Wahiolanona`opio

An Ocean & Land-Oriented Experiential Treatment & Education Program.

Wahiolanona`opio (Healing place for youth) is a culturally aligned residential substance abuse treatment program for adolescents on the Island of Hawai`i.

The Program is a highly-structured, staff-secure, residential substance abuse treatment program for high risk adolescents from the Island of Hawai`i needing comprehensive treatment and education, including mental health services. In 2004 the County of Hawai`i contracted with Marimed Foundation to provide residential substance abuse treatment services for girls and boys on the Island of Hawai`i. The first residential group home (8 boys beds) opened in November 2004. A second residential home for girls (5 beds) opened on July 1, 2006 contracted by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the State Health Department. A third home is slated to open later this year or early next year.

Mission

Wahiolanona`opio Program is dedicated to providing opportunities through sobriety to youth and families.

This program seeks to invest substance users with co-existing disorders with the combined use of evidence based treatments that include: use of family therapy that impacts and changes the family enabling system; and Non traditional residential programming of experiential therapy.

Research has indicated strong support for family based therapy. That there is a link between changes in core issues of family functioning and changes in substance use and problem behaviors in the adolescent.

We Serve

Wahiolanona`opio Residential Treatment Program will serve teens, ages 13-18, and their families from Hawai`i. The program is designed to be culturally appropriate for the Big Island’s multi-cultural population. No youth will be excluded from treatment due to race, ethnicity, or socio-economic background.

Enrollment

Most youth enrolled in the program are referred directly by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the State Health Department. Many are directly referred by the Family Court, Office of Youth Services, or the Department of Education. For enrollment questions or assistance contact Mike Moskal, Intake Coordinator at (808) 236-2288 ext. 238 or Eleanor Souza at (808) 962-6610.

Program Facilities

Wahiolanona`opio boasts two well-appointed agriculturally zoned locations with access to a variety of community resources. One is located on 14.1 acres of land on the Hamakua Coast, providing ample land and a greenhouse for agricultural training and activities. The other, located in the Puna District, recently opened in summer of 2006. Both locations are ideally suited for therapeutic activities and substance abuse recovery in a community-based setting.

Education

While living at Wahiolanona`opio, youth will be attending the program’s self-contained classroom. Here students will follow an intensive IEP (Individual Education Plan) tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. Youth also participate in service learning projects, vocational education, and life skills training to help them reconnect with their community. Navigation and voyaging instruction will take place in Kawaihae Harbor and paddling will take place in Hilo Harbor.

Experiential Activities

Wahiolanona`opio is unique in its ocean and land-based experiential approach to serving youth with moderate to severe emotional and behavioral problems. Adventure therapy will be provided through ocean-related, agricultural, and traditional (cultural) activities to help substance-using youth to engage in hands-on projects that offer immediate feedback and challenges them to learn new interpersonal styles of coping.

The program incorporates the core values of CHART (Community, Honesty, Aloha, Respect and Teamwork) to help our youth and their families make the often stormy passage through adolescence. The program takes advantage of the importance of the ocean to Hawai`i, historically and culturally. The appeal of the ocean to youth helps build life skills through challenges and experiences that are powerful and transformational.

Services Provided

Individual substance abuse counseling

Family therapy

Integrated experiential & recreational therapy

Chemical dependency group therapy

Medication management services

Secondary level education

Special education services

Vocational education

Job placement counseling

Can You Help??

Wahiolanona`opio, like the rest of our programs, would welcome any help that you can provide. Please visit our Donations Page if you can contribute time or money so that we may continue serving the needs of our youth and community.