Our Programs

Our culturally responsive programs include behavioral health services, culturally responsive peer mentoring, and monthly group intergenerational healing sessions. We provide ongoing, in person, support groups, as well as one on one mentoring, for female and female identifying survivors of domestic violence, substance use disorders, homelessness and sexual trauma on Hawaii Island. We create a Pu'uhonua (culturally responsive, nonthreatening environment) to promote healing and engage in KukaKuka (courageous conversations) that lead to healing.

Our program is designed to introduce participants to individual, intergenerational trauma and how it influences hurt and healing. Our program co-director has been facilitating KukaKuka sessions for nearly three years. We work within our community to identify those in need. Most participants are referred to us by Hope Services Hawaii, others are self-referral; all participants undergo an intake review. Importantly, we ensure participants commit to regular kuka kuka sessions and complete required assignments looking for solutions that lie within our ancestral roots - including huaka’i to wahi pana.

He Ho’omake Hou Ana O’Puna is unique in situating a variety of support services in a culturally responsive, in-person, group session, as well as one on one, designed to nourish participants through food, outdoor activities, and KuKaKuka (courageous conversations). Sessions with a trained facilitator and peer mentors allow us to understand participants’ unique needs and ensure those needs are met. As such, we work with a variety of local agencies to find housing, healthcare services, mental and behavioral health services, and other programs/services that individual participants require. He Ho’omake Hou Ana O’Puna nourishes participants physically and mentally. Our long-term intended outcomes are individual and community multi-generational healing by using our voices to change our stories. We tell our stories to reshape our stories.