Ho‘okele is a nonprofit organization rooted in community and compassion, dedicated to guiding at-risk, homeless, and underserved youth from the Garden Island of Kaua‘i toward brighter futures. Born out of our local skate and print shop, Elephit Skate Shop, Ho‘okele creates life-changing opportunities by taking these young people on their first journeys off the island—many flying for the very first time—to experience the snow-covered mountains of Oregon and learn to snowboard. But our mission goes deeper than adventure: we help them envision a life beyond the limitations they’ve known, assisting them in finding jobs and building support systems on the mainland. For many of these youth, the challenge isn’t just affording to live on Kaua‘i—it’s not knowing how to leave, where to go, or what’s possible. Ho‘okele is about opening that door, giving them direction, and showing them there’s a path forward.