Club With a View Serving youth in an island paradise By Johanna Lindemann Maui is one of the world's premier vacation destinations. Despite its serene vistas and laid-back lifestyle, however, there are still kids in need in this Hawaiian paradise – and Boys & Girls Clubs are there to serve them. The Boys & Girls Club of Maui recently began a major remodel of its central unit; plans are afoot to prep an expansion site in western Maui; and one of Boys & Girls Clubs of America's longest-serving governors holds a fundraising birthday bash here that celebrates not only the years he has marked, but the work of Clubs as well. Two years ago, BGCA Governor Gene Freedman combined his passions for Boys & Girls Clubs and the island of Maui by hosting the first annual Hau'oli La Hanau ("happy birthday") golf tournament and celebration. This unique two-day event takes place at Freedman's home on the island. In lieu of gifts, guests are asked to make a donation to Clubs. The first year, donations were earmarked for Maui Clubs; for year two, the monies were directed to support Clubs on military bases around the world. Behind the Scenes It's no mystery why someone like Freedman might choose to spend part of his life in this corner of the world. Looking at the beautiful island of Maui, it is difficult to believe anything could possibly go wrong here. The bright Pacific sunlight, white beaches and green palms in the wind – it all seems as perfect as a Hollywood movie. Until you take a look behind the scenes. Maui's backstage view is in the neighborhoods of the foothills and urban zones. These neighborhoods house the people who clean hotel rooms, cut sugar cane, work fast-food counters, cashier at mini-marts and carry bags to cars. Their homes and streets are a far cry from the high-end, postcard island that tourists love. And their kids need Boys & Girls Clubs. "The cost of living here is higher than in Honolulu," says Jonathan Starr, a Maui Club board member. "Some people have to hold two and even three jobs to make it. This leaves a lot of latchkey kids." Affordable housing is nearly nonexistent. "It's almost impossible for a working family to own a home on Maui. Median cost of a new home is around $500,000," says Starr. No Child is an Island What exactly are the needs of Maui's younger generation, and what are the unique challenges facing Clubs here? A central issue for Boys & Girls Club of Maui is its extremely diverse service community. While the dominant group is native Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian, the organization also serves Pacific Islanders, Asians, African-Americans, Aleutian/American Indian children, Latinos and Portuguese. Maui is one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the United States. Says the organization's chief professional officer, Colin Hanlon, "Very often when I have to fill out demographic paperwork about the population we serve, I'll just mark 98 percent 'Other,' because there's not a place on most forms to outline all the different ethnicities we serve." Hanlon says the biggest challenges faced by Maui's young are "boredom, bullying and ice." Boredom is an issue for two reasons. Hawaiian culture focuses on the family, whose young members are expected to stay near the home, in the geographic area where they were raised. This tradition can feel very confining for island youth. In addition, there is a serious lack of public transportation to take kids to places with activities for them. About bullying, Hanlon says, "This was widely reported by our members in a recent survey. It was something we could not ignore." Bullying at a Maui Club won't fly – the offender is corrected or ejected. Says Hanlon, "We're proud that the kids see our Clubs as not just physically safe, but socially safe, too." As for the third challenge faced by Maui kids, "ice," Hanlon means the deadly kind: crystal methamphetamine. Crystal meth is easy to produce and inexpensive. It offers a quick high, is powerfully addicting, and can cause irreversible damage to the brain, liver, kidneys and nervous system. Hawaii has a geographic disadvantage when it comes to the drug trade: illegal drug cargo from western labs stops in the islands on its way to the Asia-Pacific region. Maui's newspapers describe the ice problem as an "epidemic" and community organizations – including Boys & Girls Clubs – have mobilized to fight back. Growing in Size and Service In this small island community, collaborations with other organizations are critical to providing quality service to youth. Relationships with local government remain strong. Says new Board Chair Andrew Bayron, "Thanks to Maui County government sharing the vision, we have five flourishing sites. The future has never looked better for the Boys & Girls Club of Maui." And for this, the families of Maui say mahalo – thank you. Johanna Lindemann is director of strategic communications at BGCA. back to top