Stories (Moʻolelo)
In Hawaiian tradition, hīpuʻu (knots) and kōkō (carrying nets) are made by tying separate strands together to create strength and purpose. On their own, each strand is limited, but when knotted and tied together, they form a strong net that can hold and carry the weight of what’s important to us.
The moʻolelo shared here are like hīpuʻu and kōkō. Each moʻolelo ties together the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of ʻohana. Together, these strong knots form a larger kōkō for ʻohana to carry resilience, aloha, and hope - making for a stronger and healthier community.
Trainings & Events
Trainings are like the hīpuʻu that teach us how to tie stronger kōkō. They provide skills, knowledge, and tools that help families, youth, and caregivers carry the weight of challenges with greater ease. We gather to share our mo’olelo and to strengthen our bonds.
Youth Voices
The moʻolelo of each youth is a unique hīpuʻu, bound with the threads of their lived experiences. Together, these moʻolelo form a kōkō that reflects the strength and resilience of young people.
Family Voice
These hīpuʻu are tied with love and perseverance — moʻolelo of families coming back together, carrying the strength of healing and reconnection.
Family Voice
These hīpuʻu are tied with love and perseverance — moʻolelo of families coming back together, carrying the strength of healing and reconnection.
Every June families who have navigated the Child Welfare System and successfully reunified with their children are honored in the State of Hawai‘i. Partners like EPIC ‘Ohana Conferencing, Child Welfare Services, Lili’uokalani Trust, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i and UH Law School come together to plan a lunch celebration. This year in 2025 we had the privilege to honor three families on the island of O‘ahu.
Celebrating Reunification Month for two families from Maui County. One family from Maui Island and the other from Moloka’i.
Every year a family is honored for successfully reunifying with their children. This year June 2023 we celebrated the Keleleiki-Francisco family.
This video brings voices of parents with lived experience to encourage birth parents currently in the child welfare system, especially those struggling with substance use disorders.
This 10-minute video, created by Hawaii’s Nā Kama a Hāloa Network, depicts the benefits that can happen when parents and resource caregivers (foster parents) collaborate on behalf of the children.
A Healing Journey: The Road to Reunification outlines the stages parents go through when their family enters Child Welfare Services (CWS).
The story of Stanley Soares' hard work and determination as well as his team of family, friend and service providers that made reunification with his children a success.
National Reunification Month July 2019 - Hikalea Family
Youth Voices
The moʻolelo of each youth is a unique hīpuʻu, bound with the threads of their lived experiences. Together, these moʻolelo form a kōkō that reflects the stregnth and resilience of youth.
Join us in celebrating a decade of accomplishments, youth voice and amazing community partnerships!
It is important for young people in foster care to have the same opportunities as other young people not in care.
Trainings & Events
Trainings are like the hīpuʻu that teach us how to tie stronger kōkō. They provide skills, knowledge, and tools that help families, youth, and caregivers carry the weight of challenges with greater ease. We gather to share our mo’olelo and to strengthen our bonds.
This video is a panel discussion with four birth parents about their experience of receiving their Family Service Plan. They describe what helped or hindered them around its implementation, and share ideas of how that the process can be improved.
We are excited to share this virtual celebration of ‘Ohana Conferencing - 25 years of service in Hawai‘i .
Description: Over 70% of children in foster care have siblings in care. Many of them are separated in foster care. This training focuses on the need for siblings to stay connected while in care, provides recommendations and utilizes the voice of youth and professionals with experience.
Pono Process is our newly launched grievance process for youth in care. Learn more about the Pono Process by watching our virtual training.
Pono Process is our newly launched grievance process for youth in care. Learn more about the Pono Process by watching our virtual training.
Programs & Resources
Our families and youth are woven into the threads of their communities. Programs and Resources provide a strong kōkō for them to receive the strength, support and guidance they need to thrive.
The Pono Process is an additional support for youth in Hawaii to use in the event that their rights are not being honored and upheld.
Every child and young person in foster care has certain rights under Hawai‘i State law.
Youth Circles are available to young people ages 14-26 who have experienced foster care in Hawai‘i.