KAPA‘A — For many people, Kaua‘i is considered a safe-haven from the outside world. But for many young people in the community, it hasn’t always been so. After Hurricane Iniki, there was a profound need for young boys and girls
KAPA‘A — For many people, Kaua‘i is considered a safe-haven from the outside world. But for many young people in the community, it hasn’t always been so. After Hurricane Iniki, there was a profound need for young boys and girls on Kauai’s East side to have a safe place to spend time away from school and home. The Rotary Club of Kapa‘a and the Boys and Girls Club of Hawai‘i partnered in 1993 to address that need by building a 3,269-square-foot clubhouse in Kapa‘a that initially served about 35 young people in the community.
Fifteen years later, the clubhouse’s resources have been stretched thin to serve an ever-increasing population, with attendance peaking at 75 youth per day. Again, the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a is coming to stand alongside BGCH and the Kapa‘a community.
Recently, more than 30 Rotary Club of Kapa‘a members, community volunteers and clubhouse staff put in two full days of hard labor on their weekend off from work to wash, prepare, and paint the exterior of the clubhouse structure. Included in the group were students from the Kapa‘a High School’s Interact Club. Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 14 – 18.
In addition to massive volunteer hours, they also received about $1,000 in donated materials, including paint, and quite a bit of sweat equity to give the building a much needed face lift.
The painting is phase one of what is expected to be an ongoing cooperation between the two community service organizations. Currently, the clubhouse is without indoor plumbing and the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a is spearheading an effort to upgrade the facility and bring in running water. There are also plans in development to expand the outdoor recreation area and install a permanent basketball court.
Rotary Club of Kapa‘a Member Renee Hicks leads the organization’s community service committee. Hicks calls BGCH a “natural fit” for her organization.
“This is what we do n we help,” said Hicks. “We can give money to organizations, but it’s not the same as giving our hands-on support. We like to find projects where we can roll up our sleeves and DO SOMETHING!”
“We were so impressed with the administration of the Boys and Girls Club,” added Hicks. “Lovey Harper and her staff do an amazing job. There is an enormous need for the service they provide and they are determined to reach as many kids as they can. We are glad to be able to support them,” Hicks concluded.
“I cannot say enough to express our thanks to Renee and her gang at the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a,” said Lovey Harper, program director at the Kapa‘a Clubhouse. “They are our angels who answered our prayers. Without their help, we would not have all the financial resources, supplies or manpower needed to renovate our clubhouse. Having them as our partner helps us to concentrate our efforts on what we do best, and that is to take care of our youth. And with their tremendous generosity and support, we can do this in a facility that looks great and provides us with what we need.”
Since 1993, The Boys and Girls Club of Kapa‘a has provided a positive productive place for the young people of Kapa‘a to go after school and during school breaks. It fulfills a great need in the community. Sixty-five percent of the kids who visit the clubhouse are there more than three days a week. The clubhouse provides services to youth from all economic and social backgrounds. For these youth, the Boys and Girls Kapa‘a Clubhouse is a lifeline, a comfortable neighborhood place where they can go to have fun, be safe and learn valuable life lessons.
In addition to operating the Kapa‘a Clubhouse, BGCH also manages a clubhouse in Waimea, as well as outreach programs at Lihue Court Town Homes and Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle and Kaua‘i High schools. Two years ago, BGCH launched a mobile outreach program to provide services to rural areas.
Currently, the organization “transports” it services using two retrofitted vans that travel to Kekaha, ‘Ele‘ele, Anahola, and Kilauea several times a week.
The Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring Hawai‘i’s youth to become responsible citizens. BGCH currently operates 12 sites on O‘ahu and Kaua‘i, where BGCH members can access a multitude of programs and services at no charge. Known as “The Positive Place for Kids,” BGCH’s clubhouses and outreach sites provide guidance-oriented character development programs six days a week for children 7-17 years old. Key programs emphasize character and leadership development; education, technology and career development; health and life skills; the arts; and sports, fitness and recreation. Annual membership is $1.
BGCH is a subsidiary of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and has been operating in Hawai‘i since 1976. The organization provides services to more than 20,000 Hawai‘i youths each year, many from disadvantaged circumstances.
For more information on BGCH, call 949-4203 (O‘ahu) or 632-0009 (Kaua‘i) or go to www.bgch.com.
