Binhi at Ani to host Summer Enrichment Program

Binhi at Ani will host a Summer Enrichment Program consisting of Free classes for youth in Philippine Cultural Dance, Art, and Introductory Escrima, according to Arnel Alvarez, president of Binhi at Ani.  

Beginning July 7, there will be a variety of FREE classes:

• Mondays (7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 7/28), 5-6:30 p.m.: Philippine Cultural Dance for Youth, taught by Madelyne Pascua.
• Tuesdays (7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29), 5-7 p.m.: Art Classes for Youth, taught by Philip Sabado.
• Wednesdays (7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30), 5-6 p.m.: Introduction to Escrima for Youth, taught by Brian Aganos.

The Summer at Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center program will end on Thursday, July 31 with a presentation at 6 p.m.

Pre-registration is highly recommended via email to binhiatani@gmail.com.  Callers are asked to provide their name, phone number, email and age.

According to Alvarez, “The purpose of the Summer Enrichment at Binhi at Ani program is to provide free activities during the summer, especially for youth.” 

Binhi at Ani, which means “seed and harvest” is a Hawaiʻi nonprofit corporation incorporated in 1985 with a 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.  Binhi at Ani operates the Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center located at 780 Oneheʻe Ave. in Kahului, which opened in 2005 and is the current site of the annual Barrio Fiesta, celebrated on Maui since 1970. 

Binhi at Ani also awards scholarships to outstanding high school graduates and in 2025, will award a total of $32,000 in scholarships (eight at $2,000 and 16 at $1,000). 

During the pandemic, Binhi at Ani established the monthly Bayanihan Food Distribution Program which is now an annual event. Through November 2024, more than $70,000 monetary donations were received, enabling the distribution of 9,043 food boxes. This included 10,320 plate lunches, 1,000 turkeys, 95,740 canned goods, 73,994 pounds of produce, 6,290 bags of rice, 17,041 packages of noodles, 3,661 dozens of eggs, 3,868 loaves of bread/pan de sal, 6,200 McDonald’s certificates, 21,697 beverages, 26,310 snacks, 3,810 containers of spaghetti sauce, 6,006 Maui Gold pineapples, 2,160 gallons of milk, 2,318 boxes of mashed potatoes, 730 whole chickens, over 2,500 dragon fruit, and other miscellaneous items such as toilet paper, coffee, goat cheese and masks. 

Also during the pandemic, Binhi at Ani established the Bayanihan Feeding Program which as of April 30, 2025, has delivered 34,907 meals to kupuna; and the Bakuna at Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center program through which 11 vaccination clinics were held.

After the Lahaina fire, Binhi at Ani established the Tulong for Lahaina Fund where qualified applicants (lost home, lost business or lost immediate family member) would receive $750.  By the deadline of Sept. 30, 2023, 713 applications were received and an independent panel determined that 227 of the applicants qualified. Binhi at Ani raised over $170,000 and all of the 227 qualified applicants have received their $750 grant as well as an assortment of food boxes, plate lunches, toilet paper, water, comforters and gift cards.

For more information, contact Alfredo Evangelista at 808-242-8100 or email AlfredoGEvangelista@gmail.com.