Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy
Kapolei, HI
"Dream. Believe. Achieve."
National Guard Youth Challenge Program
Free Intervention Program for At-Risk Youth Ages 16-18
At a Glance
Established
1994
Program Type
Youth Challenge
Administered By
National Guard
State
Hawaii
Accreditations
The Verdict
Established in September 1994, the Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy—known locally as Na Kula Alaka'i (The School of Leaders)—has transformed the lives of over 5,000 at-promise youth across the Hawaiian islands. Located at the historic Kalaeloa military installation in Kapolei, Oahu, this tuition-free 22-week residential program offers 16-18 year old Hawaiians a genuine second chance.
The academy combines military-style discipline with the eight core components of the national Youth Challenge Program. As one of the original Youth Challenge Programs in the nation, Hawaii's program has pioneered pathways that now include the innovative Job Challenge Academy for graduates seeking career certifications.
About
The mission of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program is to intervene in and reclaim the lives of 16-18 year old high school dropouts, producing program graduates with the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as productive citizens.
Admissions & Selectivity
Admissions Philosophy
developmental
Key Requirements
- Must be a Hawaii resident aged 16-18
- Must be a high school dropout or at risk of dropping out
- Must be able to read at a sixth grade level minimum
- Must never have been convicted of a felony or have pending legal matters
- Enrollment is entirely voluntary (cannot be court ordered to attend)
- Must be drug-free and willing to maintain zero-tolerance drug policy
- Must be physically and mentally capable of completing the demanding program
- Must complete admissions interview and submit required medical documentation including Hawaii DOE sports physical
- Must have a designated mentor for the 12-month post-residential phase
Location
Program Details
Eligible Ages
16-18 years old
Residential Phase
22 weeks
Mentorship Phase
12 months
Cost
FREE
Annual Enrollment
100
Gender
coed
Eligibility
State Resident
Participation
Voluntary
Barracks Life
Housing Type
barracks
Daily Schedule
Cadets follow a highly structured schedule throughout the 22-week residential phase at Kalaeloa. After a rigorous two-week Acclimation Period focused on teamwork, close quarter drill, code of conduct, and physical fitness, cadets enter the main Residential Phase. The day integrates eight core curriculum components: academic excellence, health and hygiene, job skills, leadership and followership, life coping skills, service to community, physical fitness, and responsible citizenship. Contact with the outside world is strictly limited initially—cadets may only make scheduled phone calls after completing the acclimation phase, receive one home visit after 15 weeks (2 days), and another after 20 weeks (5 days). Mail communication is encouraged throughout the program.
Discipline Model
The academy operates as a quasi-military intervention program with a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. Cadets are subject to random drug and toxicology screenings at any time and a positive test results in immediate dismissal. Boys and girls are housed in separate barracks (approximately 90 cadets per class), and the military-style environment emphasizes structure, discipline, consistency, chain of command, and peer accountability. The isolated campus design eliminates outside distractions and fosters intensive personal development.
Program Outcomes
Success Metrics
Post-residential placement includes higher education, employment, military service, or advancement to Job Challenge Academy for career certifications
Post-Program Pathways
N/A (program focuses on GED/HiSET completion and career readiness)
Note: Youth Challenge programs focus on GED completion, credit recovery, and life skills development—not traditional college prep metrics.
Physical Training
Physical Fitness Program
Physical fitness is one of the eight core components of daily cadet life. All cadets perform physical training based on the President's Challenge fitness assessment. The program begins with a Diagnostic Physical Fitness Test upon arrival to assess baseline ability. Daily PT includes warm-ups, cool-down exercises, running, and strength training. Cadets are strongly encouraged to begin fitness preparation before arrival by running or jogging at least 20 minutes daily. Marching is an everyday part of academy life, building discipline and unit cohesion.
Physical Activities
Facilities
The Hawaii Youth Challenge Academy is located at Kalaeloa, the former Naval Air Station Barbers Point on Oahu's leeward coast. The installation provides athletic fields, training areas, and physical fitness facilities. The campus includes separate barracks for male and female cadets, classroom buildings, dining facilities, and outdoor training grounds suitable for the academy's physically demanding program.
Note: Youth Challenge programs emphasize physical fitness as one of the Eight Core Components, focusing on building endurance, strength, and healthy habits rather than varsity athletics.
Photo Gallery
Related Schools
Hawaii Job Challenge Academy
Hilo, HI
The Hawaii Job Challenge Academy is a 5-month residential vocational training program for Youth Challenge Academy graduates ages 17-20. As the fifth phase of Hawaii's National Guard Youth Challenge Program, JCA provides career certifications, workforce readiness training, and continued mentorship to help young adults successfully transition into employment or higher education.
Alaska Military Youth Academy
JBER, AK
The Alaska Military Youth Academy is a National Guard Youth Challenge Program that helps at-risk youth develop self-confidence, discipline, leadership skills, and life-coping skills.
Appalachian Challenge Academy
Grays Knob, KY
To intervene in and reclaim the lives of 16 - 18 year old Kentuckians and produce program graduates with the tools and skills necessary to succeed in society.
Battle Born Youth Challenge Academy
Carlin, NV
The mission of the Battle Born Youth Challenge Academy is to reclaim the potential of qualified and resilient youth through education, training, and service to the community.
Bluegrass Challenge Academy
Fort Knox, KY
The Mission of the Kentucky National Guard Bluegrass Youth Challenge Program is to intervene and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth to produce program graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to excel as adults.
Capital Guardian Youth Challenge
Laurel, MD
The Capital Guardian Youth Challenge Academy (CGYCA) is a life intervention, dropout reintegration, and General Education Development (GED) preparatory program, run by the District of Columbia National Guard in partnership with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education for the District of Columbia.
Guides & Resources
National Guard Youth Challenge Academies: What to Expect
A parent's guide to Youth Challenge programs—free residential programs for at-risk teens ages 16-18 run by the National Guard.
Free Military Schools: Your Complete Guide to No-Tuition Options
Yes, free military schools exist. Public academies, charter schools, service academies, and Youth Challenge programs offer tuition-free military education—each with different requirements and trade-offs.
Military School vs. Therapeutic Boarding: Knowing the Difference
A critical guide for parents of struggling teens. We clarify the stark difference between the discipline-based structure of a military school and the clinical intervention of a therapeutic program.
Beyond the Uniform: Sports, Arts, and Extracurriculars
Military schools offer far more than marching and discipline. Discover the robust athletic programs, arts opportunities, and leadership clubs that make cadet life well-rounded.
Religious Accommodations in Military Schools
Can your Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, or other faith child attend military school? Understand policies on dietary restrictions, religious services, grooming waivers, and faith expression.
To the Future Cadet: A Letter from the Old Corps
A guide written directly to you—the student, not your parents. Real talk about what's coming, why the first week sucks, and why you'll thank your parents in ten years.