Molokai’s Own Tellers

`Opio travel to Mainland to share Molokai mo`olelo.

By Dispatch Staff

Seven 'O Hina I ka Malama students from Molokai High School traveled to Palm Springs, California to participate as ‘tellers' of their own Hawaiian stories at the 14th annual California Indian Storytellers Association (CISA) Festival. Halelu Sibayan, a junior at MHS, along with classmates, was able to share Molokai mo`olelo at the festival.

On May 5 students visited their Native American peers at the last "Indian Boarding School" of California, Sherman Indian High School, founded in 1901. Sherman students shared various Indian traditions of music/chant, dance, and drumming from throughout the United States.

Participation allowed students to demonstrated mastery in the content areas of language arts (oral communication), fine arts, and social studies. Students will showcase a video of both events and their travel experiences at a Molokai High School 'Ohana Night during the fall semester.

Student travel, lodging, and food were sponsored in part by a 'Aha Hui grant award from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, support from the Queen Lili'uokalani Childrens Center, and the California Indian Storytellers Association.