Tourney Benefits Aloha Clubhouse

Chris Peterson (from left), Roenne Kam, Meliza Munalem, Kathleen Merriam and Kim Golis at a Waipahu Aloha Clubhouse luncheon held last year at the Pacific Club. Lunch, along with the new leaf blower, was provided by Hawaii First in partnership with the Pacific Club and City Mill. Photo courtesy of the Waipahu Aloha Clubhouse.

Golfers who sign up for the Waipahu Aloha Club Benefit Golf Challenge will be helping adults with mental illness.

The tournament is set for May 31 at Hawaii Prince Golf Course and will be played in a three-person modified scramble.

Registration fee is $150, which includes 18 holes, a cart, lunch and the awards banquet.

The challenge raises funds for the Waipahu Aloha Clubhouse, which offers psychiatric support to those in need. Rather than focusing on the diagnosis or symptoms of the illness, the Clubhouse offers an opportunity for its members to interact and build nurturing relationships with the staff.

“Members and staff operate the Clubhouse together,” said director Kim Golis. “As members establish trusting and

respectful relationships within the Clubhouse, they have the ability to cultivate healthy relationships in the greater community.

“As a member’s confidence grows, they feel empowered to take on new challenges, such as returning to work or school, seeking independent housing and becoming their own advocate.”

Golis and her staff of 10 also make sure that the facility’s members have medical services, recreational programs, education and gainful employment.

In order to maintain quality services to its more than 85 daily members, Golis said the Clubhouse depends on community support in the

form of volunteers to assist in educational and vocational programs, employers to provide part-time jobs, and donations from events like the upcoming Golf Challenge.

For more information, call 675-0093 or visit the clubhouse website at waipahualohaclub.org.