MEO YouthBank Program
| Designed for youth 12 – 18 years old who will voluntarily join in new experiences to gain wisdom and guidance and the opportunity to become positive and productive citizens. Project mission: to help youth develop life-skills and job skills. To provide outdoor experiential education and outdoor recreational activities. To provide case management and guidance for those appropriate. |
 |
Olowalu
The island of Maui is saturated with the rich history of the native Hawaiian people who once were its sole inhabitants. From mauka to makai, Hawaiian ancestors have left their stories of triumph, tribulations and traditions. Their story is everywhere, it’s in the people’s passion for the Hawaiian culture and in the politics that embraces Hawaii. It’s in the love for each other that encompasses community and the aina where the blood, tears, joy, sweat, and seed of the ancestors were spread.
Heading north on Highway 30 towards Lahaina one comes across the monumental cultural reserve of Olowalu. Its history is dense with an array of emotions. For many visitors it’s common to feel an indescribably overwhelming sensation. The land is without question a spiritual place.
One of the many reasons for it’s historical significance on Maui and all of Hawaii is the February 1790 Massacre of Olowalu. Here is a link to the whole story where more than 100 Hawaiians were killed and more than 200 injured. http://www.theloveremains.com/ezine.htm
Today, Olowalu is mostly agricultural land. The reserve lies mauka (inland, towards the mountain) where the hands of the youth have tended to it. Where once stood a village, now lies a large patch of invasive weeds. Yet, there is the mark of what looks a like a promising future for Olowalu.
Since the summer of 2008, MEO YouthBank has committed more than 1000 hours to help Olowalu heal. Currently, there are seven lo’is that are nestled amongst each other. This means there are 33 to go. The young people from MEO YouthBank look forward to bimonthly trips to Olowalu to fulfill the goal of completing, planting, tending, and harvesting 40 lo`is. The significance behind completing 40 lo`is derives from the Hawaiian belief that taking pride in one’s achievements is greater when they are in number groupings of ten four, ten, or forty.
Although those that have contributed to the healing of Olowalu are not all of Hawaiian descent, there is much pride felt and shown. The young people of MEO YouthBank have consistently expressed how proud they are of their achievements. “Olowalu is a special place. I love coming out here and be in the very place where the Hawaiian people once had a village.---“ “I think it’s so cool that I get the chance to work on the lo`is and touch the same rocks that some of the Hawaiians worked with.”
Not only does Olowalu provide the youths an opportunity to make a difference in the reserve, but it also allows them to grow as young adults. Beneath the surface of this experience, the youth are also learning values and morals. This land is to be respected. It’s evident in the youth’s interaction that this place has an impact on their behavior.
Teamwork is also a lesson that they are coming to understand. The stones that are being used to construct the walls of the lo`is range from pebbles to boulders of epic proportion. What looks like an impossible task, becomes an opportunity for teamwork and brainpower. With methodical thinking and communication among each other, these youth have demonstrated their immeasurable abilities.
As a part of the wonderful community of Maui, these youth are also recognizing that everyone has a kuliana (responsibility) in keeping the land healthy. As the organizers of MEO YouthBank, we have much pride in the growth of these teenagers. It is without a doubt a privilege to be able to offer the opportunity to restore Olowalu to our Maui youth as a learning experience.
We are all very grateful at MEO YouthBank for such opportunities and honored to have the chance to contribute to Maui in such a historical arena. Olowalu’s healing process is yet to cease as well is as Youthbank’s yearning for knowledge!
