Empower Kauai's Youth: Donate for a Life-Changing Trip

Bringing Hope to Kauai’s Youth—One Snowboard Trip at a Time

This past February, we had the incredible opportunity to take four teenagers from Kauais community to Mount Hood, Oregon. For these boys, it was more than just a trip—it was the first time they had ever seen snow, the first time they had ever traveled off the island, and, for some, the first time they had ever felt true freedom from the struggles of their everyday lives.

Kauai has been through so much in recent years. The housing crisis is worse than ever, leaving many hardworking families homeless. Even kids who are holding down jobs after school are unable to help their families secure stable housing, forcing some to live in cars or tents. Despite these hardships, they continue to push forward, showing a resilience that is nothing short of inspiring.

Sean has always believed that Elephit Skate Shop was about something bigger than just skating—it’s about community, about purpose, and about giving these kids a chance to see a future beyond their current circumstances. Over the years, we’ve watched them grow from little groms into young adults who are fighting to stay in school, working hard to support themselves, and searching for direction in a place where opportunities can feel painfully limited.

This trip changed everything—for them and for us. Watching these boys experience the snow for the first time, seeing their faces light up with joy, and realizing how much this adventure meant to them made it clear: this is our calling. We believe God has a purpose for our snowboard community, our home in Mount Hood, and our skate shop in Kauai. The pieces are falling into place, and we are committed to making this a lasting opportunity for more kids like them.

Our vision is to turn this into a biannual trip, bringing groups of 4 to 6 kids to Mount Hood for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This is more than just a trip—it’s an introduction to a world beyond the struggles they’ve known. It’s a chance to dream bigger, to break the cycle of hardship, and to step into a future filled with new possibilities.

Already, some of our boys are planning to move off the island, finding opportunities to work on the mountain, experience independence, and create a life beyond the limitations they’ve always known.

To make this next trip possible, we need your help.

Last time, through small contributions, we raised nearly $1,000 and were able to take four kids, thanks to some generous buddy passes for flights. This time, we need to raise about $500 per kid to cover their costs. We are hoping to take four kids on this next trip, leaving April 23rd.

Any contribution, big or small, makes a difference. It was only through your support that we were able to make this happen the first time.

We accept donations through Venmo, Zelle, and Apple Pay (message me for details). So far, we’ve received one donation of $20, and we are hopeful we can reach our goal in time.

As a token of our appreciation, donors who contribute $100 or more will receive a special Mahalo Mountain Cabin T-shirt—normally reserved only for guests of our Airbnb.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for any support you can give. You are not just funding a trip—you are changing lives.