Supporting Hawaii’s Youth

Figuring out what to do after high school can be overwhelming, but the Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i is working to ensure students are prepared for the transition.

Launched in 2021, the club’s What’s Next initiative is a five-year cohort program that guides students from eighth grade through high school, with continued support into their first two years of college. Staff meet weekly with teens to help them explore their passions and plans.

“For the eighth graders, we start them off in self-discovery, understanding their passions, what they like to do, how their passions could possibly relate to future careers, and just getting a better understanding of who they are,” says Brianne Villarosa, director of Teen Services and Initiatives at the Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i.

In their ninth and 10th grade years, they review postsecondary options, whether students are interested in college or trade school, and help match them with schools that align with their interests and majors. Parents take part through check-ins to ensure that families are having their own conversations as well. In the 10th grade, students also get to visit universities on the continent through a partnership with Southwest Airlines. So far, the program has taken students to schools in California and Nevada.

Kaiser Permanente has supported the program since its inception, providing funding and emotional wellness resources. “Kaiser Permanente has been super helpful, especially in the emotional wellbeing aspect,” Villarosa says. “They’ve also helped with the college trip, and they work with us to help provide laptops to all our What’s Next kids, so that technology isn’t a barrier with them.”

Now in its fifth year, the What’s Next program graduated its first cohort of six students in 2025. “All six of them have a plan for their future, and that’s really our goal is that they know what they want to do, but also understanding that plans may change,” Villarosa says. Of the six, she says three are going to a four-year university, two are joining the military, and one is entering the workforce as an artist.

Following high school graduation, club staff get together with students during breaks to check in on how they’re doing and to answer any questions. Villarosa says it's all part of helping them confidently take their next steps, with plenty of support behind them.