Houses for the Needy
Laureen Kukino, 56, is legally blind in her right eye and has only a quarter of her vision remaining in her left eye. The retired Family Court bailiff lost her sight in an accident involving children and a stray volleyball…
Nonprofit
Talk Story: Jennifer La‘a, CEO, Easterseals Hawaii
In January, La‘a took over as CEO of the nonprofit that has supported adults and children with disabilities in Hawai‘i for 72 years. Her main goal is to seamlessly integrate people with disabilities into the community, so they can live…
How One Local Effort Brings Many Together
The holidays have a way of inspiring people to reach across the divides that often separate us. And Giving Tuesday, which is right in the heart of the holiday season, is sure to bring people together again in 2019. For…
Keeping Children Safe on Moloka‘i
Moloka‘i is known as The Friendly Isle, but the nonprofit Moloka‘i Child Abuse Prevention Pathways is teaching students about uncomfortable issues and another dimension to friendship. “The MCAPP teachers taught us all about suicide and bullying,” says ‘Ohi‘aku Ritte Camara…
Help for Parents and Children
“I feel more hopeful due to the help I’ve received from Parents and Children Together,” says Nannette Fritz, 41, a single mom of two young girls. “They gave me a full-time job so I can support my family. It’s a…
Reintegrating People Into Society
“In many ways, Goodwill has changed my life,” says Stefani Bindes, 42, a convicted former drug addict. “They knew my background – all the struggles and challenges I’ve gone through – and they were willing to take a chance on…
Theater with Impact
Kalamaikamala Elouise Margaret Sylvester, 26, moved from American Samoa to Oahu when she was a young child for corrective leg surgery. She lived with her biological aunt and her aunt’s husband. “I was sexually abused by my aunt’s husband at…
What's Next for OHA
The organization serves thousands of Native Hawaiians each year, but its scandals, infighting and negative image often overshadow its good work. Here’s a look inside OHA and how its problems are being addressed. For 16 years the staff of nonprofit…
Nonprofit Lets Kids Be Kids
All four of Stacy Sur’s daughter’s have attended The Early School. “They absolutely love it. The school focuses on building socialization skills, the ability to explore and think, and it lets the kids be kids,” says the Waialae-Kahala resident. Sur…
