Boys and Girls Club of Hawaiʻi’s annual campaign, Great Futures Day, began Monday to benefit youth across Oʻahu and Kauaʻi. Funds raised will provide local youth with meals, mentorship, academic support and leadership development.
What the organization dubs as the “Week of Aloha,” which runs from May 18 to 22, will culminate from 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, or Great Futures Day, with celebrations across nine clubhouses.
“All the clubs are going to do lemonade stands run by the teen leaders, and so we’re inviting the public to come by a club, have a glass of lemonade, celebrate with us,” BGCH President and CEO Paddy Kauhane told Aloha State Daily.
Kauhane said the initiative born in 2017 survived amid the Covid-19 pandemic being “almost all virtual.”
“It’s a peer-to-peer fundraiser and it’s been so successful for us, not only financially, but it also helps us to get the word out,” she continued, noting that $400,000 in unrestricted funds for programs is “crucial.”
When asked about the messaging aspect behind the Great Futures Day campaign, Kauhane added: "This year is BGCH’s 50 anniversary and the 50th birthday for our first clubhouse, The Charles C Spalding Honolulu Clubhouse. It’s really built on the legacy we built. … Our alumni are precious to us. They are kids that grew up in the clubs who are now professionals in the communities. They are still a part of our world. They come back to either support financially or to mentor kids themselves. We have an Alliance Board of young professionals. So, it is that circle of life we are celebrating and recognizing the companies whose shoulders we stood on to create the foundation of what we have today.”
“Our 50th anniversary goal is that 40,000 people give $40. ... It’s a wonderful opportunity to ask for people to support our future leaders but not have to give a lot of money to do it.”
What will the next 50 years look like?
Kauhane said "How can we focus the next 50 years so that one day no child is waiting for service. That every single one of them (74,000 kids in need of service) has a place to go after school? It might be in the next 250 years but establishing a BGCH in every community in our state. Building capacity through new clubs and school-based learning.
It cost $25 per year for youth to become a member of BCGH and $10 per year for teens. The organization spends more than $2,400 per keiki and has a $9 million annual budget, per Kauhane.
Here’s the list of partners participating in 2026 Great Futures Day’s Week of Aloha.
Monday, May 18:
- Oʻahu: $1 donated for every Skyline ride this day; sponsored by BGCH board member John Katahira and his wife, Lori.
- Kauaʻi: All proceeds from takeout sales from Duke’s Kauaʻi will be donated to Kauaʻi youth.
Tuesday, May 19:
- Baskin Robbins & Jack in the Box Hawaiʻi with match up to $30,000.
Wednesday, May 20 (Great Futures Day):
- Visit youth at Oʻahu and Kauaʻi clubhouse locations from 3 to 5 p.m. for some lemonade. Meet the staff and take a tour to learn more.
- The Windward Club in Kailua is holding a Great Futures pau hana event from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. ti celebrate its 20th birthday. RSVP by calling by calling 808-263-0555
- In recognition of BGCHʻs Charles C Spalding Honolulu Clubhouse, which that opened in 1976, Wilson Okamoto will match donations up to $15,000.
Thursday, May 21:
- Raising Cane’s will match donations up to $5,000.
Friday, May 22:
- Southwest Airlines with match donations up to $5,000.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
