Project Hawaii Inc

OUR MISSION IS THE ENHANCE THE LIVES OF HOMELESS AND POVERTY STRICKEN CHILDREN, HELPING THEM TO ESCAPE THEIR CYCLE OF POVERTY. WE PROVIDE SERVICES YEAR ROUND ON THE ISLANDS OF HAWAI'I, O'AHU AND MAUI. OUR AGENCY IS SOLELY STAFFED 100% BY VOLUNTEERS AND SOLELY SUPPORTED BY PUBLIC DONATIONS. OUR TEAM IS DEDICATED TO SEEKING OUT THE HIDDEN AND FORGOTTEN UNSHELTERED CHILDREN ACROSS THE ISLANDS TO PROVIDE MONTHLY CARE, HOLIDAY EVENTS, SCHOOL SUPPORT AND SUMMER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. WE ALSO PROVIDE ONGOING WORKSHOPS THAT HELP THE CHILDREN DEVELOP WITH A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE, SUCH AS OUR MOMMY AND ME PROGRAM, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT READINESS AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS. WE ARE OPENING A DORMITORY ON BIG ISLAND FOR HOMELESS GIRLS TO RESIDE WHILE ATTENDING COLLEGE AND OUR ON SITE PROGRAMS.

OUR MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT IS OUR SUMMER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM: FOR OUR 17TH YEAR THIS YEAR WE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR JR. LEADER PILOT PROGRAM IS NOW A FULL-TIME SUMMER PROGRAM WHICH WE EXTENDED TO ADD ANOTHER WEEK ALONG WITH ADDING MORE LIFE SKILLS TRAINING. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR GROWTH TO INCLUDE MORE EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS, SUCH AS THE STEM PROGRAM, ETC. WHAT A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE. MAYBE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME? WE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND OUR AMAZING "TEEN WEEK" TO ADD AN ALL BOYS WEEKEND THAT WAS DESIGNED TO ALLOW TEENS WHO HAD GRADUATED THROUGH OUR PROGRAM WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER AND NOW ON THEIR WAY TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE. TO COME BACK AND MENTOR THE YOUNGER CHILDREN, TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND WHY THIS PROGRAM IS SO IMPORTANT. THE ENTIRE WEEK WAS FULL OF CULTURAL LEARNING, WORKSHOPS, LEADERSHIP CLASSES, AND BONDING EXERCISES. ALL BEFORE THEY WERE PAIRED WITH YOUNGER CHILDREN TO MENTOR DURING THE EDU-CAMP SLEEPOVER CAMP ON THE BIG ISLAND. SLEEPOVER CAMP ON BIG ISLAND ALLOWING THE CHILDREN FROM AGES 3-7 TO ESCAPE THEIR EVERYDAY HARDSHIP OF LIVING HOMELESS AND LEARNING LIFE AND SOCIAL SKILLS TO HELP THEM SUCCEED. THIS CAMP ALLOWS FOR THE PUBLIC COMMUNITY TO BE MORE INVOLVED WITH SHARING THEIR TALENTS AND TEACHING NEW SKILLS TO THE HOMELESS CHILDREN. WE INTRODUCE A WIDE-VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AND VENUES FROM ART, CULTURE, YOGA, READING, THEATER, MUSIC AND MORE. WE ALSO PROVIDE EYE AND ORAL EXAMS. OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO HELP THEM GAIN THE SELF-ESTEEM AS WELL AS LIFE AND SOCIAL SKILLS TO HELP THEM SUCCEED IN SCHOOL. ADVENTURES ABOUND DAY CAMP IS OUR SESSION ON O'AHU AND ALLOWS THE CHILDREN TO EXPLORE THE WONDERS OF THEIR ISLAND. THEY WILL GO ON FIELD TRIPS, ADVENTURES AND LEARN THE BASIC LIFE AND SOCIAL SKILLS TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL. THIS IS OUR 13TH YEAR AND WE STRIVE TO ADVANCE WITH EACH YEAR. THE VOLUNTEERS PICK THE HOMELESS CHILDREN UP EVERY MORNING AT 7A.M. GET THEM FED AND READY FOR THE DAY. PAIR THEM WITH THEIR TEEN MENTOR AND GET READY FOR THE FIELD TRIPS ACROSS THE ISLAND. EXPLORATION THROUGH THE ZOO, AQUARIUM, DISCOVERY ZONE, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE OVERALL GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH NEWFOUND SKILLS TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL. AT THE END OF BOTH CAMPS CHILDREN AND THEIR SIBLINGS ALL RECEIVE THEIR NEW BACKPACKS FILLED WITH SUPPLIES AND NEW OUTFITS TO START THEIR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. OUR CAMP IS OPEN FREE OF CHARGE TO CHILDREN AGES 3-7, JR. LEADERS 10-12 YEARS, AND TEENS ENROLLED IN HIGH SCHOOL. ANOTHER AMAZING ASPECT OF OUR CAMP IS THAT WE STRIVE TO BE 100% ORGANIC, NON-GMO AND LOCAL GROWN MEALS AND SNACKS. THIS ALLOWS FOR THE CHILDREN TO SPEND THEIR SUMMER WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO DETOX THEIR BODIES AND MINDS. DURING THIS CRUCIAL BRAIN DEVELOPMENT PERIOD, THESE CHILDREN ARE BEING FUELED WITH HEALTHY CHOICES. OUR CAMP ALSO HELPS TO PROVIDE FIRST TO WORK MOMS THE OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY WORK ALONGSIDE THEIR CHILDREN WHILE GAINING TRAINING SKILLS BUT FULFILL THEIR NEEDED HOURS. ANOTHER AMAZING FEATURE IS WE HAVE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS PARTICIPATE AS INTERNS TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR PRACTICUMS. THIS CAMP IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO THE COMMUNITY TO HELP ALL SORTS OF MEMBERS SUCCEED AND MEET THEIR GOALS. WE TYPICALLY HAVE 2 INTERNS AND 3-5 FIRST TO WORK PARENTS ATTEND OUR CAMP. THIS YEAR OUR TEAM ALSO WENT THROUGH A SELF HEALING TRAINING CONFERENCE THAT WILL HELP TO DEVELOP EVEN MORE HEALTHY LIFE SKILLS FOR OUR TEENS. THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE MOTTO IS PART OF OUR NEWEST TEEN PROGRAM "SPIRIT OF INNER BEAUTY". HELPING TEENS TO HEAL THEIR WOUNDS FROM THE INSIDE.

DORMITORY PROJECT BUILD. WE HAVE STARTED THE REHABBING OF THE DORMITORY PROJECT TO BE OPEN AUG. 2023. THIS FULL RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM WILL ALLOW 12 YOUNG LADIES TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR LIFE CHANGING PROGRAMS WHILE ATTEND COLLEGE TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS. THIS PROJECT IS IN THE RE-CONSTRUCTION PHASE AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE FALL SEMESTER OF 2023. THIS OPPORTUNITY WILL BE THE LEGACY PROGRAM THAT WILL CHANGE THE FACE OF HOMELESSNESS ON OUR ISLANDS. FIRST OF ITS KIND, AND MOVING MOUNTAINS TO HELP THESE YOUNG LADIES SUCCEED AND STOP THE CYCLE THEY WERE BORN INTO. WHEN THE DORMITORY IS OPEN, IT WILL PROVIDE THE YOUNG LADIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN THE LIFE AND SOCIAL SKILLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED BEYOND THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY. OUR PROGRAM IS INCLUSIVE OF WORKSHOPS THAT BUILD LEADERSHIP, SELF DISCOVERY, COPING SKILLS, AND MORE. ALL OUR PROGRAMS ARE ROOTED IN THE HAWAIIAN VALUES AND CULTURE. WITH THE FULL-TIME COUNSELING, ONE ON ONE LIFE COACH AND A WIDE VARIETY OF ZOOM WORKSHOPS WITH RENOWNED SUCCESSFUL WOMAN AROUND THE WORLD, THESE YOUNG LADIES WILL BUILD THEIR OWN SELF CONFIDENCE AND FIND THEIR PURPOSE IN LIFE.

OUTREACH AND AWARENESS PROGRAM /COVID KOKUA: DUE TO COVID WE HAD TO INCREASE OUR PROGRAM SERVICES AND ACTUALLY OPEN UP MORE CHAPTERS WITH MORE TEAM LEADERS TO ASSURE OUR HOMELESS CHILDREN WERE WELL CARED FOR AND NOT LEFT OUT OF THEIR SCHOOLING SUPPORT, PROVIDING MORE MEALS SINCE THEY AREN'T EATING AT SCHOOL, ETC. CELEBRATING OUR 3RD YEAR ON MAUI IN OUR OUTREACH THIS YEAR AS WELL. WHILE THIS IS WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE YEAR ROUND TO THE CHILDREN WE PROVIDE SERVICE TO, IT IS BASIC AND SIMPLY PUT. OUR VOLUNTEERS CONDUCT OUTREACH THROUGHOUT THE MONTH TO VARIOUS HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, SEEK OUT NEW HOMELESS FAMILIES AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE IN OUR PROGRAM. WE PROVIDE MONTHLY HYGIENE AND FOOD BOXES. CLOTHING AND LIFE NECESSITIES ON A SCHEDULED BASIS. AS WELL PROVIDE EMERGENCY CARE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EITHER JUST BECAME HOMELESS OR HAD AN ISSUE WITH THEIR CURRENT LIVING SITUATIONS. WE PROVIDE TENTS, COOK STOVES, SLEEPING BAGS, PILLOWS, CLOTHING, FOOD, ETC FOR THOSE IN NEED. OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO PROVIDE THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF EVERY CHILD WE ENCOUNTER DURING OUR OUTREACH. WE DO HAVE A LACK OF STORAGE SO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE AS MUCH SUPPLIES ON HAND AS WE HAD HOPED FOR THIS YEAR. AS WELL, WE HAVE FACED SO MANY ENCAMPMENT CLOSURES DUE TO CLEAN-SWEEPS OF THE STATE. THIS HAS CAUSED A HARDSHIP ON OUR AGENCY TO TRY TO HELP THE HOMELESS FAMILIES RE-ESTABLISH AND REPLACE ALL THAT WAS LOST TO THE SWEEPS. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE PROVIDED MORE HYGIENE GIFT CARDS AND STOPPED OUR FOOD BOXES, RATHER WE GIVE MEAL CARDS. IT IS EASIER FOR THEM TO USE AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HAULING HEAVY FOOD WHEN ASKED TO LEAVE. WE DO NOT PROVIDE EMERGENCY OUTREACH DURING THE MONTHS OF OUR SUMMER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND CHRISTMAS DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING. OUR FULL TIME COUNT FOR EACH ISLAND: MAUI 225 CHILDREN, BIG ISLAND 688 CHILDREN, AND O'AHU 235.