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By Kāwika Urakami, LT Youth Development Lead, Kīpuka Hilo

In October, my teammates and I had the privilege of working with 20 teenagers at “Workforce Co-Op Alliance Fall Break Trades Camp,” a pilot program created by Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) to introduce youth to construction and trade careers. It took place at the Kona International Marketplace.

By Kīpuka Kauaʻi

Recently, kamaliʻi ages 6-9 from Liliʻuokalani Trust (Trust) participated in Ulupono, a program designed to enhance their cultural awareness and emotional wellbeing.

It was hosted at Kīpuka Kauaʻi, one of 15 sites across the pae ʻāina where children of the Trust can gather to learn and feel supported.

By Cathy Cruz-George

Recently along the shoreline of Halepaʻo, Hawaiʻi Island, more than 60 kamaliʻi and ʻohana participated in a two-night camping trip hosted by Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT).

This was not your typical weekend at the beach. This was H.O.P.E. Camp, a compassionate program for children grieving the loss of a loved one—through death, incarceration, or other circumstances.

By Jill Beatty

This summer, Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) hosted a series of one-week residential camps at LT Ranch, welcoming kamaliʻi from across the pae ʻāina. These immersive camps offered a wonderful opportunity for the children to deepen their understanding of Hawaiian culture and heritage, interact with our ranch animals, and focus on healing and social-emotional development.

By Kīpuka Maui

Following the wildfires that devastated Lahaina on Aug. 8, many stories emerged, including that of an 8-year-old kamaliʻi of Liliʻuokalani Trust.

Moments before evacuating with her elderly tūtū and mākua, the child quickly packed an emergency bag. Instead of essentials, the bag held her favorite books and plush toys. She could not fathom the trials her ʻohana soon would face.

Submitted by Kīpuka Molokaʻi

This summer, a hui of ʻōpio kāne (young men) from Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) participated in the Hoʻokanaka ʻAha Kāne program at Kiowea Pavilion & Park on Molokaʻi.

For three nights, they camped under the stars, participated in warrior training, honed their speech and debate skills, deepened their connection to Hawaiian culture, and explored culinary arts, fishing, and agriculture.

By Cathy Cruz-George

Kamaliʻi of Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) recently embarked on a musical journey, creating lap steel guitars from timber sourced from invasive trees cleared during the restoration of historic loʻi kalo terraces in Maunawili and Puʻuhonua o Waimānalo.

By Cathy Cruz-George

Every Tuesday through Friday, ʻōpio between the ages of 16 and 26 can drop in at Lydia House in downtown Honolulu for food, warm showers, laundry facilities, and internet access. Trained staff members stand ready to support them in trauma-informed care. Lydia House is a puʻuhonua, a safe space, for the youth. Many have ties to foster care or the juvenile justice system. Some lack stable housing options.

By Pālama Lee

Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) is collaborating with Kamehameha Schools (KS), Papa Ola Lōkahi, and the Queen’s Health System to develop a more complete picture of wellbeing through educational briefs and reports that highlight Native Hawaiian wellbeing. Sourced from the annual ʻImi Pono household survey, our organizations use these data to inform our strategic progress and assist with programming.

By Justin Santos

I ka makahiki aku nei, ua hakulau ʻekolu ʻōpio i kekahi pāʻani wikiō e ʻaʻa ana i ke ʻalo ʻana o nā ʻuhane o nā Kānaka Maoli o Hawaiʻi nei. Ua kapa ʻia ka inoa o ia pāʻani wikiō ʻo The Night March.

By Cathy Cruz-George

Last year, ʻōpio designed a video game that challenges players to evade the spirits of ancient Native Hawaiian warriors. The name of the game: The Night March.

By Kaʻohinani Daniels

All kamaliʻi are destined for greatness. Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) has been hard at work on its 2045 strategic plan, spanning early childhood (ages 0-5), youth programs (ages 6-18), and opportunity youth services (ages 16-26).

By Amy Gilbert

Liliʻuokalani Trust’s “Tūtū’s Hale” program is held in a space that makes you feel as if you are walking into the home of a treasured kupuna.

By Amy Gilbert

The Queen’s beneficiaries are leading the way forward during a time of major programmatic and facility growth at Liliʻuokalani Trust.

By David Onoue

“Hā, hē, hū!” grunted the audience. “Hā, hē, hū, (courage) koa!”

These were the sounds of a breathing exercise echoing through the room and down the hallway at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center during the 2023 IVAT Hawaiʻi Summit held in April.

By David Onoue

Reuniting kamaliʻi with their birth parents or a family member from foster care can be long and arduous. For Tūtū Jackery, the process of uniting her twin grandsons with their ʻohana started before their birth. “The language, cultural barriers, and the prejudice, all of that was being fired at me,” Tūtū said. “I thought I was crazy.”

By Chiemi Davis

After years in development, an interim opening during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a complete renovation, Lydia House opened its doors to ʻōpio ages 16-26 at 205 S. Vineyard Street in downtown Honolulu on Feb. 21, 2023.

By Cheri Tarutani

In her majesty’s Deed of Trust, Queen Liliʻuokalani stated, “all the property of the Trust Estate … shall be used by the Trustees for the benefit of orphan and other destitute children in the Hawaiian Islands, the preference given to Native Hawaiian (NH) children of pure or part-aboriginal blood.”

English by Ellise Fujii, 'Ōlelo Hawaiʻi by Justin Santos

All kamaliʻi are destined for great things. For one young ʻŌiwi girl who was raised in Kailua, Oʻahu, her future would include serving the lāhui in ways she could never have imagined.

By Trenton Manson

Learning the skills we need as adults – such as managing our time, setting goals, and understanding our own emotions – can be difficult.

Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) has developed an exciting new phone app called Kupukupu to help kamaliʻi do this.

By Kinohi Malani

Queen Liliʻuokalani was born Lydia Liliʻu Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamakaʻeha to high Chiefess Analeʻa Keohokālole and Caesar Kapaʻakea. On Sept. 2, 2022, we celebrate the queen’s 184th lā hānau.

By Andrew Frias

“Mālama ʻia nā pono o ka ʻāina e nā ʻōpio;
The traditions of the land are perpetuated by its young people.”

Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) has been hard at work on its 2045 Strategic Plan, spanning Early Childhood (ages 0-5), Youth Development (ages 6-18), and Opportunity Youth Services (ages 16-26).

By Sonny Ferreira

“Through the collective, kamaliʻi and ʻohana will thrive.” – Richard Likeke Paglinawan

Native Hawaiian (NH) kamaliʻi are disproportionately represented in the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems. They are also overrepresented in terms of chronic absenteeism from public schools. However, we know that our kamaliʻi have the inherent mana and potential to thrive – they just need support from caring community members.

By Chris Molina

“Mōhala i ka wai ka maka o ka pua; Unfolded by the water are the faces of the flowers.”

Thriving kamaliʻi emerge from the aloha and mālama provided by their ʻohana and kaiāulu.

By Leialoha Benson and Nikki Roimata Mozo

Hoʻāmana means to turn on, to ignite mana. Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) has created the Hoʻāmana program to help kamaliʻi realize, ignite, and grow their mana.

By Staci Hanashiro

“I ulu no ka lālā i ke kumu; The branches grow because of the trunk.”
Without our ancestors, we would not be here.
– ʻŌlelo Noʻeau #1261

By Makalauna Feliciano

Greetings with love distinguished descendants of Hawaiʻi.

Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT)’s Strategic Vision 2045 and LT’s Cultural Practice Framework provides a foundation for LT services that are Hawaiian culture-based. Our services are firmly grounded in the cultural context of our Queen’s legacy, our history as a people, and the values and traditions of our ancestors.

Na Makalauna Feliciano

Ano ʻai me ke aloha e nā pua kaulana aʻo Hawaiʻi.

E hoʻolako ʻo kō LT Nuʻukia Hoʻolālā 2045 a me kō LT Kumuhana Hoʻomaʻamaʻa Moʻomeheu he kumu kēia i nā hana i meheu Hawaiʻi. Paʻa nō kēia i ka pōʻaiapili meheu o ka hoʻoilina o kō mākou Mōʻī Liliʻuokalani, i nā moʻolelo, i nā waiwai, a i nā hana a ko kākou kūpuna.

By Trenton Manson

Over the past few years, we have increased the use of data in our decision-making and planning. Data on key indicators allow us to deepen our understanding of the conditons of kamaliʻi across the pae ʻāina.

By Joan Kaʻaiʻai Paglinawan

Historically, ʻike kūpuna (ancestral wisdom) was passed down generationally to share and practice for community wellbeing. With assimilation to western ways, systemic losses were experienced by Hawaiians as they were stripped of their language, self-identity, practices, and beliefs.

By Sharon Ehia

Na wai ke kama ʻo ʻoe (whose child are you)? No hea mai ʻoe (what place claims you)?

These provocative questions are displayed alongside a powerful mural of trauma and healing by Meleanna Meyer. Due to our history of colonial oppression, Hawaiians may have experienced cultural disconnection. 

By Pālama Lee, Ph.D.

Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) believes every Hawaiian child has the inherent right to live an abundant and culturally informed life which is poetically captured in our Strategic Plan’s vision, e nā kamalei lupalupa, or thriving Hawaiian children.

By Pālama Lee, Ph.D.

Queen Liliʻuokalani’s 183rd birthday is on Sept. 2, 2021. Lydia Liliʻu Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamakaʻeha was born in 1838 as one of six kamaliʻi to high ranking Aliʻi Analea Keohokālole and Caesar Kapaʻakea. At birth, Lydia was lawe hānai to high Chiefess Laura Kōnia and Abner Pākī and grew up as the younger sister to Ke Aliʻi Pauahi.

By Pālama Lee, Ph.D.

Child sex trafficking is a very real problem in Hawaiʻi. Hawaiʻi law defines child sex trafficking as the commercial sexual exploitation of anyone under 18 years old for the exchange or promise of anything of value including cash, shelter, and food.

By Deann Thornton

This past fall, Kealakehe High School (KHS) and the Hawaiʻi Department of Education partnered with Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) to offer an ʻāina-based Alternative Learning Opportunity (ALO).

By Lokelani Kalama

Have you ever wondered what services Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) provides and how to access them?

By Andreana Dudoit Reyes

“I ola no ke kino, i ka māʻona o ka ʻōpū: The body enjoys health when the stomach is well filled.” – ʻŌlelo Noʻeau

Hui, how you?” “Eh, come inside, go eat!” is the usual exchange of greetings when visiting a home in Hawaiʻi. Sharing food is an important part of our culture, playing a key role in connecting ʻohana and communities.

Invoking abundance in contemporary times

By Chris Molina

Today, a disproportionate number of Native Hawaiian kamaliʻi are in foster care. Recent data (2014-2018) reveal Native Hawaiian kamaliʻi comprise almost half of all children in care. Sadly, the experience of foster care may cause further damage to kamaliʻi, mākua, and their relationships with each other.

By Pālama Lee, Ph.D.

The current system reinforces injustices perpetuated against Native Hawaiians, disconnects them from their culture, and limits opportunities for their families to thrive.

Na Moon Kauakahi

ʻE hoʻolohe i nā leo o nā ʻōpio, no ka mea, ʻo lākou nō nā alakaʻi mua aku o Hawaii nei.”

I kō kākou mau makahiki ʻōpiopio, mau nō ka haʻina o nā mākua, “Paʻa ka waha a hoʻolohe ka pepeiao wale nō,” no ka mea, i kēlā wā aku nei, ʻaʻohe kahi ka manaʻo o nā ʻōpio i ke au o nā mākua.

By Moon Kauakahi

“Listen to the voices of our youth for they are the future leaders of Hawaiʻi.”

In our adolescent years in Hawaiʻi, we were always told by our parents that we should only listen and not say a word; our thoughts had no place in the adult world.

By Melinda Lloyd

Unpublished data from Hawaiʻi’s Child Welfare Services show that Native Hawaiian (NH) kamaliʻi are over-represented in the child welfare system in Hawaiʻi and spend significantly longer time in foster care compared to non-Hawaiians.