“It is hard to think back to a time when I felt so alone and had no friends. Best Buddies has given me the opportunity to come out of my shell and meet people and have friends.”
“My name is Joshua Mendoza, and I am the Buddy Director at Lahainaluna High School in Maui, Hawaii. My Buddy is Markus-Alan Bettencourt…
Lahainaluna students take Best Buddies program to heart with life-changing results.
College students gathered at local Bowling Alley to create one-to-one friendship buddy matches with host site participants from Self Advocacy Advisory Council (SAAC).
Meet Samantha Pires and Stephany Yee-Autele, our dynamic duo. They first met in 2016 at Kapolei High School. They have embraced the true meaning of a one-to-one friendship in only one year.
Hi, I am Patrick McGoldrick, and I am a Best Buddies Ambassador. I would like to tell you about my journey with Best Buddies, and how the organization has helped me improve so much in my life.
Oahu hosted its fifth annual Best Buddies Friendship Walk on March 11. The event took place at Magic Island, Ala Moana Beach Park. 175 participants were in attendance that included Leeward and Central school chapters: Kapolei HS, James Campbell HS, Pearl City HS and Aiea HS who assisted in volunteering their time at activity booths.
Agencies statewide were represented at the Honolulu State Capital Building on March 11, 2017, to advocate on behalf of Disabilities Awareness Month.
Maui hosted its first annual Block Party on March 4th at Maui Mall to spread awareness our mission. Huge Mahalo to Heidi and Da Shrimp Hale for spearheading the event and getting so many vendors on board. Local vendors donated a portion of daily sales to our programs.
Best Buddies Month is a time for Best Buddies participants to reflect on the importance of friendship, jobs, and the development of future leaders. Most importantly, it is a time to show the world the significance of these essentials in every individual’s life.
Chandler’s favorite part of being in Best Buddies is “meeting people who are understanding and compassionate enough to go that extra mile and get to know and work with people with IDD.” She and her buddy, Chase, went to preschool together and have known each other for 13 years.
The Hawaii Hammerheads are on a mission to recognize organizations and groups like Best Buddies Hawaii, because they appreciate their hard work and dedication to the community they live in. “Camaraderie is the essence of all successes and Best Buddies blurs the line of reaching that type of trust for individuals on […]
Over 150 people gathered from across the island of Oahu to join in our 4th Annual Best Buddies Friendship Walk at Magic Island on Saturday, March 12, 2016. We exceeded our goal and raised over $20,000.00 with an increase of 37% from last year. Everyone was able to enjoy the […]
Best Buddies Hawaii was among 10 local nonprofits to receive a check for $25,000 from Servco Pacific Inc. Check out the link for the full story.
The Best Buddies International Leadership Conference (BBLC) has inspired thousands of leaders to be Best Buddies advocates and to bring about social change in their communities. LC is a once in a lifetime experience that unites Best Buddies leaders, volunteers, and community advocates from around the globe. Conference attendees participate […]
When asked about the students’ & faculties’ overall experience at LC, Maui’s new Program Manager Alison Somilleda replied, “I think the best thing to focus on for experience this year is how the students really came out of their shells and saw the true importance of building friendships through Best Buddies. […]
On Saturday, April 18, former Best Buddies Hawaii Program Manager Angie Wideman and the Kihei Canoe Club (Maui) invited & hosted over 76 students and teachers from all five Maui High School and Lokelani Intermediate School Best Buddies Hawaii (BBHI) Chapters to come out to paddle and have a free […]
Erin and Scout have been a buddy pair for three years. They were matched Scout’s freshman year and immediately hit it off. The pair participates in many Best Buddies sponsored activities together and for the past two years have volunteered at the Best Buddies’ Life Is Sweet event where they […]
“My name is Mary. I attend Baldwin High School in Maui. Before joining Best Buddies, I was bullied in school. “Since enrolling in a new school and joining Best Buddies my life has changed for the better. I feel empowered and strong enough to help stop bullying! I am no […]
On Saturday morning, April 12, a group of approximately 250 Best Buddies, faculty, family, friends, sponsors and BBHI staff gathered together at Kapolei High School to take part in their first Friendship Walk, a fundraising event Best Buddies International has been holding around the country since 2009! There was no […]