Ho'okahi Leo Kauhale: Intentional Community Building & Low-Barrier "Opportunity Housing"

The session will explore the innovative approach of Ho'okahi Leo Kauhale emergency Shelter, Operated by the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center. This low barrier shelter prioritizes community living and adopts a "people first" approach in its operations. This session aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the shelter, including its target demographic, the services it offers, and the intricate operational framework of the program.

What is Hoʻoponopono?

Hoʻoponopono is defined in the Hawaiian Language Dictionary as - To put in order; to regulate; to correct what is erroneous. Is this the desired result of doing hoʻoponopono with an ʻohana or an individual? This session will help answer this question and share the historical context of this Hawaiian way of life. Hiʻilani Shibata will share her ʻohana way of hoʻoponopono and her journey in becoming a haku hoʻoponopono for our community today.

Housing Security is Survivor Safety

Safe housing is a critical need for survivors seeking freedom from domestic violence. However, many face numerous obstacles when accessing safe and affordable housing. In this discussion, we will set the foundation for understanding housing as a gendered issue, how addressing homelessness must include considerations for domestic violence, and how access to stable housing is violence prevention. We will hear from a domestic violence survivor who will share her personal story about the connection between domestic violence and housing insecurity, and offer ideas of what we can do to support survivor safety and healing. How can we work to eliminate barriers and ensure survivors have the resources they need to keep themselves and their children safe and housed?

Minority Stress: Working with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Questioning, and Gender Diverse Youth in Hawaiʻi

In 2019, an estimated 46,300 high school students in Hawaiʻi identified as a sexual and/or gender minority (SGM), which includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other identities.  SGM youth in Hawaiʻi face many health and social disparities, likely due to minority stress and discrimination. As such, it is important to address SGM-specific health and cultural needs in order to provide appropriate, quality support around housing and related concerns.

Navigating Legislation - County

For housing, what happens at the county councils is arguably more important than what happens in the state legislature. The counties control zoning, permitting, property taxes, and important infrastructure investments. Learn about the process, recent and ongoing housing issues being determined at the county level, and how to advocate effectively. 

Ways We Can Apply Skills of Hoʻoponopono

In this interactive session we will dive into specific skills of Hoʻoponopono and how it can be applied in your work and daily life.  Please come with an open mind and naʻau, as we will be doing activities that will move your heart and emotions. 

DHS Benefit, Employment, and Support Services Division (BESSD)

The Department of Human Services Benefit, Employment, and Support Services Division (BESSD) administers public benefits programs, such as financial assistance (TANF, AABD, and General Assistance), SNAP benefits, and child care subsidy.    The BESSD Statewide Branch will provide a summary of services available through the division, as well as general information on how to apply for benefits and what to do if you or your client are experience delays or have questions regarding your application.   The session will also include brief general updates, include updates on the development of a new eligibility system for SNAP and financial assistance.

Supportive Housing, Deflection, and Diversion Strategies for the Justice-Involved Homeless

At Going Home Hawai’i, our Reentry & Recovery Housing Programs provide tailored supportive housing and services for justice-involved individuals. We focus on addressing court terms, substance use, mental health, employment, and education. A key component of our approach is tackling homelessness, a significant barrier for many as they reintegrate into society. By offering stable housing and comprehensive support, we aim to prevent the cycle of arrest, jail, and homelessness.

Kūkulu Kumuhana: Holistic Wellbeing and the Native Hawaiian Worldview

This keynote panel explores the Kūkulu Kumuhana framework, a strengths-based wellbeing approach grounded in the Native Hawaiian worldview. Deeply rooted in our cultural values and traditional strengths, Kūkulu Kumuhana represents the pooling of our collective manaʻo (deep ideas and wisdom) to create a foundation for our work as activist researchers, evaluators, and community members. We will introduce the six dimensions of wellbeing: Ea, ʻĀina Momona, Pilina, Waiwai, ʻŌiwi, and Ke Akua Mana.

Kūkulu Kumuhana offers a holistic perspective on wellbeing, illuminating dimensions often overlooked in other models. The panel will also highlight diverse applications of the framework across various spaces, and discuss how the framework can help identify strengths and challenges of houseless ʻohana and individuals. Join us for interactive discussions and learn from case studies demonstrating Kūkulu Kumuhana in action. The session will conclude with a Q&A and provide resources for deeper exploration, setting the stage for further discussions on Native Hawaiian culture and wellbeing. Panel speaker are members of the Native Hawaiian Research Hui, a collaborative of researchers from Kamehameha Schools, Liliʻuokalani Trust, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Papa Ola Lōkahi, and The Queenʻs Health System.

Strengthening the Nonprofit Developer Sector: A Crucial Step to Building Housing we can Afford

This panel discussion will discuss upstream solutions to homelessness by focusing on the affordable housing development ecosystem in Hawaiʻi, highlighting the importance of investing in the nonprofit sector to lead the production of affordable communities with supportive services. The discussion will showcase bright spots of housing projects and partnerships in Hawaiʻi, opportunities to build capacity of the nonprofit developer sector, and dive into the value of nonprofit and community leaders being at the forefront of advancing permanently affordable housing with supportive services. 

Cultural Resilience: A Trauma-Informed Journey through Kūkulu Kumuhana

The upcoming workshop will center on the Kūkulu Kumuhana framework, focusing on cultural awareness and holistic approaches in health and social services. Participants will explore the six dimensions of the framework, which offer a foundation for personal and professional wholeness. The workshop will emphasize how these dimensions, viewed through a trauma-informed care lens, can be fluidly integrated into daily practice, enhancing cultural understanding in working with diverse populations. The session will highlight the role of self-reflection and personal growth, inviting participants to connect their professional work to broader cultural values. By exploring the framework, attendees will have the opportunity to consider how it aligns with their current practices and supports a more comprehensive approach to care, one that considers deeper, underlying issues of whole-person wellness and cultural connectedness alongside immediate needs. The workshop is designed to offer insights that complement existing methods, fostering an inclusive, culturally grounded approach to care. Objectives: 1. Understanding the Dimensions: Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the Kūkulu Kumuhana wellbeing framework and its six dimensions, recognizing how each dimension contributes to holistic healing, community resilience, and cultural connectedness. 2. Applying Trauma-Informed Principles: Attendees will learn how to incorporate trauma-informed care principles within the Kūkulu Kumuhana framework, equipping them with reflective strategies to support themselves and others impacted by trauma. 3. Cultural Humility in Practice: Participants will explore culturally responsive practices that honor Native Hawaiian values and perspectives, enhancing their ability to create safe and supportive environments for individuals seeking healing and support.

Community Integration Services (CIS)

CIS has proven to be most beneficial as the bridge between housing voucher programs and the unhoused. Additionally, CIS assists individuals facing eviction, or those who have been recently housed with homelessness in their recent history (stabilization effort), those who urgently need landlord mediation.

Ke Kanawai Māmalahoe - the Law of the Splintered Paddle

Kanawai Māmalahoe proclaims that all people, particularly the old and the young, should be allowed to travel freely and rest along the roadside, without fear of harm. This session will discuss Native Hawaiian perspectives on elderhood that uphold kūpuna as strong and wise, and also in need of specialized care and supports. Learn about some of the challenges currently facing this population that puts them at a higher risk for homelessness, as well as about policies that existed during the Hawaiian Kingdom that offered protections to ʻelemākule and luāhine (aged men and women). Advice to providers in the words of kūpuna themselves will also be shared.