I ka ikaika ‘aina a ka wa mua no na ‘opiopio o Hawai’i — strengthening the future for the youth of Hawai’i. This is a motto of the Hawaii Youthmapping Program, a statewide student project that is empowering youth to
I ka ikaika ‘aina a ka wa mua no na ‘opiopio o Hawai’i — strengthening the future for the youth of Hawai’i.
This is a motto of the Hawaii Youthmapping Program, a statewide student project that is empowering youth to find and share community resources available to them.
“You look at what’s in a community, how many homes in a community and what resources there are,” said Zachary Cummings, 15, navigator.
There are two sites on Kaua’i: Kapa’a, which includes youth from Anahola to Wailua; and Waipa, which has youth from Kilauea to Ha’ena. The youth, grades 7-12, come from at least 32 communities statewide. Getting more people involved would be wonderful, said Cathy Simao of the Queen Lili’uokalani Children’s Center in Kapa’a, who is serving as site liaison.
Ashlee Simao, 13, and Wayne Christian, 13, are Kapa’a site mappers. Their responsibilities are to go door-to-door and canvass their communities for services and businesses. By interviewing business owners and community leaders, youths provide insight into the communities where they live.
Looking for community services is not the only goal of Hawaii Youthmapping project. Teens get training in valuable skills such as public speaking and group leadership, which can help them succeed in high school and college.
“Nowadays it’s more acceptable to be seen as a ‘cruiser’ than join something…when these kids go to college, they’ll need to show they’re well-rounded,” Duana Deblake, Kapa’a site facilitator, said.
“Public service and cultural exchange is a very large part of it,” Simao said. The Kaua’i kids worked a taro lo’i at John Pia’s ancient cultural exchange in Anahola last year. In October, about 175 youths came to Kaua’i to clean up Anahola Beach Park and volunteer at the Coconut Festival in Kapa’a. They also got to eat poi made from the taro the Kaua’i group tended all year.
“It felt good because it was hard work,” Zach said.
Lana’i is the site for this year’s service project, and they’ll get a chance to visit Kaho’olawe this summer. A trip to Okinawa is already in the works for 2003.
The Hawaii Youthmapping project is sponsored by the YMCA, Queen Lili’uokalani Childrens Center, County of Kaua’i Parks and Recreation Department and the Waipa Foundation. The group is holding group leadership training at the Queen Lili’uokalani Children’s Center in Lihu’e, on Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kaua’i youth interested in becoming a youthmapper in Kapa’a should call Cathy Simao, site liaison, QLCC, 823-6625, or Clyde Vito, County of Kaua’i Parks and Recreation, at 822-1931. Those interested in the Waipa youthmapping site can reach Mariah Martin at 826-6192. The youthmapping project is also looking for people interested in starting new sites. Call the YMCA Youthmapping director, Tamar DeFries Saronitman, at (808) 946-0253.
Check out their Web site at http://www.youthmappinghawaii.com
Staff Writer Kendyce Manguchei can be reached at kmanguchei@pulitzer.net
or 245-3681 (ext. 252).
