#MEO Youth Services

Queen Kaʻahumanu Center is celebrating the holidays with a lineup of community-friendly events planned throughout December, including weekly themed events, keiki zones and more.

Crafts, games and treats will be offered by Maui Economic Opportunity’s Youth Services at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center in the first Frosty Fun Friday on Friday, Dec. 5. Other Frosty Fun Fridays will be held Dec. 12 and 19. The activities run from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Center Court.

Maui Economic Opportunity CEO Debbie Cabebe was honored with the Human Resources Volunteer Service Award at the Society for Human Resource Management Hawaiʻi Conference & Expo last month for her work with individuals and families impacted by the 2023 wildfires. 

After more than a decade of planning, Aloha Rock Gym is preparing to open its doors — and is now offering founding memberships for Maui’s climbing community.

The 3rd Kamp Kāohi, which offers leadership, harmful-behavior prevention and fun activities for middle and high school youth on Molokaʻi, will be held May 2 and 3 at Molokaʻi Baptist Church in Hoʻolehua.

Baldwin High’s Jada Gomes and Maui High’s Hina Wells teamed up to capture the top prize in the fourth ʻImi Pono Challenge with their community service and media campaign centering on the Challenge’s theme of “Cultivating Care: Caring for Your Islands, Caring for Yourself.”

As Maui Economic Opportunity prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2025, the Community Action Partnership nonprofit agency reflects on the busy 2023-24 fiscal year during which 55,000 lives were touched by its more than 30 diverse programs.

Queen Kaʻahumanu Center invites the community to Countdown to Christmas with events, giveaways, and shopping opportunities running Dec. 18-24. 

Frosty Fun Fridays, put on by Maui Economic Opportunity’s Youth Services program in partnership with the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center, will offer crafts, games and treats at the mall on Fridays, Dec. 13 and 20.

A sign-waving event throwing a spotlight on suicide prevention, drew about 25 youth, staff and community members Tuesday to the grassy area fronting Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center in Kahului. The event was organized by Maui Economic Opportunity Youth Services to mark Suicide Prevention Month in September.

“Cultivating Care: Caring For Your Islands and Caring For Yourself” is the theme of this year’s fourth ‘Imi Pono: The Greatest Challenge contest for Maui County middle and high school students, with top entries winning cash prizes.

During the second Maui Economic Opportunity-run Kamp Kāohi, 23 Moloka‘i youth participated in games and activities that highlighted the negative impacts of alcohol, tobacco and bullying and learned about their “sources of strength.”

Fitness and wellness specialist Justin Yanagida and affordable housing developer Highridge Costa were honored as Volunteer of the Year and Benefactor of the Year, respectively, at Maui Economic Opportunity’s 38th Volunteer Celebration held Wednesday.

Maui Economic Opportunityʻs Youth Services and their young volunteers have been honored with the Nō Ka ʻOi Highway Hui Award by the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, in recognition of their contributions to Maui’s Adopt-A-Highway public service program.

The annual Youth Services sign-waving was held during Suicide Prevention Week this week. But with the recent wildfires, the Youth Services team decided to remove the word “suicide” from signs and focus on available help, specifically the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline, mental health and “Lahaina Strong.”

More than 35 youth and staff of Maui Economic Opportunity Youth Services and Big Brothers Big Sisters got together for a beach cleanup, barbeque and fun activities at Kanahā Beach Park on Wednesday.

The deadline for ‘Imi Pono: The Greatest Challenge, which this year calls on high school and intermediate youth to develop an anti-vaping media campaign, has been extended to April 20.

The deadline for ‘Imi Pono: The Greatest Challenge, which this year calls on Maui County high school and intermediate youth to develop an anti-vaping media campaign, is a week away – Thursday, March 23 – with top prizes of $1,000. 

The Bella Project prom dress giveaway on Moloka‘i is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, March 17, at Maui Economic Opportunity in Kaunakakai. The Moloka‘i High Junior and Senior Prom will be held April 8.

Last year, the MEO gift wrapping event raised $800, which was used for Youth Services activities, including visits to the Maui Ocean Center and Haleakalā.