Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 11, 1 November 2010 — Rehabilitation program celebrates grand opening [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Rehabilitation program celebrates grand opening

Kahalu 'u-grown Abby Paredes is the CEO of Pō'ailani ine., a company that serves clients who are dually diagnosed with illnesses such as drug abuse, schizophrenia, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Founded in 1976, Pō'ailani ine. is a private nonprofit organization with programs focusing on recovery, empowerment and vocational rehabilitation. A $50,000 OHA grant awarded in 2009 helped to establish the Pāhi'a Road Specialized Residential Program, whieh eelebrated its grand opening in October 2010. This vocational rehabilitation effort provides housing, classes with computer training and mālama 'āina opportunities on 2.5 acres in Kāne'ohe, including a garden and lo'i. A majority of patients are Native Hawaiian and feel a sense of pride to be recognized by OHA. "It's been an honor to be supported by OHA," says Paredes, who managed the renovation of a Kāne'ohe apartment complex that functions in partnership with their Kailua-based residential mental-health facility. Clients are empowered to be productive individuals with necessary living skills, an increase in literacy and modern technology, resume building and school eomplehon. Paredes explained the "big vision" for the Pāhi'a Road program is to build a sustainable garden where clients ean harvest food for cooking classes and share what they grow with staff and the community. In addition to housing expenses, OHA helped launeh this vision by providing funding for equipment, software and instructional materials used in rehabilitation. — Sage TakehiroM

0HA's Nalani Takushi and Miehael Windsor, Chairman of General Allanlie Corp., at the grand opening of Pāhi'a Road Specialized Residential Program on Oct. 19. - Courtesy photo