5 Maui Teens Named to Meth Project Advisory Council

Teen council members from Maui (pictured clockwise from top left): Alicia Huliganga; Oksana Gil; Rachel Nguyen; and McKayla Wandell. Courtesy photos.

By Wendy Osher

Four teens on Maui, and one from Lānaʻi were selected to serve on the 2013-2014 Teen Advisory Council for the Hawaiʻi Meth Project.

The Maui County teens were among 19 public and private high school students across the state who were selected to assist in the community outreach program, according to a statement by the Project.

Members on Maui include: Alicia Huliganga, a Lahainaluna High School senior; Oksana Gil, a Kekaulike High School senior, and returning member; Rachel Nguyen, a Seabury Hall senior, and returning member; and McKayla Wandell, an HP Baldwin High School junior.

The sole Lānaʻi member, Sheila Marie Gani, a senior from Lānaʻi High School said she felt honored to have been selected to serve.

“I’m so excited for the opportunity to make a difference in my community and take part in educating my peers about the risks of methamphetamine use. It’s critical that youth understand these risks and feel empowered to make positive decisions to stay away from meth,” said Gani in a Hawaiʻi Meth Project press release.

Members of the Hawaiʻi Meth Project’s Teen Council work throughout the school year to raise awareness about the risks of methamphetamine use, and provide a teen perspective on the campaign’s prevention strategies.

Fellow member, Oksana Gil of Kekaulike said, “It is such an honor to have been selected to serve on the Teen Advisory Council for a second term.”

“I’m excited to continue working with the Hawaii Meth Project this year doing peer-to-peer outreach. It’s so important that we as teenagers understand the risks of meth use and feel empowered to make positive decisions to stay away from meth,” said Gil.

The Hawaiʻi Meth Project has been conducting their educational campaign in Hawaiʻi for the past four years.

David Earles, executive director of the Hawaiʻi Meth Project, said the goal is to enable the members to be strong voices in their communities far beyond the time they spend working directly with the campaign.