You may remember Ladayna Aranas, 17, a senior at Nānākuli High & Intermediate School, who in March, was named Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i’s 2025 Youth of the Year. The award recognized Aranas for her leadership, service, academic excellence and commitment to communities, while inspiring meaningful change through motivating their peers, the nonprofit said at the time.
“I am excited to keep on making my club and Nānākuli proud, showing them that we can do it, that Hawaiʻi as a whole can come together and dream big,” Aranas previously told Aloha State Daily. “All it takes is for you to be willing to share your story, because being able to inspire somebody is the gift that keeps on giving."
In June, she will go on to represent Hawai‘i at the Pacific Region competition in Los Angeles, competing for the national title of Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Club of America.
“Over the years, several teens from the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaiʻi have advanced to the regional level of the Youth of the Year competition. However, this year marks a historic milestone: for the first time, a member from our Nānākuli Clubhouse has secured wins at both the Clubhouse and State levels,” officials with the organization told Aloha State Daily by email. “Ladayna’s achievement is not only a first for Nānākuli, but it also brings us closer than ever to a new chapter in BGCH history. While no BGCH teen has yet reached the national stage, we are hopeful that Ladayna will be the one to break that barrier and represent Hawaiʻi on a national platform.”
We asked leadership at Boys & Girls Club of Hawaiʻi more about what makes this teen special and worthy of this award.
Paddy Kauhane, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Hawaiʻi: “With her bright energy and endless warmth for her community, Ladayna has become an inspiration to her peers and a torchbearer for our mission to give our keiki great moments that lead to great futures. She [makes] her Nānākuli Clubhouse proud, and we look forward to cheering her on as she represents Hawaiʻi on the regional stage.”
Jason Burks, BGCH Alliance Board Member: "Ladayna will make a strong national Youth of the Year candidate [because of her] infectious personality and the energy that she projects. I have worked with Ladayna for the last three years as her mentor and seeing her growth is so inspiring.
“This year, Ladayna really stepped up her game and continued opening up to share with others her story. While a lot of youth her age may shy away from the spotlight, Ladayna not only runs to it, she truly shines while she is in it. Ladayna can talk to an entire room of professionals and deliver impactful words to them, and then immediately and seamlessly shift to conversations with kids her own age and be just as inspiring. Ladayna commands the respect of her peers with her actions and presence. Once you meet her, it's impossible not to cheer for her."
Libby Defries, BGCH Alliance Board Member: “The thing that has impressed me most about Ladayna is the way she’s able to inspire people. It amazes me the way she’s able to connect both interpersonally one-on-one and with a crowd on stage. She is able to be herself authentically in both places.
“The day I met Ladayna was at the 2024 Youth of the Year competition and meeting her was like I’d met an old friend. We ended up talking about how she named her youngest sibling and how I named my son and what a great responsibility that was. Shortly after our conversation, she shared her speech and brought the same confidence, personality, and authenticity to the stage as she did to our conversation. I continue to be amazed by Ladayna.
“At this year's Youth of the Year celebration event, she was on stage again, and in addition to her speech she also stood alongside a young Boys & Girls Club member who gave a speech and she had mentored him. In Ladayna’s writing and speaking, you can see the strong leader she is. She reminds me that no matter where we are in life, we can be a strong leader, mentor others, inspire others, give back to our community and pay homage to the people and organizations who have influenced us and shaped us into the people we are today.”
Kekoa Tupua, BGCH Nānākuli Clubhouse Director: “Ladayna inspires others by how much she C.A.R.E.S. (See acronym below) and I couldn't be more grateful to just have witnessed her 11 year journey as a member with the Boys & Girls Club:
· “Committed, her parents instilled a great value to commit to all you do from start to finish, even when it's difficult.
· “Advocates, on behalf of herself and her peers, she's learned to speak up responsibly and respectfully when sharing a concern, opinion, thought that impacts this generation and the ones following.
· “Resilient, she's had some challenges, made some hard decisions, and mistakes along the way, but her passion, goals, and support system kept her focused and intrigued to keep going.
· “Encouraging, with her peers and staff/mentors she [is] incredibly supportive, motivating, and formally and informally inspires others to recognize their full potential.
· “Steadfast, she is firmly committed and unwavering in purpose, demonstrates loyalty and determination to represent her family, her community, and her sure foundation of faith.”
For more information about Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i, visit BGCH.com, or call 808- 949-4203.
Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
