OUR PROGRAMS
The Hāmākua Youth Center strives to provide local youth access to unconditional support and guidance in life skills essential to their growth into kind, engaged, and inspired young adults. In working toward this vision, we are proud to offer low-cost after school, occasional weekends, intersession, and summer enrichment programs for both keiki (ages 12 and under) and ʻōpio (ages 13 and over).
Our programs honor the rich history of our community by sharing in the Hawaiian values of kuleana, aloha, laulima, and mahalo. With these values rooting us to place, our programs grow to reflect the multi-ethnic diversity of Hāmākua and prepare our youth for wherever their journeys may take them. From place-based experiential learning from Waipiʻo Valley to Mauna Kea and everything in between, the HYC provides a loving, inclusive space for youth to be - and discover - themselves.
Stay KALM
The Hawaiian values of kuleana, aloha, laulima, and mahalo are the root of all we do at HYC. KALM for short, we share these values with each other, with our families and community, and with this place we all call home.
K
KULEANA
Mālama i kou kuleana
Take Care of your Responsibilities
Through KULEANA youth learn that their actions affect others.
A
ALOHA
Aloha ke kahi i ke kahi
Love one another
Through ALOHA youth learn to share and accept others for who they are.
L
LAULIMA
E Kuahui like i ka hana
Let everyone work together
Through LAULIMA youth learn to pitch in, work together, and be accountable.
M
MAHALO
Mahalo i ka mea loa'a
Be thankful for all that you have
Through MAHALO youth learn to show gratitude for what they have been given.
KEIKI PROGRAMS
Our Keiki Programs are open to youth ages 12 and under. During the school year we serve keiki from Honoka'a Elementary School. Each day our staff escort students the half block from the school to HYC and provide in-town rides home at the end of the day. Our occasional weekend, intersession, and summer programs are open to all keiki within the Hāmākua district.
All keiki programs are rooted in learning Hawaiian values, stories, and basic language. From this place of strength, our keiki begin to explore the multicultural community of Hāmākua through food and history. Activities include homework help, growing and preparing food, arts and crafts (lei-making, ceramics, painting), music, STEM exploration, and field trips.
Please CONTACT US by email or call (808) 775-0976 if you are interested in enrolling your keiki in our 2025-2026 after school program.
ʻŌPIO PROGRAMS
Our ʻŌpio Programs are open to youth ages 13 and over who attend Honoka'a High and Intermediate School or Laupahoehoe Public Charter School.
Our plan is to provide teens with advanced learning in Hawaiian culture and the multicultural community of Hāmākua. Alongside these opportunities, our ʻōpio programs will create space for teens to explore their identities, passions, and dreams for the future as they prepare to transition into adulthood.
Current Programs
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Internships: HYC can work with area teens to identify local professional and trade internship opportunities. We encourage teens to watch for opportunities throughout the year!
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Scholarships: The HYC offers three scholarship opportunities to recent graduates of the Honoka'a High and Laupahoehoe Public Charter schools. Eligibility criteria for the Big Dave, Jaquelyn McCandless Medical, and Disney scholarships are available each spring when applications are accepted in partnership with the Honoka'a Business Association.
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NEW IN 2025! Our longstanding college scholarship program is partnering with the University of Hawaiʻi to provide expanded scholarship opportunities for Hāmākua and Waimea based high school graduates!
We encourage interested teens to CONTACT US by email or call (808) 775-0976 with an interest in our internship and scholarship opportunities .
COMMUNITY SERVICE
The Hāmākua Youth Center strives to practice the values we teach through ongoing community service activities that ensure the health and welfare of our youth and families. We believe that modeling kuleana, aloha, laulima, and mahalo is the best way to teach these values to our youth ... and through practicing these values our youth will become leaders wherever their travels may take them.
For over a year, HYC takes our keiki on a Friday field trip to the Honoka'a Hongwanji Buddhist Temple Kitchen where nutritious meals are prepared for the whole family. For the last few years, HYC has worked with Vibrant Hawai'i, Queen Lili'uokalani Trust, Kamehameha Schools, and Activate Hawai'i Aid to pack and distribute food boxes to families and our community. We have also worked to support the educational needs of our keiki through online enrichment programs and a partnership with the Hawai'i Science and Technology Museum to pack and distribute home STEM kits to our keiki.
Congratulations are in order!
We are happy to announce our annual 2025
Scholarship Recipients!
Each year the Hāmākua Youth Foundation awards three or more scholarships to the youth in our community.
We want to mahalo the Honokaʻa Business Association for their partnership in discovering worthy applicants. And thank you to Sarah Anderson for providing these lovely photos!
Congratulations to Danica Valera
$1000 from the Jaquelyn McCandless Award
Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in nursing at the University of Hawaii at Hilo is the path Danica Valera has chosen. She had health challenges as a child and was cared for by a nurse, “…who left an impact on who I am today. I hope to help and care for as many people as I can and leave an impact on them just like my nurse did for me.” Danica is a member of the National Honor Society, served as her school’s Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Chapter president, and has already taken college classes.
Congratulations to Chase Simmerman
$1000 from the Big Dave Award
Chase Simmerman is finishing up his first year in auto mechanics at Hawaii Community College and he acknowledges he’s a hands-on person. “I learn better when I am doing something with my hands like in the auto shop or in a lab in science class. I plan to have my own shop and be able to work on my cars and help people in my community.”
Congratulations to Kaijah Hunt
$500 from the Stacy Disney Award
Kaijah Hunt will attend Chapman College in Southern California and is planning on studying political science. “Balancing a 4.0 GPA, part-time work in Waikoloa, and ongoing volunteer efforts has taught me time management, perseverance, and responsibility. No matter how busy I am, I’ve always made time to serve, because leadership starts with showing up and making a difference.”
HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
SCAN or CLICK Venmo, PayPal, or Zeffy below to donate!
Zeffy
Checks can be mailed to:
Hāmākua Youth Foundation
P.O. Box 381
Honokaʻa, HI 96727
Or, come and see us in person at
45-3396 Māmane Street in Honokaʻa!
Please keep in touch with us on Facebook or Instagram for updates as we move ahead!
