Provides an evidence-based educational curriculum, programs, practices and strategies focusing on prevention and awareness, such as underage drinking, substance abuse, cyber bullying, teen suicide, as well as life and career skills and gender-specific programming to compliment in-school curriculum and the out-of-school activities. The training and evidence-based prevention program will benefit youths ages 11 to 18 in middle and high schools (6th – 12th grade), teachers, parents, families and the community of Maui island and Moloka’i.
Youth Services
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*Kihei Charter, Maui Waena students win top prizes in ‘Imi Pono Challenge*![]()
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A Kihei Charter high school senior and a team of two Maui Waena Intermediate 7th-graders received $1,000 cash prizes for their anti-vaping public service announcement video, infographic and slogan in the third ‘Imi Pono: The Greatest Challenge awards ceremony Thursday evening.![]()
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High and middle schoolers were tasked with coming up with an anti-vaping campaign, including a slogan, a poster/brochure and a short public service announcement video. All information used in campaigns had to be cited and referenced.![]()
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There were two divisions, high and middle school, with cash prizes of $1,000 for first, $750 for second and $500 for third in each division. In addition, each entrant received a Zippy’s gift card.![]()
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MEO Youth Services coordinated the Challenge with the help of middle and high school teachers and administrators. Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union donated the cash prizes and the Chamber and its members acted as judges and will be offering internships to interested contestants.![]()
Bass PSA![]()
drive.google.com/file/d/1NrCJNJlj9BSORi629Pp1onzGUChj3D_0/view?usp=sharing![]()
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Doses/Tabata PSA![]()
drive.google.com/file/d/1E5wql2Sg_wd6jcSpFcZIPaF3d5a9h7PY/view?usp=sharing
*Kamp K**ā**ohi on Moloka‘i trains youth leaders, offers fun activities*![]()
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Sixteen middle and high school youth on Moloka‘i learned about the negative effects of alcohol and “bad-vertising” of vaping and tobacco products, jumped down a waterslide, huddled to hear ghost stories and developed their leadership skills at Maui Economic Opportunity’s Kamp Kāohi during the Good Friday/Easter weekend.![]()
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The overnight gathering on April 7 and 8 at Moloka‘i Baptist Church was run by MEO Youth Services staff on Moloka‘i and Maui and was the first camp for MEO’s year-old Kāohi youth program on Moloka‘i.![]()
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Activities at the camp focused on tobacco/vaping, bullying, underage drinking and teen suicide prevention with informational, teambuilding and fun activities. For example, youth wearing goggles simulating drunken vision participated in a relay race. There also was a waterslide, campfire and ghost-story telling.![]()
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The goal of the camp was to build youth leaders in their school and community for the prevention of harmful behaviors. The camp also was an opportunity to recruit youth for the Kāohi after-school and spring- and summer-break programs.![]()
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For more information about MEO Kāohi programs on Moloka‘i, call (808) 553-5472.
The deadline for ‘Imi Pono: The Greatest Challenge, which this year calls on Maui County high school and intermediate youth to develop an anti-vaping media campaign, is a week away – Thursday, March 23 – with top prizes of $1,000.![]()
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Prize amounts have increased for the top entries in the high school (grades 9 to 12) and intermediate divisions (6 to 8) with $1,000 for first; $700 for second and $500 for third in each division. Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union and the Maui Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the cash prizes.![]()
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Campaigns must include three components – a slogan, a poster/brochure and a short public service announcement video. All information used in campaigns must be cited and referenced.![]()
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Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on April 5.![]()
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Entry forms are available at ‘Imi Pono Entry Form. For more information, call MEO Youth Services at (808) 243-4315 or email imiponomaui@meoinc.org.![]()
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The contest is the brainchild of Maui County Council Member Alice Lee and has featured the themes of COVID-19 prevention in 2021 and reimagining Maui County in its inaugural year in 2020. ‘Imi Pono means “to search for the right way.”![]()
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The ‘Imi Pono Challenge is sponsored by MEO’s Youth Services in partnership with the Maui Chamber of Commerce and Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union.![]()
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This is a screenshot of Mikaela Tirona’s first place video in the 2021 ‘Imi Pono: The Greatest Challenge media contest. The theme of that year was COVID-19 prevention.