90 Maui High School Students Can't Be Wrong!


February 6-8, 2009:   Ninety sophomore and junior students from ten Maui County high schools gathered together at Camp Maluhia to experience the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Camp program (RYLA).  This world-wide program was sponsored by the nine Maui County Rotary Clubs. 

The Maui Camp RYLA was directed by Larry and Joanne Laird, members of the Kihei-Sunrise Rotary Club.  Over 75 volunteers from the Maui County Rotary Clubs gathered together at Camp Maluhia to assist in every camp capacity from serving as Facilitators, Chaperones, Cooks, Camp Preparation and a myriad of other jobs to help make this camp a success for these student leaders.  The purpose of the camp was to give the students an opportunity to participate in quality leadership training experiences and activities.  These activities were led by dedicated Rotarians who helped guide the campers in understanding the principles of effective leadership.   Sixteen students returned from the 2008 camp program to serve as Assistant Facilitators, helping their adult Rotary facilitators present the leadership training curriculum.  Six students served as Camp Assistants; they have attended the Camp RYLA program for the past three years and assisted with the operational aspects of the weekend camp.   Leadership  workshop topics included The Nuggets of Leadership, Stress and Time Management, Making the Right Choice Using the Rotary 4-Way Test, and Respect, to name a few.  All of the students experienced a 3-hour Ropes Course led by Local Connections Maui.  The culmination of the 3-day program was a graduation ceremony where each camper was presented with a Diploma and Camp RYLA pin by Ayman El-Dakhakani, District Governor of Rotary Clubs District 5000.  District Governor El-Dakhakani stated this was the most comprehensive and engaging Camp RYLA program he has seen in his 17 years in Rotary.  Over 50 parents and family members attended the graduation ceremony and celebration lunch.

Campers completed an evaluation at the end of the program and 100% rated the experience as Excellent or Very Good.  Some of the campers' comments were:

• Camp RYLA uses valuable and engaging lessons to help us not only with leadership, but to better our lifestyles as well.  Racheal Taylor, Grade 11, Seabury Hall
• Camp RYLA was an amazing experience.  I gained skills that helped boost my self esteem and helped me to improve on my journey through life.  Haylie Warren, Grade 11, Baldwin HS
• I had so much fun at Camp RYLA.  Everyone was so welcoming and had such positive attitudes.  I love the people I met here and I have learned a lot about how to be a better leader.  Amanda Black, Grade 11, Maui HS
• Camp RYLA taught me so much about being a leader and I learned a lot about myself.  I didn't expect I would be learning and having so much fun at the same time.  I will never forget the people I met here.  Kristi Caberto, Grade 10, Lanai High School
• Camp RYLA is a wonderful opportunity to grow and become something that you didn't know you could be.  Angel Blessing Ho, Grade 10, King Kekaulike HS
• Camp RYLA showed me how to grow as an individual as well as giving me the chance to meet people in my community.  It is the best thing ever available for future leaders.  Breanna-Malia Asuncion, Grade 11, Kamehameha Maui
• I came to this camp thinking I was giving up my weekend.  But I left with an understanding that will impact the rest of my life.  Jennifer Santos, Grade 11, Lahainaluna HS.

The nine Rotary Clubs on Maui are a part of Rotary Internationals' global network of more than 32,000 clubs in 207 countries.  Rotary International consists of 1.2 million professional men and women who, as civic leaders, volunteer to improve the quality of life in their home and world communities..  The Rotary Clubs of Maui are: Kahului, Kihei Sunrise, Kihei-Wailea, Lahaina, Lahaina Sunrise, Maui, Upcountry, Valley Isle Sunset, and Wailuku.   For more information about the Maui County Rotary Clubs contact Assistant Governors Paige Fontaine at 269-2967 or Michael Nathan at 357-1199.