HAWAIIAN ARTS
Our Hawaiian Arts Program is designed to awaken, strengthen, and honor each mentee’s connection to Hawaiian culture and identity. Through ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, hula, mele, oli, lāʻau lapaʻau, moʻolelo, ukulele, mo’okū’auhau, kapa, and ʻāina-based practices, youth gain a deeper understanding of who they are and where they come from — regardless of their ancestral lineage.
Guided by esteemed kumu and cultural practitioners, mentees learn:
-
The history and stories of this land
-
The botany and healing wisdom of Native plants
-
Cultural geography and important wahi pana
-
Protocols, respect, and kuleana
- Geneology & history
-
Emotional grounding through traditional practices
-
Confidence, self-accountability, and community responsibility
This program reconnects youth to culture, ʻāina, and one another — helping them develop identity, pride, and a sense of belonging rooted in place, tradition, and aloha, regardless of race or geneology.
ART THERAPY
Our Art Therapy Program is a foundational part of the healing process, offering youth a safe and supportive space to release trauma and express emotions that may be difficult to put into words. Through guided art-making and the compassionate support of trained art therapists, foster youth and at-promise youth learn to explore their feelings, deepen self-awareness, and develop healthy ways to cope with life’s challenges.
Using developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed interventions, our art therapy groups help youth:
-
Build emotional regulation and resilience
-
Strengthen positive connections with mentors and peers
-
Process difficult experiences in a safe, creative way
-
Increase confidence, expression, and inner clarity
-
Discover new outlets for healing and self-discovery
Art becomes a pathway to reclaiming their voice, expressing their truth, and rebuilding their sense of self.
GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
Our Individual & Group Therapy Program supports children and youth who are navigating the emotional, behavioral, and psychological impacts of trauma, homelessness, and foster care instability. Rather than focusing only on surface-level behaviors, our therapists help youth explore the root causes of their experiences, building pathways toward lasting healing and positive change.
In individual therapy, youth receive one-on-one support tailored to their needs, helping them develop emotional regulation, self-awareness, and healthy coping strategies.
In group therapy, youth experience the powerful healing that comes from community:
-
They receive support from peers who understand similar struggles
-
They learn to offer support to others, strengthening empathy and connection
-
They develop trust, communication skills, and a sense of belonging
-
They see that they are not alone — reducing shame, isolation, and fear
Group settings also foster group identification, allowing youth to see their stories reflected in others. This shared space helps them open up, feel understood, and express themselves more confidently.
Together, these therapeutic approaches build a supportive network that empowers youth to heal, grow, and rise with the guidance of trained mental health professionals.
LIFE SKILLS
Our Life Skills Program equips foster children and at-promise youth with the essential skills they need to navigate life with confidence, independence, and emotional well-being — skills that are often not taught in traditional school settings.
Through a weekly rotating curriculum, youth explore a wide range of practical and personal development topics, including:
-
Household management & basic automotive care
-
Time management & organization
-
Money management & financial literacy
-
Social–emotional learning & communication skills
-
Workforce readiness & employment skills
-
Self-care, medical knowledge & overall well-being
-
Problem solving & decision making
-
Sustainable gardening, ʻāina stewardship & food sovereignty
-
And more, based on the needs of each cohort
Each young person also receives a personalized growth plan, ensuring that they are supported in the specific areas most relevant to their life, goals, and healing journey — both now and into adulthood.
This program also helps youth understand the origins and impacts of trauma while learning practical, culturally informed tools to heal, regulate emotions, and rebuild trust in themselves.
Our Life Skills Program is led by licensed professionals, including psychologists, counselors, and trained mentors who utilize a variety of trauma-informed and culturally grounded methods to empower youth to thrive in everyday life.
ABUSE PREVENTION & DIVERSITY TRAINING
Our Abuse Prevention & Diversity Training Program empowers foster youth and at-promise youth with the knowledge, tools, and emotional support needed to understand trauma and break harmful cycles. With high rates of abuse and exploitation affecting youth across Hawaiʻi, this program plays a vital role in restoring safety, awareness, and self-advocacy.
Youth learn how trauma affects the mind, body, behavior, and relationships, and are guided in rebuilding safety, trust, and emotional regulation. Our goal is to help youth recognize unhealthy patterns, understand their experiences, and cultivate the skills needed to heal and rise beyond them.
Weekly topics include:
-
Domestic violence awareness
-
LGBTQ+ sensitivity & inclusion
-
Sexual abuse prevention & healing
-
Suicide prevention & mental health awareness
-
Substance abuse education
-
Anger management & emotional regulation
-
Human rights & personal boundaries
-
Respect in relationships & healthy communication
-
Respect for differences & diversity education
-
Sex trafficking awareness & safety planning
-
Healing from Within: Body, Mind & Spirit
This program is facilitated by licensed professionals, including psychologists, counselors, and trauma-informed practitioners who bring a deep commitment to the safety and well-being of our youth. They utilize a range of culturally rooted and clinically informed techniques to support healing, empowerment, and long-term resilience.
Change a life today
We work primarily with foster and at-promise youth on Hawaiʻi Island — mostly throughout North and South Kona — serving keiki and ʻōpio ages 8 and up who are experiencing trauma within the home. Many of the youth we serve are in the foster care system or transitioning out of it, often without stable support, cultural connection, or a safe place to heal.
Too often, young people who move through the foster care system are unable to find permanent, loving homes. Many experience multiple placements, constant instability, and eventually face chronic homelessness once they age out. With a disproportionately large population of Native Hawaiian foster youth on Hawaiʻi Island, and very few programs offering trauma-informed, culturally rooted, wraparound support, Humanity Hale’s services have become essential to Hawaiʻi island youth.
Every day, we work with children who have been removed from their homes, separated from their families, and placed into environments where trust, safety, and connection must be rebuilt from the ground up. Many have endured disruptive family conditions — such as abuse, neglect, violence, substance use, or severe financial hardship — that forced them out of the only homes they knew.
Our programs ensure that these incredibly resilient, often overlooked children and youth are not left to navigate life alone. Through Hawaiian culture, art therapy, ʻāina-based education, mentorship, life skills, trauma support, and community connection, we provide them with the tools, love, and stability they need to build thriving, successful futures.
At Humanity Hale, every young person deserves a chance to feel safe, supported, and deeply valued.
We exist to make that possible.