You’re Invited: Help Shape the Future of Paia Youth & Cultural Center

For more than three decades, the Paia Youth & Cultural Center (PYCC) has been a second home for children and teens across Paia and the North Shore of Maui. It’s a place where keiki show up after school, friendships are built, creativity is encouraged, and young people are supported through every stage of growing up. Now, PYCC is taking an important step toward protecting that legacy—and the community is invited to be part of the conversation.

On January 8 at 5:00 p.m., PYCC will host a public open house and presentation at their current site, adjacent to Paia Park. This gathering is more than an update—it’s an opportunity for the community to learn about and engage with plans for a new youth center designed to ensure PYCC can continue serving North Shore youth for generations to come.

Over the years, the coastal location that has long defined PYCC has also become an increasing challenge. High surf events are happening more frequently, pushing sand and floodwater into and around the building. These impacts accelerate wear and tear, disrupt daily programming, and create uncertainty about the long-term sustainability of the facility. What was once occasional has become a recurring reality—and PYCC is responding with foresight and care.

At the open house, PYCC and its project partners will share plans for a new youth center developed through a managed retreat approach. Managed retreat is a proactive strategy that relocates essential community facilities away from areas at high risk from sea-level rise and extreme weather. For PYCC, this approach means safeguarding youth programs, staff, and families while planning responsibly for Maui’s changing shoreline.

The evening will include presentations from professionals involved in environmental review, architecture, and youth programming, offering insight into how the proposed facility has been thoughtfully designed with both people and place in mind. Attendees will also have the chance to view preliminary design concepts and project materials, giving a tangible look at what the future of PYCC could hold.

“Our keiki deserve a place they can count on,” says PYCC Board President Billy Jalbert. “This project is about ensuring that Paia Youth & Cultural Center can continue serving North Shore youth safely and reliably, even as shoreline conditions change.” That commitment—to consistency, safety, and opportunity for young people—remains at the heart of everything PYCC does.

Most importantly, this open house is an open invitation. Families, neighbors, supporters, and anyone who cares about youth, culture, and community are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and learn more about the path forward. PYCC believes that strong community spaces are built through transparency, collaboration, and shared vision—and this event reflects that belief.

Whether PYCC has been part of your life for decades or you’re simply curious about what’s next, this is a chance to connect, listen, and be inspired by a project rooted in resilience and hope.

Paia Youth & Cultural Center Open House & Project Presentation
When: January 8, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Paia Youth & Cultural Center (adjacent to Paia Park)

Come see how PYCC is planning ahead—so the next generation of North Shore youth always has a place to belong.