To provide keiki and young adults with quality programs and experiences that will positively impact their intellectual, social, ethical, and physical development

That all keiki have a clear and decisive path to becoming productive members of society who nurture and mālama the 'aina

To allow program participants to discover their true potential for success and provide the discipline and support for them to achieve that potential

At JTUC Hawaii, we use the teaching and practice of the Olympic sport of judo to incentivize youths' participation and achievement in customized and targeted initiatives that promote academics, self-esteem, wellness, discipline and empowerment while regularly exposing youth to critical thinking (chess, public speaking, debate, etc.) and enrichment (organic gardening, music, dance and photography) activities.

Judo is uniquely different from other physical activities in that its traditional focus is not on competition and winning, but on self-defense, self-knowledge, self-improvement and self-control. Judo’s high degree of ceremony and ritual, and emphasis on integrating mind and body, help practitioners apply its philosophical and ethical teachings to all aspects of life. Indeed a number of longitudinal studies have shown that the non-physical aspects of the martial arts have a unique and long term influence on participants, including being more easygoing and warmhearted, having decreased anger and mood disturbances, lower rates of violence, and higher overall life-satisfaction.[1]

[1] (Pyecha, 1970), (Paul, 1979), (Kutner et at., 1997), (Brown et at., 1995)