PALS at the Pond

County sponsored program provides care and learning to Molokai youth.

What do culture, children and summer have in common? Besides fun, the answer would be Summer PALS, a Maui County sponsored program that teaches children about other cultures while taking care of them for six weeks during summer.

Last week Monday, over 100 children from 4 different PALS programs island wide went to Alii fishpond. “We wanted the children to learn about the Hawaiian culture,” PALS coordinator Lucy Davis explained.

Ka Honua Momona International (KHM), the nonprofit organization caretaking Alii fishpond, hosted the PALS program. KHM’s restoration project is in its third year, and provides cultural and educational experiences to Molokai youth and visiting groups.

Auntie Lucy said this is the first year the PALS program visited KHM’s fishpond. They were welcomed by Mervin Dudoit, the fishpond’s caretaker, Noelani Lee, KHM’s Executive Director, and KHM’s youth volunteers Kainalu and Pualei Lima, Ekolu Ai, Kevin, Ryan and Kiani Dudoit.

PALS coordinator Luana Alcon said their mission is “to make sure the kids have a nurturing and fun time.”

The program is an affordable way for parents to have their children taken care of for six weeks during summer. Depending on qualifying status and number of children, families might pay as low as $7.00 per child for the whole program, including breakfast and lunch. More information about it is available online at http://www.co.maui.hi.us/youth/maui/leisure/mauipals.htm