Sports

Fall Canoe Races Cancelled

Wednesday, May 27th, 2020

OHCRA News Release

The spirit of aloha continues to permeate our Hawaii communities as we champion making difficult decisions to support one another and care for the safety and health of our people and visitors. Many have had their lives change overnight and businesses, as well as individuals, continue to feel these effects as we transition into the next phase of our statewide COVID-19 response efforts.

As our state has been tremendously impacted by the global reach of this pandemic, the Board of the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association (OHCRA) together with the organizing committee of Na Wahine O Ke Kai, regretfully announce the decision to cancel this year’s championship canoe races — Hawaiian Airlines Na Wahine O Ke Kai, scheduled for Sept.…

Friday Night Lights

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020

Friday Night Lights

By Rick Schonely

The Molokai High Athletic Department has been honoring the seniors of the Class of 2020 by lighting up The Barn each Friday night.

Per the Hawaii State Department of Education, “Public high schools will fire up their stadium lights in honor of the Class of 2020 on Friday nights, starting tonight Apr. 24 and through May 29. Lights will go on at 8:20 p.m., which is 2020 hours on the 24-hour clock, for 20 minutes and 20 seconds to honor our seniors as part of the #bealight movement.”

Imua Farmer Nation and congratulations seniors!…

Cheerleaders Excel at Molokai High

Wednesday, April 29th, 2020

Cheerleaders Excel at Molokai High

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter

Everyone needs someone to cheer them on, especially when life is challenging, and hope is at a minimum. Knowing that to be true, Melinda Yamashita and Louise Manley, coaches of the Molokai High School Cheer and Dance Squad, seek to instill a philosophy of cheer that they trust will have lasting impact long after the senior game is done and the pompoms are all put away.

Though the squad focuses on fall sports, they practice year around and normally make appearances at home volleyball games in the spring. Like all other sports, their year was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.…

Cendall Manley is 4-time National Wrestling Champ

Wednesday, April 15th, 2020

Cendall Manley is 4-time National Wrestling Champ

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter

The Manley ‘ohana of Molokai is famous for wrestling. For many years Randy, along with his wife Louise, has coached Molokai wrestling at the high school and club level and their five children were all were coached by their father and had great success. Sons Colton, Clinton and Caele, and daughters Charisse and Cendall have all wrestled for the Farmers of Molokai High School.

In 2016, Cendall won a Hawaii State Wrestling Championship in her senior year and continued her wrestling career at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Last month, she won her fourth straight National Collegiate Wrestling Association Championship in Allen, Texas and was named the women’s tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.…

MHS Team Competes in Esports

Wednesday, March 25th, 2020

By Ric Ornellas

Along with math and literacy, Molokai High School (MHS) is developing 21st century competitive skills. Esports!

MHS research shows engaging students in esports and pikakasinotsuomi games can help them build critical thinking skills, encourage teamwork, foster innovation, and promote self-directed learning, all elements of Hawaii DOE’s six general learning objectives (GLOs).

With learning objectives as a focus to bolster core math and literacy skills, DimensionU, a leading educational program used in over 40 U.S. states, was acquired January 2020, through the efforts of MHS Principal, Dr. Katina Soares, and Librarian and Curriculum Coordinator, Diane Mokuau. Math and english language arts (ELA) teachers earlier tested and endorsed the program objectives.…

Boys Volleyball Wins Match

Thursday, March 19th, 2020

Boys Volleyball Wins Match

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter
“If the season came to an end Friday night, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way but to coach against my great friend for years, Ross Morita [Lanai head coach],” said Molokai Head Boys Volleyball Coach Hale Domingo after his Farmers beat Lanai 26-24, 25-15 and 25-23 at The Barn in Ho’olehua. “Friday night was never about winning or losing, it was about enjoying the moment.”
Molokai improved to 3-0 on the season but found out that their game Saturday was postponed by the HHSAA statewide spring sports suspension due to the COVID-19 public health threat.…

Tennis Played Into Night Before COVID Suspension

Thursday, March 19th, 2020

Tennis Played Into Night Before COVID Suspension

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter

The Molokai High Tennis Team traveled to Lahaina last weekend for matches against the Lunas. The Farmers started their matches on Friday, then Head Coach Emilio Macalalad got word of the HHSAA statewide suspension of spring sports. “In the middle of matches on Friday, we got the news that all sports activities have been suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. “All county courts were to be closed starting Saturday, so we ended up doing a double header and playing into the night. The Farmers played well, and they put up a great fight, but our girls ended up losing 4-1in both matches.…

High School Sports Suspended by COVID-19

Thursday, March 19th, 2020

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter
The Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) has suspended all spring sports due to the public health threat from COVID-19. This includes all Maui Interscholastic League events, effective Monday, March 16.
Molokai High Athletic Director Lee Derouin said all MHS spring sports can still practice at DOE practice facilities since the county parks and facilities are closed. This is also subject to change. Baseball and volleyball home games against Seabury Hall are postponed for this week.
The possible resumption of play will not be made without the HHSAA first consulting with the Hawaii State Department of Health and the Lt.…

Robotics Team Looks to the Bright Side with Drone Racing

Thursday, March 19th, 2020

Robotics Team Looks to the Bright Side with Drone Racing

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

High school drone pilots tested their skills and speed in a first-ever drone racing tournament last Saturday. Despite the disappointment of hard-earned upcoming competitions being cancelled due to COVID-19, the MHS Robotics team took on a new challenge to showcase Robotics Ed-ucation and Competition (REC) Foundation aerial drone flying.

Visually guiding a drone through a series of obstacles across a large gym while standing in one place is no small feat. The six members of the MHS Robotics team helped each other do it as they took turns piloting and “spotting” — or giving their teammates verbal instructions for how to navigate through the course when sight lines became challenging.…

Recalling Kulaia History

Sunday, September 9th, 2018

Molokai Canoe Festivals Committee News Release

Historical records dating back to 1865 note Hawaiian outrigger canoe race competitions as one of the many events our kupuna took part in during annual la kulaia, days of festivities honoring the Kingdom of Hawaii and especially honoring our beloved monarchy.  During that era, kulaia generally occurred once a year during a national holiday or birthday celebration of a mo’i (monarch). 

After the overthrow of our beloved Hawaiian Kingdom, kulaia festivities changed focus and no longer celebrated the Kingdom and monarchy.  In historical records, we see the shift from national celebration to simply canoe race competitions. …