Our Hui Hoʻomalu foster care licensing program is putting on numerous events across the Islands all month long. From sign waving events, info sessions, to free family movie nights, Hui Hoʻomalu is working to inform the public about the importance of fostering children.

There are over 1,500 keiki in foster care in Hawaiʻi nei. Over 50% of these kids are Native Hawaiian, highlighting a real need for Resource Caregivers who understand Hawaiian culture and values, and can make the transitions in foster care that much easier on children in need.

Every foster child needs a loving home! Contact our Hui Hoʻomalu program today to find out how you can get involved, from volunteering to becoming a fully licensed Resource Caregiver. Their contact information is listed below.

Make sure to follow Hui Hoʻomalu’s Facebook page! There, they announce their latest community events.

We here at Partners in Development Foundation hope you will use the resources this month to consider helping a child in need — become a Resource Caregiver!

Hui Hoʻomalu offices:
Oʻahu: (808) 441-1117
Kauaʻi: (808) 346-8184
Maui/ Lanaʻi/ Molokaʻi: (808) 268-5122
West Hawaiʻi Island: (808) 896-3829
East Hawaiʻi Island: (808) 987-5988
Neighbor Island toll free: (888) 879-8970
Email: hui@pidfoundation.org

Whether they stayed for a couple months or even more than a year, Allene and her husband understood that each child was not in their situation by choice but rather circumstance. Together, with their loving and caring hearts, Allene and her husband provided the love, nurture, and support each of their children desperately needed at such a fragile point in their life.

We are looking for more Resource Caregivers like Allene. The need for foster care in Hawaiʻi is great, and you can help make a difference. Please take a look at our Hui Hoʻomalu website to learn more about how you can get involved today.

Aloha PID Foundation ‘Ohana! As we aim to inspire and equip you for success and service, we’re proud to bring you Ke ‘Ano – The Voice of PIDF. This podcast will be your connection to the latest and greatest happenings throughout the Foundation. If you have something you’d like to share, don’t hesitate to contact us!

This month, we’ll be hanging out with Hui Ho‘omalu as they celebrate National Foster Care Month. We have some exciting things to talk about, and hope that these stories will help you better understand the many challenges and triumphs your peers face every day.

Pillars of the Foundation

This week, we have the honor of sitting with two of the most important individuals in all of PIDF: our beloved President Jan Dill, and our esteemed Cultural Specialist, ‘Anakala ‘Iokepa DeSantos. Their insights will set the stage for a larger conversation about Foster Care in Hawaii. To better understand the call to action, we talk about Native Hawaiian culture, in particular the concept of “Hānai” and how the understanding of the concept has changed in modern times.

May is National Foster Care Month!

There are many exciting things happening this month in celebration, and we’re really looking forward to sharing all the fun things that are right around the corner. To coincide with the national celebration to raise awareness of issues facing Foster Care, we hope to bring you an in-depth look into how we are addressing the problems.

Kaua‘i County Council, JoAnn Yukimura who is also a resource caregiver, thanked and supported Monica and Erica for organizing the event and said, “Mahalo to all of you who recruit and support foster families. Mahalo to the awesome foster families!”

With comments such as, “Good to be able to be of help…call me again next time” (Adult Protective & Community Service, Jefferson Venzon), “Had a nice time yesterday sign waving!” (Kaua‘i CWS Sector Administrator, ‘Iwalani Ka‘auwai-Herrod), and “Count us in again for next year” (Na Lei Wili, Fran Becker), we are sure to continue spreading Foster Care awareness through signs and cheers.

Hui Ho‘omalu, is a collaborative effort between PIDF, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, and Family Programs Hawai‘i. Together, they will continue to work closely with the Department to best meet the needs of Hawai‘i’s foster youth and the resource families that care for them. But, they can’t do it alone…

Hawai‘i continues to need more resource families statewide. There is especially a need for families who are willing to care for older children/teens and sibling groups. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a resource family, or if you want to help in other ways, call Hui Ho‘omalu today at 441-1117 (O‘ahu) or 1-888-879-8970 (Toll Free).

Before he did so, he eloquently explained both his responsibility and honor as Governor of the State of Hawai’i, to recognize events, individuals, and organizations for their special accomplishments relative to the document being signed.

He expressed his deep appreciation for the efforts of Partners In Development Foundation, Hale Kipa, and the Statewide Resource Advisory Committee for all they do in helping to find homes for children within the foster care system, and especially thanked the families and resource caregivers that take these children into their homes.

He called upon Cynthia Goss, Assistant Child Welfare Services Branch Administrator from the State Department of Human Services to witness the official signing, then asked all those present to join him in photo-documenting the event.

Much appreciation to the “glue committee” (they hold things together) for being instrumental in making this happen: Catholic Charities Hawai’i, Family Programs Hawai’i, Partners In Development Foundation ~ Hui Ho’omalu and the State Department of Human Services.

Get involved, consider becoming a foster parent if you have the where-with-all to do so. Or, if you know someone that would be a perfect fit for a foster child, encourage them to contact Hui Ho’omalu @ (808) 441-1117. Or, email us at hui@pidfoundation.org

The ceremonial pen-to-paper signing is scheduled for Wednesday May 9th…

Become a resource caregiver, donate time and resources, help spread the word of the need to kokua. It is also a time to honor the resource caregivers who open their heart and homes to children in foster care.

Contact Hui Ho’omalu ~ A Program of Partners In Development Foundation for more information.

LIHU‘E — May is a perfect time for honoring the contributions of resource families and organizations who are making a difference in the lives of children and youth in foster care.
That statement was made in a proclamation celebrating May as National Foster Care Month by Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and presented to the Hui Ho‘omalu and Tutu and Me programs, two organizations working with foster care on Kaua‘i.

Foster care affects hundreds of thousands of children and families as well as society as a whole, the proclamation states. Issues on the well-being of a child come up in families of every race, ethnicity, culture and age group.

There are approximately 65 children and youth who are under the care of the State Department of Human Services at any given time on Kaua‘i, the proclamation states. These children and youth are not able to live with their families, the very foundation of the community, states the proclamation.

Resource families in the Hui Ho‘omalu program serve as a primary source of love, identity, support and self-esteem for children in foster care, states the proclamation.

Many of the children in the care of resource families have special emotional, physical or developmental needs and there is an on-going need to recruit, train and support new families, the proclamation states.

Resource families open their hearts and homes with the understanding that all children and youth, including those living in foster care, deserve to grow up in a safe, stable and nurturing environment where they can benefit from lasting, positive relationships with caring adults, states the proclamation.

This recruitment, training and support effort is a collaborative one between the DHS and Hui Ho‘omalu, the proclamation states.

Hosted at the Mall’s Center Stage by MC’s Marty Oliphant and Billy V, “Rekindle Hope” featured lots of activities, on stage testimonials, and award winning entertainment.

The goal of the event was to collaboratively inspire our communities to consider fostering through education and outreach, and to provide a venue for community partners to share their resources and services.

The testimonials given by former foster children who are now adults, like Rachel Cruz and Blake Lanoza were inspirational. While both took the stage to entertain the crowd, they also shared personal stories of growing up as a foster child. Blake is now President of the Hawai‘i Foster Youth Coalition, and Rachel is an aspiring recording artist who performed her original composition “Back Where I Belong”.

Newly recruited foster parent Sam Kapu III, and Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Kawika Kahiapo entertained the crowd with wonderful Hawaiian music befitting an event of this kind. Communities in Schools demonstrated an intergenerational celebration of Hawaiian values. A highlight of the day was the appearance of His Honor the Mayor of Honolulu, Mufi Hanneman to present a Proclamation recognizing May as National Foster Care Month.

“Rekindle Hope: Become A Foster Parent” was indeed a success, as it brought attention to the needs of our foster children, while recognizing those who care enough to welcome them in their home as one of the family.

*Event Participants: Breakthroughs, Community in Schools – HI, Family Programs Hawaii, Foster Youth Coalition/Kids Hurt Too, Heart Gallery Hawaii, Hui Ho‘omalu, Kapiolani Child Protection Center – Dr. Steven Choy, Kokua ‘Ohana, Partners In Development Foundation.