Kauaʻi Boys & Girls Club members honored during 2026 Youth of the Year Luncheon

Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i honored its youth leaders at the end of February as part of a deeply moving Youth of the Year Luncheon at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, during which Matthew “Messiah” Cargo of the Wai‘anae Clubhouse was named 2026 Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i Youth of the Year.

Cargo along with Uriah Aranas and Promise Jellings-Faletogo of the Nānākuli Teen Center on Oʻahu were selected as the three finalists for this year’s top honor from a pool of 14 nominees from throughout Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.

The event also honored other outstanding club members from throughout the state with scholarships:

• Amiah Sproat of the Charles C. Spalding Honolulu Clubhouse and Jenary Remigio of the Līhuʻe Clubhouse received the Tsuha Aloha Hawai‘i Perseverance Scholarship for their resilience and dedication to education.
• Coen Langley of the Kapa‘a Clubhouse was awarded the Carlos G. Martinez Memorial Scholarship, honoring his achievement and service to the Kaua‘i community.

Cargo now advances to represent Oʻahu and Kauaʻi clubhouses March 31 at the Hawai‘i State Youth of the Year competition, with the opportunity to continue on to the regional and national levels.

Finalists delivered powerful, inspirational stories during the luncheon, sharing journeys of healing after loss, overcoming fear of failure and discovering their own identities.

Cargo’s emotionally riveting speech honored his friend, whose life was recently lost in a pedestrian crash.

“In grief, we return to what feels like home, and for me, that home is the Boys and Girls Club, a place that helped me as a baby, became my first home and introduced me to the Youth of the Year program,” Cargo said in his speech. “My youth leader helped me grieve my father and, once again, gave me space to turn my indescribable thoughts onto paper, and to share them out loud. It has silently claimed a special place in my heart.”

Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive.

Participants of the 5-month character and leadership development program must demonstrate life and workforce readiness and be able to articulate the impact their club had on their personal growth.

Finalists go beyond their achievements to actively engage in their communities, advocating for youth-related issues while inspiring meaningful change through motivating their peers.

“We’ve seen what happens when young people are given safe spaces and real opportunity,” said Boys & Girls Club of Hawaiʻi Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Claudia “Lala” Fernandez in announcing this year’s awards. “These three remarkable, incredible young leaders have distinguished themselves throughout the Youth of the Year Academy and demonstrated courage, discipline, character and commitment to growth.”

The three finalists are juniors at Nānākuli High and Intermediate School in Nānākuli, Oʻahu.

Aranas and Jellings-Faletogo each received a $1,500 scholarship for their achievements, while Cargo was awarded a $2,500 scholarship. Finalists also received special prizes from T&C Surf.

Actor Stephen Hill, a Boys & Girls Club alumnus known for his roles in “Magnum P.I.” and “The Color Purple,” served as featured guest speaker.

Hill was interviewed by Dan Cooke and Jennings-Faletogo, sharing his personal journey, the impact the organization had on his life and advice for the next generation of leaders.

He was inspired by the youth honored during the luncheon, even presenting Cargo — whose father died when he was 9 years old — with the tie from his own suit as a symbolic gesture in honor of the young leader’s powerful story and to share his gratitude.

Hill described the gift as his way of “giving flowers while someone is alive,” reflecting Hawai‘i’s tradition of showing gratitude in the moment.