Hamakua Youth Center - New Facility

Hamakua Youth Center provides after-school programs for school age youth (ages 6-18 years of age). We live in a rural community with diverse cultural roots and deep connections to place.  Hamakua Youth Center serves anywhere from 30 to 50  youth daily. We provide homework assistance, youth to youth mentoring, gardening (with animals), snacks/meals, exploration of Hamakua's Multi-Cultures, ceramics, robotics and more, with a foundation of discipline and love deeply rooted in Hawaiian Culture as the base foundation.  All of this is free for our youth and families that we serve. We believe in embracing the importance of youth. Through hands-on experiences our youth are immersed in activities that challenge and nurture them as a whole person. 
Our population is rapidly expanding and we want our youth to have more experiences that will grow them to be giving community members. We are in the process of taking a huge leap to purchase a building that has 3 times the space than we have now. We will use the funds raised here for renovation costs of the old Okada Hospital (built in 1939) which will allow us to take our programs to the next level. It will allow at least simultaneous activities (which mean smaller groups for better learning) at once and to finally have a space for our youth to be out and about in nature.  We are making do with what we have and we are grateful for it, however we understand the need for the different ages to have their own space to express themselves amongst their peers. The Okada building will allow us to expand our activities and programs in a way that will nurture young people in new and creative ways. The kindness shown by your donation will provide the resources to help our youth strive to reachest their highest. WE APPRECIATE YOU. 

Mahalo for your generous support.