Alan Johnson Steps Up At Hina Mauka
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Alan Johnson
Leadership of Hawaii’s largest drug and alcohol treatment agency is shifting at a time when it’s poised to help teens at every public high and intermediate school in the state.
Based at Hina Mauka’s Kaneohe treatment facility, chief operating officer Alan Johnson, 53,took over Jan.1 from longtime CEO Andy Anderson,launching an earnest effort to reach out to the state’s troubled families.
“We can’t solve our addiction problem until families and communities get behind it,“said Johnson,who was hired by Anderson 11 years ago.“And stigma is still the biggest problem: The public doesn’t understand addiction - it’s the point of no return, they can’t stop on their own.”
Johnson knows this through personal ordeal. “I have family, including grandparents, my mother and almost all of my siblings (who are alcoholics).And I had a major abuse problem for years. I suffered from it, and that’s why my commitment.”
The problem isn’t going away, no matter how committed people are. Hina Mauka, for example, has 48 beds at its Pookela Street headquarters. They are all filled, and there’s a waiting list of nearly 40 more. The agency is building 10 additional counselor offices and is aggressively looking for staff to fill them.
The job is a fast-track to credentials for the serious substance-abuse counselor, said Johnson,making his pitch:“It runs the gamut of disorders and therapies; it’s a great training ground and experience.You can become an expert very quickly.” (To apply, call 236-2600.)
Johnson, who is married and lives in Waikele, was a successful corporate executive in the Northwest for many years. But one pivotal day in Alaska - sitting in a sweat lodge for spiritual inspiration - he decided to take his own path.“I flew to Hawaii, saw a job ad for Hina Mauka, and met Andy. He said ‘When can you start?’”
His original plan was to be a counselor, Johnson recalled, “but Andy saw my administrative skills,so I said why not?” Now the tables have turned, and Johnson has hired back the 72-year-old Anderson part time to build Hina Mauka’s alumni group, advocacy and funds.
“He says he’s ‘transitioning,’ not retiring,” Johnson explained of his legendary former boss.
Meanwhile, thanks to legislative money, Hina Mauka will open four more Teen CARE centers this spring at Kahuku,Mililani,Aliamanu and Kaimuki middle schools. The agency also plans to meet with Waianae, Kahaluu and Kauai residents this month and next to enhance programs with emphasis on homeless and offender populations. Also needed, he said, is separate treatment for women, who have different issues than men. (The Kaneohe facility is for both sexes.)
“Ten years ago,one treatment size fit all,“he said.“That’s no longer true; now it’s ‘cultural competency,’ meaning every group of people needs a little bit different treatment.”
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