Fall Term programs are generally available from August 10 through December 18, while Fall Break programs will be available from October 5-9, providing kamalei with safe, enriching, and fun places to learn, grow, and connect while school is out.

ʻOhana can look forward to a full season of programming, along with engagement opportunities offered throughout the fall.

Programs will be available at all LT service locations across the pae ʻāina, making it easier for ʻohana to find a program that fits their needs. LT’s programs are designed to strengthen identity, build skills, and nurture wellbeing to help kamalei on their path to thriving.

ʻOhana are invited to explore the full lineup of offerings in LT’s Fall Program Catalog, available on our website: onipaa.org/browse-programs-and-services.

To begin the enrollment process, ʻohana should complete LT’s General Interest Form. This short form helps our team better understand your ʻohana’s goals and guides you through the next steps to connect with the right program.

We look forward to helping your kamalei thrive through our many program offerings!

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She succeeds Mahina Eleniki Hugo, who has served as interim president and CEO since January. Hugo will resume her position on the Board of Trustees beginning in July.

A dedicated and dynamic leader, Laʻa has been an integral part of Liliʻuokalani Trust since 2022, advancing key initiatives across strategy, programs, and operations. She currently serves as Executive Director of the 97,000-square-foot Liliʻuokalani Center on Ward Avenue, where she has helped elevate the Trust’s presence and impact in the community.

“Jennifer brings proven executive leadership experience, vision, and heart,” said Hugo. “She has a deep understanding of where the Trust has been and our Vision 2045 goal to break the cycle of poverty for Native Hawaiian children. The Board has full confidence in her ability to lead our team into the future.”

With more than 20 years of experience across the nonprofit and government sectors, Laʻa is known for her collaborative leadership and commitment to community impact. Prior to joining the Trust, she served as branch chief of the Community Resources Branch at the Hawaiʻi Department of Health. Her extensive experience also includes executive leadership roles at Easter Seals Hawaiʻi and serving as director of Grants Management at the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi.

Laʻa’s appointment signals an exciting new chapter for Liliʻuokalani Trust as it continues to expand its work to uplift and empower kamaliʻi and their ʻohana across Hawaiʻi.

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Summer term programs are generally available from June 1 through August 7, providing kamalei with safe, enriching, and fun places to learn, grow, and connect while school is out. ʻOhana can look forward to a full season of programming, along with engagement opportunities offered throughout the summer.

Programs will be available at all LT service locations across the pae ʻāina, making it easier for ʻohana to find a program that fits their needs. LT’s programs are designed to strengthen identity, build skills, and nurture wellbeing to help kamalei on their path to thriving.

ʻOhana are invited to explore the full lineup of offerings in LT’s Summer Program Catalog, available on our website (onipaa.org/browse-programs-and-services).

To begin the enrollment process, ʻohana should complete LT’s General Interest Form. This short form helps our team better understand your ʻohana’s goals and guides you through the next steps to connect with the right program.

We look forward to helping your kamalei thrive through our many program offerings!

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LT Ranch in Kamuela, Hawaiʻi Island, offers nature-based programs in a residential camp, and after school and alternative learning programs, services, and support formats that promote meaningful connections through ʻāina, animals, and art. These experiences are designed to support social-emotional growth, healing, and cultural identity within LT’s 10-acre experiential ranch setting. All activities reinforce the five Ranch Pillars: hoʻomalu (regulation), makaʻala (awareness), hōʻihi (boundaries), pilina (relationships), and hilinaʻi (confidence).

The Early Childhood initiative at LT supports children ages 0-5 and their ʻohana (mākua ages 18-26) statewide through culturally grounded programs that strengthen relationships, promote healthy development, and foster stability. Key programs and services include counseling, parenting support and skill-building resources, residential housing, and case management.

Older youth (ages 15-19) can benefit from Puʻu Lei O Liliʻu in Kapolei, Oʻahu, which offers group programs rooted in cultural traditions and trauma-informed healing practices. Together, youth develop workforce skills, build leadership skills, and learn through service. The staff who lead this effort approach their work through a framework built upon four interconnected kahawai (rivers), which serve as the kahua (foundation) for this program.

Anxiety and depression are serious challenges for many of our youth today, but too often youth fall through gaps in receiving services due to limited access from private practitioners, long waitlists at community providers, or groups not accepting new clients. LT’s statewide virtual counseling program Wai Aka supports kamalei experiencing mental health issues through short-term, mental health counseling offered through the Zoom Healthcare platform, making it easy to access.

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With the security that a safe home provides, participating ʻohana have been able to redirect their time and energy toward strengthening parenting skills, building support networks, securing steady employment, and addressing other stressors. LT supports these efforts through a range of programs and services designed to promote family wellbeing.

The housing component of KL is a cornerstone of LT’s broader Hoʻokahua program, which focuses on creating positive parent-child relationships, pathways to economic stability, and safe, supportive housing. ʻOhana actively engage in individual and group services such as counseling, case management, and group programs.

LT’s dedicated team of specialists walk alongside each ʻohana, recognizing the complex trauma many have experienced. Through opportunities for reflection, healing, skill-building, and resource connection, LT helps families work toward their goals and build a foundation for a brighter future.

LT is a private operating foundation established in 1909 by Queen Liliʻuokalani for the benefit of orphan and destitute children, with preference given to Native Hawaiians. Today, LT’s team of over 200 professionals serve thousands of kamali‘i, or beneficiaries, through a combination of direct services and collaborations with community partners.

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Spring Term Programs: Offered primarily after school from January 20 through May 8 (specific dates and times vary by island and program).

Spring Break Programs: Available with extended hours from March 16-20, to ensure your child has a fun and supportive place to be while school is out. Please note that Spring Term programming will pause during this break.

Programs will be offered at all LT service locations across the pae ʻāina, serving youth from birth through age 26. You can explore full program details in our Spring Program catalog on our website.

To get started, please complete LT’s General Interest Form. This helps our team understand your family’s needs and guides you through the next steps for enrollment.

The Spring Program Catalog and General Interest Form can be found at: onipaa.org/browse-programs-and-services.

We look forward to helping your keiki thrive through our many program offerings!

LT is a private foundation established in 1909 for the benefit of orphan and destitute children, with preference given to Native Hawaiians. LT serves thousands of kamali‘i through a combination of direct services and collaborations with community partners.

LT’s team of over 200 professionals is united by a passion to continue the Queen’s legacy by providing opportunities for Native Hawaiian youth to realize their greatest potential: living healthy, joyful, and prosperous lives, while contributing positively to their families, communities, and the world.

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By Melinda Lloyd, LT Senior Manager, Research & Evaluation

In 1909, Queen Liliʻuokalani wrote a deed of trust that would lay the groundwork for a lasting legacy, a commitment to the wellbeing of orphaned and destitute Hawaiian kamaliʻi (children). Today, more than a century later, Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) honors the Queen’s mission by providing programs and services for Hawaiian kamaliʻi and ʻōpio (youth) across the pae ʻāina.

To support kamaliʻi, LT has created the Pua Liliʻu Wellbeing Framework, a holistic assessment that focuses on restoration of balance and harmony, while drawing inspiration from ʻike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge).

The Pua Liliʻu Wellbeing Framework uses a metaphor of a pua (flower). Just as a flower requires sunlight, water, and care to bloom, so do kamaliʻi. This imagery emphasizes the importance of providing aloha and mālama, for kamaliʻi to thrive in all aspects of life.

The Pua Liliʻu Wellbeing Framework was introduced in 2012 as Pua Lōkahi, inspired by Kamehameha Schools’ (KS) Lōkahi Wheel and their Wellbeing Pua Model. Over time, it evolved into a holistic model emphasizing five wellbeing domains:

• Naʻau: Cultural and Spiritual Connection
• Hale/ʻOhana: Family and Community Relationships
• Olakino: Physical and Emotional Health
• ʻImi ʻIke: Learning and Education
• Kumu Waiwai: Resources

These domains are not hierarchical. They work in harmony, emphasizing the belief that each domain must be nurtured for kamaliʻi to thrive.

On the individual level, the Pua Liliʻu can also be used for personal growth and learning. Each petal on the flower encourages striving for pono in every aspect of life — from emotional health to relationships. When struggles arise, hoʻopono provides a path to realign and heal. Meanwhile, mālama pono reminds us of our responsibility to care for ourselves and others with respect and mindfulness.

The Pua Liliʻu is used in various LT programs and services across the pae ʻāina including at: LT Ranch on Hawaiʻi Island, where kamaliʻi can heal through art, ʻāina, and animal-assisted therapy; Lydia House in downtown Honolulu, a safe place for ʻōpio who have experienced child welfare and juvenile justice systems; various kīpuka and sites that offer youth programs and services and; The Early Childhood Initiative for keiki ages 5 and younger.

The Pua Liliʻu recognizes and promotes an overall sense of physical, spiritual, and emotional health, whereby kamaliʻi and ʻōpio can appreciate their heritage, build resilience, and navigate life’s challenges. Queen Liliʻuokalani’s vision continues to thrive, as future generations are empowered to ʻonipaʻa, grow, heal, and flourish.

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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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By Kāwika Urakami, LT Youth Development Lead

In October, my teammates and I had the privilege of working with 20 teenagers at “Workforce Co-Op Alliance Fall Break Trades Camp,” a pilot program created by Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) to introduce youth to construction and trade careers. It took place at the Kona International Marketplace.

One young man shared how working with tools made him feel closer to his father, a skilled tradesman who recently passed away. “My dad would’ve been so proud,” he told us. For this kāne and others like him, the camp was more than learning construction skills — it was an opportunity to heal, honor their Hawaiian roots, and build hope for the future.

We were humbled to support our ʻōpio — many facing challenges at a young age. Five had parents who recently passed away. Five were in the DOE’s Alternative Learning Program, and more than half were in the foster care system, including the Nā Kama Kai program for boys and girls in Hilo and Kona.

The camp was a safe place to build resilience.

Throughout the week, the group practiced teamwork, safety, and collaboration. Our contractor partner also took them to his base yard to operate a skid steer. The ʻōpio looked like they belonged on any professional job site as they did laps around the course while wearing hard hats, goggles, and safety gear.

Many ʻōpio recognized how their kūpuna were resourceful, creative master builders. By mixing modern techniques with traditional knowledge, they felt inspired to build their futures and communities. After all, self-sustainability is in their DNA.

We launched the trades program, fully aware that not all the ʻōpio would pursue trade careers. But our goal was to give them the knowledge and tools to make informed choices about their futures.

One young man, who is about to turn 18 and age out of the foster care system, shared that he was interested in applying to college. He was unsure about his next steps while he worked at a fast-food chain. I am happy to say that he is now participating in LT’s virtual program, “Transition to College,” learning about the financial aid process, and exploring a future full of possibilities.

Stories like these fuel our commitment to Queen Liliʻuokalani’s children. When our Queen established her trust in 1909, her mission was to care for Hawaiians who were orphans or from destitute backgrounds. Today, her legacy continues to support youth ages 0-26 who need healing and a path to thriving.

LT plans to expand the trades program, weaving culture and skill-building to empower our ʻōpio. Whether they join the trades or other fields, they will develop the confidence and resilience to become self-sustaining, successful young Hawaiians.

My teammates and I are incredibly proud to be a part of their young lives.

Kāwika Urakami is a youth development lead for Liliʻuokalani Trust, Kīpuka Hilo. Born and raised in Hilo, he has a master’s degree in educational foundations in leadership from UH Mānoa and worked for the Hawaiʻi Department of Education for over 15 years before joining the Trust.

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Recently, kamaliʻi ages 6-9 from Liliʻuokalani Trust (Trust) participated in Ulupono, a program designed to enhance their cultural awareness and emotional wellbeing. It was hosted at Kīpuka Kauaʻi, one of 15 sites across the pae ʻāina where children of the Trust can gather to learn and feel supported.

Throughout the six-week program, these young kamaliʻi learned cultural protocols and practiced kilo (observation), and hanu and hā breathing. They participated in naʻau (mind/heart) activities and wrote in journals to identify their emotions and build awareness of their surroundings.

Through music, art, and writing, the kamaliʻi discovered avenues for self- expression and healthy ways to navigate their emotions.

Additionally, a reading of the book The Queen’s Moʻolelo: Introduction to the Queen further deepened the kamaliʻi’s connection to their heritage and birthright, and by the end of the six weeks, each child came away with knowledge of naʻau, hale ʻohana (family home), ola kino (health), and ʻimi ʻike (seeking knowledge).

We were truly inspired by the transformation of these young kamaliʻi, the cherished children of our Queen Liliʻuokalani.

One participant – a kāne from Ana- hola – joined the program hesitant to raise his hand to speak or participate in peer discussions. However, by the second week he was volunteering to deliver the opening and closing pule and lead the group’s breathing exercises.

The biggest breakthrough was his newfound ability to use “I” when speaking about himself. This eager young kāne was a wonderful example of how children, in a supportive environment, build social-emotional skills and cultural awareness.

The Ulupono program is one of many initiatives employed by Kīpuka Kauaʻi to support youth. Recently, middle and high school students from the kīpuka completed a program that acquainted them with the ʻāina and Kauaʻi’s close-knit communities.

The program, called Mohala i ka Wai ka Maka o ka Pua, heightened their understanding of local history, moʻolelo, and the ahupuaʻa system. One participant said that he finally understood the connection between wai, kānaka, and mālama ʻāina.

“This program made me realize who I am, and who I want to be,” he said, vowing to continue learning Hawaiian culture and language.

Another participant said it was her first time swimming in a cold pond and participating in the removal of invasive snail eggs. The experiences created positive memories for the teens, who strengthened their pilina with one another.

As coworkers and teammates of Kīpuka Kauaʻi, it is our privilege to support these youth, from first grade to college-bound seniors. Through the graciousness of our Queen, who established the Trust in 1909 for Hawaiian children, we will continue to nurture kamaliʻi as they develop compassion and a strong sense of self.

Please visit onipaa.org to learn more about Liliʻuokalani Trust.

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