THE OKADA BUILDING
Past & Present Toward Our Future
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KULEANA
Mālama i kou kuleana
Take Care of your Responsibilities
ALOHA
Aloha ke kahi i ke kahi
Love one another
LAULIMA
E Kuahui like i ka hana
Let everyone work together
MAHALO
Mahalo i ka mea loa'a
Be thankful for all that you have
These ʻōlelo noʻeau are four principles that guide us at the Hāmākua Youth Center. For over twenty years our kuleana has been the sharing of aloha with our youth, families, and community. Through laulima with our partners, community, families and youth we have established programs and activities that continue to grow in service. We mahalo each of you for your support over the years.
Our mahalo has grown with the community-wide effort to purchase the former Okada Hospital. After a successful $100K in 100 Days capital campaign, the Hāmākua Youth Foundation finalized the purchase of this historic property on November 27, 2019. One day it will be the permanent home to the Hāmākua Youth Center. Not a far move, just next door to be precise, the Okada building is far larger than the current center. There is room for the keiki, a separate space for the ʻōpio, and a common space that is earmarked for a certified kitchen.
This project, both ambitious and deeply significant for the youth of Honokaʻa, marks an expansion that will benefit the entire community once complete. Built in 1938, the Okada Hospital needs a lot of work to meet the needs of today’s youth. With much effort and the generous contribution of a volunteer architect, we are finalizing plans for extensive renovations that will meet modern day codes and make our dreams for the center a reality.
Our goal is to open a fully-renovated Hāmākua Youth Center in December 2022. Now, with county permitting offices re-opening after COVID-19 closures, it is time to roll up our sleeves and get to the real work!
For that we need funding. In November 2021 we will be launching our capital campaign to transform the historic Okada Hospital into a place our keiki will fondly call Our House.
We believe in the strength of our community to invest in the future of our youth. Will you please kokua?
There are many ways to give:
Checks can be mailed to:
Hamakua Youth Foundation
P.O. Box 381
Honoka‘a, HI 96727
Or come and see us in person at 45-3396 Mamane Street.
A new crowdfunding project is in the works, and we’ll have more on that very soon. Please keep in touch with us on Facebook for updates as we move ahead on our exciting new Hamakua Youth & Teen Center.
Mahalo again and again!