Helping Our Homeless Keiki Learn and Grow.

How Our Summer Camp Program Began

Project Hawai’i, Inc. launched its Summer Camp Program in 2006 as a natural extension of our after-school Reading and Tutoring initiatives. In the early years, our director was selected to develop a three-year pilot program called Club-RIF, in collaboration with Reading Is Fundamental. The program was a great success and eventually became a model implemented nationwide.

Club-RIF was designed to empower teens by giving them the opportunity to mentor elementary school children who were struggling to meet grade-level benchmarks. Over time, valuable feedback from teachers and teen mentors highlighted a major concern: many children regressed significantly during the long summer break, often taking months to catch up once school resumed. Teens also noticed other challenges the children faced during the summer, including food insecurity and a lack of consistent guidance.

These insights sparked the creation of another vital initiative—our Summer Camp Reading & Tutoring Program. Redesigned as a six-week intensive, this program ensures our keiki stay on track academically while also receiving the nutrition, mentorship, and support they need to thrive during the summer months.

More Than Just a Summer Camp

What began as a safe and nurturing space for children to learn, grow, enjoy healthy meals, make friends, and simply be kids has transformed into something far greater. Over the years, we’ve seen firsthand that our Summer Camp is more than just a seasonal program—it’s a life-changing experience that opens young minds to a world of possibilities.

For children living in extreme poverty and homelessness, access to enriching educational experiences is often out of reach. Simple joys like painting, dancing, playing music, or exploring their creativity through hands-on activities are luxuries they rarely encounter. Without these outlets, children fall behind—academically, emotionally, and socially. Many struggle with low self-esteem, delayed development, and limited opportunities to express themselves.

Our camp fills that gap. It provides not only academic support but also the freedom to explore, discover, and believe in their potential.

Inspiring a Love for Learning

At Project Hawai’i, Inc., our Summer Camps are carefully designed to provide a wide variety of lessons and hands-on workshops that ensure every child receives a well-rounded educational experience. We believe in teaching children to love learning, and we do that through exciting themed days filled with activities in the arts, science, reading, music, theater, creative play, and more.

By exposing our keiki to new worlds and possibilities, we help them build the self-esteem they need to thrive—not only in school, but in life. As they discover new talents and explore their passions, they also form meaningful friendships and develop a sense of belonging.

These experiences have a lasting impact. Our campers are more likely to stay engaged in school, develop stronger social skills, and improve their academic performance. It’s not just summer fun—it’s a foundation for a brighter future.

Growing With Our Keiki

As our camps evolved, so did the needs of our children. Watching them grow year after year inspired us to create new opportunities beyond the classroom. One of our proudest additions is our Teen Mentoring and Leadership Program—a space where our teens step into their own potential.

Through this program, teens dive into workshops that help them discover their passions, develop leadership skills, and build the confidence needed to face the world ahead. They learn how to set goals, take initiative, and most importantly, give back to their community.

Our teens leave camp with much more than memories. Many earn the President’s Volunteer Service Award, accumulate over 200 hours of service learning, and complete certified workshops that open doors to future scholarships and higher education.

The Journey Ahead

What started as a simple idea—a summer camp to prevent academic regression—has transformed into a full-circle experience that nurtures keiki from preschool all the way to college and beyond.

Our camps are more than programs. They are places where hope is restored, dreams are built, and futures are rewritten.

But none of this is possible without the aloha of our supporters and volunteers. Together, we are not just running a summer camp—we are breaking cycles of poverty and building leaders for tomorrow.

Mahalo for believing in our mission and standing with us as we empower Hawai’i’s homeless children to dream big and reach even higher.