Welcome to Ola'a Community Center

The Ola’a Community Center is the focal point for bringing people together. No matter what your age, culture, or gender, each one of you is a part of this community and has something to offer. You are sincerely invited to join in!
 

We are located in the old cafeteria building of the Kea’au Middle School.  If you were standing at Verna’s Drive In, and looking across the street, you would see the yellow roof – that’s us!

In 2004, Ola`a Community Center received several small grants as well as a $50,ooo Hawai`i Island Meth Initiative Prevention Grant (HIMI) to staff and run an After-School Program with a Drug Prevention component called PROJECT KUPUKUPU.

The creation of this program was in direct response to the community's desire to stem the rising rate of drug use and other social problems. As one of two After-School programs located on the grounds of Kea`au Middle School, the center has become an important influence on youth to not get involved with drugs and has proven to be a safe and caring environment for youth to learn and practice social behaviors.

The Program also teaches youth practical living and expressive skills which increases their self-confidence and ability to set goals.  Under the guidance of skilled professionals, they created their own anti-drug song which was made into a drug prevention video.  Active involvement with positive adult role models, including students from HawCC, has proven to be the best kind of inoculation against drug use.