She landed in jail. There she enrolled in a special program for inmates who want to overcome their addictions and live a life free of substance abuse, The Maui News reported.

Leonani, who wished to be identified only by her first name, is now sober, free from jail and sharing her story so people can know how Aloha House Inc., and specifically, its program in the Malama Recovery Center, changed her life.

"I learned new skills and learned to live clean and sober one day a time," said Leonani, a convicted felon.

As Aloha House gets ready to celebrate its 30th birthday, Leonani said she wanted to join other former addicts in thanking the agency "for all of their love and support, but mostly for the chance to change my life for the better."

Executive Director Jud Cunningham said Aloha House is continuing to do what it can to adapt and accommodate the growing needs of the people it serves on Maui.

"I think that for an organization to exist for three decades is evidence certainly that there is a continuing need for the substance abuse and mental health services we provide," Cunningham said.

As operators of the island's first residential substance abuse treatment center, Aloha House was formally incorporated in 1977.

Among other things, the Aloha House residential center provides medically monitored detoxification services (the only program of its kind in the state); therapeutic living; specialized services for individuals with co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders; crisis services for people in emotional crisis; and outpatient group and individual counseling.

In addition, Aloha House and its sister agency, Malama Family Recovery Center, provide an array of behavioral health services for youth and adults. These include residential and outpatient programs for those in need of addiction treatment and mental healthcare.

More than 130 staff members and subcontractors work for Aloha House. These include psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists.

Aloha House receives most of its operating budget from public funding, and its services aim to be easily accessible to all people, not only those who can afford to pay.

Collectively, Aloha House serves about 1,500 people annually, not including family members who are often included in treatment services.

Aloha House also conducts follow-up interviews with clients six months after they are discharged from treatment.

Aloha House recently expanded its outpatient substance abuse treatment services by opening a new clinic at 250 Waiehu Beach Road in Wailuku. The clinic opened in October and has an official open house with a blessing that begins at 11 a.m. Thursday, followed by heavy pupu and entertainment at noon. The event is open to the public.

Aloha House outpatient services at the clinic include one-on-one counseling, group therapy, psychiatric evaluation, case management, social skills groups and vocational assessments. The mission of the Intensive Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program is to assist individuals addicted to drugs and/or alcohol and their families with maintaining a healthy and sober lifestyle.

For its 30th birthday, Aloha House has planned a Pacific Rim cuisine dinner buffet and silent auction for 5 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Maui Beach Hotel Elleair Room. Live Hawaiian music will be provided.

Tickets are $35 per person until Nov. 19, and $40 thereafter. Ticket sales end on Nov. 28. Call Jamee Howell at Aloha House, 808-871-1314.

The theme of the anniversary celebration is "30 years of helping to create brighter futures." Scheduled special guests include Mayor Charmaine Tavares.

"Aloha House is special because of our mission and the fact that we not only literally save lives, but as our motto states, we help to create brighter futures for the individuals and families who utilize our services," Cunningham said.

He said his agency is blessed with "highly skilled, experienced, compassionate and caring staff, who are motivated by the desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others."

Aloha House volunteers also have played an important role for the agency, with dozens of citizens serving on the agency's board of directors and thousands of others who have given their time to bring life-changing experiences to drug addicts and families, Cunningham said.

"Hopefully, we will see continued advances in 'best practices' for treatment of chemical dependency and mental disorders, and the prospects for sustained recovery will be even greater than they are today," Cunningham said.

As a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, Aloha House accepts donations, both cash and in-kind, to offset operating costs and to help a large percentage of low- or no-income clients.

The agency also receives state and county funding and competes for government contracts to provide services to clients.

As an example, Aloha House serves as the sole contracted provider of substance abuse treatment services for the Maui Drug Court Program and the Maui Family Drug Court operated by the 2nd Circuit Judiciary's Family Court.

In its residential treatment program, Aloha House has two new dormitories currently under construction Upcountry. A 16-bed facility is 99 percent complete and will be ready for occupancy shortly, according to Cunningham. The second eight-bed dormitory is targeted for completion in the next four to five months.

These dormitories will add to the current 32 beds.

For more information about Aloha House, call 808- 871-1314.