Director of Admissions
Kellyn Smythe
Admissions Email
Admissions Phone
Physical Address
301 Kalanianaole St
Hilo, HI 96720
Hilo, HI 96720
Mission Statement
Pacific Quest cultivates Sustainable Growth in our students, in our families, in our communities, and in ourselves.Pacific Quest's innovative Sustainable Growth model incorporates Whole Person Wellness, Individualized Clinical Care, Rites of Passage, Horticultural Therapy and Healthy Community Living in an outdoor, experiential environment. These diverse and adaptable principles facilitate an empowered sense of self, create resilient and successful short-term transitions and nurture a healthy relationship with family, community, work and purpose. Forming the foundation for our comprehensive curriculum, these principles make our program accessible to an international clientele of adolescents, young adults, and their families. Pacific Quest believes that our ability to incorporate these principles at an organizational and community level are integral to our positive and progressive culture and overall long-term success.
Pacific Quest is a fully licensed and accredited residential program on the Island of Hawaiʻi dedicated to one simple goal: healing families. Our integrative, individualized approach combines evidence-based clinical care, psychiatry, nature-based experiences, and holistic wellness to address the root causes of mental health challenges, not just the symptoms. Serving adolescents and young adults, we help residents build resilience, strengthen relationships, and develop the skills needed for lasting emotional well-being. By partnering closely with families throughout treatment, Pacific Quest empowers meaningful, sustainable change and creates a foundation for healthier, more connected lives long after residential care ends.
Pacific Quest's signature Horticultural Therapy, students actively cultivate organic gardens on the Island of Hawaiʻi, using the natural rhythms of tending the land to foster mindfulness, emotional regulation, and self-efficacy. Tending plants serves as a powerful living metaphor for personal healing, grounding residents in daily accountability and tangible accomplishments.
Age-Specific Campus Separation: To deliver developmentally precise care, Pacific Quest maintains dedicated, separate campus settings for our adolescent and young adult populations.
Clinical Scope: Our multidisciplinary team specializes in supporting neurodiverse students and complex clinical profiles, including those navigating Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, severe anxiety, and trauma. By adapting evidence-based modalities to each resident's unique executive functioning and processing style, we create a safe, supportive environment for healing.
Academic Integration: To maintain educational momentum alongside clinical growth, our Cognia-accredited programming offers flexible academic pathways, including credit recovery, traditional coursework support, and GED preparation. We integrate learning directly into the therapudic process.
How much does Pacific Quest cost? Please contact admissions to learn how out-of-network insurance may cover Pacific Quest. We will walk you through the process and answer all of your questions.
General Information
Participant Age Group(s)
Teens
Young Adults (18 - 30)
Organization's Name
Pacific Quest
Year Founded
2003
Director of Admissions
Kellyn Smythe
Admissions: Rolling or scheduled?
Rolling admissions
Admissions
Which age groups does your organization accept?
Children/Adolescents
Young Adults
Professional Associations/Affiliations
National Association of Therapeutic Schools & Programs (Professional Member)
Young Adult Transition Association (YATA)
Payment Options
Insurance
Private Pay | Out-of-pocket
Does the program have more than one location for this particular program?
Yes
How does the program prevent clients/students/patients from leaving (running) from the program?
Clients are ALWAYS in "Line-of-Sight" with staff
Location of Program
Suburban
Gender(s)
Female
Male
Transgender
What is the average number of clients you see per year?
90
Link to weekly or daily schedule
Religious Affiliation
No
Minimum length of stay
30 days
Only accepts participants who are voluntarily enrolling only.
No
Can support 18 yo, if they enroll before 18?
Yes
What are the interview requirements for applicants?
No Required Interview in Person
Call for More Information
Religious Affiliation?
No
Billing & Payments
Payment Type
Insurance (see above for specifics on insurance)
Private | Self Pay
Breakout Billing For Insurance | ‘Superbill’
Call for more information
What percentage of participants receiving funding from a state Adoption Assistance Programming?
0
What percentage participants who are Court Ordered?
0
What percentage of your participants are 'Private Pay'?
100
What percentage of your participants are funded by the School system? | FAPE / IDEA
0
What percentage of participants are 'State Funded' (example: medicaid)?
0
Is there an enrollment fee/outfitting fee/payment in advance?
Yes
If applicable, is the last month’s fees due at enrollment?
No
Insurance
Do your students receive insurance coverage for more than two weeks?
Yes
Do you have an insurance utilization person?
Contractor
in-network?
No
Levels of Care
Number of Phases or Levels
Not Applicable
Treatment Categories | Levels of Care
Residential Treatment
Residential Treatment - Adoption
Residential Treatment - Anxiety
Residential Treatment - Autism Spectrum
Residential Treatment - Failure to Launch/Emerging Adulthood
Residential Treatment - Positive Peer Culture
Residential Treatment - Short Term
Residential Treatment - Trauma
Additional levels of care offered by facility
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
Does your organization have a Gap Year?
No
Accreditation
Professional Associations/Affiliations
National Association of Therapeutic Schools & Programs (Professional Member)
Young Adult Transition Association (YATA)
For licensed programs, by state or under 18, please select Incidents required to be reported to the state:
Infectious Disease
Major Injury | Death
Academic Accreditation
Cognia Accreditation
Ownership
Ownership Type
Private Company - Owners On-Site
Name of Parent Company
N/A
Name of Sister Company
N/A
Facility Operations | Type of Land
Privately Owned
Leased By Program
Who owns the land?
Pacific Quest
Additional Professionals & Medical Rule Outs
Are there medical rule outs
Yes
Possible medical rule outs
Active Psychosis
Actively Suicidal
Fire Starter
< Min BMI
Need for Detox?
Is there a minimum BMI
Yes
Can program accept insulin-dependent diabetics
Yes
Are there additional professionals?
Behavior Specialist
Naturopathic Physician
Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatrist
Psychologist
Registered Nurse
Additional types of therapies
Other
Percentage of clients on meds at enrollment
> 50%
Psychiatrist
On staff
If psychiatrist is available to students, what percentage of students change meds?
< 50%
Clinical Operations
Percentage of full time therapists who have a private practice outside of organization?
Not Applicable
What is the largest caseload a therapist can have?
> 8
Percentage of licensed therapists?
> 50%
Average number of days/week therapist are with clients?
4
Number of Individual Sessions with Therapist
2
Do clinical assistants work with lead therapists?
Yes
Do any of the therapists have more than one case load?
No
Treatment Modalities
Is program focused on full recovery? (Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC))
No
Types of Therapy Offered
12 Steps Groups
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Behavior Modification
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills
Expressive Art Therapy
Eye Movement & Desensitization and Reprocessing
Family Focused Therapy (FFT)
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Narrative Therapy
Play Therapy
Psycho educational
Recreation Therapy
Sand Therapy
Integrated Wellness Support offered
Art
Breathing Techniques/Breath Work
Meditation
Yoga
Other
Does the program have a level/phase system?
No
If yes, are phases/levels are they tied to privileges?
No
Does program have a milieu-driven residential model? (Staff are trained in model)
Yes
If yes -- select all that apply
Client Centered/Person Centered Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Family Teaching Model (offshoot of Boystown)
Positive Peer Culture (PPC)
Integrated Wellness
Art
Breathing Techniques/Breath Work
Meditation
Yoga
Other
Does program use time out rooms?
No
Family Involvement
Family Involvement
HIGH: Family Expected on weekly calls (or more) & to attend all family workshops (weekly , monthly or quarterly)
Family involvement
HIGH: Family Expected on weekly calls (or more) & to attend all family workshops (weekly , monthly
or quarterly)
What is the typical amount of time a family should expect before hearing about an major incident?
0
Type of Family Therapy/Work Offered
Family Handbook
Family process facilitated by another therapist
Flexible length of call with therapist per week
Other
Therapy - Group
Is there group therapy?
Yes
Average number of hours per week facilitated by licensed therapist
2
Average number of hours per week of group processing? (i.e. run by staff, interns, grad students, etc.)
10
Average number of formal family therapy hours per week (not social calls to teen)
0
Is video conferencing accessible for family therapy?
Yes
Therapy - Individual
Is there individual therapy?
Yes, part of the program cost
Number of individual therapy hours student receives on a difficult week?
4
Number of individual therapy hours student receives on typical week?
2
Percentage of licensed therapists?
> 50%
Therapist average case load
5
Percentage of full time therapists who have a private practice outside a program?
Not Applicable
Does the Clinical Director carry a case load?
No
Staff
What percentage of the line staff are full time employees?
> 50%
Line staff to student ratio during awake hours
3
Does program run background checks on all staff?
Yes
Is there an educational requirement for staff?
Yes
If Yes, what is it?
Some College
Average number of hours staff are trained before their first shift
5
Are night staff awake or asleep
Awake
Programming
Neurodiverse Specialties
ADHD/ADD
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Clinically Complex (possible behavior, genetic, students "who are puzzles")
Mood Deregulation &/or Anxiety
Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities (NLD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Primarily DX Learning Disability
Type of Programming Offered for Neurodiverse Students
Clinically-driven programming (addresses individual life, living, social and academic needs)
Call for more information
Academics
Type of Academic Calendar
Year Round School (either quarters, trimester, semesters)
Grades Served
Call for more information
Can programming support a student to complete a GED?
Yes
Post high school options offered
Call for more information
Average student to teacher ratio
0
What does the Teaching/Classroom look like?
Other
Is the program able to implement IEP's
Yes
Can provider handle a student who is more than two grade level's behind in reading?
Yes
Can program support a student who wants vocational training?
Call for more information
Does the school have AP Classes or the ability to give or take a student to the AP Test?
Not Applicable
Does the academic program have the ability to provide ACT or SAT Tutoring (on or off site)?
N/A
Transitions
Do you offer transition services for participants/students?
Yes
If Yes, select all options that apply to your program
Formal Transition To Another Therapist
Are there additional fees that apply to transitional options?
No
Percentage of families that participate in various transition programming?
> 50%
Assessments
Does the client receive a neuropsychological evaluation?
Other
What percentage of participants receive psychological evaluations?
> 50%
< 50%
Who completes the psychological evaluation?
Call for more information
Does program receive a fee for evaluation or referral?
No
Technology
Computer Access
Call for more information
Cell Phones
Not Allowed
Eating Disorders
If specific eating disorder care provided,
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)
Expert Specifics
Associations
National Association of Schools & Programs (NATSAP)
Research
Percentage of clients who return home, or to a more traditional setting (like transitions to college or gap year, boarding school, etc.)
> 50%
Has the program previously been part of an evidence-based study?
Yes
Is the program presently part of an evidence-based study?
Yes
Wilderness Therapy
Wilderness Therapy Model
Choose an option
If program has phases/levels, are they tied to privileges?
N/A
Percentage of students who complete all phases/levels prior to leaving the program
Not Applicable