This school year, Nānākuli High and Intermediate School welcomed a new service-based organization, the JustServe Club. The club focuses on helping others through community service projects, campus support, and partnerships with other organizations, all with the goal of making a positive impact.
JustServe is part of a nationwide organization that connects schools and communities through service. Although the program is supported by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the club itself is not focused on promoting religion. Instead, its mission centers on serving others and strengthening the community.
“We just serve,” said club president Josiah Koeger-Millan. “It’s about serving our community, helping people, and making others happy.”
The idea to bring JustServe to NHIS began after student leaders were encouraged by a representative from JustServe Hawaiʻi. After discussions with family and receiving approval from school administration, the club officially launched on campus with the support of advisor Analyn Meyers. For Koeger-Millan, leading the club is about giving back and leaving something meaningful behind.
“Our community is going through some tough stuff right now,” he shared. “I wanted to help and leave a legacy.”
Vice president, Katelynn Nakata, also plays a key role in keeping the club organized and active. She helps with recruiting members, running meetings, and planning projects, while also growing her own leadership skills through the experience.
Since starting, the club has already participated in several service projects. These include beach cleanups at Nānākuli Beach Park, food distribution events, and environmental projects such as tree planting to support the ʻāina. One of their early projects involved planting trees alongside Kumu Warner and the Ho‘opulapula Academy, followed by their first official beach cleanup with student volunteers.
According to Meyers, these projects help students grow in ways that go beyond earning service hours. “They are learning what compassionate service looks like,” Meyers said. “They are experiencing how helping others builds unity in the community.”While running the club has been rewarding, the leadership team has faced challenges. Attendance, advertising events, and encouraging consistent participation have been ongoing obstacles. Even so, the club remains motivated.
“Our hope is that we influence others to want to serve and do better for the community,” Koeger-Millan said.
Meyers has already noticed growth among the students involved. What once felt like an early-morning obligation has turned into something students look forward to. “They come with eagerness now,” she said. “They’ve learned how much their own lives are touched by helping others.”
Looking ahead, JustServe hopes to grow its membership, collaborate with more clubs and programs, and become a group the school can rely on whenever volunteers are needed. For Koeger-Millan, the most important goal is graduating knowing the club will continue strong. “I want to leave knowing the club is in good hands,” he said.
Through service, teamwork, and a strong sense of aloha, the JustServe Club is already making an impact at NHIS. By focusing on helping others and caring for both people and place, the club is showing that meaningful change starts with simply choosing to serve.
