Education

Molokai Athletes Nominated as National All-Stars

Thursday, January 23rd, 2014

Nearly 1,000 of the nation’s top high school boys and girls basketball athletes are nominated each year to play on one of two all-star teams for the McDonald’s All American Games. This year, two players in state were nominated for the event that in the past has included basketball legends like Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett. Those two players are both Molokai High School (MHS) students — seniors Shaniah Lopez and David Rapanot will have a chance to make the final roster.

“We are delighted that Shaniah and David were chosen to continue in the selection process to compete in the McDonald’s All American Games,” said Erlinda Rosario, a McDonald’s Restaurants of Hawaii owner and operator, in a press release.…

Keola Beamer in Concert

Thursday, January 23rd, 2014

Keola Beamer in Concert

MCCTC News Release

On Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, the Molokai College Career Tour Club (MCCTC) will present Keola Beamer, internationally recognized Hawaiian slack-key guitar master and composer, in concert at the Molokai Community Health Center (Old Pau Hana Inn). There will be dinner, music, silent auction, Valentine’s treats, and more for couples and families. The doors for silent auction will open at 5:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. with entertainment by the MCCTC members and other performers followed by Keola Beamer’s concert at 8:30 p.m. Tickets including dinner cost $50 while the VIP tables cost $75 a seat. …

HI Businesses Support Molokai and Lanai Athletics

Thursday, January 23rd, 2014

DACH News Release

Proceeds from a fundraiser event called “Cheers for Molokai and Lanai High,” held on Oahu, will support student-athletes at Molokai High and Lanai High whose athletic departments annually face travel budget shortfalls. Held by Downtown Athletic Club Hawaii (DACH), a nonprofit founded in 2012 to advance sports programs of Hawaii’s public schools and support student athletes, the fundraiser will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 29, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., in front of Murphy’s Bar and Grill in downtown Honolulu.

In the current 2013-14 school year, Molokai High is underfunded by about $32,000, and Lanai High is often forced to travel with partial squads and offers a limited number of sports due to lack of funding and resources.…

Keiki Expo Celebrates 10 Years

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014

Keiki Expo Celebrates 10 Years

From sand to sea, Molokai’s keiki were entertained by ocean-themed activities while parents learned about family resources in our own backyard during the Keiki Expo’s 10th anniversary Saturday morning.

“It really takes a whole village to raise a child,” said event volunteer Liz Luan. “This has been an awesome highlight our great resources here on Molokai.”

The family event, brought to the community by the Molokai Keiki Group, was held at the Mitchell Pauole Center and featured more than 25 organizations focusing on educational, health and safety programs for young children, prenatal to five years old.

“[Over the last 10 years] our focus has been kept strictly to services we can get on island and also provide an activity for the kids,” said Keiki Expo co-organizer Becky Takashima.…

Molokai Athletics Welcomes New Assistant Director

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

With high goals set to bring more sports tournaments, more games and to build the athletics program on the island, the Molokai High School Athletics Department welcomes new Assistant Athletic Director, Joannie Espiritu-Tanabe, to the team.

“Having an assistant alleviates a lot of stress for me,” said Hoku Haliniak, MHS athletics director. “[Espiritu-Tanabe] is very organized and can step in whenever I need help.”

She said much of Espiritu-Tanabe’s job involves helping her at sporting events, taking care of traveling arrangements, scheduling, and making sure coaches have correct paperwork and students are eligible to play. That will leave Haliniak more time to bring more sporting events to the island, she said.…

Navigating Your Child’s Education Plan

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Hawaii Disability Rights Center News Release

A workshop called “Navigating Through Your Child’s Individual Educational Plan” will be held on Thursday Jan. 23 on Molokai to assist parents of children with disabilities become more active participants in their children’s education and rights.

Assisted by Hawaii Disability Rights Center advocate Verna Waikiki, the workshop will teach parents about Individual Education Plans (IEP), parental safeguards and parent’s rights, the importance making a transition plan as children get older, and the transfer of rights when youth reach adulthood. Waikiki will also explain the “service grid” (who’s going to do what and for how long) and other important information for parents of children with learning disabilities, such as how to access services.…

First Book-Molokai Shares Magic of Books

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

First Book-Molokai Shares Magic of Books

First Book-Molokai News Release

First Book-Molokai has awarded book grants to All God’s Children Preschool, Maunaloa Elementary School, Kaunakakai Elementary School Fourth and Fifth Grade Classes, and Aka`ula School.  First Book-Molokai provides new, high quality books to children to start their own home libraries.  They also receive bookplates on which to place their names celebrating the importance of book ownership.

The $5,000 book grant we received from the Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc. has enabled our program to give thousands of enticing new books to the children we serve on an ongoing basis.  The Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc. provides needed funding for Hawaii’s nonprofit organizations that benefit women, children, youth, and needy programs. …

Grassroots Benefit Keiki Design Contest

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

2014 Grassroots Benefit Committee News Release

A Second Annual Grassroots Benefit event will be held on Saturday, July 5 at the Kaunakakai Ballpark. This family oriented, educational, community event raises funds for the Ho`ola Hou Community-Based scholarship  — 100 percent of ticket proceeds are donated to the fund. The event also promotes local, organic farmers, and emphasizes healthy environment, lifestyle, food, and families – from keiki to kupuna.  This year’s theme is Aloha `Aina.

The purpose of the 2014 Grassroots Benefit – Keiki Design Contest is to inspire keiki to express and demonstrate an understanding of the Hawaiian concept “Aloha `Aina” through art, and to establish a theme design for the 2014 Grassroots Benefit event.…

Student Leaders Take Senator on Campus Tour

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Student Leaders Take Senator on Campus Tour

Molokai Middle School Press Release

Molokai Middle School (MMS) students showcased their school with pride to an unlikely visitor last month. Sen. Mazie Hirono took a one-hour tour led by the MMS Student Council. Hirono’s initial interest in the school’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and Garden Bed programs got her attention and prompted her visit.

Noteworthy programs offered by teachers and partnerships with the Molokai community all played an important role.  Highlights of Hirono’s visit included a tour of the school’s Vegetable Garden Beds, Activities and Assemblies Program (a clothes drive to aide the victims of the Philippines), O’ Hina I Ka Malama Hawaiian Language Immersion Program (Mo`omomi Project), STEM (VEX Robotics), The Girl’s Bridge Team, History Club, Media Broadcast Wheel, Restored Greenhouse, and the newly constructed Halau that sits mauka of the school.…

Monsanto’s Science Education Fund

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Monsanto Fund News Release

Molokai High School was among 14 Hawaii public schools and educational organizations recently awarded more than $12,000 in grants from the Monsanto Hawaii Science Education Fund. The program was established by The Monsanto Fund to support science education in Hawaii’s public schools.

Funds went to support a variety of programs at the schools including robotics, renewable energy projects, a watershed service learning fieldtrip, composting project, and equipment and supplies for chemistry and science classes.

Monsanto’s grant program is available on the islands of Oahu, Maui and Molokai where Monsanto employees live and work. Public schools serving students in intermediate grades through college for educational purposes related to science are encouraged to apply for Monsanto Hawaii Science Education Fund grants.…