Learn the Story Behind Our Logo by Uʻi Nahoʻolewa.

Contact Us

Kailene Nihipali Sanchez

Nā Kama a Hāloa Manager

Email: knihipalisanchez@epicohana.org

Our Dream

We have reimagined and transformed child welfare so that it is grounded in Native Hawaiian culture and values and is sustained in deep positive relationships that heal and strengthen ourselves, our ʻohana, and our communities.

Network Goal

By the year 2030, Native Hawaiian children are no longer disproportionately represented in child welfare.

Nā Kama a Hāloa is a community-based network that first came together in September 2018. We work to weave Native Hawaiian wisdom and perspective into the Hawaiʻi foster care system. We strive to share power among representatives of Native Hawaiian serving institutions, the state Child Welfare Services, contracted service providers, and birth parents and youth with lived experience in child welfare. Our efforts improve outcomes for Native Hawaiian children and families involved in the child welfare system.

ʻŌlelo Noʻeau

He hiʻi alo ua milimili ʻia i ke alo,

ua hāʻawe ʻia ma ke kua,

ua lei ʻia ma ka ʻāʻī.

A beloved one, caressed in the arms,

carried on the back,

whose arms have gone about the neck as a lei.

Said of a beloved child.

Featured Stories

These stories and trainings share the voices and values that guide Nā Kama a Hāloa. Each video reflects the heart of our mission, weaving Native Hawaiian wisdom, relationships, and aloha into the work of supporting children and ʻohana across Hawaiʻi.

Current Partners in Nā Kama a Hāloa

Participants include people from institutions and organizations who work in child welfare, serve the Native Hawaiian population, and Native Hawaiians with lived experience:

Child Welfare Services, DHS
Liliʻuokalani Trust
Kamehameha Schools
EPIC ʻOhana, Inc.
Partners in Development Foundation, Hui Hoʻomalu
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Family Court CASA program
Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi
Family Programs Hawaiʻi
Hale Kipa
Neighborhood Place of Waianae
Puʻa Foundation
Geist Foundation
Hawaiʻi Community Foundation
HMSA Foundation
Young people who experienced foster care
Birth parents who experienced child welfare involvement
Resource caregivers (foster parents)
Annie E Casey Foundation
Casey Family Programs
CoCreative™

Participants bring different perspectives, contribute to positive change in this area, and identify additional community resources. Most work statewide. The work accomplished will shape policy and practice in multiple agencies working with child-welfare-involved Native Hawaiians.