Baldwin-Maui High team wins top prize in 4th ‘Imi Pono Challenge

Baldwin High’s Jada Gomes and Maui High’s Hina Wells teamed up to capture the top prize in the fourth ‘Imi 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.”

 

The announcement was made at a dinner, with food provided by Zippy’s, Wednesday evening, Jan. 29, at Maui Economic Opportunity in Wailuku. The contest was staged by MEO Youth Services and the Maui Chamber of Commerce.

 

Applicants had to perform at least 16 hours of volunteering, write an essay about their experience and create a 1 to 3 minute video or PowerPoint on the theme of “Cultivating Care: Caring for Your Islands, Caring for Yourself.”

 

MEO Youth Services set up the parameters of the contest and gathered the applications. The Chamber organized the judging panel and solicited the prizes.

 

Gomes and Wells’ video, which can be viewed at https://youtu.be/k1pB4Au39zo, focused on relieving stress of peer pressure by going to the many scenic and peaceful places on the island from the beach to the forests. “Stay Unclouded” was the title of their 5 minute video.

 

Their community service activities included volunteering at the Maui County Senior Fair, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center; creating a public service announcement on the harms of bullying; and serving on MEO Youth Services’ M.A.U.I Kanaktion leadership group.

 

They received a cash prize of $500.

 

The other winners were:

All of the youth recognized received gift cards from Zippy’s as well as offers of mentorships/internships through the Chamber.

 

There were 10 entries from Baldwin, Maui, King Kekaulike and Moloka‘i High; Kalama Intermediate; Moloka‘i Middle, and Lana‘i High and Elementary.

 

Videos from the winners can be found on the MEO YouTube channel.

 

The contest is the brainchild of Maui County Council Member Alice Lee, who joined the dinner and offered her congratulations. Past themes included the dangers of vaping, COVID-19 prevention and reimagining Maui County.

 

‘Imi Pono means “to search for the right way.”

 

*About Maui Economic Opportunity*

Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc., is a nonprofit agency that’s part of the national Community Action Partnership network, whose goal is to help low income individuals and families and disenfranchised people help themselves and transform their lives. Chartered in 1965, MEO offers more than 40 programs that assist low income people, kupuna, youths, persons with disabilities, immigrants and other disenfranchised individuals countywide. MEO runs the Human Services specialized transportation program for health and dialysis appointments, after-school and youth sports activities and more; and the Maui Bus paratransit system; Head Start preschools and Kahi Kamali‘i Infant Care Center; as well as programs that offer kupuna socialization and information; rent, mortgage and utility assistance; Spanish interpretation and translation; entrepreneurial and financial classes and support, including microloans; inmate reintegration into the community after release; youth drinking, drug, smoking, bullying and suicide prevention; and employment training and placement. For more information about the entire array of programs, visit meoinc.org or call (808) 249-2990.