EQUIP BOYS is a collective of parents/guardians, friends, and mentors helping boys make sense of manhood. It’s led by CJ Wetzler, a local volunteer mentor who loves helping young people live a better story.  

The 2024 focus is connection. Connection with...

• Self—their identity and pursuing a purposeful life.
• Others—practicing emotional regulation and best practices for choosing friends.
• Environment—both the physical land and institutions that govern life.
• Spirituality—including local Hawaiian customs/beliefs, deepening their own, and practicing serving.

Ideally, EQUIP BOYS will meet as a group once a month for an outdoor sporting activity, followed by a meal together and conversations about life. Additionally, EQUIP BOYS will gather to meet temporary or reoccurring community needs and/or for “field trips” such as fishing, camping, cliff jumping, etc. Lastly, CJ is generally available for one-on-one and small-group mentoring.

The experience culminates (around December 2024) with a rite-of-passage experience in which the boys can leave their regular/daily environment for someplace adventurous and fun. It’ll be a time for connection, memories, and sharing encouraging words.

Aloha! I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by healthy and loving adults—family, neighbors, teachers, coaches, mentors—who encouraged, challenged, and inspired me. It's an honor to be able to pay it forward and mentor a small group of tweens and teens on Maui.

CJ's Background

• Leadership trainer and communicator for local, state, and national career and technical student organizations.
• Created content (copy and media) for prominent organizations such as Life.Church and OneHope.
• Previous mentees include a country artist with a number 1 hit song. A famous actor, writer, and producer. Multiple major airline pilots. And a deputy within one of the top law enforcement agencies.  
• Airline captain in early twenties. Currently, a pilot for Hawaii Life Flight.
• Served as a volunteer with the Paia Youth and Cultural Center's Maui Hero Project.