Ka Wili Pu Project for Maui's At-Risk Youth ($500,000)
This project, spearheaded by Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) in partnership with the Hawaii State Department of Education, will offer Maui youth a comprehensive package of services, including mentoring, service learning, and life and career skills training.
Ka Wili Pu means the blend in Hawaiian. The Ka Wili Pu Project will blend existing at-risk youth support programs in the Hawaii Department of Education with MEO’s YouthBank program. Youthbank has been delivering successful after-school programming for more than eight years, providing positive youth development services for school age youth from grades 6 through 12.
As a community action agency with 43 years of service to Maui County, MEO is an advocate for the elderly, disabled, immigrants, youth, offenders, and the economically disadvantaged. From transportation and early childhood education to youth services and assistance with small business development, MEO works in concert with both public and private sectors.
Recipient: Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO)
90 Mahalani Street
Wailuku, Hawaii 96793
Why this is a good use of taxpayer dollars: The goal of the Ka Wili Pu Project is to divert at-risk youth from a path to the criminal justice system. One in every four adolescents in Maui County face serious risks such as substance abuse, adolescent pregnancy, school failure, and involvement with the juvenile justice system.
