County of Kauaʻi Life’s Choices Awards $1 Million to 13 Community Organizations Supporting Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, and Prosocial Youth Programs
LĪHUʻE, KAUAʻI – Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Like today announced the recipients of $1,000,000 in grant funding. 13 non-profit community organizations will be receiving grants through the Life’s Choices Adult and Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Abuse Grant Program. This year’s funding cycle again prioritized prevention and early intervention, with a particular emphasis on structured, prosocial youth activities that promote resilience, connection, and healthy decision-making.
This year’s awardees provide mentorship, cultural connection, athletics, arts, workforce development and behavioral health support. These 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 Prosecutor Like. “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.”
2026 Grant Recipients
Kumano I Ke Ala ʻĀina TEK – Workforce Training Program
Kumano I Ke Ala ʻĀina’s Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Workforce Training Program provides structured, year-round pro-social 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.
Friends of the Children’s Justice Center Hoʻomau Nakili
This award will help provide enhancements for keiki and teens who have specific needs that cannot typically be addressed or funded through government social service agency programs and will 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 five canoes, four of which are currently out of service, and the 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
The STEP Up Program 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 which focus 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 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 that supports the 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 may 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 Kauai 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 that prevent 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 Program
Lōkahi Music in Schools event is a structured, school-day assembly at Kauai 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 huakai for opio traveling to States, assist with participation in the Queen Liliʻuokalani Race and fund Civic Club workshops.
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 project consists of ongoing weekly hula instruction and six 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
Together, these 13 organizations serve youth and families island-wide. By investing in prevention and positive engagement, the County continues its commitment to reducing substance abuse, strengthening families, and promoting long-term public safety.
Life’s Choices received a total of 25 applications requesting more than $3.6 million in funding. “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, “Even when we cannot fund every request, the collective effort to strengthen youth and families across Kauai is something worth celebrating.”
For more information about the Adult and Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Abuse Grant Program, please visit: Life's Choices Kauai - Kauai County, HI
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