MHS Headed to State History Competition

Community Contributed

By Kainoa Pali

The Molokai High Social Studies Department hosted its fifth National History Day Fair. School-wide judging took place on February 26, along with the Molokai Middle School. The judging panel comprised of professors and experts within their respective fields who were chosen based on students’  topics . Students were interviewed for their understanding of historical content, project criteria, as well as relevance to this year’s theme, “Rights and Responsibility in History.” All students showcased their research analysis through various project formats such as paper, website, performance, documentary, and exhibit.

This is the first year where Molokai High will be represented in all five categories at the State National History Day competition on April 12 on Oahu.

Representing Molokai High in the paper category will be Anna Mae Ewing’s “Restricting the Rights of Parents: Family in China,” Rainbow Kee’s “Rights and Responsibilities of Children’s Bureau ” and returning state competitor Edel Mae Alvarez’s “Filipino Plantation Workers in Hawaii.”

In the website category, Momi Afelin’s “Rights and Responsibilities in the Advertising industry,” Marissa Motas and Oceana Madani’s “Rights and Responsibility of Iranian Women and the Hijab,” and Keaa Davis’s “Closing the Golden Door: The Emergency Quota Act of 1921,” whose topic is based on immigration are three websites selected to attend the states.

A performance done by Kamalani Puailihau and Ashley Smith, “Kaulana Waialua a`o Molokai,” and ”Ancestral Protocol” by `Olelo Hamakua-Poepoe, ‘lokepa Albino, Lahela Corpuz were projects based from cultural perspective that will represent Molokai in the performance category. Cendall Manley, who returns to the state competition for the second year, will also perform “Prohibition: A Dilemma Between Individual Rights, Personal Responsibility, and Governmental Power.”

In the documentary category,  Kaleikaumaka Kaiama-Len Wai and Kananihawaii Puailihau’s “Banning Hawaiian Language,” Maihilahila Horswil, Hiilani Kaiama-Kanuha and Kilihune Lima-Mollena’s “The Right to Learn Hawaiian Language,” and Makana Domingo, Kealohanui Helm, Kuikamoku Han’s “Mo`omomi” were chosen for the documentary category. All documentaries are based on the significance of the Hawaiian cultural practices within the Molokai community.

Sonja Angst, whose entry in the exhibit category is titled “Of Civil Wrongs and Rights,” is based on the Fred Korematsu’s civil lawsuit with the United States, Kysha Kawano exhibit is based on “Nazi Germany,” and Dalia Kapuni-Lopez’s exhibit was based on Martin Luther King Jr.’s  “I Have a Dream ” speech.

The MHS Social Studies department and students would like to thank the Hawaii Council for the Humanities Executive Director Robert Buss and Hawaii History Day Coordinator Jane Murao for their continued support of Molokai NHD Fair. We would like to acknowledge the following students who were selected for the Molokai High School-Wide Judging and the teachers of the Social Studies Department.

Paper: Brooke Keliihoomalu, Sabrina Curtis; exhibit: Edel Mark Alvarez, Manu Kailopa-He; website: Maile Kekino-Puaoi, Tai Yamamoto, Erik Svetin, Katelyn Emia, Kaiawe Kalawe, Alohalani Poaipuni, Joshaviah Cabreros, Kelson Cabalar, Abe Victorino, William Dela Cruz, Levi Horner-Villa, Alden Abafo, Laurentiu Jacobs, Gelly Ann Ringor; documentary-group: Pa`ahana Lindo, Keaolono Ross, Preston Pascua-Kahookono; Social Studies Teachers: Ms. Paula Friel, Ms. Laura Buller, Ms. Tilana Kawa ‘a, and Mr. Kainoa Pali.