to explore, question, research, and decide which skills they will need for their future. The idea for the new WIN periods came from Ka’u Elementary and High School on Hawaii Island when a group of MHS teachers visited last year. They saw how the WIN periods at Ka’u helped students focus on the daunting task of planning for post-high school life.…

What is the Science of Reading and How Does it Help Students?

Wednesday, September 20th, 2023

Community Contributed

By Alestra Menéndez

Molokai teachers, please join us on Monday, Sept. 25 at 3:30 p.m. at the Molokai Education Center for a discussion about the science of reading and how you can leverage it in your classroom. 

Please join us as we dive into the latest educational and neuroscience research on how students learn to read in any alphabetic language, including Hawaiian and English. We will explore how to support all students to build meaningful background knowledge as they develop essential literacy skills. 

In this interactive session, we will explore classroom practices based on science. As a community of learners, we will reflect on how to implement science-based practices at your school to support your students’ learning and growth. …

A’o ‘Aina Professional Development Program

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023

Kupu News Release 

Intermediate and high school educators on Molokai are eligible to apply for a paid professional development opportunity. Kupu, Hawaii’s leading conservation and environmental education nonprofit, recently announced that applications are open for the Aʻo ʻAina Professional Development Program. The deadline to apply is Friday, Sept. 29. Visit www.kupuhawaii.org/aoaina/  to apply. 

In partnership with the Malama Learning Center, this paid professional development opportunity for educators within the Department of Education on Oahu, Molokai, and Hawaii Island is designed to expose participants to careers and topics in natural resources and grow connections between educators and community organizations.…

MHS Kicks Off Fall Sports

Wednesday, August 30th, 2023

MHS Kicks Off Fall Sports

By Maria Angst, Community Reporter 

Molokai High School’s (MHS) Farmers inaugurated the 2023 fall season with a win as they defeated the Lanai Pinelasses in girls volleyball at the Barn this past weekend.

On Friday night, Aug. 25, MHS’s volleyball team took the victory in three sets over the Lanai Pinelasses, 25-20, 25-18, 25-15. 

Saturday morning, the rematch was held, with Molokai again taking the win in four sets, 3-1. The Lady Farmers advanced the score the first two sets with scores of 25-17 and 25-15. Lanai found their way in the third set 25-15, but the Farmers came right back, winning the last set of the game, 26-24.…

Beginning of the Year Meeting for MHS

Wednesday, August 30th, 2023

Community Contributed

By Ric Ornellas The Molokai High School (MHS) School Community Council (SCC) invites parents, families and the community to a Sept. 20 in-person meeting at 3:30 p.m. at the MHS library to learn what’s in store for students in the 2023-24 school year. All Hawaii public schools have SCCs which play a vital role informing school communities about developing public education, shared goals for all school stakeholders, and are a venue to express opinions, and funding. All are invited to attend in-person to learn and share about MHS students’ successful learning and achievement.

MHS Principal Katina Soares, PhD, motivated teachers and students with her “watch words” for the new school year. …

Librarian Award Brings YA Author to Molokai

Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023

Community Contributed

By Ric Ornellas 

Molokai High School (MHS) students who’ve read The Honeys by young adult (YA) author Ryan La Sala are thrilled the author is coming to MHS on Aug. 31. Diane Mokuau, MHS Librarian, received the 2021 School Librarian of the Year annual award presented by School Library Journal (SLJ) and sponsored by Scholastic. The pandemic interrupted Mrs. Mokuau’s preferred author’s visit until now. Scholastic’s Credo and Educational Platform inspires students to cultivate their minds to the utmost capacity, become familiar with our cultural heritage, and to strive for excellence in creative expression. Scholastic is a decade’s long book fair supplier to MHS and other Molokai schools.…

MHS Fall Sports Outlook

Wednesday, August 16th, 2023

By Maria Angst, Community Reporter 

The school year has begun and sports are back at Molokai High School, with football and volleyball already practicing at full speed this summer. This year will be filled with excitement, as fall sports will be offering sideline cheer, eight-man football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, and boys and girls air riflery this season. 

Kaimana Kahale, a coach from the football team, said he is looking forward to an exciting season even though they have graduated many seniors.

“Though we have lost 18 senior players, we are still thrilled about this team which has brought out new additional athletes,” he said. …

Memorial Scholarship Honors Firefighter

Wednesday, August 16th, 2023

Live Like Tre Foundation News Release 

Molokai students can now apply for scholarships through the Live Like Tre Foundation. The application deadline for the scholarships is Sept. 15. Recipients of the awards will be announced on Oct. 15.

The Live Like Tre’ Foundation’s scholarship program is in memory of Tre’ Evans-Dumaran, a remarkable young man who lived his life with tenacity, kindness, and a passion for making a positive impact in his community. Tre’ was known as a scholar athlete who embraced learning in all aspects of life. Tragically, he lost his life while answering a call for help from the Maui County to serve and protect his community.…

Last of the Librarians? Let’s Hope Not

Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023

Last of the Librarians? Let’s Hope Not

By Jack Kiyonaga | Reporter 

Five years ago, a group of Molokai librarians representing school, private and public libraries came together to address a growing drift on Molokai. Part of a statewide trend, Molokai had shed full-time, certified librarians from most of its schools.  With no bookstores on-island, Molokai’s librarians have had the task of inspiring and supplying the next generation of readers. This responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of a select few. They call themselves the Molokai Library Services Cadre (MLSC). 

Diane Mokuau is the librarian at Molokai High School, winner of the 2021 School Librarian of the Year Award, and president of the MLSC. …