When Michelle Omerod was in high school, she witnessed many of her friends and peers shuffle in and out of foster homes. Some homes, she remembers, were less than ideal for youth in need of extra emotional support.

“My friends were really traumatized,” she said.

That’s why, when Michelle and her husband, Aaron, bought their home in Keaʻau, they opened up their doors to hānai (care for) keiki in foster care – especially teenagers. They currently have six hānai keiki and three biological keiki – and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Since 2020, the Omerods have fostered over 20 ʻōpio (youth). They have also extended a helpful hand to including numerous other keiki in the community who just wanted a safe place to stay and feel loved, even if only temporarily.

Aaron Omerod is a correctional officer. With his background and training, he shares with Michelle how to identify behavior indicative of trauma. Together, they support their keiki as best they can.

“Nobody wants to take on teens because of their ‘baggage.’ But this is their last chance before they become an adult,” Aaron said. “This is our chance to make a difference before we see them on the other side of the bars.”

In Hawaiʻi, there are approximately 1,200 keiki in foster care, and nearly 300 are teenagers. More than half of the incarcerated youth and adult population in Hawaiʻi have a Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander background, and many of those were involved in systems of foster care, child welfare, mental health services, special education, or family court.

“We really value the foster homes we are privileged to work with and have a special place in our hearts for our teen homes like the Omerod ʻohana,” said Alana Power, project director of Project Pilina. “What they communicate to these young lives in foster care is that you are worth loving and investing time in – and that kindness they share in providing a safe home makes such a difference. We hope to empower more community members to do the same.”

Project Pilina is a statewide program that recruits and guides resource caregiver applicants through the first steps of the general licensing process. The program, under Partners in Development Foundation, seeks to build relationships within island communities by raising awareness about foster care. For anyone ready to start the application process, a community liaison will serve and assist in the initial steps of the general licensing process to foster keiki.

For those who are unsure about taking the first steps in becoming resource caregivers, there are many other ways to support children in the Hawaiʻi foster care system.

Every month, Project Pilina hosts virtual statewide information sessions with community liaisons open to anyone interested in learning more about foster care, volunteer opportunities, and other ways to get involved. Participants may also have an opportunity to hear directly from former youth in foster care or current resource caregivers.

Community events like the East Hawaiʻi’s Job Readiness Fair are designed to help youth in foster care and those with resource caregivers. The event focuses on workforce preparedness and basic financial education and youth who attend will be able to choose gift cards for Old Navy, Macy’s, or Jean’s Warehouse to purchase job-ready attire. The next job readiness fair will be held at the Connect Point Church in Hilo on Saturday, May 6 from 8:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. and all interested youth are encouraged to attend.

While the Omerod ʻohana will continue to open their heart and home to keiki in care, they urge the larger community to support the overall foster care system.

“Honestly, it’s not even just for foster homes, really. Other people, too, should try to provide assistance for the state because they need help. There’re so many kids and there aren’t enough social workers. It’s not their fault. The foster care system struggles because they need more help,” Michelle said.

The Omerods sometimes experience challenges raising their hānai and biological keiki together, but they say that the rewards of supporting youth in foster care far outweigh the adversities.

The couple agrees that seeing the keiki overcome each boundary and obstacle thrown their way because of the situation they were born into inspires them to keep going.

Project Pilina

The next statewide information sessions are:
May 1 at 6:00 p.m.
June 7 at 12:00 p.m.
Sessions will be on Zoom
To learn more go to: pidf.org/projectpilina

Project Pilina, a program of Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF)focused on sourcing foster care families, received nearly $7,000 from the Ohana Fuels “Fuel Up. Do Good.” program to support graduating youth in foster care. During the months of October through December, Ohana Fuels donated a portion of every gallon of gasoline purchased at all Ohana Fuels stations in that community to directly support foster care youth in East Hawaiʻi.

Funds raised from the Ohana Fuels “Fuel Up. Do Good.” program will aid East Hawaiʻi high school students in foster care to purchase caps and gowns, prom attire and any additional self-care essential items needed. Remaining funds will be used to distribute meal gift cards for foster homes to host a welcome dinner for newly placed youth. 

“For some teenagers in foster care, especially those living in shelters while attending high school, participating in graduation or prom can be costly and oftentimes not a priority,” said Alana Power, Project Pilina project director. “Our hope is to help them celebrate these milestones and let them know that they deserve everything they worked for and have fun with their class.”

On any given day in Hawaiʻi there are more than 1,250 keiki in foster care, of which more than300 are 13 to 17 years old. Project Pilina recruits and guides resource caregiver (foster parent)applicants through the initial steps of the general licensing process to foster in Hawaiʻi. The program seeks to build relationships with island communities by raising awareness about foster care and connecting with resource caregiver applicants.

“We’re grateful for this opportunity to partner with Project Pilina,” says Kimo Haynes, president of Hawaii Petroleum. “Their work with foster keiki is invaluable for our community and we want to thank the community for supporting them through the ‘Fuel Up. Do Good.’ program.”

The Hilo Crescent Lions and Hilo Crescent Leos clubs waved signs that read “Fill up for Foster Care” in front of Puainako Minit Stop during the weekends. The club members volunteered their time for Project Pilina’s free car wash events where donations totaled $941. Together with the support of the community members from over eight Hawaiʻi Island Ohana Fuels locations, the Ohana Fuels campaign raised $6,920.82.

“It was amazing to have the whole community come together for this. We are so appreciative to Ohana Fuels for this donation and looking forward to giving back to our youth in Foster Care, and the gracious Resource Caregiver homes,” said Power. 

There are several ways to support Hawaiʻi’s keiki in foster care. Every month, Project Pilina hosts live virtual information sessions where participants have an opportunity to hear directly from resource caregivers (foster parents), experts in the field, and other voices in the community. For more information, go to pidf.org/projectpilina.

The funds raised from the Ohana Fuels ‘Fuel Up. Do Good.’ program will be used to support graduating East Hawaiʻi high school students in foster care to purchase prom attire including hair and makeup, as well as caps and gowns. Remaining funds will also be used to purchase meal gift cards for foster homes to host a welcome dinner for newly placed youth.

“Many teenagers in foster care live in a youth shelter while attending high school,” said Alana Power, Project Pilina project director. “It can be difficult to find foster homes for older children. So, walking at graduation or having the chance to dress up for a fun night out with friends at prom is a huge deal, and we want to support that.”

On any given day in Hawaiʻi there are over 1,250 keiki in foster care, of which over 300 are 13-17 years old. Project Pilina recruits and guides resource caregiver (foster parent) applicants through the initial steps of the general licensing process to foster in Hawaiʻi. The program seeks to build relationships with island communities by raising awareness about foster care and connecting with resource caregiver applicants. 

“We are excited to announce we will be partnering with Project Pilina as our next ‘Fuel up. Do good.’ beneficiary,” said Kimo Haynes, President of Hawaii Petroleum. “We value the exceptional work Project Pilina does to help our local Ohana. We look forward to offering continued support in the community through our ‘Fuel up. Do good.’ program.” 

Participating Ohana Fuels are located in Kailua-Kona, Kawaihae, Hāwī, Kamuela, Honokaʻa, Laupāhoehoe, Hilo, and Keaʻau. Below is a full list of Ohana Fuels participating in the ‘Fuels Up. Do Good.’ program:

“The greatest part is that we get to do this together as an island simply by filling our gas tanks up at Ohana Fuels from October to December. It’s incredible and we are excited and grateful for this opportunity,” said Power. 

There are several ways to support Hawaiʻi’s keiki in foster care. Every month, Project Pilina hosts live virtual information sessions where participants have an opportunity to hear directly from resource caregivers (foster parents), experts in the field, and other voices in the community. For more information, go to pidf.org/projectpilina

Shortly after keiki joined in mele and dance, they broke into stations set with fun activities ready to kickstart the summer fun. The Tūtū and Me Hawaiʻi North team felt it was important to bring their community lāhui together in a safe manner while providing ʻohana with networking opportunities. 

Present were four PIDF programs: Pili A Paʻa, Tūtū and Me ʻOhana Support, Project Pilina, and Hoʻopalekana Ola. Also present was Hāmākua Health, who distributed keiki-friendly first aid kits, the Community Police officers Waimea Station, County of Hawaii Police Department, and Mahina Mea, who graciously shared all kinds of ʻono freeze dried candies for the keiki and their ʻohana to take home and enjoy. 

“As an extension of our gratitude, we honored our kūpuna, mākua and keiki for their perseverance through the pandemic,” said Yonette Nakamura, Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool Site Manager – Hawaiʻi North. “Being a virtual team since April 2020, it is our intention to acknowledge accomplishments and to also offer encouragement as we continue to journey through life as we have come to know. Together we are stronger!”

Pili A Paʻa, the PIDF educational project based out of the Kohala School Complex, set up an outdoor obstacle course, with challenges for all preschool-aged keiki. Caregivers supported their little ones in balancing while other keiki jumped over posts. The Tūtū and Me haumāna chased their laughter throughout the course and circled round over and over again, until they could fine-tune their gymnastics. 

Tūtū and Me ʻOhana Support, the PIDF Home Visiting and Parent Hui services, engaged keiki in kai (ocean) themed activities. Keiki and their caregivers water painted a local fish, uhu. The keiki also went fishing! In a small pool filled with toy sea life, caregivers helped their keiki fish out plastics and trash to help mālama i ke kai, take care of the ocean. 

Project Pilina, PIDF’s Foster Care program, handed out wooden unicorn keychains for the keiki to color in. ʻOhana came by and talked story with West Hawaiʻi Community Liaison, Chelsea, to learn more about the many ways they can support keiki in foster care. Project Pilina hopes to strengthen household units, both birth and hānai alike, through family-friendly activities. 

Hoʻopalekana Ola, PIDF’s newest project to strengthen rural and remote island communities to navigate the new norm, handed out over 300 at-home Covid-19 test kits. The team equipped multi-generational ʻohana with the tools needed to stay safe and healthy this summer in case someone in the household is exposed to or becomes Covid positive.  

After 25 years of serving Hawaiʻi’s families and living Hawaiian values, PIDF is proud to call on the support of our fellow programs, as well as our community organizations. Many memories were made and laughter shared— hoʻomaikaʻi to our graduating class of 2022! 

When a high school math teacher noticed that her frequently absent student showed up to their community church every week she wondered, “what’s going on?”

Tenth-grader Patricia Duh had just lost her mother and had been in and out of foster homes for most of her teenage years. Upon learning this, the high school teacher and her husband filed for a child-specific fostering license and opened the door to what would be Patricia’s final placement – a place she still calls home.

“Young people are just looking for a place where they can belong,” Duh said. “We’ve gone through so many hardships where people have failed us in the past.”

Duh went on to become a resource caregiver (foster parent) to two foster youth while caring for her own biological child. She also earned herself a seat among the 4% of foster youth who obtain a bachelor’s degree, turning her life experiences into positive outcomes as the Pono Process Lead for Epic ʻOhana.

While Duh’s case is unique, her experiences are shared and speak for many children in the foster care system. On any given day in Hawaiʻi, there are approximately 1,500 children in foster care. Over half of those foster children are Native Hawaiian.

“We’re trying to find resource caregivers that will accept children for who they are and support them in being successful in the future, and that could mean reunification with their parents, or in school, making friends, or just being themselves and being okay with being themselves,” said Monica Kaʻauwai, Kauaʻi Community Liaison at Project Pilina, a foster care services program of nonprofit Partners in Development Foundation.

Project Pilina is a statewide program that recruits and guides resource caregiver applicants through the first steps of the general licensing process. Kaʻauwai and her teammates seek to build relationships within island communities by raising awareness about foster care. For anyone ready to start the application process, a community liaison will serve and assist in the general licensing process.

While being a resource caregiver can be challenging, Kaʻauwai notes that “it’s also rewarding when you get to spend time with a child who has basically had everything taken away from them – and you get to support them in just being a typical kid.”

For those who are unsure about taking the first steps in becoming resource caregivers, there are many other ways to support children in the Hawaiʻi foster care system.

Every month Project Pilina hosts virtual statewide information sessions with local community liaisons that are open to anyone interested in learning more about foster care, volunteer opportunities, and other ways to get involved. Participants may also have an opportunity to hear directly from former foster youth or current resource caregivers.

Other community events, like Kaʻauwai’s free family movie night in Anahola at the end of May, will celebrate National Foster Care Awareness Month. Events include participatory activities that embrace ʻohana in all shapes and sizes, help keiki feel good about themselves, and build pride in one’s ʻohana – whether biological or hānai (fostered or adopted).

When Duh looks back at what supported her most through her times of need, she recalls an incident when, as a teen, she chucked everything out of her room, crying in a rage, and locked herself in the closet. Her mom, as Duh still calls her to this day, sat outside of the closet and just waited for her daughter to get through her emotions and calm down.

“My foster mom knew – something is happening right now, and I don’t know how to help her, but I’m not going to leave. I’m not going to pry, but I’m also not going to leave in this moment. That memory stays with me forever till today. The fact that someone showed up, like really showed up,” recalled Duh.

Every time her foster parents stood by her side, even when they did not know exactly what was happening or how to help, their patience and presence was all the love Patricia Duh needed to persevere.

Go to www.pidf.org for more information about becoming a resource caregiver and for details about the next statewide information sessions on May 2 at 6 p.m. and on June 14 at 9 a.m. Partners in Development Foundation empowers families to navigate social challenges and to grow self-resiliency, vibrancy, and healthy, secure communities in Hawaiʻi.

HONOLULU (KITV4) — May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and a local nonprofit has a number of events to help enrich the lives of children in foster care. They’re organized by Project Pilina, a program of nonprofit group Partners in Development Foundation.

This year’s campaign theme is “I Belong,” to highlight that there is a place for all keiki and the need for community conversations around Hawaii’s foster care system.

This year events include Hawaii Spring Art Contest which runs from now until March 21. Students K-12 statewide are encouraged to create original art pieces that reflect and incorporate what belonging means to them.

The winning design will be featured on a t-shirt in celebration of Foster Care Awareness Month and the “I Belong” theme. Five prize packages from Wet‘n’Wild and Project Pilina will be awarded to the top artists selected.

The Wet‘n’Wild After Party Hawaii Spring Break Celebration will be held on March 19, 2022, 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Project Pilina will be distributing discount cards to use exclusively on March 19 at the Wet‘n’Wild After Party with a Diveʻn’Movie event featuring Disney’s latest film, Encanto, a tale of an extraordinary family.

Discount cards for Wet‘n’Wild obtained from Brunch & Spree may be redeemed for half off admission to Wet‘n’Wild (up to a party of four) or upgrade a season pass for free, and be entered in Wet‘n’Wild’s two-year lease car giveaway to celebrate the new MINI of Hawaiʻi at Kapolei dealership.

The hope is for Hawaiʻi’s keiki, including those in foster care, to feel a sense of belonging. On any given day in Hawaiʻi, there are approximately 1,500 keiki in foster care. PIDF hopes to raise awareness around the need for more safe and loving resource (foster) homes in Hawaiʻi.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: 

Hawaiʻi Spring Art Contest – Now until March 21, 2022 

Students K-12 Statewide are encouraged to create original art pieces that reflect and incorporate what belonging means to them. The winning design will be featured on a t-shirt in celebration of Foster Care Awareness Month and the “I Belong” theme. Five prize packages from Wet‘n’Wild and Project Pilina will be awarded to the top artists selected. 

Click here to see the full details!

Brunch & Spree – Feb. 27, 2022, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Project Pilina along with Rhea Lana’s of Honolulu, a pop-up consignment shop at Pearlridge Center will co-host a Brunch and Spree on Sunday, Feb. 27. Project Pilina will share about foster care with shoppers, offer continental breakfast while supplies last, and distribute discount cards to Wet‘n’Wild redeemable for the Wet‘n’Wild After Party.

Hawaiʻi Spring Keiki Fashion Show – March 5, 2022 

Join Project Pilina for their first-ever keiki fashion show at the former Toys “R” Us Pearlridge location. Keiki will model fashions provided by Rhea Lana’s Honolulu on the runway, alongside Hālau Nā Mamo O Puʻuanahulu, Hoʻololi, and The Sonny Ching Collection with Paradisus. Entertainment and guest seating begins at 5 p.m.; fashion show starts at 6 p.m.

Foster Families Shop For Free – March 7, 2022, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. 

Families in foster care are invited to shop for free at Rhea Lana’s consignment shop at Pearlridge Center. The annual event is put on to mahalo the resource caregivers who have opened their homes to children in care. Rhea Lana recognizes that many keiki in foster care come with few possessions. The Shop For Free event allows keiki to fill their closets with affordable fashion. 

Wet‘n’Wild After Party Hawaiʻi Spring Break Celebration – March 19, 2022, 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. 

Project Pilina will be distributing discount cards to use exclusively on March 19 at the Wet‘n’Wild After Party with a Diveʻn’Movie event featuring Disney’s latest film, Encanto, a tale of an extraordinary family. Discount cards for Wet‘n’Wild obtained from Brunch & Spree may be redeemed for half off admission to Wet‘n’Wild (up to a party of four) or upgrade a season pass for free, and be entered in Wet‘n’Wild’s two-year lease car giveaway to celebrate the new MINI of Hawaiʻi at Kapolei dealership.

Mahalo to our supporters

Because of you, Keola along with Ali from Raising Cane’s were able to present a check for $17,250 to Partners in Development Foundation, a local non-profit organization that empowers families to navigate social challenges and to grow self-resiliency, vibrancy, and healthy, secure communities. Donations can still be collected here through the Christmas weekend.

Keola and 1027 Da Bomb are grateful to Raising Cane’s for matching $7,500 of your donations and for providing box combos to those who donated.  Together, we are proud to support Partners in Development Foundation who believe that nurturing family success will ignite their ability to serve others. Below are just a few of the programs that your donations will support and the list of all the generous donors.

Nā Pono No Nā ‘Ohana is a comprehensive family education program serving the Waimānalo community. By integrating progressive teaching methods with Native Hawaiian cultural values, Nā Pono No Nā ‘Ohana seeks to improve social, economic, and educational opportunities for families in the program. Click here to learn more about Nā Pono

Ka Paʻalana Family Education Program aims to increase the success and self-sufficiency of homeless and ALICE ® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families. In addition to its nationally accredited preschool site at Hope Shelter, Ka Pa’alana has numerous mobile and virtual preschool sites and outreach services on the Leeward Oʻahu coast and Hawaiʻi Island. Click here to learn more about Ka Paʻalana

Project Pilina recruits and guides resource caregiver (foster parent) applicants through the first steps of the general licensing process to foster in Hawaiʻi. There are approximately 1,500 children and youth in Hawaiʻi’s foster care system and nearly 50% are Native Hawaiian. Click here to learn more about becoming a resource caregiver

Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity that inspires and equips families and communities for success and service, using timeless Native Hawaiian values and traditions. The goal is to help these communities overcome difficult challenges in ways that would make them, in turn, teachers and helpers of others in need. Since 1997, PIDF has served over 128,000 people in over 50 communities across the Hawaiian Islands. To learn more about all of PIDF’s programs serving Hawaiian families, visit pidf.org.

Mahalo to our donors:

Dianna Tamale-Bowman
Lani Bowman
Brent Wong
Jessica LaGassey-Simpson
Mara Mulrooney
Kelsey Conant
Mary Ellayn Ortal
Shyla Layugan
Jessica Tanaka
Danielle G
Lucienne (Annie) Zablan
Henry Alvarado
Andrew Lui-Kwan
Michele Burke
Elizabeth Kanady
Sandra Abdelahad
Keene Inafuku
Kristy Okuhara
Jennifer Okimoto
Di Aiu
Mahalo Tours – Charles and Rhonda
Brian Higuchi
Koji Collier
Jennifer Sasaki
Scott I
Lynn Nguyen
Lauren Imada
Koy Collier
Joshua Green
Laurene Young
Rosaly Mamuad
Joshua Mednick
Ruth Ryan on behalf of Kaitlynn McGuire age 9
Chris Rainone
Matthew Thoene
Christopher-Cj Martin
Joey Allagonez
Cindy Tom
Megan Small
Lisa Rodrigues
Jeri Arucan
Michael Santos
Ethel Sumibcay
Shelly Kaneko
Grant Sugawara
Julie Saldania
Catherine Ronco
Elizabeth Pasig
Meagan Oki
Brycen Ikeda
Benjamin Mamuad
Kaito Muranaka
Jaymee Nugal
Audria Stroup
JONATHAN CLEMENTS
Kelikiano Chaves
TONY G
Matthew Hallbauer
Driana Lagrimas
Lisa Kaneshiro
Marcia Yamada
Kaloke Canady
C J
Dana Brown
Wen Chiang
Jennifer Cook-Fujioka
Kelsey Thornberry
Ron Darton
Kathy Wamser
Jessica Johns
Spencer Hagerman
Michael Ramos aka “Uncle Olaf”!
Matthew Chang
Sandra Eligado
Phat Joe
Lisa Imai
Kaela Finstad
Ali Urbick
Carol Batangan-Rivera
Casey Shoda
Danielle G
William Makaneole
Celia Sasaki
Luat Tran
David Ing
Jacquelyn Sato
Jennifer Bower
Danielle Elefsrud
Caitlin Smith
Jordan Mckenzie
Amanda Jordan
CHERILYN EVANGELISTA
Rachel Gastelum
Dogtown Bakery
James Stobie
Pam K.
Rainbow Bridge gift shop
Jen & Cassidy Chang
D. Chang
Justine Stamen Arrillaga
Kyle Ortiz
Christalynn Ortiz
Leilani Bonifacio
Tracy Shoales
Carolyn Pacheco
Wendy King
Christine Loo
Dena Hamada
Jose Katipunan
Lili Ann Sora
Lance Rae
Amy Hill

“The holiday season is a very special time of the year and being able to provide an opportunity for children and their families to spend quality time together and make precious holiday memories is what we intended with our Santa’s Ornament Workshop event,” said Brandon Kim, Oʻahu Community Liaison of Project Pilina.

Project Pilina Community Liaisons were available to talk story with the ʻohana if they were interested in foster care. Some asked about the general licensing process, while others were curious about the many different ways they can support keik in foster care.

On any given day in Hawaiʻi, there are approximately 1,500 keiki in foster care. This event was an amazing opportunity for the newly named Project Pilina to get to know the community and share more about our available services, including a concentrated focus on finding homes for keiki in foster care in the midst of a global pandemic. 

“This event has brought a beautiful reminder of how life changing it is to be surrounded by and spend time with people who genuinely care about you. We want that for every child and we know it’s possible if we continue to come together for them,” said Alana Power, Project Director of Project Pilina. 

Look out for Project Pilina’s next ornament workshop happening at Kahala mall on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 12m – 6pm — tell your friends and family to pass by!

Love remains the driving force for Duane and Lyn Pagay, who are the proud parents of four children and 15 foster keiki.

Duane Pagay was at a crossroads. He was carrying a lot of pain from his past and knew that he was not only hurting himself with his actions, but his family as well.

The Maui resident spent his childhood on Lāna‘i moving in and out of the foster care system. He was eventually reunited with his parents, but says that arrangement only made his life worse. Raised in an environment surrounded by the drug trade, he soon started committing street crimes, selling drugs himself, and eventually ended up in prison.

“Being taken from bad times to go into foster care taught me to run from my problems,” he states. “And, being taken from foster care, where everything was going good and getting better, and having to go back to the abuse, taught me to sabotage myself when my life was going good or it made me think that I had to mess up for my life to be normal.”

Despite the bleak circumstances he found himself in, he was determined to change. Part of that involved owning up to his own poor decisions.

“Going through the process of self-healing and to better myself was very hard and hurtful at the same time, because I had to learn to hold myself accountable for all of my mistakes as an adult,” he says.

It was during this time of personal transformation that Duane met his wife, Jonahlyn, or Lyn as she is known. Soon, the couple would choose a direction that would lead them to fostering 15 children, in addition to caring for their own four keiki.

Their first opportunity on this new path came when they were asked to take care of a relative’s baby. Thankfully, the Pagays didn’t hesitate in making that decision.

“Family means everything to me,” explains Lyn. “So, if I can help a family, I will try my best, especially in situations like this — to care, support and love on the child. Not only the child, but their parents as well.”

Duane agrees, saying,“It was an awesome feeling knowing that we were there for a child in a time of need, and to be able to help a family get the help they needed in a dark time.”

When the baby boy was reunited with his parents, Lyn admits to having mixed feelings.

“Honestly, it was very hard, as baby came to us at 2 months old,” she reveals. “But then again, it was a great feeling knowing that he got to be with his parents again.”

Seeing how well that experience went for the Pagays inspired Mary Leyva, a community liaison with Partners in Development Foundation, whose Hui Ho‘omalu program recruits and guides prospective resource caregivers through the foster care licensing process.

“The Pagays appeared so welcoming and caring for all children; and at the HANAI training, Duane disclosed that he himself had been in foster care in a general home,” recalls Leyva, adding that she encouraged the couple to switch their child-specific license to a general foster license. “After he shared that, I expressed to him and Lyn how relating to children in foster care could be positive.”

Now a new road presented itself, one in which the couple could provide for keiki the love and guidance that Duane says he lacked in his childhood.

“Duane and I came to an agreement that we wanted to continue to be there for these children and let them know that they are loved and wanted,” Lyn adds.

Since that fateful decision to become foster parents, the Pagays have welcomed 15 foster keiki into their home to join three of their own children: 19-yearold Micah, 11-year-old Jaiden and 9-year-old Jaida. The couple also recently adopted 2-year-old Jaidee.

“She was just 9 days old and has been with us ever since,” Duane states.

For the Pagays, fostering so many children is worth the sacrifice because of the love they have for these keiki and their personal circumstances.

(According to Partners in Development Foundation, a nonprofit that uses Native Hawaiian values and traditions to equip families and communities for service, there are approximately 1,500 children in foster care on any given day in Hawai‘i. These youths often experience a greater rate of homelessness, sex exploitation, drug and alcohol abuse, and incarceration.)

Duane insists that he’s always felt the safest and the most love when he was in foster care. That same loving and secure environment is what he seeks to provide for the children in his care.

The Pagays acknowledge that the path they’re on is not without its bumps, but they are grateful to be navigating the road together.

With both Duane and Lyn working full-time — he’s employed at Maui Beach Vacation Club and she is an elementary school teacher at Ka‘ahumanu Hou Christian School — Lyn credits a structured home and schedule for maintaining balance between jobs and family time.

“Yes, fostering is a huge commitment,” Duane admits, adding that finding that sweet spot in parenting is easier because of the rewards and support he receives.

“I just accept it all as a whole and say, ‘This is my family and I am going to do all that I can to make them happy,’” he continues. “I focus on the smiles I will get when I get home. We all do it as a team; we all do it together.”

“I’m very proud of Duane. He is a very supportive, caring, and loving husband and father. We both try to do everything together around the house — well except cooking. He is the cook; I don’t really cook,” Lyn says with a laugh.

The family makes the most of their time together, enjoying bike rides and playing outside or just watching movies. Duane says that he’s happy just doing whatever the kids happen to be interested in.

“I love watching them have fun, smiling and enjoying themselves as children,” he notes.

The Pagays typically foster three children at a time, and they encourage others to explore opening their homes to children in need of a home.

“You can expect to give love and feel loved from someone you never knew,” Duane opines. “I get to be involved in a childhood I never had and to give and express love for all of them.”

He says that his growth as a person continues through his journey as a foster parent as well. And, he gets to share with the keiki all the affirmations he didn’t get during his own childhood.

“Throughout the whole experience, the good stuff I get to tell my kids is that I love them, that they are doing an awesome job, and that life wouldn’t be this amazing without them,” he finalizes. “And, I am very proud of them.”

In the last 15 years our Hui Hoʻomalu Foster Care Program served Hawaiʻi’s keiki in foster care by recruiting, training and assessing general license Resource Caregiver (Foster Parent) applicants. Not only has our team educated, recruited, and trained resource caregivers, but they, along side community agencies and partners, have truly paved the way for the success we see in foster care today.

Today, we are excited to share that Hui Hoʻomalu will refocus our services and will now be known as Project Pilina! In partnership with the State Department of Human Services, #PIDFoundation’s foster care project will highlight educating and recruiting potential foster care families. We also express our gratitude for the key community partners and team players who have worked with us as Hui Hoʻomalu. We look forward to continuing working with you and making even more meaningful Pilina (connections) with others.

In Hawaiʻi, there are approximately 1,500 keiki in foster care on any given day. Finding loving homes for keiki starts with education and recruitment. That’s why with Project Pilina, Fostering Begins Here. Join us for the journey, and stay updated on our social media and online. Find out more, here.

Mahalo piha to our Hui Hoʻomalu team— we wish you the best in your future huakaʻi!