Over 50 years of service to Hawai‘i’s youth and families — and counting.
Across the nation, the 1970s brought a surge of new grass roots, youth-centered projects concerned about runaway and homeless teens.
Following concerns from the community for distressed teens and abused women, Hale Kipa opened at St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
Purchased the first house on McKinley Street in Mānoa for youth shelter.
Opened first Emergency Shelter dedicated to boys.
Opened Kamala Homes and a 3-month Transitional Home for youth in need of longer-term placement.
Launched Family Counseling services to keep youth in their homes after crises.
Piloted skills support program for older adolescents in foster care.
Opened apartments for youth leaving foster care and created the YO! drop-in center with Waikīkī Health Center.
Experienced rapid growth while also facing severe funding cuts, resulting in closing most emergency shelters.
Collaborated on Kailana Program for therapeutic services to emotionally-challenged teens.
Started psychoeducational peer drama groups for teens.
Began intake and assessment services for youth with status offenses.
Added Hānai transitional foster care and collaborated on outpatient services.
Started support programs for youth who experienced sexual exploitation and homelessness.
Formed Hui Mālama ‘Ohana for family mediation and outreach services.
Launched Residential Treatment Programs, Outreach Tracking for HYCF youth, and opened Hāpai Program for young moms.
Opened Hale Kūpono for boys and offered juvenile offender case management.
Opened Hāloa House for young women from foster care and assessment programs for court-violated youth.
Expanded advocacy to include DHS and Family Court youth, establishing statewide services.
Launched individual and family counseling on O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, and the Big Island.
Started Community Outreach & opened first residential program for LGBTQ+ youth, though it only lasted a year.
Began evening counseling and introduced the Step-Up Program for at-risk youth.
Closed several programs but started Underage Drinking Prevention on Kaua‘i.
Lost major funding but kept programs alive through grants, added Intensive Monitoring on O‘ahu and Big Island.
Expanded Intensive Monitoring services to Kaua‘i and served Advocate youth on Moloka‘i.
Started programs supporting at-risk youth in school on Kaua‘i and O‘ahu.
Launched School Success programs and started services for young adults extending voluntary care through 21.
Began anti-trafficking services on multiple islands in partnership with community organizations.
Partnered with Lili‘uokalani Trust and schools to help truant youth re-engage.
Opened the assessment center for trafficking survivors and broke ground on the new Hale Kipa Youth Services Center.
Moved into the new center and opened Lydia’s House for Native Hawaʻian youth impacted by COVID-19. Expanded homelessness services and trauma recovery programs.
Ceased Intensive Monitoring on Kaua‘i; emphasized Hale Kipa’s leadership in youth services and community advocacy.
In Hawaiian and many other cultural traditions, names are more than labels, they carry mana (spiritual power), identity, and intention. To name a hale (house) or facility is a sacred act, one rooted in ancestral knowledge, cultural values, and deep respect for place. At Hale
“At Hale Kipa, we believe in planting seeds of transformation, sometimes metaphorically, and now literally,” shared Venus Rosete-Medeiros, CEO of Hale Kipa. “We are growing more than just fresh produce. This new program will cultivate opportunity, purpose, and healing for Hawai‘i’s most vulnerable youth.” .
At Hale Kipa, our work has always been rooted in aloha, kuleana (responsibility), and the belief that every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive. As we continue to grow and respond to the evolving needs of Hawai‘i’s youth, young adults, and families, we are
