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2024-09-05

Huliau Program Offers a Fresh Start for Lydia House Participants

For many young adults in Hawaiʻi, leaving the family nest and moving into a new home signifies a rite of passage. For young adults moving into units at Lydia House, it represents a place of safety, a refuge from the past.  

These participants are members of the Huliau Program, located in Lydia House in downtown Honolulu. Maintained by Liliʻuokalani Trust, the program guides Native Hawaiian youth, ages 18-22, toward independence.

Participants of the Huliau Program often lack stable housing and family support. Some have grown up in systems, including foster care and juvenile justice, and have aged out of the services after age 18.

Lydia House ensures their well-being and success.  

One such participant is Momi. After struggling with isolation and a difficult past, she found solace with a new group of caring friends and teammates at Lydia House. “The program and staff want me to succeed and have no animosity toward me,” says Momi, who received her apartment keys last May to a unit at Lydia House. “I can rely on them to help me when I need them.”

The units, thoughtfully designed for independence and collaboration, have private bedrooms and bathrooms, and a common area and kitchen. Also available are laundry facilities, a music space, a computer lab, and meeting rooms for private consultations and large gatherings.

Participants can access Lydia House’s Engagement Center, a welcoming space downstairs where youth ages 16 to 26 can drop in for essential services. Open from Tuesday to Friday, the Engagement Center provides sustenance, shower facilities, laundry machines, and services like counseling, general medical support, and life-skill development.

Teammates from the Trust oversee both the Engagement Center and the Huliau Program at Lydia House. Trained in trauma-informed care, they provide safety and support in a nurturing environment that is conducive to healing and growth. Many teammates are licensed social workers who are skilled in guiding the youth through past traumas and social-emotional development.

Hawaiian culture is central to Lydia House. To connect to their heritage and build a strong sense of identity, participants can join various groups, such as:

Kope & Walaʻau Hour – This program involves small group discussions that mirror traditional ways of building relationships.

Mana Moves – Physical activities, including hip-hop dance, promote overall health and well-being.

Substance Abuse and Education – This program focuses on prevention and cessation to help with substance dependence.  

Lydia House’s holistic approaches empower residents to focus on their futures, supported by a network of peers and mentors. “It is about allowing teammates and peers to walk alongside them, while they make their own decisions, a mixture of interdependence and independence,” says Marty Oliphant, Executive Director of Lydia House.

Earlier this summer, Lydia House residents and Engagement Center participants came together for several huakaʻi (excursions), including a visit to Bishop Museum, and "'Umeke Laha 'Ole, a Pot Like No Other," an activity at Kipuka Waiʻanae.

Using a shattered pot to represent themselves, the activity was a powerful exercise to help them process and heal from trauma. The activity and museum visit deepened the group's connection to their Hawaiian heritage.

A participant of the Broken Pot activity shares that they rarely have opportunities to connect with other people, and with themself. “The experience nudged me in the right direction. I’m going to continue journaling and pouring into my art more!”

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To Apply to the Huliau Program:

Please call Lydia House’s main line at 808-466-8022 or visit lydiahousehi.org/huliau. Eligibility is open to Native Hawaiians, ages 18-22, who commit to the program duration of one to four years.

Video by Grayson Kostron, NLoK Cohort 1