Ka Paʻalana has been providing educational support for houseless and at-risk families for the past 17 years
Serving over 30 communities at 11 sites across the pae ʻāina, Ka Paʻalana is a Partners in Development Foundation preschool organization that specifically serves houseless and at-risk families.
Founded in 2007 by former educator Danny Goya, Ka Paʻalana has helped over 2,720 keiki and 3,692 adults over the past 17 years. Currently, Ka Paʻalana serves 210 families across all sites.
“Ka Paʻalana was birthed into this preschool that was built and founded to help more vulnerable families. The idea was to be mobile and flexible in any area, in whatever community was willing to take us, and set up a tent if we needed to,” said Ka Paʻalana Program Director Kasey Popken.
Thus, Ka Paʻalana is not a “brick and mortar” preschool. Ka Paʻalana sites include parks, community centers, public schools, and, during the summer, the Waiʻanae Boat Harbor.
But it is much more than a preschool – Ka Paʻalana doesn’t only provide support for the keiki who come through its program, but for their caregivers too.
“Danny, our founder, would always say, ʻwhen a young child comes into our care… we can provide all the care that they need in preschool, but if they go home to a home that’s unstable…then we’ve only done half the work,’” Popken recalled.
“‘But if we can work with the whole family, and if we can get them to a place where they can heal…then we’ve not only helped that child and that family for the time that they’re with us in preschool, but hopefully for a lifetime.’”
Ka Paʻalana has several components to its program.
The early education, or preschool component, is where keiki learn based on their age and developmental level. In the parent and child time component, parents learn how to support what their children are learning, from developing fine motor skills to early reading and writing skills.
In Ka Paʻalana’s adult education component, parent educators teach adults about self-care, and help them prepare for job interviews, become financially literate, and more. Finally, the outreach component is for families who prefer home visits from Ka Paʻalana parent educators who provide in-home resources and education.
By partnering with professionals in their community, Ka Paʻalana also connects families with community resources.
“Honestly, a lot of our partnerships come about from the different connections we make in the community and the different ties we have to other organizations,” Popken said.
“A lot of the recruitment [for partnerships] is from our staff going out and saying, ‘Hey, this is what we’re doing for our families. We really need a dentist to come out. Do you guys have anybody willing to volunteer their time?’ Or ‘We need a shot clinic, can you help?’ By reaching out, we are trying to create partnerships so we can provide holistic care to the families.”
These partnerships help build connections between families and professionals, making it less daunting for parents and keiki to seek the help they need.
“We’ve invited the local dentist at the Wai‘anae Comprehensive Center to all of our sites,” said Ka Paʻalana Operations Manager Nida Otta. “We’ve had him at our health fair and then [the families] see him in the community. So, when they make an appointment, it’s not scary for them to actually go for a dentist visit, you know?”
At Ka Paʻalana, families in the program are also able to support one another through their respective journeys in caregiving and healing.
“Ka Paʻalana is a safe place for the families. They know where we’re at, they know what day and time we will be there, and it’s in a location where they know their kids are going to be safe. They start to build these friendships with other caregivers as well,” said Otto.
“I think for them, they feel like it’s a place where they can connect with other caregivers with kids the same age and who might be going through the same thing, and so they just kind of go through it together.”
Although Ka Paʻalana began 17 years ago serving the Waiʻanae Coast, they have continued to expand across Oʻahu, to Hawaiʻi Island and, this year, to Maui.
“Seventeen years in, we are still able to continue to serve families and see how families have been changed because of the work, the friendships and partnerships that we’ve built with them,” said Popken.
To support Ka Paʻalana by donating or establishing partnership visit their website at https://pidf.org/kapaalana. To join the program call (808) 596-8711 to find a site near you.
