by Jen Townsend, VP of Youth Development, YMCA of Honolulu
If you think of the YMCA and immediately picture group exercise classes, fitness centers, heated pools, and basketball or pickleball courts, you’re not wrong — but you’re also just scratching the surface. The YMCA of Honolulu is just as much about enriching young minds as it is about strengthening bodies. In fact, for over a century, the Y has been shaping the lives of keiki across Oʻahu through a wide range of youth enrichment programs — from model airplane building in the 1930s to today’s vibrant mix of martial arts, music, dance, and sports.
A Legacy of Learning
In the 1920s, the Nuʻuanu YMCA boasted Hawai‘i’s first YMCA swim team. By the 1930s, sewing circles for girls and model plane workshops for boys were common. But it was in 1927 that the Nuʻuanu Y made history by hosting the first karate demonstration in the United States. Kempo Jiu-Jitsu classes launched in 1942, and by 1959, the YMCA of Honolulu’s Nu’uanu Y location became the first in the nation to offer both Karate and Aikido, programs still offered today.
In 1969, Kumu Hula Carolee Nishi began teaching hula and Hawaiian culture to children at the Nuʻuanu Y. Her “Hula Hui O Kapunahala” lives on more than 50 years later, welcoming generations of keiki and kūpuna to learn hula, ʻukulele, Hawaiian language, and life lessons centered on respect and responsibility. Today, the Y’s spirit of enrichment continues with a dynamic lineup of youth programs that blend tradition, creativity, and skill-building in ways that speak to every generation.
Martial Arts: Discipline, Confidence, and Culture
Building strength in both body and character, the Y offers a robust martial arts program rooted in its historic past.
- Aikido (Kalihi & Nuʻuanu): Teaches harmony, mindfulness, and self-discipline to youth ages 6+
- Karate (Mililani-West Oʻahu & Nuʻuanu): Emphasizes respect, coordination, and personal growth
- Judo (Kaimuki & Mililani): Combines fun with self-control, self-defense, and endurance
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Mililani): For keiki ages 7–17, this program develops grappling skills, confidence, and strength
Dance: Where Culture and Creativity Come Alive
Whether your child dreams of twirling in ballet slippers or swaying in a paʻu skirt, the Y’s dance programs are as expressive as they are expansive, offering a mix of tradition and contemporary flair for keiki of all ages.
Hula & Hawaiian Studies
Nuʻuanu Y – Hula Hui O Kapunahala under the guidance of Kumu Carolee Nishi.
- Toddler Hula (3-5): Saturdays, 10-10:30 am
- Keiki Hula (6-13): Saturdays, 11 am-12 pm
- ʻŌpio Hula (14-49): Saturdays, 1:30-3 pm
Mililani Y
- Preschool Hula (3–5): Saturdays, 9–9:30 am
- Beginner Keiki Hula (6–12): Saturdays, 8–8:55 am
- Advanced Keiki Hula (6–12): Tuesdays, 5:30–6:30 pm & Saturdays, 8–8:55 am
- Wahine Hula (13–50): Tuesdays, 7:15–8 pm
- Kupuna Hula (18+): Tuesdays, 6:30–7:15 pm
Ballet
Kaimuki Y
- Ballet (8+): Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4–5 pm; Saturdays, 11:30 am–12:30 pm
- Advanced Ballet (8+): Saturdays, 12:30–2 pm
Mililani Y
- Preschool Ballet (3–5): Saturdays, 1:30–2:15 pm
- Youth Ballet (6–12): Saturdays, 2:30–3:30 pm
Hip-Hop Dance
Leeward Y
- Ages 6 and up: Saturdays, 10–11 am
A high-energy class where kids build rhythm, coordination, and expressive movement in a fun and fast-paced environment.
Music: Find Your Rhythm
The ʻukulele is as much a part of Hawaiian culture as the hula. At the Y, music classes are offered in two ways:
- Leeward Y: Ukulele and singing with Jon Gano for ages 13+
- Nuʻuanu Y: Integrated into the Hula Hui O Kapunahala program for toddlers through seniors, blending hula, ʻukulele, language, and singing
Sports & Specialty Clinics: Skills, Sportsmanship, and Fun
From basketball to esports, the Y offers a wide range of youth sports programs that help build physical fitness, confidence, and teamwork.
Basketball Clinics (Ages 5-18): Six-week sessions for all levels, led by father-son coaching duo Dwayne and Trey Lopez. Clinics focus on ball skills, team dynamics, and lifelong values. Program available at the Nuʻuanu Y.
Pickleball – the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.— has a home at Nuʻuanu, Mililani, and Waiʻanae YMCAs.
- At Nuʻuanu, youth and adult clinics, plus private coaching, are available for all skill levels
- At Waiʻanae, a Pickleball+, which is included in Y memberships, includes open play and fitness activities like Tai Chi, especially popular with families and kūpuna.
Mililani Y Specialty Camps
- Basketball Clinics (Grades K–5): Focus on skill-building, sportsmanship, and fun
- Summer Soccer (Grades K–5): Teaches movement, teamwork, and coordination
- Y Explorers Esports (Ages 6-13): Offers a positive, team-based gaming environment that teaches strategy and communication
Swim Teams: Dive Into Team Spirit
Swimming has been part of YMCA history since the 1920s—and today’s youth swim teams continue that legacy. With locations at Kaimuki, Leeward, Mililani, Nuʻuanu, and Windward, the Y’s swim teams welcome youth ages 6-18 for a fun, supportive introduction to competitive swimming. Teams like the Kaimuki Storm, Leeward Tiger Sharks, Mililani Sharks, Nuʻuanu Arrowanas, and Windward Waveriders, practice regularly and compete in meets throughout the year.
Affordable, Accessible, and Welcoming for All
One thing hasn’t changed since the early days: the Y is for everyone. Program fees are affordable, with significant discounts for Y Family Members. Plus, need-based financial aid is available to ensure that no keiki is left out due to cost. Whether your child is a budding ballerina, future black belt, or aspiring athlete, the YMCA of Honolulu offers a program that nurtures their passion and helps them grow—mind, body, and spirit.
Ready to Learn More?
Explore class schedules, locations, and financial aid info. Or stop by your nearest YMCA to talk story and see what’s possible.
From sewing circles and model airplanes to esports and pickleball, one thing remains the same: the Y is where kids discover their passions—and become the best versions of themselves.
