The 2023 celebration — Leilani’s Games and Grinds — was held at Airport Beach in Kaanapali. Two-hundred students qualified for the reward day.

LAHAINA — After a three-year pandemic hiatus, the positive action leadership of several Lahaina community activists has brought back a most important program for middle school students here on the West Side.

Through the leadership of Lahaina Intermediate School counselor and iconic Lahainaluna High School wrestling coach Todd Hayase, the Renaissance Partners in Living and Learning program held its first reward day celebration since the pandemic shutdown.

The program recognizes and honors students for academic achievement, citizenship and community service. For the 2022-23 academic year, there were 200 qualifiers for the recognition and rewards provided by the program.

Each qualifier receives gifts and discounts at several West Side businesses and activities, along with a fun day luncheon during school hours.

The 2023 celebration –Leilani’s Games and Grinds — was held at Airport Beach in Kaanapali. As the title attests, the qualified LIS students were treated to a fun day of wet and wild games, along with a mouth-watering luncheon presented by Leilani’s on the Beach, as well as cakes, cookies and cupcakes provided by school staff and parents.

The 200 qualifiers then participated in a series of wet and wild games and activities on the grass fields of the picturesque park. It is two hours of bliss, and then it’s back to the reality of school.

The program is a fabulous win-win for the kids, and Coach Todd Hayase continues to rekindle the positive pathway for a vulnerable youth segment of our community.

But humility takes the forefront with the veteran educator, and he deflects the attention away from himself and to the circle of contributors around him.

Coach Todd said, “Thank you to the entire Renaissance Committee, the LIS staff, alumni and all who take part in the continuous encouragement and nurturing of the successes of the kids. Thank you to Jason Donez and the Leilani’s on the Beach staff, the parents and volunteers — we just couldn’t do this without you.

“Thank you to over 37 businesses that take part in the program with rewards and discount merchandise for the student qualifiers. You all are a part in setting a positive pathway for the kids’ future.”