Youth Challenge

Aloha,

The Hawaii National Guard has a program called Youth Challenge that supports youth in need of direction in life. Their mission is to provide opportunities to learn the life skills needed to be successful, responsible, Productive Citizens while earning their high school diploma.

The first time I met the youth from Youth Challenge was in October at Childrenand Youth Day Day at the State Capital. They were volunteering to help that day and were some of the hardest workers I saw.

There was a great Mahalo Luncheon recently to celebrate the end of this term. It was so much fun watching the youth perform and speak.

It's inspiring to see young people who are setting their lives back on the right course. Many of them will be receiving their GED, continuing in higher education, and/or joining the military in the future thanks to the guidance and help from the Youth Challenge Program.

Access Surf Hawaii

Aloha,

The final Access Surf event was held this month at White Plains Beach on Oahu on December 4th! We are so thrilled to know that there is an organization dedicated to helping the disabled community.

AccesSurf empowers people with disabilities by providing adaptive surfing instruction and therapeutic educational programs on water recreation and enriches lives by assisting families to access the beach and ocean in a barrier free environment.

This program is run completely by volunteers. Every first Saturday of the month they meet and enjoy a fun beach day with all the participants. Anyone with a desire to help the disabled and a love for the ocean can volunteer!

Janeé Fuselier is pictured here going into the ocean to surf tandem with an Access Surf Volunteer. She has Cerebral Palsy and walks with crutches, but this program makes it possible for her and many other like her to participate in water activities.