Healing through community, nature, & service.
Mana O Maui (MOM) is a nonprofit organization empowering Maui County residents through adventure education, surf therapy, Hawaiian cultural learning, and the healing arts. Our immersive, therapeutic programs support mental, emotional, and physical well-being while fostering leadership skills and a deep connection to the land and ocean.
25 years in the water.
One bigger mission.
Dustin Tester has spent 25 years empowering young women through surfing on Maui. As founder of Maui Surfer Girls in 2001 — celebrated last summer — she witnessed firsthand how the ocean builds confidence, resilience, and identity in ways few other experiences can.
She also saw a deepening need. Maui's youth — especially girls aged 11 to 17 — were navigating rising rates of anxiety, depression, and disconnection, with limited access to mental health support that felt culturally grounded and genuinely accessible.
In 2023, Dustin founded Mana O Maui — MOM — weaving together surf therapy, Hawaiian cultural education, adventure learning, and the healing arts into programs rooted in the place young people call home.
"When you give a kid the ocean, you give them something they carry forever — confidence, culture, and a sense of where they belong."
Dustin Tester · Founder, Mana O MauiOur
Programs
Mana O Maui offers subsidized programs to underserved youth, individuals affected by recent fires, and low-income participants, ensuring accessibility for all Maui residents. Our programs weave together surf therapy, Hawaii surf culture, and place-based outdoor adventure.
Cultural Connection
Rooted in Hawaii surf culture and a deep respect for the land and ocean, our programs foster place-based learning and stewardship of the natural world young people call home.
Surf & Ocean Adventure
Build confidence and skills through surfing, paddling, and ocean safety. We use the therapeutic power of the water to foster resilience, joy, and a lifelong relationship with the sea.
Leadership & Growth
Gain life skills and mentorship from experienced guides, developing the inner strength, purpose, and community connection to become tomorrow's leaders.
All programs are offered free or subsidized. No Maui family is turned away due to cost. Financial waivers available for low-income participants and those affected by the Maui fires.
Apply for a Waiver
Surf-N-Turf Afterschool Program
A seasonal afterschool adventure program for youth ages 11-17. Participants engage in surfing, hiking, and cultural learning while developing teamwork, confidence, and resilience.
Season
Fall 2026
Time
1:00 – 5:00 PM
Cost
FREE
Group Size
Max 12 per session
Day Schedule
What to expect
Rites of Passage Hiking Adventure
A week-long journey of hiking and exploration through Haleakalā Crater, open to Surf-N-Turf participants. Focused on leadership, connection to the land and ocean, and forging lifelong friendships.
What to expect
Ages
11 to 17
Duration
One week
Dates
TBA
Cost
TBA
Open to youth who have participated in the Surf-N-Turf Afterschool Program.
We listen, we learn,
we grow.
At the start and end of every session, our keiki take a moment to reflect. How are you feeling? How confident do you feel trying something new? How connected do you feel to the people around you? These simple check-ins give us a window into each young person's experience and help us show up better every time. We are in our first season of gathering these reflections and already learning what questions land, what needs refining, and what Maui youth are telling us about healing through nature. We are committed to growing this practice alongside our programs.
See Our Impact →"She comes home with a joyful sense of confidence and complete contentment with her day. This is a gift."
Surf-N-Turf Parent · Spring 2026"You can genuinely see how much they care about what they do. They create a space where children feel encouraged, supported, and proud of themselves."
Surf-N-Turf Parent · Spring 2026
Before and After
Keiki reflect at the start and end of every session. Simple questions, honest answers, real insights that shape how we design each experience.
Family Voices
Parents and guardians share what they notice at home. Their observations help us see the full picture of each young person's growth beyond the session.
Always Improving
Our first season taught us a lot about how to ask better questions and design better experiences. Every session makes us smarter and our programs stronger.
Reflections are gathered with full family consent and used only to serve our keiki better. We are a pilot program in our first years and proud to be building this practice from the ground up.
Help us empower the next generation of island leaders.
Mana O Maui is a pilot in its first years. We are building something real, carefully, and with deep roots in this community. Every contribution goes directly to getting Maui youth into the ocean, onto the land, and into their own strength.
25 years of trust. Built on the foundation of Maui Surfer Girls, our gear, our teachers, and our community relationships are already in place.
Transparent and accountable. Grant-funded, 501(c)(3) verified, and committed to spending every dollar where it counts.
No family is turned away. All programs are free or subsidized for Maui youth regardless of financial situation.
Support the Surf-N-Turf Program
Cover the real costs of running a free weekly program — staff, transportation, gear, and snacks for 12 Maui keiki every Wednesday.
Keep Mana O Maui Growing
Support the operations, planning, and people that make our programs possible. Help us build something lasting for Maui youth.
The Robin Jugl Memorial Fund
Honor a life well lived by giving a young person an experience that changes theirs. Scholarships for Maui youth to access surf programs.
Partner
Organizations
We are proud to work alongside these incredible Maui organizations — raising funds for scholarships, co-creating outdoor programs, and building a stronger community for our kamaʻāina residents. Together we go further.
Maui Surfer Girls
Founding PartnerOver 25 years running overnight surf camps for teenage girls and women on Maui. Their sleep-away camp programming empowers young girls and women through surfing — whether catching waves or hiking through the West Maui Mountains, campers gain confidence in their personal strengths and abilities.
Visit Maui Surfer Girls
Kelea Foundation
Community PartnerA Maui-based nonprofit dedicated to making sports and the ocean accessible to all. Their Girls in the Lineup program uses water and land sports — surf, SUP, and swim — to build sisterhood, purpose, and community connection for school-aged girls.
Visit Kelea Foundation
Surfing Moms
Community PartnerStarted in 2018 as a grassroots initiative in Kailua, Surfing Moms launched nationally in 2021. Their signature Surf-Swap program pairs mothers who take turns watching each other's kids so each gets time in the water — building community and supporting maternal wellness through the ocean.
Visit Surfing Moms
Adaptive Maui
Community PartnerA Maui-based nonprofit bringing together adaptive and able-bodied athletes to make Hawaii's outdoors accessible to everyone. Working with local businesses, athletes, and the County of Maui to create programs and events that promote strong, healthy, self-determined humans regardless of physical challenges.
Visit Adaptive MauiInterested in partnering with Mana O Maui? We are always looking to grow our network of organizations committed to Maui's youth and community.
Get in TouchMeet
Our Team
Every member of our team brings deep roots in Maui, outdoor education, and therapeutic practice. Together we are building something lasting for the next generation of island youth.
Dustin Tester
Executive DirectorFounder
A lifelong adventurer and entrepreneur with over 23 years in business and two Maui Chamber of Commerce small business awards. Dustin brings talented teams together to empower youth through nature and healing on her home island of Maui.
Julia Hengst, LMFT
LMFTPresident
Psychotherapist with over 10 years of practice in Maui and Berkeley. Background in Buddhist Psychology and Shamanic Counseling. Avid surfer with 25 years of study in Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
Alissa Magrum
M.S. Org. LeadershipTreasurer
25 years of nonprofit management experience. Master's in Organizational Leadership and Ethics. A passionate believer in water as a healing tool and dedicated steward of the Maui community.
Dr. Megan McClelland
Ph.D.Secretary
Katherine E. Smith Professor at Oregon State University. Endowed Director at the Hallie E. Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families. Maui born and raised, her research focuses on children's self-regulation and long-term development.
Celine Adair
B.A. Wilderness TherapyAssistant Secretary
Professional guide, surf instructor, therapist, and clinical supervisor. Co-founder of Education Without Walls and the National Center for Outdoor and Adventure Education. Prescott College and Argosy University graduate.
Li Hay
Team MemberProgram Staff
Bio coming soon.