By Jazmynn Oliveira
Liliʻuokalani Trust (Trust) has launched “Hoʻokahua,” a new program for young families.
Created as a pilot, Hoʻokahua supports keiki ages 0-5 and their mākua who face vulnerabilities — including involvement with systems like child welfare, foster care, or corrections. Such challenges can hinder families from thriving, often perpetuating trauma across generations.
Thriving Hawaiian children was the mission of Queen Liliʻuokalani when she established her trust in 1909. Hoʻokahua is a modern extension of that mission, empowering families to take charge of their futures.
The name Hoʻokahua carries profound cultural significance, meaning “to lay the foundation.” This name captures the essence of this area of focus, symbolizing the foundational role that mākua play in nurturing their keiki.
The Hoʻokahua program includes a team of early childhood specialists — all teammates of the Trust — who guide the mākua in meeting basic needs and securing livable wages through employment and educational opportunities, such as earning a GED or entering higher education.
Additionally, the childhood specialists support the keiki in preparing for preschool and kindergarten by focusing on social and academic benchmarks. A housing navigator from the Trust also helps families find permanent housing. Recently, several families moved from shelters into Oʻahu apartments renovated by the Trust.
Parents can also join classes and workshops by LT to address the unique challenges of families. Examples include:
- Stabilization and Healing: Mākua work with the early childhood team to plan their futures, while addressing the childhood, historical, and cultural traumas that may affect their parenting styles.
- Personal Development and Independence: Mākua focus on education and career opportunities, childcare, and housing options while striving toward independence.
- Transition and Maintenance: Mākua evaluate their progress, continue to strengthen their bonds with their children, and set goals for education and workforce development.
Hoʻokahua uses a two-generations approach — focusing equally on mākua and their keiki. This model helps families build the skills and emotional resilience needed to support their families, both financially and emotionally. At the same time, it nurtures the development of strong, healthy relationships between mākua and their keiki. Secure attachments are foundational for keiki success in school and in life, ensuring long-term wellbeing for both generations.
LT is grateful for its community partners who collaborate with us to support the families of Hoʻokahua, especially in employment and education. This collective effort across the pae ʻāina reflects our shared mission to support families.
The work done through the Hoʻokahua program creates opportunities for young Hawaiian families to reconnect with their culture, strengthen family bonds, and achieve financial stability.
Collectively, we are turning the Queen’s dream into reality.
Jazmynn Oliveira is the program director, Early Childhood, for Liliʻuokalani Trust. She is a graduate of Hawaiʻi Pacific University and Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Ānuenue and has been with the Trust since 2019.
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