LIHU‘E — Mervlyn Kitashima of Anahola and current administrator of Parent and Alumni Relations, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, were keynote speakers at the 37th annual Meeting of the Board of Directors of Hale ‘Opio Kaua’i on Aug. 27. More than 80
LIHU‘E — Mervlyn Kitashima of Anahola and current administrator of Parent and Alumni Relations, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, were keynote speakers at the 37th annual Meeting of the Board of Directors of Hale ‘Opio Kaua’i on Aug. 27.
More than 80 state and local officials, agency directors, nonprofit leaders and friends of Hale ‘Opio gathered to hear Kitashima share her personal story about the factors that make a positive difference in the lives of young people, according to a news release.
Reminding the audience that our children are “at promise” not “at risk” based on people’s actions toward them, Kitashima cited the Kaua‘i Longitudinal Study of Emmy Werner and Ruth Smith of all infants born in 1955 on Kaua’i as evidence of what works to improve the odds for all youth.
Smith, a founding board member of Hale ‘Opio in 1974, helped set the direction of the agency’s programs in prevention, diversion, education and treatment.
For more information go to www.haleopio.org. or call 245-2873.
