Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Program

Our Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Program, supported through a valued partnership with the National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC), is a cornerstone of our work at He Hoʻomaka Hou Ana O Puna. This program provides trauma-informed, culturally grounded support for women survivors of domestic violence, sexual trauma, and systemic harm through lived-experience mentorship and community building.

Led by our Co-Director Renee Rivera, MSW, and Senior Peer Mentor Dr. Dayna Schultz, Psy.D., LSW,CSAC, the program centers on weekly Hāumana KukaKuka sessions designed to foster connection, healing, and empowerment. Renee and Dayna draw on both professional training and personal journey to guide participants through a culturally relevant process rooted in Native Hawaiian values such as aloha, kuleana, and mālama. Together, they cultivate a safe, judgment-free space for women to share moʻolelo (stories), rebuild their self-worth, and reclaim their agency.

Through guided conversations, skill-sharing, and mutual accountability, participants begin to see themselves not just as survivors, but as future mentors—leaders within their own families and communities. This intergenerational model of healing creates a ripple effect, strengthening ʻohana ties and reinforcing community resilience. By centering cultural practices and peer leadership, the program helps restore identity, reduce isolation, and build lasting systems of support in East Hawaiʻi.