KEY Project

The mission of KEY Project is to nurture and promote the cultural, environmental, social, economic, and recreational well-being of the Kualoa-Heʻeia area by providing a vital grassroots civic resource that effectively serves the needs of our diverse multicultural community. Kualoa-Heʻeia Ecumenical Youth (KEY) Project was founded in 1968 through the efforts of churches, community residents, and social service agencies. Several ministers saw the need for an agency to serve low-income, at-risk youth in the semi-rural areas from Kualoa Point to Heʻeia. Equipped with funding and support from the Episcopal, Methodist, and Catholic churches along with private trusts and foundations, these community leaders accepted the responsibility of caring for the youth in their community. KEY Project is a rarity in that it was initiated, built, and sustained by the love, determination, and concerted actions of its beneficiaries. Over time, KEY Project has expanded service to a wide spectrum of community members from keiki to kūpuna, and from individual members to large organizations who regularly enjoy using KEY Project facilities for their programs and gatherings.

Our strength is in our pillars of the Ho'opilina Youth and Na Pua o Ko'olau Kupuna Programs. Through these we offer engaging opportunities for learning, relationship building, teamwork, socialization, and fulfilling basic needs of our community members from keiki to kupuna. We also offer an explanded variety of community and 'ohana events, as well as our workforce development, resilience, and Living Library initiatives to perpetuate togetherness, knowledge, and growth to further support, serve and sustain our communities.