Grants totaling $1 million were awarded to 13 Kauaʻi organizations focused on prevention and early intervention of substance abuse with an emphasis on structured, prosocial youth activities promoting resilience, connection and healthy decision-making.
Funding is provided through the Life’s Choices Adult and Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Abuse Grant Program.
This year’s awardees provide mentorship, cultural connection, athletics, arts, workforce development and behavioral health support.
The initiatives and programs serve as proven protective factors that reduce youth substance use, violence and long-term justice system involvement.
“Public safety starts with prevention,” said Kauaʻi County Prosecutor Rebecca Like in announcing this year’s grant recipients. “When our youth are connected to positive mentors, cultural identity and healthy activities, we reduce risk before it becomes crisis. These investments are about building safer communities for the long term.”
Image Courtesy: Kauaʻi County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney
2026 Life’s Choices grant recipients
Kumano I Ke Ala ʻĀina TEK: Workforce Training Program
Kumano I Ke Ala ʻĀina’s Traditional Ecological Knowledge Workforce Training Program provides structured, year-round prosocial workforce training, mentorship and paid internship pathways in West Kauaʻi that strengthen protective factors, build employment readiness and create meaningful alternatives to high-risk environments before deeper system involvement occurs.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
Friends of the Children’s Justice Center Hoʻomau Nakili
This award will help provide enhancements for keiki and teens with specific needs that cannot typically be addressed or funded through government social service agency programs and help fund the Heroes and Helpers holiday event.
Niumalu Canoe Club: Waʻa Ola Youth Paddling and Wellness Program
The Waʻa Ola program engages youth in outrigger canoe paddling, mentorship and wellness education. This grant will fund the expansion and restoration of program infrastructure including the restoration of 5 canoes, 4 of which are now out of service, and purchase of additional equipment.
Hui o Mana Ka Puʻuwai Nā ʻŌpio: Youth Paddling Program
This youth paddling initiative provides structured, culturally grounded after-school engagement focused on teamwork, leadership and positive peer relationships. The grant will help fund equipment to help sustain, expand and maintain the youth program.
Hale ʻŌpio: STEP Up Program
STEP Up serves justice-involved and high-risk youth through individual counseling, contingency management and prosocial activities. Services are grounded in trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate practices focused on reducing substance use, strengthening emotional regulation and supporting healthy decision-making. The program prioritizes youth who face multiple barriers to care, including justice system involvement, family instability and limited access to insurance-based services.
Kauaʻi Sailing Association: Hoʻokele Ola — Navigating Healthy Choices Through Sailing and STEM
Hoʻokele Ola will provide weekly after-school sailing, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and marine education programming that engages youth in purposeful, hands-on activities while building life skills, confidence and positive peer relationships. Through teamwork, mentorship and shared responsibility on the water, participants develop a sense of accountability, leadership and connection to the community.
CLC’s Gymnastics Academy
CLC’s Gymnastics Academy provides structured, ongoing professionally guided gymnastics programming supporting physical, emotional and social development of youth. Grant funds will expand participation to provide free and reduced-cost scholarships based on federal poverty guidelines, supporting families who might otherwise not be able to participate.
Iwi Kua MTC Foundations: Youth Fitness and Resilience Summer Program
This summer program will provide a no-cost camp with coaches, facility operations and supplies for West Kauaʻi youth. The program combines foundational functional training, mentorship and structured education on body mechanics, recovery and nutrition.
Kauaʻi Pop Warner Football League: Leveling the Field Scholarship Program
The Leveling the Field Scholarship Program will reduce financial barriers preventing income-qualified families from enrolling their children in sports. Registration costs, uniforms and equipment can make participation cost prohibitive for certain households. This project will provide direct financial assistance to ensure keiki can participate regardless of household income.
Anaina Hou Community Park: Lōkahi Music in Schools
Lōkahi Music in Schools is a structured, school-day assembly at Kauaʻi public and charter schools delivered in partnership with school administrators, counselors and student leadership teams. The program is designed to engage entire schools at once, ensuring broad access and eliminating barriers to participation. Each event will have an anti-bullying presentation, artist introduction and performance, youth leadership and technical shadowing, resource tabling and community partner engagement and student feedback and evaluation.
Hanalei Hawaiian Civic Club: Strong Culture, Strong Crews, Strong Communities
This initiative will add V3 canoes, provide a cultural huakaʻi for ʻōpio traveling, assist with participation in the Queen Liliʻuokalani Race and fund Civic Club workshops.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
Waipā Foundation: Mai Uka a I Kai Summer Youth Program
Mai Uka a I Kai immerses youth in land-to-sea stewardship, cultural practices and environmental education. The program provides structured, engaging activities that build self-esteem and confidence through skill-building, outdoor hands-on learning, cultural practices and stewardship activities.
Kauaʻi Economic Development Board: He Lei Huli, He Lei Ola
He Lei Huli, He Lei Ola consists of ongoing weekly hula instruction and 6 structured cultural workshops. These activities are designed to strengthen cultural identity, leadership development, positive peer relationships and intergenerational mentorship.
Investing in prevention and community wellness
These 13 organizations serve youth and families islandwide.
Kauaʻi County continues its commitment to reducing substance abuse, strengthening families and promoting long-term public safety by investing in prevention and positive engagement.
Life’s Choices received a total of 25 applications requesting more than $3.6 million in funding this year.
“Every proposal reflected a shared commitment to building protective factors and expanding positive opportunities for our keiki,” said Life’s Choices Director and Prevention Services Coordinator Diane DeHart in the award announcement. “Even when we cannot fund every request, the collective effort to strengthen youth and families across Kauaʻi is something worth celebrating.”
Visit the Life’s Choices Kauaʻi website for additional information about the Adult and Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Abuse Grant Program.