ROBOTICS TEAM JOURNEYS TO WORLDS AGAIN!

We’ve done it again! Kualapu‘u School is headed to the VEX Robotics World Championship – VEX IQ Challenge Elementary School Division in Louisville, Kentucky in April.

When the robotics team made up of sixth graders started out the season, they set a goal to surpass what was accomplished last season. In January, the team successfully took the next step on their journey.

The team travelled to Oahu and won their division in the state tournament. According to coach Edwin Mendija, “These kids became world class in what they do within 6 months. They are all currently ranked top 50 in the world in Robot Skills.”

Coaches Edwin Mendija, Desirae Mendija and Deke Law; 6th Grade Students Felix Kehano, Matthew McGuire, Alice Alvarez, Chevy Bush, Naia Starkey, Shazen Bush, Kamau Pali

Our 2018 Hawaii State Vex IQ Champions will be competing in the largest robotics competition in the world. Hundreds of students from more than 30 countries will be represented.

The Robotics program at Kualapu‘u School began in 2014-15. In 2016, they competed for the first time, and in 2017, came within a few points of winning the state championship and qualified for world championship. In

only its second year, Kualapu‘u Comets Team 1037B John Quintua and Naiwa Pescaia came in 2nd in the world (only 5 points behind China) while Team 1037A Jaryn Kaholoaa and Aron Corpuz placed in the top 15% of 240 teams.

Follow our Facebook Page to join our 2018 journey.

If you would like to make a donation, visit https://www.gofundme.com/kpuuworldrobotics2018

KUALAPUU SCHOOL CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

Students, teachers, and parents were joined by Kualapu‘u School ‘ohana of yesteryear when they celebrated May Day on May 5, 2017.

Barbara Pawn, Lorraine Borden, Josephine Manaba,

Theresa Meyer, Elladine Adolpho, Sandra Arce-English

The 50th Anniversary of our school was celebrated with visits by alumni and former staff.

Alumni and former staff were invited to spend a day to share the changes in the school and in 50 years of education. The day opened up with a staff and alumni breakfast, mele from Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapu‘u (Hawaiian Language Immersion program) and a demonstration from our World Champion Robotics Team. A tour of the school showed 1-to-1 computer to student ratio and additional classrooms that have been added to the campus throughout the years.

Original kindergarten teachers

Jan (Ocampo) Kobayashi and Leslie Tamura meet current kindergarten teachers

Leah Nakayama and Kimberly Johnston along with current principal

Lydia Trinidad (Kualapu‘u alumna and former student of both

Mrs. Kobayashi and Mrs. Tamura)

Kualapu‘u Public Conversion Charter School Nurturing our Children to Thrive in an Ever-Changing World

E ola nā pua i ke ao huli au

Kualapu‘u Public Conversion Charter School

February 2018

Vol. 2 No. 1 Published Semi-Annually

by

Ho‘okako‘o Corporation 260 Farrington Highway

Kualapu’u, Hawaii 96757

ALUMNI CORNER NOBEL

PEACE SCHOLAR

Alumna Clare-Marie Anderson was selected as a 2017 Nobel Peace Scholar, an elite honor shared by only 15 others nationwide. Best known as a Wahine Volleyball champion (both indoor and beach volleyball), the senior is touted as the first UH student selected for the program.

Anderson spent two months this past summer in Norway, studying at the Nobel Peace Institute as well as the University of Oslo, participating in workshops, taking classes, and preparing a presentation for the Nobel Peace Prize Forum.

She is proud of her roots on Molokai, “the Friendly Isle.” “The excellent academics, meaningful cultural experiences, and caring community I was exposed to during my time at Kualapu‘u School were fundamental in shaping the lifelong learner and civic-minded leader I am today.” UH’s “peace ambassador” is a Presidential Scholar obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Biology with Honors in addition to obtaining certificates in both Sophomore Highest Honors and Peace Studies. She aspires to become a doctor, “hoping to incorporate her passion for peace into her practice of medicine in the future in the hopes of improving health care in under-privileged communities,” according to her peace scholars bio.

PIKO

Students and staff gather in the front courtyard every morning to welcome the day with an ‘oli.

When it rains, we gather in the cafeteria.

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KULA KAIAPUNI O KUALAPU‘U HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE PROGRAM FILLS A STATEWIDE NEED

When Hawaiian Language Immersion teachers noticed a shortage of reading material for elementary upper grades, they jumped into action and created a book series to fill the need.

Kualapu‘u School was awarded a highly competitive two-year Administration for Native Americans grant to create grade appropriate, Hawaiian language readers and curriculum. Of Kualapu‘u’s nearly 340 students, more than 20 percent are in the immersion program, and 95% are of Hawaiian ancestry. The self-published Hawaiian language books will include four chapter books for grades two through four and eight consumable workbooks for kindergarteners and first-graders learning to read and write in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i.

Kualapu‘u Curriculum Coordinator Kamalu

Poepoe along with ‘Opuʻulani Albino are collaborating to create the Molokai place-based readers. The first five books were introduced at a Book Signing at the school’s Christmas Bazaar on December 16.

The books and curriculum will be made available at no cost to all Hawaiian immersion programs across the state. The Kukuiehu series, named for Kumu ‘Opuʻulani’s grandmother, is also available for purchase at the school office and on Amazon.com (search for “Opuulani Albino or Karen Poepoe) or use this link https://tinyurl.com/kukuiehu.

All proceeds support Kula Kaiapuni o Kualapu‘u Program.

MARTIN LUTHER KING PEACE POEM WINNERS

The grand prize in the 18th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Poetry was presented to a Kualapu‘u School student on June 1, 2017. Golden Circle Award winner Carly Dudoit’s poem “I Am Peace” was selected from a field of more than 210 Molokai entries. Melinda Gohn, director of sponsor International Peace Poem Project, also presented awards to 28 student winners from two Molokai schools. Eight students received special recognition certificates from Governor David Ige for submitting poems in Hawaiian with English translation.

Greta Martinez won the Molokai Peace Poem Teacher of the Year Award for the second year in a row.

WHALE WATCH Mahalo Pacific Whale Foundation and Servco Foundation for the opportunity to experience whale season.

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Photo courtesy of William Gommel

Heath Allen Betty Lou Larson Lectie Altman Timothy Lester Ray Brust Jeffrey Ling Christine Chaplin Connie Liu Charles Dietrich Jean Haunani Manning Angelia Eide Kamana Mathur Sue Forbes Zara Nguyen Steven Glazier Matthew Norcia Gary Goldstein Bruce Ong Michelle Goldstein Jill Suzanne Radke Amanda Han John Rawlinson Anthony Jacang Sherril Rawlinson Patricia Johnson Janice Smolec Carly Killiam Jade Wong Melanie Killiam Natasha Woodward

Kualapu‘u School wishes Lectie Altman a strong recovery from her bike accident on Oahu #LectieStrong

2017 SUPPORTERS AND VOLUNTEERSGLASS FOR CLASS

MAJOR SPONSORS Ann Botticelli Gregory Kahn

Monsato Molokai

Chef Symone Elizabeth & Taisen Abreu Ho‘okako‘o Corporation

KV & Associates (Keith Vieira)

Esther Trinidad Lydia Trinidad

Anonymous Anonymous

Atlantis Adventures Hawaii Barking Deer Farm

Ashley Bradford Briann Childs

Coffees of Hawaii Carrie DeCoite

Lisa Omalsa Deno William & Sue Gommel

Gyotaku Japanese Restaurant (REI Food Service, LLC)

Hawaiian Airlines Hilo Hattie

Hotel Molokai (Michael Drew) Sam & Juanita Hulu

Kawena Designs Kaimomi Distribution

Barbara Kalipi Kamoi Snack N Go

Kupu A‘e L&R Farms

Kim Lani Lena Blue Services (Wade Nakayama) Malama Surf Shop Josephine Manaba

Bruce Meyers Molokai Girl Studio

(Paula Mondoy Scott) Molokai Ideal Furniture

Molokai Sea Farms Monsato Molokai

Maile Naehu Na ‘Ike, Ltd. (Nani Kahinu)

Precision Vision (Dr. Derrick Abe)

Riddell Sports-Western Washington (Nolan Kusmick) Jeannine Rossa Jackie Skrocke

Sust‘aina-ble Molokai & Markline LLC Tim Trainer Wells Fargo

(Manuel “Manny” August, Jr.)

ANNUAL GIVING and ENDOWMENT GRANT SUPPORT Administration of Native Americans

Hawaii Community Foundations – Pillars of Peace Grant Kamehameha Schools

Native Hawaiian Education Program Office of Hawaiian Affairs

ROBOTICS Rogerene Arce E. Darrel Crisp

Lisa Omalsa Deno The Dow Chemical Co. Foundation

William & Sue Gommel G. William Leach

Maui County Farm Bureau Misaki’s, Inc.

Molokai Island Foundation (Barbara Haliniak) Molokai Drugs, Inc.

Molokai VEX IQ League Monsato Fund Dale Moore &

Beverly Pau‘ole-Moore Janie Priest

Rawlins Enterprises, Inc. Sears

Don Slater Lydia Trinidad

Robert & Katy Weir

Pualani Akaka Janet Anderson

Carmen Augustiro Diesel Augustiro Douglas Beijer Delsey Belisle Florence Bush

Marc Burt & Rosie Pepito Joshaviah Cabreros

Miriam Corpuz Judie Davidson

Fred & Noreen L. Eber Koki Foster

Alma Gamiao Donna Gamiao

David M. Horiuchi Earline Iaea

Wilma N. Joy

Noelani Lee Geneva Castro Lichtenstein

Malcolm Mackey Kathleen Mendes

The Moore Financial Group, LLC Rozlynn Phillips

Karen Poepoe Lynette Schaefer Susan Sherwood

Loretta Sherwood-Labrador Ray Skrocke

Harvey T. Tanaka Peter Thompson Lydia Trinidad

John & Elsie Urauchi Robert Weir

Rose Yamada Todd Yamashita

Reverend Abraham Kahu Akaka Ministries Foundation

‘OHANA FUN FAIR American Savings Bank

Bank of Hawaii Douglas Beijer

Lisa Omalsa Deno Donna Gamiao GT Auto Repair

J&J Productions Kamoi Snack-N-Go, Inc.

KMK Services (Kamaile Alcon) Molokai Drugs, Inc.

Molokai Porta Potties Erlinda Santiago

5th & 6th GRADE EAST COAST TRIP Monsato Company

4 | WINTER 2018

Join us for Ho‘okako‘o Corporations 4th Annual Glass for Class benefit fundraiser

for Molokai’s only public charter school – Kualapu‘u Public Conversion Charter School!

The evening will focus on a fabulous wine tasting paired with a 5-course appetizer menu of fresh, locally sourced Molokai ingredients designed by Molokai’s own Chef Woody Hiro!

Whether you are joining us again this year or joining us for the first time, we invite you to spend an evening with us, our community of staff and volunteers, and our

partners for a lovely evening at Hotel Molokai’s Hiro’s ‘Ohana Grill. Enjoy live music, a silent auction, and a sit down wine and appetizer pairing.

All proceeds benefit Kualapu‘u Public Conversion Charter School and a portion of this ticket price may be tax deductible. This is an adult only event; all attendees must be at least 21 years of age to attend.

We look forward to seeing you this year!

If you plan on coming to the event from off-island, please take advantage of the special hotel rates offered by Hotel Molokai.

For more information, go to www.a-glass-for-class-2018.eventbrite.com

*Photo Credit:2017 Glass for Class courtesy of Lori-Lei Rawlins-Crivello

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Ho‘okako‘o Corporation Kualapu‘u Public Conversion Charter School 260 Farrington Highway Kualapu‘u, Molokai, Hawaii 96757

ECRWSS

To our Friends of Kualapu‘u School *********ECRWSSEDDM****

Postal Customer ‘OHANA FAIR FUN

HUAKA‘I TO THE HŌKŪLE‘A

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE

PAID HONOLULU, HI PERMIT NO. 985