The Molokai High School boys basketball team at Lanai High School, from left: Haloa Hamakua, Edizon Ringor, Brayden Willing-McCutcheon, David Rapanot, Hauoli Falealii, Ben Lin Kee and Tanielu Falealii. Photo by Rick Schonely.

Sophomore David Rapanot was the hero Friday night at Lanai High School when he hit a shot at the buzzer to lift Molokai to a 35-33 victory.

The game was close the whole way, with Molokai holding a four-point lead at halftime. The Pine Lads held Molokai to 4 points in the third quarter to take a lead heading into the final quarter.

Senior Edison Ringor led the Farmers with 10 points in the game.

The game on Saturday determined second place in the MIL Division II, with Seabury Hall already wrapping up first place with an undefeated record.

Junior Hauoli Falealii scored 13 points to lead Molokai to a 42-41 win. Lanai led 22-16 at halftime. Molokai controlled the third quarter, 16-5, and held on in the end to win. Rapanot added 10 points in the game.

The two teams play again Thursday in the semifinal game of the MIL Division II tournament at King Kekaulike gym at 4:30 p.m.

As is tradition, the Molokai girls basketball team gathered at center court following its final home game to sing the school's alma mater.

Over the past four years, Molokai has been a dominant force in Division II basketball in Hawaii. Over that stretch, Kalei Adolpho and Danna Lynn Hooper-Juario led the team to a state championship, state runner-up title and two final four finishes. Now that those girls have gone on to the collegiate level, their younger teammates have stepped up to keep Molokai competitive.

The Lady Farmers showed real improvement since losing twice to Seabury earlier in the season. But with only four regular season games and then three MIL tournament games, it has been hard to gain the experience needed against a mature Spartan team.

After defeating Lanai twice at home to end the regular season, Molokai beat the Pine Lasses again last Thursday to earn a chance to face Seabury for a chance to return to Oahu.

Molokai beat Seabury 42-31 on Friday at Erdman Athletic Center in Olinda, Seabury’s home gym. Although not a neutral site, the Farmers did bring out their competitive spirit for the MIL Division II Tournament.

Pressing defense and strong team play lifted the Farmers over Seabury. Senior Kalyn Kaulia-Makaiwi, Molokai’s only returning starter, and senior Brianna Tangonan led the way with nine points each in the win. Junior Camille Borden added eight points and sophomore Shaniah Mollena-Lopez scored seven in the victory.

In the MIL Division II Tournament final held Saturday, also at Erdman Athletic Center, Seabury found a way to break Molokai’s press and score key baskets in the 34-24 win for the Spartans.

Tyra Mollena-Lopez was the top Molokai scorer with 10 points in the loss. Shaniah Mollena-Lopez and Kaulia-Makaiwi added four points each while Borden, Tangonan and Rebecca Adolpho had two points apiece.

Molokai girls end the season with a 5-3 record.

Governor Neil Abercrombie today announced the release of more than $13 million for various Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) that invest in Hawaii’s local agriculture industry and upgrade the state’s water irrigation infrastructure.

Locally, $1,250,000 will be spent on the Molokai Irrigation System for planning, design and construction to replace an above-ground concrete flume with an underground pipeline, installation of a new hydropower plant and structural stabilization of an access bridge.

“As we continue to shift Hawaii’s economy to a sustainable foundation, our investment in New Day Work Projects must include upgrading our agricultural and irrigation systems, which is critical to our food security,” said Governor Abercrombie.

“The priority projects being funded will greatly support and expand agriculture in Hawaii,” said Russell S. Kokubun, chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. “Much of the state’s agricultural infrastructure is decades old, and it is important to maintain and upgrade them and keep them in service to Hawaii’s farmers, growers and ranchers, now and for the future.”

On the Big island, planning and design for renovation of the existing water tunnel system in the Ka'u area is one of the statewide irrigation improvement projects.

• $4,150,000 – Pa’auilo Rendering Plant and Slaughterhouse, Hawai’i Island – Funds released to the County of Hawaii for planning, design, construction and equipment for building renovations, infrastructure improvements and equipment replacement to facilitate economic development of the beef.

• $2,500,000 – State Irrigation System Reservoir, statewide – Land acquisition, design and construction for safety improvements to irrigation reservoirs, including vegetation removal, embankment lining, and repair and/or replacement of gate valves, spillways, outlet channels, and other features of the system

• $1,850,000 – Waimanalo Irrigation System, O’ahu – Design and construction to replace ditch lining, install supervisory control and data acquisition systems, and various other necessary improvements

• $1,000,000 – State Agricultural Water Use and Development Plan, statewide – Preparation of a comprehensive statewide plan to inventory irrigation systems throughout the state, including preparation of historic descriptions of original irrigation infrastructure, assessment of current conditions, proposing maintenance/improvements and identification of irrigation sources and water use requirements for long-term waster use projections

• $1,000,000 – Hanalei River, Kaua’i – Reinforcement of stream bank and construction of a structure to return water flow to the river’s main channel, feeding the Hanalei National Wildlife Reserve

• $500,000 – Ka’u Irrigation System, Hawaii Island – Planning and design for renovation of the existing water tunnel system in the Ka’u area.

• $500,000 – Waiahole Water System, O’ahu – Planning and design for replacement of nearly century-old siphons and related valves.

• $300,000 – Kekaha Ditch, Kaua’i – Planning and design for improvements to the Black Pipe Siphon, Pali Wooden Flume and other structures.

Seventeen Molokai High School students and 15 Molokai Middle School students were among the 125 science projects and displays that competed at the 53rd annual Maui Schools Science and Engineering Fair last Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center.

In last year’s State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama said: “We need to teach our kids that it’s not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair; that success is not a function of fame or PR, but of hard work and discipline.” Students presenting their science fair projects may not have remembered the President’s speech, but their hard work and discipline definitely paid off.

The top high school winner was Moriah Jenkins, a senior at Molokai High School. As the top senior project, she will represent Maui County at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in May in Pittsburgh, PA. The Intel ISEF is the "Super Bowl" of science fairs with the top prize winning a $100,000 scholarship. Over $4 million in scholarships are distributed at this event every year.

Snatching 15 awards were students: Michael Kikukawa, Michael Onofrio, Xrystina Bicoy, Sarah Jenkins, Ka‘i Blevins, Makana Kaholoa‘a, Jake Sakamoto, Brittanie Nerveza, Paul Parker, Robert Onofrio, and Moriah Jenkins. Dominating three of the five Senior Division spots that will advance to the Hawaii State Science Fair in April are team Jake/Brittanie, team Paul/Robert and Moriah.

“It was amazing not only to have the Top Senior Project won by Molokai High School senior, Moriah Jenkins, but for so many members of the team to receive Special Merit Awards for their projects was simply awesome,” said DeRouin. As the top senior project, Moriah will also represent Hawaii at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair this May in Pittsburgh, Penn. showcasing her project on myoelectric prosthesis for dogs.

Students, teachers and parents would like to thank all the people that made the Science Fair possible and put in the time to work with the students in and out of the classroom. Mahalos go out to Alicia Bicoy for networking with and gathering Molokai scientists and engineers to mentor students at the Hana Hou Tuesdays.

Junior Michael Kikukawa shared how mentoring improved his project advancing it to a more competitive level. “Uncle Ray Skrocke explained the process of how an electric grid works which enabled us to answer detailed judges’ questions. In addition, we updated our presentation board and research paper, and considered next steps for our project.”

Special recognition also goes out to the efforts of Molokai Middle School students: Giesha Nunez, Oceana Madani, Kea’a Davis, Sabrina Curtis, Kanani Ah Van, Lily Jenkins, and Momi Afelin who were among seven Molokai Middle School students to receive awards. Way to go girls!

Molokai will send 37.5 percent (three of eight students) of the Maui County students to the state event.

Below is a list of all the top award winners:

Top Senior Division Award
Pet Prosthesis
Moriah Jenkins, Gr. 12 – Molokai High

Top Junior Division Award
Limu’s Hidden Antibacterial Potential: Do Some Marine Algae in Hawaii have Antibacterial Properties?
Chayse Tamaki, Gr. 7 – Iao Intermediate

Merit Award Winners
1) Pet Prosthesis
Moriah Jenkins, Gr. 12 – Molokai High

2) Limu’s Hidden Antibacterial Potential: Do Some Marine Algae in Hawaii have Antibacterial Properties?
Chayse Tamaki, Gr. 7 – Iao Intermediate

3) Survival of the Fittest
Karina Bhattacharya, Gr. 8 – Doris Todd

4) Plant Medicine In Aquaponics
Devynn Leigh Kochi, Gr. 8 – Doris Todd

5) Purpose-Build Electric Vehicle
Dominic Mills, Travis Taylor, Sage Trudeau, Gr. 12 – Seabury Hall

6) Up In Smoke
Jake Sakamoto, Brittanie Nerveza, Gr. 11 – Molokai High

7) Spectral Light Curve Analysis of a Supernova
Riley Camp, Gabriel Salazar, Gr. 10, Christopher Kim, Gr. 9 – Maui High

8) Resolution to Fringing Reef
Paul Parker, Robert Onofrio, Gr. 10 – Molokai High

HONORABLE MENTION
1) The Effects of Housing on Domesticated Chicken Eggs
Kea`a Davis, Gr. 8 – Molokai Middle
2) Electrified Plants: Does Electricity Affect Plant Growth?
Joshua Acidera, Gr. 7 – Iao Intermediate
3) Solar Energy to Pump Water During Crisis
Michael Kikukawa, Michael Onofrio, Gr. 11 – Molokai High
4) Catch the Wind
Keoni Lee, Gr. 7 – Doris Todd

Specialized Awards

Masonic Lodge Award
Pet Prosthesis
Moriah Jenkins, Gr. 12 – Molokai High

Maui Electric Award
Junior Division
Catch the Wind
Keoni Lee, Gr. 7 – Doris Todd

Senior Division
Biomass to Biogas
Anna Gragas, Tamra Takemoto, Gr. 11 – King Kekaulike High

Monsanto Hawaii
Plant Medicine in Aquaponics
Devynn Leigh Kochi, Gr. 8 – Doris Todd

American Meteorological Society
Resolution to Fringing Reef
Paul Parker, Robert Onofrio, Gr. 10 – Molokai High

American Psychological Association
Can You Balance With Music On?
Kananiokeola Ah Van, Gr. 7 – Molokai Middle

ASM Materials Education Foundation
Resolution to Fringing Reef
Paul Parker, Robert Onofrio, Gr. 10 – Molokai High

Association for Women Geoscientists
Beyond the Beaches
Xrystina Bicoy, Gr. 10 – Molokai High

Mu Alpha Theta
Spectral Light Curve Analysis of a Supernova
Riley Camp, Gabriel Salazar, Gr. 10, Christopher Kim, Gr. 9 – Maui High

National Society of Professional Engineers
Purpose-Built Electric Vehicle
Dominic Mills, Travis Taylor, Sage Trudeau, Gr. 12 – Seabury Hall

NOAA
Let’s Go Fly a Kite
Sarah Jenkins, Gr. 9 – Molokai High

Ricoh
Solar Energy to Pump Water During a Crisis
Michael Kikukawa, Michael Onofrio, Gr. 11 – Molokai High

Yale Science & Engineering Association Inc
Solar Energy to Pump Water During Crisis
Michael Kikukawa, Michael Onofrio, Gr. 11 – Molokai High

U.S. Metric Association
In-bound Wave
Hokualaka`i Blevins, Gr. 11, Emmit Kaholoa`a, Gr. 10 – Molokai High

U.S. Air Force Awards
Pet Prosthesis
Moriah Jenkins, Gr. 12 – Molokai High
Purpose-Built Electric Vehicle
Dominic Mills, Travis Taylor, Sage Trudeau, Gr. 12 – Seabury Hall
Up In Smoke
Jake Sakamoto, Brittanie-Rae Nerveza, Gr. 11 – Molokai High
Spectral Light Curve Analysis of a Supernova
Riley Camp, Gabriel Salazar, Gr. 10, Christopher Kim, Gr. 9 – Maui High

Junior guard Hauoli Falealii goes up for two of his nine points in Saturday's loss to Seabury Hall.

The Farmers are playing the rest of the season without some of their biggest players who were suspended for violating school rules and team rules. Dressing only seven players, none of whom are over 6-feet tall, the Farmers were unable to keep the larger Seabury boys from dominating the boards. The Farmers have now played four games without most of their starters.

“Last weekend we had to deal with adversity,” said head coach Lester Delos Reyes. “There are some issues here that made it hard to focus on basketball.”

Molokai could not slow down the Spartans on Friday night as they moved the ball inside at will in a 63-42 victory. For the Farmers, junior Hauoli Falealii was the top scorer with 19 points. Sophomore David Rapanot added 10 points for Molokai.

“Hauoli Falealii and David Rapanot are great players good team captains,” said Delos Reyes.

Sophomore David Rapanot fights for an offensive rebound but loses out to the taller Shane Jacob of Seabury.

Delos Reyes said tired legs were affecting the team “big time.”

“When you have only two guys on the bench it’s hard to sub out,” said Delos Reyes. “We try to control tempo and control the ball.”

But without the ability to box out a larger Seabury team, Molokai had no real chance. At one point midway through the fourth quarter, Seabury had three consecutive offensive rebounds off missed free throws. Final score: 54-32. Seabury is 5-0 in MIL season play.

Top scorers for Molokai were Falealii, nine points, Rapanot seven and senior guard Edison Ringor seven.

Molokai (1-3) will travel to Lanai (2-2) on Friday for two games.

To prepare, Delos Reyes said the team, “has to work on building the chemistry again. When you lose that many players you have to retool again and rebuild.”

Maui County firefighters were still hitting hot spots this afternoon in Kalamaula where a brush fire burned 200 acres.

It started Friday afternoon on Kalae Highway where fireworks were blamed for a brush that burned about 100 feet alongside the highway. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire by 3:30 p.m. when they found two “flower bloom with report” fireworks taped together. No injuries or property damage was reported.

On Saturday, two separate brush fire started in Hoolehua. Also occurring on Kalae Highway, this fire started at about 11:20 a.m. Within minutes, fire crews were able to get the 1,600-square-foot fire under control and extinguished.

Firefighters put out hot spots in thick stands of kiawe trees in Kalamaula today. A second firefighter with a chainsaw removes dead limbs to keep the area safe for fire personnel.

Fire crews are still mopping up yesterday’s 200-acre fire in Kalamaula, mauka side. No injuries were reported although the fire did come within 50 feet of homes. The fire damaged a shipping container holding furniture inside on Hoomalu Drive. It sustained $5,000 in damage.

A total of 28 fire personnel, two county tankers, and one county loader were also assisting in fighting the blaze yesterday. The department’s Air-1 helicopter was also on the scene. Although 100 percent contained, three engines and a tanker remained on the scene overnight to monitor the situation.

Today, fire crews with chainsaws and hoses were spraying smoldering areas among the thick kiawe trees.

DLNR News Release

The State of Hawaii and the U.S. Coast Guard will hold a follow-up community meeting to present updated information on security operations for future American Safari Cruises port calls to Molokai. The meeting will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30, at Mitchell Pau‘ole Community Center in Kaunakakai.

U.S. Coast Guard Captain Joanna Nunan and DLNR Chairman William Aila talk with protester Leimana Naki during last Saturday's protest at Kaunakakai Wharf.

“Our objective is to ensure the safety of people and the natural environment while minimizing disruption of normal activities at Kaunakakai wharf,” Aila said. “I am pleased with the progress made with Safari Explorer as well as with the protestors who peacefully expressed their concerns last week.

“The people of Molokai have shown leadership in seeking a peaceful resolution to concerns that were raised about tour operations, and we want to thank them for continuing to engage the state and Coast Guard,” he said.

Chair Aila will be joined by officials from the state Department of Transportation, the Maui Police Department and the U.S. Coast Guard, who oversee and ensure environmental, public and navigational safety in the harbor.

Since December, Molokai residents and officials have held meetings to discuss the future of tour operations on Molokai. Chair Aila has been actively participating in those discussions on behalf of the state.

The U.S. Coast Guard is still seeking public comment on a temporary security zone that has been established for the waters of Kaunakakai Harbor. Specific details on the security zone, including instructions on submitting comments, can be reviewed here.

In response to concerns voiced by Kaunakakai Harbor users and observations made during security zone enforcement operations last weekend, efforts will be made to alter the timing of the zone and reduce its duration for upcoming transits by the Safari Explorer.

Specifically, the security zone will be enforced after the Safari Explorer’s arrival at the Kaunakakai Harbor entrance buoys and kept in place until the vessel is safely moored at the pier. It is anticipated that the zone will only be in place for approximately 20 minutes during inbound transits. Notice of the zone’s activation will be provided by broadcast notices to mariners and the display of a red flag at the entrance gate of the Kaunakakai wharf.

“I enjoyed meeting with Kaunakakai Harbor stakeholders and Molokai residents last week and greatly appreciate their feedback,” said Captain Joanna Nunan, Commander of USCG Sector Honolulu. “As a result of the input we received, we are adjusting the timing and duration of our security zone enforcement to better balance safety, commerce, and recreational use of Molokai’s only port.”

“I’d like to thank the U.S. Coast Guard and State DLNR for working together with the Maui Police Department on this,” said Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa. “This was all about ensuring public safety, not just for those on the cruise ship but also that of the protesters. Let us hope we can have more successful partnerships like this in the future.”

Bio-Logical Capital, a land investment, development, and conservation company, formally welcomes Keiki-Pua Dancil, Ph.D. as its vice president of Hawaii operations. In her role as vice president, Hawaii, she oversees Bio-Logical Capital’s activities and investments in the islands.

Keiki-Pua Dancil, Ph.D., vice president of Hawaii operations for Bio-Logical Capital.

The Hawaiian Public Utilities Commission issued a request for proposals in October, 2011 for 200 megawatts or more of renewable energy on any island. So far, Molokai Renewables is the only company that has placed a bid with the PUC for a project on Molokai. The PUC ruled in July of 2011 that Hawaiian Electric Company must rebid half of its $2.3 billion Big Wind project that would bring wind energy from Lanai and Molokai to Oahu via an undersea cable.

“If we are fortunate enough to be selected, we believe harnessing the strong winds of Molokai would provide many benefits, including a homegrown source of clean energy, lower electricity rates and also a unique opportunity to provide residents with meaningful community benefits,” Dancil said. “Working with the community on a thoughtful and meaningful community benefits package for Molokai will be a top priority.”

Dancil most recently was the president and CEO of the Hawaii Science and Technology Institute and the Hawaii Science and Technology Council, with which she was involved in developing strategic partnerships between state and federal agencies, private and public schools, and the business community on issues including workforce development and economic revitalization in science and technology.

Previously, Dancil was the executive vice president of a diversified medical technology company involved in the manufacturing of raw materials for various pharmaceutical applications.

She received her doctorate in chemistry from the University of California, San Diego and her master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University. Currently Dancil is on the board of PBS Hawaii and Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation.

Boys basketball team members, from left, Edizon Ringor, Hauoli Falealii, David Rapanot and Ben Lin Kee get in some road work to condition themselves for a rigorous season.

The weekend had a promising start as the boys basketball defeated St. Anthony on Friday evening at War Memorial Gym, 47-36.

The Farmer boys, outscoring St. Anthony in all four quarters, were led by Oli Falealii with 16 points. David Rapanot added 13 points while Eddie Ringor had 11 points, Haloa Hamakua, four points and Braden Willing-McCutcheon with two.

The next day the Farmers started strong, leading 20-11 at halftime. After three quarters Molokai still was ahead 35-28. But in the fourth quarter, the Spartans picked up their energy and came back from an 18-point deficit to beat the Farmers 46-43. Molokai only dressed seven players as several team members were not eligible to play for disciplinary reasons.

Scoring for Molokai were Falealii with 13 points, Eddie Ringor, six, David Rapanot 12, Paka Adolpho three and Brauhansen Kaai 9. The loss gives Molokai a 1-1 MIL record.

Wrestling

Four girls and three boys from Molokai claimed titles Saturday at the Kamehameha Maui gym at an MIL meet.

Dhavin Spencer-Basa defeated Lahainaluna’s Bodean Bates, the defending MIL champion at heavyweight, by a 3-2 decision. Spencer Basa transferred back to Molokai this year after wrestling last year for Campbell as a freshman. The win raises his season record to 6-0.

Also earning titles for Molokai were Kailen Inouye at 135 pounds and Julian Daniel Bicoy 140 pounds.

For the girls, Mikayla Pico continued her dominance at 98 pounds by beating Lahainaluna’s Chanel Sijalbo. Also winning their weight classes were Kaila Cabanting (108 pounds), Rizpah Torres Umi (120 pounds) and Charisse Manley (130 pounds).

Canoe Paddling

At the MIL Regatta No. 4 on Saturday, Molokai girls placed third in a time of 4 minutes, 25.42 seconds. Seabury Hall girls won the regatta at Ka Lae Pohaku in a time of 4:14.25.

With the win, the Seabury girls clinch the MIL title. The team point standings through four of five regattas is: Seabury Hall 33, Kamehameha Maui 27, Molokai 24.

Senior guard Kalyn Kaulia-Makaiwi splits the Lanai defense in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game. Molokai held on to win 46-44.

The two victories left the Lady Farmers with a 2-2 season record.

The senior guard Brianna Tangonan led the Farmers in scoring in both Friday and Saturday’s games. She scored 14 points Friday to help Molokai to a 40-32 victory.

Brianna Tangonan goes hard to the basket for two of her team-high nine points on Saturday.

The Pine Lasses gave the Molokai girls a harder time in the Saturday afternoon game. Using a full court press to create turnovers, Lanai jumped out to a 19-16 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, Lanai continued its pressing defense but had a hard time generating any offense. Meanwhile, Molokai did a better job of beating the press and scored 14 points to take a 30-22 lead.

The game got tight in the fourth quarter as the full court press created more turnovers for Lanai. Scoring as many points as they had in the previous three quarters, Lanai came within two points but could not overtake Molokai.

Freshman Shanrese (Lehiwa) Pedro chases down a ball as it goes out of bounds in Saturday's game.

Other top scorers for Molokai were Shaniah Mollena-Lopez with eight points; Tiare English, seven points; Kalyn Kaulia-Makaiwi ,seven points and Rebecca Adolpho seven points.

Molokai will play Lanai again on Thursday in the first round of the MIL Tournament. The game is at 4 p.m. at the Erdman Athletic Center on Maui.