Molokai High School Showcases Students’ Successes 

By Ric Ornellas

Molokai High School’s School Community Council celebrated 2025-2026 students’ successes in a 60-minute review at their recent May 13 meeting. In a wide-ranging Powerpoint of bulleted data, anecdotes, photos, and embedded video from three academies, six departments, and three schoolwide programs, accompanied by teacher and principal comments, the first-time SCC review reconfirmed the overarching vision and mission of the high school. 

The vision is, “Molokai High School graduates honor the past, embrace future innovation, and take personal responsibility for delivering excellence.” The mission is, “The mission of Molokai High School is to expand our horizons while utilizing Molokai’s unique resources and community.” The students’ embrace of innovation, personal responsibility, excellence through state and national competitions, horizon expansion through both hands-on and technology skills, while utilizing our unique island’s resources, culture, and community was stunningly evident. 

Joanie Tanabe, attending in her role as the District Educational Specialist, Molokai Complex (including Hāna-Lahainaluna-Lānaʻi), noted the positive focus on student success and urged the SCC to further continue and expand communications about students’ success in the future. Nathaniel “Nate” Oswald, longtime SCC community stakeholder and Oswald Nursery Management LLC owner, highlighted the broad scope of students’ achievements in many real-life scenarios. 

The SCC also saw how the four-year growth of three academies with career pathways supported students’ accomplishments as evidenced in many off-island competitions. The three academies are: The Academy of Community Service and Sustainability (CSS) lead by Lisa Takata; The Academy of Information Business and Technology (IBT) lead by Kai Ward; and O Hina I Ka Malama (OHIKM) Hawaiian Immersion lead by Mahina Hou Ross. 

Laisha Juario, MHS Student Executive vice president, and Papulo LaVoie, 2026 graduating senior, were keen SCC student stakeholders who shared ongoing student ideas and concerns which alerted the SCC to address students’ needs in a systematic way. Mark Ragonton, last year’s SCC Student Executive representative and 2026 graduating senior, served as an available mentor to Laisha and Papulo. Laisha will continue as an SCC student stakeholder. The SCC is currently recruiting for 2026-2027, one-to-two additional students through teacher and staff recommendations. 

Additionally, SCC parent stakeholder, Jane Yoo, has created a Parent, Teacher, Student, Community Organization (PTSCO) at MHS which will align with the SCC to improve student-parent-community communications and understanding.

The showcase also noted how the SCC — collaborating with principal, Dr. Katina Soares’s direction, information, and monthly SCC newsletters — is meeting important responsibilities: Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE), Board of Education (BOE), Legislative Act 51, and statutes which underpin the high school’s fiduciary requirements through the Academic and Financial Plans. All of these interlocking elements, invisible yet urgent, are convened at monthly SCC meetings, as well as Friday faculty meetings and department chair (SCART) meetings to meet SCC mandates. 

The 2026 SCC Showcase reveals exciting new avenues and opportunities for students, teachers, parents and families to better communicate and collaborate to further improve student’s successful learning along with career and college readiness for all.

The final SCC 2025-2026 meeting is Wednesday, May 20 at 3:30 p.m. in the MHS library in person. All are invited.