The 2026 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) on Hawaiʻi Island brought together 57 student participants, including 8 student ʻOhana facilitators, 1 tech specialist, and 3 student program developers/trainers representing 11 schools across Hawaiʻi Island. More than 50 Rotarians and community volunteers contributed in countless ways to make RYLA 2026 a meaningful success. Hosted within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and supported by Rotary Clubs across Hawaiʻi Island, RYLA 2026 became a transformational leadership experience where students discovered confidence, resilience, empathy, and purpose through challenge, collaboration, outdoor adventure, and authentic conversations with caring mentors. Students arrived as strangers and left as teammates, emerging leaders, and lifelong friends.
One of the program’s most powerful outcomes was students redefining what leadership means. Rather than viewing leadership as limited to outspoken personalities, students discovered that thoughtful, analytical, collaborative, empathetic, and quiet leaders all have value. Students reflected: “There are different approaches in leadership.” “There are variations and there’s not just one leader so that gives more opportunities for others.”
These reflections revealed a deeper shift in self-perception as many students realized: “I can become a leader as myself.”
A central lesson throughout camp emphasized that failure is part of growth. Through hands-on challenges, including a juggling activity, students practiced perseverance firsthand. One student shared, “Every failure is an opportunity to learn,” while another reflected, “Giving up does not get you anywhere.”
The “4 Whys” exercise helped students strengthen empathy, listening skills, and meaningful connection. One student wrote, “You really get to know the deeper meaning of a person’s personal identity,” while another shared, “I enjoyed finding out more about other people by just asking a simple question.”
Students also explored their personal values, leadership strengths, and future goals through reflective activities designed to build confidence and self-awareness.
An enriching part of RYLA was the Rotary “Talk Story” session, where students engaged directly with Rotarians and community professionals about careers, finances, networking, leadership, and life experiences. Students deeply appreciated the wisdom and encouragement shared by caring adults. One student wrote, “It was really amazing to talk to the Rotarians! I enjoyed thinking about different career paths!” Another shared, “I really learned a lot about following my passions.”
The “Challenges in Hawaiʻi” design-thinking projects highlighted the power of collaboration as student teams researched community concerns, developed solutions, created presentations, and practiced leadership in real time. Students applied leadership approaches that come from the front, beside, behind, within, or in the field depending on the needs of the team. Many reflected on growth in teamwork, creativity, organization, and communication.
The unique setting of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park added another memorable dimension. Students hiked with Rotarians, including former park rangers, and worked together removing invasive ginger plants to help protect native ecosystems. As camp concluded, Kīlauea erupted — a fitting symbol of the growth, energy, and transformation taking place both in nature and within the students themselves. Perhaps most inspiring was watching students lead students. After months of preparation, the student leadership team facilitated lessons, guided discussions, and created an environment filled with encouragement, inclusion, and joy.
Across the entire experience, RYLA Hawaiʻi Island reinforced a powerful message: leadership is not about status, but about contribution, awareness, relationships, growth, and service. Deeply aligned with Hawaiʻi’s values of community, respect for diverse strengths, and collective responsibility, RYLA continues to help students grow into thoughtful leaders who care for both people and place.
Mahalo to every Rotarian, volunteer, presenter, mentor, and partner who made RYLA 2026 possible. Your generosity provided students with leadership skills, confidence, friendship, and inspiration that will continue long after camp ended. Submitte by Gail Takaki
