Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 6, 1 June 1988 — Naki's Dedication is for Youths [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Naki's Dedication is for Youths

" We take care of kids ages 8 to 18. Many of them don't know where to go after school or they don't have a plaee to go to. So they eome here and just hang loose or get involved in some of our programs. Some even do their school work here." Walter Naki, youth services program specialist at the Moloka'i Youth Center in Kaunakaka'i, speaks with high enthusiasm about the three-year Alu Like ine. project. The center is housed in what was originally the only gymnasium on the island. It has been there nearly 50 years under jurisdiction of the County of Maui. Alu Like has taken care of the facility since 1985. Naki, who comes across as a high voltage personality whose primary interest is Moloka'i's youths, said he is eagerly looking forward to 1990 when the Youth Center will have its own brand new building. "Only then ean we expand our programs to include many that we don't have now simply because of space and the condition of the present location," he explained. "The gym just got a brand new basketball floor and the kids love it. We're doing the best we ean with what we have," he added. Naki emphasized that the youth center programs are for those who are not involved in school activities. "We have a tutoring program and such recreational activities as basketball, volleyball, billiards, ping pong and others. We also have a summer work program and tournaments," adds Naki. "We also have one off-island trip a year and for this everyone is involved in fund raising. We are

here only during the after school hours. We do not keep late hours," further explained Naki. He reported that this is the only youth center of its kind established in 1982 in the Tri-Isle County. Maui followed with three others for a total of four in the county. Naki reported that he and Peggy Adachi, program specialist aide, serve over 600 youths per month. The Alu Like program comes under the jurisdiction of Rachel Kamakani, Moloka'i Island Center administrator.

Walter Naki and Peggy Adachi