MEDIA RELEASE

Sunday’s Child Foundation’s keiki just completed its Summer Program, “Kamalii Ohana,” and the kids are asking for more.

The three-week long self-discovery program took place on the grounds of the beautiful Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort.

“The retention rate of our keiki is almost unheard of when it comes to educational programs for at-risk youth,” executive director Lauren Rainier said.

The summer program consisted of 18 keiki, ages 5 to 11, and 24 youth, ages 12 to 18. While the younger kids enjoyed Hawaiian cultural activities, the teenagers immersed themselves in a discovery-based learning program, called Life Plan, whereby, each child cultivated their own purposeful path to seek their life aspirations.

“This program is not so much taught instructionally, but provides a forum, whereby, the children explore their own internal dreams. We focus on nurturing the ‘na’au,’ or inner heart and soul of each child,” Rainier said. “We impress upon the kids that they can be anything they want to be. They also need to understand the negative and destructive pitfalls and distractions that can undermine their direction and outcome. I cannot tell you how amazing and beautiful it feels to see a child, who begins the program with a heavy soul, enliven as we progress through the Life Plan Program.”

Sunday’s Child Foundation owes its success to not only the programs, but to the wealth of dedicated, creative, loving volunteers, staff and community that inspire hope and purpose in our island children.

All graduates of the Kamalii Ohana Program will be celebrating on the luxury catamaran, Alala, sponsored by Ocean Sports Hawaii this Sunday.

— Find out more:
Sunday’s Child Foundation: www.sundayschildfoundation.org