How do you believe the Youth Center benefits the youth?

It's a safe place where youth can come and hang out versus getting

in trouble somewhere else. HYC offers a setting that is fun; free from

the influence of tobacco, drugs and violence. HYC supports positive

interactions; it reinforces positive Hawaiian values and encourages

youth to improve health, moral and social habits. Our mission statement

is "E kipaipai i na 'opio i na hana ku i ka pono mai keia manawa a mau

loa aku," which translates as "Inspiring youth to make positive

impressions that last a lifetime." HYC tries to make positive lasting

impressions that will hopefully build self-esteem and assist our youth

in making wise choices now and in the future. 





Can you describe some of the successes that you've witnesses in your time with HYC?







We are still open! Other than that, I've seen members graduate, some

have gone on to college and some have begun careers. I've seen families

of members participate more in the community. I believe more successes

are yet to come. 

How do you measure success?

Right now I think it is through participation and by feedback from

the community. While we are providing positive information,

reinforcement and reminders, I believe that it is not until later will

we see if everything kicks in. Maybe one day a former member will say

they were inspired by something that they experience at HYC.





Are there any failures that you would like to share? 







I've heard where youth may have done something wrong at home and for

punishment they were restricted from coming to the center. It's

unfortunate that at times HYC is being used as the leverage to control

youth behavior.





How has the Youth Center helped to integrate the community at large?







HYC along with a collaboration of others has encouraged family

strengthening in a program called Hana Pa`a where families are taken

camping and taught family strengthening skills. Within the `ohana,

families are able to bond, families bond with families, organizations

bond with organizations and it grows.





What would you consider to be the biggest challenge directly regarding the youth and their positive growth? 







Motivation seems to be an ongoing challenge. It is so easy for youth

to pass up positive opportunities. To get youth to buy into something

that requires effort on their part, to broaden their prospective on

views and to build confidence are things we are trying to instill.

I was involved with your monthly event called Movie in the Park. Would you like to explain a little about how that works?



 



Three organizations have joined together in this effort. With `Ohana

Makamae, which is the Hana Family Resource Center and Hale Hulu Mamo,

Hana's Senior Center, we are able to provide a family strengthening

activity once a month that is affordable. The movie is selected and

voted based on values and it is shown for free. We also provide a

balanced dinner plate and other concession items for a reasonable cost,

which our attendees appreciate. Prior to the movie, a small forum is

available to either showcase maybe a film a youth created, have a short

entertainment segment or the sharing of concerns and happenings that

are going on at each of our organizations.

There is a lot of energy that is required to put this together and I

am grateful for my co-agencies because we would not be able to do it as

well by ourselves. Sometimes we make a small profit and sometimes we

don't. However, this teaches collaboration, teamwork and cooperation

and we have incorporated parts of this effort in our youth programming.

I just hope it sets an example for the future. 





I understand that you and your coworkers organize field trips. Are there any in particular that you would like to share?







So as not to waste a whole day, I believe that for many in Hana,

Kahului trips are targeted to get what you need and return to Hana and

still have time in the day to do other things. We have created

quarterly field trips that encompass things that erase the rushed time

factor to return to Hana and we do things that are out of the "going to

the other side" norm. Participation in this is based on having a good

standing. We try to include things that are educational, cultural and

inspirational.

Trips normally begin very early. Breakfast could be either made by

the youth at a park watching the sun come up or maybe they'll practice

ordering at a sit-down breakfast. A visit to a museum, an art exhibit,

a hotel tour, MCC [Maui Community College], golf lessons, bowling or

cultural sites. Roads rarely traveled have been included, also.

Swimming seems to be necessary, whether it is at a pool, beach or `Iao

Stream.

We also visit community members who may be in the hospital. A

current movie could be included as well. Parents are provided with our

jam-packed itinerary so as not to worry when we roll in close to

midnight. Our effort is to provide something memorable, something so

that they will say, "I learned something new."





Are there particular activities that the youth prefer over others?







Definitely. However, it is equally important for youth to learn from

the programs that promote responsibility as well. Sometimes we have

repackaged the programs so that they appear more appealing. On the

other hand, we used to have monthly dances that were popular but

working towards our detriment.

We were promoting a nightclub mind-set which constantly required

policing and was burning us out. We turned the activity around by

making them quarterly and creating youth themes. Youth were encouraged

to be youth and not little adults with attitudes. We created activity

stations, a photo booth, group games and contests. Now we don't worry

as much because everyone wants to participate inside as compared to

hanging out outside and getting into trouble. Our goal is to offer

activities that the youth will take advantage of and also be rewarding

for them and staff alike.





Are you content with the youth's

participation with the community? Do you believe that the Youth Center

has helped in rendering a better idea of what it means to be a part of

a community?







Being content can make you complacent and we can always improve.

Youth involvement in a monthly anti-drug rally was beginning to

dwindle. Kids couldn't relate how their participation helped any. So

arrangements were made for individuals from the community who were in

recovery to speak to the youth. Our members were able to hear first

hand from an aunty or uncle, a big cousin, how their participation

inspired them and reminded them to stay clean. These speakers have

helped our youth in that even if there are challenges within the home,

youth know that they have the power to make a healthy choice for

themselves. 





What is the annual shoe donation to the HYC?







Several years ago I met a couple who were visiting Hana, after

touring our center they asked if the youth would appreciate a donation

of shoes from their company: onlineshoes.com. An agreement was formed

and this has been the fourth year HYC has been able to distribute shoes

to the membership and to our senior center. Our friends at

onlineshoes.com believed in what we were doing and we are most

grateful. This past year we put together a slide show set to music,

which was sent to them and they shared it with their employees. I hope

it provided that tingly feeling in their na`au [gut] that their shoes

have given our youth members.





Does the community seem appreciative?







This Seattle-based company has embraced our community and they have

touched our lives. Hopefully we have shown appreciation by sharing with

them what we have done as well. Maybe one day our youth may have the

means to help others less fortunate. They definitely see a positive

example today. 

Are there any major changes that you foresee taking place within the Hana community that would directly affect the HYC?

The cost of living in Hana continues to soar. Grants seem more

complicated as well. It is our hope one day to have an endowment where

we could operate from the interest and not have to spend as much time

searching for operating funds. On another note, the school system

continues to affect the center. This is our first year in a year-round

schedule. Hana School also has an optional Friday program which affects

parents and youth as well. Are the youth benefiting from it? Time will

tell. 





What makes you most proud?







I was surprised this past Aloha Week by being bestowed the Hana

community's Tiny Malaikini Mea Kokua Award. Previous recipients have

inspired me from when I was little. I hope I can do the same for our

youth today. MTW