Chase and Helene O’Neal knew they wanted to give back to their community, but they weren’t sure how best to serve. That changed the day they saw Hale Kipa CEO Venus Rosete-Medeiros on a local television segment, speaking passionately about the organization’s Transitional Family Homes (TFH) program.
Inspired, they thought, “This is something we could do—with the right training and support.”
“It felt like the right thing,” said Chase, who is the Hawai’i District Manager for a national retail chain.
After completing training, the couple began their TFH journey in 2024 by providing teen respite care. This year, they took the next step by welcoming a vibrant, joyful teen into their home on a longer-term basis.
The O’Neals strive to provide a nurturing home built on healthy communication, trust, clear boundaries, and mutual respect. Most importantly, they aim to give “unconditional love and support,” said Helene, a Finance Director for a public relations agency.
“Hale Kipa does so much to support the youth in our care and our ‘ohana as a whole,” said Helene. “They check in multiple times a week, offer one-on-one support for the youth, provide ongoing training for parents, host TFH family events, and even help with rides to extracurriculars.”
When asked what surprised him most, Chase paused and became emotional.
“These kids are more extraordinary than I imagined,” he said. “It’s incredible how quickly they become your family.”
The love and admiration are mutual.
“Being with them, this family that I am with now, just has given me a lot of opportunities and really shown me the gifts that God gives me through other people,” the teen said of her TFH experience with Chase and Helene.
