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The Social Services Team at LT fosters healing, health, and stabilization for vulnerable Native Hawaiian children and their families. We do this through a culturally resonant and trauma-informed network of high impact services. 

Since establishment as a Child Welfare Agency in the 1940s, Liliʻuokalani Trust has emphasized work with the (orphaned) Hawaiian child and to support the family's capacity to nurture and promote the development of the child.

Social Services has been fundamental to the Trust's work and creates the foundation that supports innovative programming through Early Childhood, Youth Development and Opportunity Youth.

We have engaged a multitude of kamaliʻi and ʻohana, individually and in groups, through services such as counseling and group work in building of capacity, promotion of well being, and achieving goals for self-sufficiency.

Our approach is informed by and sensitive to Hawaiian values and concepts. These form the foundation for delivery of services. 

The story of the Bowl of Light teaches us that all kamaliʻi (children/beneficiaries) are born with a perfect light. This light represents life, innocence, and mana. The stressors, trauma, and loss we experience in life are like pōhaku (rocks) that build up over time in our bowl, dimming our light.  

We believe in protecting the light of every kamaliʻi so that they grow up to be thriving, happy, and healthy adults. We strive to help mākua (parents/caregivers) whose light has been dimmed to heal and remove pōhaku from their own bowl so that they can in turn foster the light of their keiki.

Our clinical interventions are grounded in the knowledge that has been passed down from our kūpuna and those who have come before us. Our team engages with kamaliʻi and ʻohana (families) to provide individualized support to fit the needs of each child. It is our hope that each ʻohana can become healers in their own home.

The Importance of Pilina (relationships)

We offer support through group work, where participants have an opportunity to build pilina (relationships) with each other, while learning new skills and knowledge.  

We also provide training and opportunities for building pilina with our systems and community partners in child welfare, juvenile justice and the court system. We know that this work is only possible through collaboration and shared kuleana (responsibility) to best support our kamaliʻi and ʻohana.   

Where We Work

This healing takes place at our kīpuka located throughout the pae 'āina. Kīpuka, a calm place in a high sea or oasis within a lava bed, metaphorically represents a safe place that supports the learning, growth, healing, and thriving that we envision.  

We offer services across Hawaiʻi and in a mix of formats--from virtual, to hybrid, to in-person.