Bonnie Cordeiro, M.S., C.S.A.C. walked into the North Shore Chamber of Commerce (“Chamber”) building and was impressed with its transformation since it was restored. “This was where we had an outpatient substance program when the building was behind Haleiwa ACE Hardware.” Bonnie has lived on the North Shore for 30 years and has worked as a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor at various substance abuse and mental health organizations throughout Oahu.

Bonnie is now Program Director for Central Oahu Youth Services Association (“COYSA”) and visited the Chamber to spread the word that COYSA will soon be reopening its doors after much-needed renovation of its buildings. COYSA, based in Haleiwa and located across from Haleiwa Elementary School, is a temporary emergency shelter for youth between the ages of 12 to 17. Child Welfare Services and the Judiciary First Circuit Family Court send these youth to the full-time staffed, 24-7 shelter until other safe arrangements can be made for them.

“When they(youth) come to us, they don’t know how long they will be there or where they’re going to go, so you can imagine the anxiety they must feel. We want to offer them a place that’s safe, nurturing, and welcoming. We want them to know that they matter.” Whatever time they’re with us, if we can help them make a shift towards hope, that’s something they can take with them. That is our passion,” says Bonnie.

COYSA has one building for girls and another for boys, with eight beds each, thus accommodating 16 total. The staff ratio is one staff member to four youth. Youth will be involved in menus, food preparation, and other activities that relate to developing life skills. COYSA staff is also trained to be sensitive to the local cultures of the youth who reside with them.

COYSA integrates with the community by organizing service activities and invites youth from local schools, community groups and others who may not otherwise have access to these activities to participate with them. Bonnie has already been getting enthusiastic offers of help from community members to help with activities and projects. “We want to start a garden. We want to plant fruit trees. We want to get them in the ocean and the forests. Research confirms what most of us already intuitively know – that exposure to nature in the form of animal, plants, water and natural environments aids in healing, stress reduction and emotional regulation.” Bonnie wants to thank the community for its support and acknowledge the many volunteers who have donated time and energy. As one woman who volunteered to help clean to get the buildings ready for occupancy put it: “This is our tribe.”

COYSA was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1980 by Edward Tonaki, who also founded High Core school in Wahiawa. Dr. Linda Ikeda is the current Executive Director of COYSA, who has worked tirelessly to breathe life back into this much-needed program.

If you have any suspicion that a child may be abused, neglected or abandoned, you should call Child Welfare Services at 808-832-5300 or (toll free) 1-888-380-3088. COYSA does not take reports of abuse.

If you have any questions, service opportunities, or donations for COYSA, please contact Bonnie at
637-9344.