One of the cadets from American Samoa, attending Hawaii National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy at Kalaeloa, Ailini Pone, was featured by Hawaii News Now.
Born in American Samoa, Ailini was raised by her parents in Samoa and then came to American Samoa for high school.
Enrolling in Youth Challenge was her idea.
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She needed direction and discipline, but she had to convince her family to let her move far from home to finish her high school education through the academy program.
She told them that they should let her go, to trust her to join the academy, because she wanted “to join the military so bad.”
Ailini is one of 16 girls, from American Samoa, who are going through the six-month program at the Hawaii National Guard’s Youth Challenge.
As listeners would recall, a few weeks since arriving in Hawaii, the local students, numbering over 20, were returned home because they were declared ineligible as they were nationals of the United States instead of citizens.
Intervention by Governor Lemanu, Congresswoman Uifaatali, former Rep. Andra Samoa and others, resolved the issue and the students were allowed to return to Hawaii.
Academy Director Dennis Agbisit said, of the former Tafuna Warrior and netballer, “She has integrity. She’s very easy to talk to. She’s a good cadet. One of the best cadets we have.”
Ailini, however, wanted to give up after her Dad passed away in February. A good Samaritan here paid her fare to attend her Dad’s funeral in Samoa, and she flew directly to Samoa for his service then returned to Hawaii via Fiji.
“Ever since my dad passed away, it’s been really hard for me to the point where I want to quit everything and go home,” she said.
But during her sadness, fellow cadets became her second family and she’s glad she stuck it out. It’s what her father would have wanted her to do.
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After she graduates, Ailini hopes to enlist in the Navy to help support her family.
Photos: Screenshots Hawaii News Now.
