For Kauaʻi resident Tai Lizama, everything changed in 2023 when he found God through The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. He had been in and out of prison, burned all his bridges – including key relationships with his girlfriend of 20 years and five children – and came into the program broken and labeled as a menace to society, he said.
“I’ll never forget where I came from,” Lizama told Aloha State Daily. “I was the ‘No way’ guy. People would say ‘No way’ Tai is sober or ‘No way’ Tai goes to church or is giving back to the community. Today, I can say ʻYes wayʻ Tai is sober, and it’s all thanks to the peace of mind I find in Jesus Christ.”
Nationwide, ARC provides drug and alcohol rehabilitation through free or subsidized housing, meals, jobs and skills training, as well as spiritual, social and emotional support, that empowers individuals to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into the community, according to the nonprofit. In Honolulu, 75 men can live in its residences at one time and participate in work therapy programs, funded by donations from The Salvation Army's four thrift stores located on Oʻahu.
“Family reunification was big for me and that’s what stood out from any other treatments I’d heard of,” Lizama said. “I learned to add structure and good values into my life. More than a year out, I got my family back and my girlfriend and I are on the same page now about our faith.”
Since graduating from the program, he has continued to stay involved with ARC events and its after care programs, which helps keep him accountable, he said. Lizama also landed a job in construction with Goodfellow Bros. He said he enjoys praying for and serving the community, particularly homeless outreach.
“I do it because my community prayed for me when I was down and out. My motto is, ‘Stay blessed and be a blessing.’”
Honolulu ARC Alumni President David Chung, who went through the program twice, has a similar story.
“I didn’t put any work into my first treatment,” he told ASD. “The Salvation Army hired me after I finished the program in 2009, but I got caught up with old friends and went back to drugs and crime. I couldn’t have it both ways, so I turned in my keys and went back to my old life.
“In the past, it was hard to stay sober for 11 minutes. Life kept getting more real for me, so I was sent back to ARC in 2014, where my healing journey began. This time, I built a relationship with God and with the guys there, who helped me work on myself.
“Now, my goal is to make sure my life – work, marriage, sponsoring men in the ARC program – stays balanced. I’ve witnessed unreal transformations that way.”
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Chung recently got his keys back, rejoining The Salvation Army Honolulu ARC as head of business operations. He oversees a team of about 60 employees, most of which have gone through the ARC program themselves, he noted, adding that there are more than 50 participants in the program right now.
Chung added, "With our records and past histories, it's hard to get a job out there. So why not hire within? That’s what ARC is about – second chances."
According to the nonprofit’s most recent impact report, more than $6 million in revenue is generated locally for ARC per year. “It’s a slow time of year for donations, so we’re working on strategies that will continue to support these men.”
“I could never picture the life I have today – and it’s only because of God and the hope he gives me that I can share with others,” he said. “Whenever I share my story, I include that I am a product of ARC, and I always carry my business card with me to pass out. You never know who you’ll run into, but it’s common I see somebody that needs this place, needs that hope.”
For more information about The Salvation Army – Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division, call 808-988-2136, visit hawaii.salvationarmy.org, or follow the organization on Facebook and Instagram.
Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
