The fundraising for faith building adventures started in the spring of 2010, for Lincoln Alternative High School students in Walla Walla.  The catalyst was the impact Young Life mentors had on co-founder Gabriel DeLong 

when he was in high school at WA-HI.  Adult volunteers who believed in the cause joined with Gabriel to meet kids at lunch weekly and invite them to “the Young Life party” every Thursday night, in local homes and parks.   

 

Organizing weekend yard sales seemed to be the easiest avenue to raise the money and compassion to send these high school students to Young Life camp.  Every year the numbers of students interested grew and so did the community support.  After three years and a dozen of yard sales in multiple locations $60,000 was provided to take 50 students to camp; 25 went on a spring break trip to the Oregon coast; 12 went sledding in the nearby mountains;

8 enjoyed day trips fishing; countless ate blizzards from Dairy Queen; easily 300 came for weekly pizza, monthly activity nights at the YMCA, and weekly home parties.  These students experienced newfound joy and laughter, consistent friendship and food, a safe gathering to ask questions about God, and the security of acceptance despite many fears and uncertainties looming at home. Countless adult volunteers, teachers, business owners, local government officials, law enforcement officers and parents throughout the Northwest rallied to sponsor a lasting impact of the love of Jesus, in these students’ hearts. 

 

Walla Walla’s population continued to grow and so did the need for youth activities and adventures.  This need became especially apparent on the spring break “Loved by God” Oregon coast beach trip when 16 out of the 20 high school students saw the ocean for the first time!  This was an eye-opening realization, for the five adult leaders, that an increasing population of youth wasn’t being given the chance to see, feel, smell, and celebrate the beauty of creation!  Three new questions stirred in their hearts those five glorious days at the beach:  How can we better care for teens?  How can we facilitate more outdoor adventures, so that the next generation can treasure exploring and preserving it?  How can teens experience that God loves them and created all this beauty for them to enjoy?  

 

Yeehaw Aloha Youth Adventures was conceived after having 10 yard sales in one year! The idea to have a “year-round store” that could help fund year round youth adventures and a safe teen hang-out, was birthed as 

“just as easy”, but something better.  The Country Store, a local antique mall, caught the vision and donated a booth, to help the mission take root and get out of the elements.  Lincoln students volunteered weekly to earn funds towards a week at Young Life camp in Canada, a week at a Christian camp in Idaho, short trips of fishing, inner-tubing, and tent camping.   The weekly parties continued at the YMCA and in local homes with donations of food from Phoumy’s Thai Cuisine, Big Cheese Pizza, and the Christian Aid Center.  Thankfully, Rancho Villa and Blue Mountain Storage each donated one storage unit to help contain the abundance of used items donated daily.  

 

The first store location opened Thurs-Sat. at 1524 E. Isaacs Ave. with Gabriel at the helm of the small 1600 sqft. hidden corner storefront.  His wife, of 2.5 years, Laurel, would come help on her lunch breaks, after work, and on Saturdays.  Six months later she took the leap of faith to quit her full-time graphic design job to help Gabriel, as they decided being open an additional day (Wed).  

 

Jesus-centered relationships with youth, the community, and retail sales increased considerably every year with great joy!  After 3 years, a larger retail building was sought out and rented just 1 block away at 1439 E. Isaacs Ave.  It took 7 months to re-open May 25th 2016, but nearly 4,000 sqft. of high-visibility retail space felt glorious!  Even better, the 2nd floor had 1,600 sqft., that was previously a dairy pasteurizing lab, that could be a future youth center.  

 

One year later, Yeehaw Aloha was advised to apply to become a non-profit corporation.  The first board of directors (J.E.M.S.) committed to serve 4 years starting Dec. 2017. The nonprofit articles of incorporation were 

submitted to the Secretary of Washington State March 2018 and the bylaws and were finalized in April 2018.  The first annual budget was approved by May 1st 2018.  The I.R.S. gave final approval for 501(c)3 status on March 28th 2019, which marked almost 3 years in the second building and the momentum to BUY a building closer to downtown & Lincoln HS at 9 W. Birch St. which had another 4,000 sqft of retail space, which opened Nov.1st 2019. 

 

From 2016-2025 (9 yrs) Yeehaw Aloha A Nonprofit Corporation purchased 1 moving truck, two 12 passenger vans and funded: Summer/Fall RETREATS to: Ritter Hot-springs (x3), BarM Ranch, Chief Timothy State Park,

Ingle’s Creek Enrichment Center, Big Lake, Whidbey Island, Mardon Resort, & Dallas TX.  Winter/spring RETREATS to: Lincoln City, Camp Ghormley, Maupin , Seaside, & Wallowa Lake.

MUSIC: 4 concerts

HIKES: Mt. Hood, Multnomah Falls (x2), Palouse Fall (x3), Biscuit Ridge & Tiger Canyon.

Tent CAMPING: Lake Union, Touchet River, & Danner Farms (x2).

SPORTING: whale watching, Lake Union sailing, Lake Chelan Waterslides, Whidby Island crabbing, Kayaking in Idaho, Andies Prairie sledding (x2), Tri-Cities Trampoline park (2x), Snake River inner-tubing, Pendleton 

pool, Moses Lake Waterslides, high ropes course in Hayden (x2), local pool parties, and jet-skiing on Lake Coeur d’Alene

AND ALL, bonfires, cooking, card games, and grocery shopping trips of MEANINGFUL FUN & education to last a lifetime!

 

2023 was another exciting year for YEEHAW ALOHA!  The upstairs MENTOR CENTER was officially opened (sans a BBQ balcony).  Sundown Hazen became the new board President. Chris Dixon, after joining the staff one 

year previously, became the new Executive Director!  Co-founders, the DeLongs, were launched into ministering to youth in Japan!  Weekly youth events for guitar lessons, birthday parties, cooking classes, watching 

The Chosen, writing & recording original music, video gaming, Karaoke, Bible studies, dinner parties, trainings, jam sessions, and hearts worshiping Jesus, became regular events in the Mentor Center.