Nonprofit - Hana Business Directory

Alan Jahns, formerly a Partner in JMD Beverages, a company he founded and helped build into Hawaii’s largest locally-owned & operated fine wine distributorship.  He’s also taught the popular wine classes since 1991 for UH Outreach, Kauai Community College and Maui Community College’s (now UH Maui Campus) EdVenture.  An in-demand speaker throughout the state of Hawaii, Alan’s been invited to speak before a wide array of groups, from “Wine 101” for conventions to “Wine & Health” issues at Maui’s Life-Fest.  

A resident of Maui since 1978, Alan is married (1989-current; Sharon) with two sons (Michael 31 & Stephen 29). Always very active in the Maui-community, Alan was awarded the “Pundy Yokouchi Visionary in the Arts Award” in 2012 from the Maui Arts & Cultural Center for his on-going philanthropic work…. 

Following the sale of his company in 2012, Alan &  Sharon purchased a 6 acre farm in beautiful Hana, Maui and converted it into a small animal rescue non-profit, specializing in neglected/abused horses.  

Alan was recently elected to the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity-Maui representing the East Maui community, where he’ll be focused on helping to improve Hana’s acute housing problems.

Hana Youth Center was established in 1986 by the late Uncle Jackie Kahula as an after school drop in center for the youth of Hana. We provide a setting that is fun, clean and free from the influences of tobacco, drugs and violence; where Hawaiian values are promoted.

The overarching vision of Ma Ka Hana Ka ‘Ike (MKHKI) is to increase Hāna’s self-sufficiency by providing meaningful learning opportunities that strengthen intergenerational relationships, environmental stewardship, cultural practices, and life skills, while meeting real and urgent community needs. Our approach can be summed up as returning youth to their rightful role as caretakers of their community.

MKHKI’s three main programs work in a holistic way—providing solutions to urgent issues while working to create systemic change that targets the root causes of these issues. Our Building Program installs handicap-access improvements for community members in need, while our Mahele Farm and Mālama Hāloa programs reintroduce healthy dietary and lifestyle choices, grounded in Hawaiian culture and connection to ‘āina (land). We provide services at no cost to low-income families, while our youth earn educational stipends and vocational skills training, changing the perpetuation of a low-income population in our isolated region. And we offer hands-on learning opportunities to youth who fail to thrive in the traditional academic setting, while providing our public school with an alternative educational approach that really works.