30 YEARS OF ALOHA HOUSE CELEBRATED

WAILUKU - Seven years ago, Leonani's addiction to drugs was so great
"I could not function" without them, she said.

She landed in jail. There she enrolled in a special program for
inmates who want to overcome their addictions and live a life free of
substance abuse.

Leonani, who wished to be identified only by her first name, is now
sober, free from jail and sharing her story so people can know how
Aloha House Inc., and specifically, its program in the Malama Recovery
Center, changed her life.

"I learned new skills and learned to live clean and sober one day a
time," said Leonani, a convicted felon.

As Aloha House gets ready to celebrate its 30th birthday, Leonani said
she wanted to join other former addicts in thanking the agency "for
all of their love and support, but mostly for the chance to change my
life for the better."

Executive Director Jud Cunningham said Aloha House is continuing to do
what it can to adapt and accommodate the growing needs of the people
it serves on Maui.

"I think that for an organization to exist for three decades is
evidence certainly that there is a continuing need for the substance
abuse and mental health services we provide," Cunningham said.

As operators of the island's first residential substance abuse
treatment center, Aloha House was formally incorporated in 1977.

The agency's archives indicate that the oropened his home to others
looking for a place to become free of alcohol dependency. The concept
of a substance abuse treatment home then took hold and eventually
Aloha House set up a residential treatment center that still exists
Upcountry.

Among other things, the Aloha House residential center provides
medically monitored detoxification services (the only program of its
kind in the state); therapeutic living; specialized services for
individuals with co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders;
crisis services for people in emotional crisis; and outpatient group
and individual counseling.

In addition, Aloha House and its sister agency, Malama Family Recovery
Center, provide an array of behavioral health services for youth and
adults. These include residential and outpatient programs for those in
need of addiction treatment and mental health care.

More than 130 staff members and subcontractors work for Aloha House.
These include psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers,
and marriage and family therapists.

Aloha House receives most of its operating budget from public funding,
and its services aim to be easily accessible to all people, not only
those who can afford to pay.

Collectively, Aloha House serves about 1,500 people annually, not
including family members who are often included in treatment services.

Aloha House also conducts follow-up interviews with clients six months
after they are discharged from treatment.

Aloha House recently expanded its outpatient substance abuse treatment
services by opening a new clinic at 250 Waiehu Beach Road in Wailuku.
The clinic opened in October and has an official open house with a
blessing that begins at 11 a.m. Thursday, followed by heavy pupu and
entertainment at noon. The event is open to the public.

Aloha House outpatient services at the clinic include one-on-one
counseling, group therapy, psychiatric evaluation, case management,
social skills groups and vocational assessments. The mission of the
Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program is to assist
individuals addicted to drugs and/or alcohol and their families with
maintaining a healthy and sober lifestyle.

For its 30th birthday, Aloha House has planned a Pacific Rim cuisine
dinner buffet and silent auction for 5 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Maui Beach
Hotel Elleair Room. Live Hawaiian music will be provided.

Tickets are $35 per person until Nov. 19; and $40 thereafter. Ticket
sales end on Nov. 28. Call Jamee Howell at Aloha House, 871-1314.

The theme of the anniversary celebration is "30 years of helping to
create brighter futures." Scheduled special guests include Mayor
Charmaine Tavares.

"Aloha House is special because of our mission and the fact that we
not only literally save lives, but as our motto states, we help to
create brighter futures for the individuals and families who utilize
our services," Cunningham said.

He said his agency is blessed with "highly skilled, experienced,
compassionate and caring staff, who are motivated by the desire to
make a positive difference in the lives of others."

Aloha House volunteers also have played an important role for the
agency, with dozens of citizens serving on the agency's board of
directors and thousands of others who have given their time to bring
life-changing experiences to drug addicts and families, Cunningham
said.

"Hopefully, we will see continued advances in 'best practices' for
treatment of chemical dependency and mental disorders, and the
prospects for sustained recovery will be even greater than they are
today," Cunningham said.

As a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, Aloha House accepts
donations, both cash and in-kind, to offset operating costs and to
help a large percentage of low-or no-income clients.

The agency also receives state and county funding and competes for
government contracts to provide services to clients.

As an example, Aloha House serves as the sole contracted provider of
substance abuse treatment services for the Maui Drug Court Program and
the Maui Family Drug Court operated by the 2nd Circuit Judiciary's
Family Court.

In its residential treatment program, Aloha House has two new
dormitories currently under construction Upcountry. A 16-bed facility
is 99 percent complete and will be ready for occupancy shortly,
according to Cunningham. The second eight-bed dormitory is targeted
for completion in the next four to five months.

These dormitories will add to the current 32 beds.