The Pacific Quest Ohana, which is the Hawaiian word for family, is a small and closely monitored and facilitated group of about 10 students who are invested in taking personal responsibility, creating goals, working hard, and challenging themselves and each other. These relationships change and evolve from mentored to mentor as each student works his or her way through the program. This provides a great opportunity to develop healthy friends, learn valuable life tools and practice healthy relationship skills.

Each student is responsible for an important role in health and hygiene, menu planning, food preparation, cooking, dishes, laundry and clean-up. The students are also in charge of the management and assessment of students’ duties and assignments. This is all in addition to their increased participation in the farm and its responsibilities.

Students eat an 80% organic diet with about 20% coming from our own organic farm. The PQ menu has been reviewed and approved by a certified Holistic Health Counselor. Students eat fresh fruits and vegetables (greens, zucchini, spinach, tomatoes, carrots, herbs, papaya, banana, pineapple, avocado, etc) and grains (rice, pita, beans, etc) and proteins (fish, beef, cheese, nut butters, etc) and drink water as well as some teas and juices. Our students take pride in their cooking ability and make great use of our island, our farm and all of their ingredients.

Most importantly, the PQ Ohana provides a safe and supportive place for students to share their feelings, fears, hopes, goals and passions within facilitated groups of their own peers. Our students provide excellent feedback and credibility to each other as they address specific issues, transitions, successes and failures.