The Kaneohe Business Group hosted their 3rd Virtual meeting using the ZOOM application for virtual conferences. We had a great turn-out! Thank you to all who took the time to participate and learn more about the efforts on the KEY project in Kahaluʻu Regional Park, Kāneʻohe Bay. We would like to thank ‘Auli’i K. Dudoit – Executive Director of Key Project for speaking with us to inform the membership on the great aspects of the Project in their almost 50 years of community service. She spoke about the long history and the services that are STILL available during the recent current events: including their partnerships with Morning Glass Coffee. The shop is open from 7:30am – 1:00 pm if you fancy a great cup-a-jo!
The Project is a host of many community based services to youth and kapuna who need assistance now more than ever. They have food distribution for elder’s in need. There are youth programs for kids looking for help: Art-n-Crafts kits for take-away to help foster quality family and fun time. Also, employment training for adults who need a new direction in their career. If you are interested in helping with the food drives, or you know a kapuna or youth in need, please contact the KEY project directly at: (808) 239-5777, info@keyproject.org – or go to the website for more information at: http://www.keyproject.org
More about the Executive Director and Speaker:
‘Auli’i Dudoit is the Executive Director of KEY Project. Before being named Executive Director in November 2018, she was a full time mom and part-time consultant for a political campaign and social media manager for Ho’oulu ‘Aina (a program of Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Health Center). She previously worked for Senator Mazie Hirono (at the time Congresswoman) as a senior caseworker and as a public policy advocate and community outreach coordinator for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. She has been married for 11 years to Travis Dudoit, a supervisor for Spectrum, and they have two children Clarence Paliku Dudoit (8 years old) and Ruth Mahie Dudoit (4 years old). She is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.
More about the Key Project:
In collaboration with the Hawaii Food Bank and the Honolulu Community Action Program, KEY Project hosts 2 food distributions each month to serve individuals and families in need. Food Bank days are on the 1st Tuesday and 3rd Monday of the month and start at 2pm. Please see the calendar for dates. Participants are asked to park on the street or at the park. For safety reasons, there is no parking at the KEY Project.
The Hawaii Food Bank has transitioned to a computerized check in system called Link2Feed. All participants are required to complete a registration form annually and show a valid ID to receive food.
“KEY Project has been a partner agency of Aloha United Way since the early 1970’s. Our community center, today, continues to enjoy financial support from Aloha United Way under that agency’s “Safety Net” Impact-area funding – supporting KEY as a delivery point for food items. KEY collaborates with the Hawaii Food Bank, Honolulu Community Action Program, area churches and volunteers as one of the island-wide sites for `Ohana Distributions.”
The mission of KEY Project is to nurture and promote the cultural, environmental, social, economic and recreational well-being of the Kualoa-He’eia area by providing a vital grassroots civic resource that effectively serves the needs of our diverse multi-cultural community.
Several ministers saw the need for an agency to serve low-income, at-risk youth in the semi-rural areas from Kualoa Point to Heeia. 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 consorted 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.
