Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 6, 1 June 2020 — Ho'oikaika 'Ohana [ARTICLE]

Ho'oikaika 'Ohana

Developed by a hui of community leaders, content experts, cultural practioners and survivors, Ho'ikaika 'Ohana (HO'O) is designed to meet the unique needs of Native Hawaiian survivors and their 'ohana who have suffered from domestic violence. The program honors the need for services based on Native Hawaiian values and practices that better support survivors and their families towards healing and rebuilding. HO O utilizes a survivor-defined group environment where, aided by staff, participants ean share, encourage and heal with one another. Survivors who participate in the HO'O program have generally moved beyond their crisis. They are ready to focus on healing and their longterm health, stability, personal growth, cultural connections and family harmony. The first three-month phase gives the survivor the opportunity to begin their personal healing process and receive needed support. HO'O understands that 'ohana are critical and so the children and 'ohana of the survivor are invited to take part in the second and third phases of the nine-month program. Together, they mend relationships through mo'olelo and cultural practices such as lei-making, planting kalo, making poi, oli and hula. HO'O groups are held across O'ahu, in safe and peaceful locations. The program is supported by federal money made available through the Violence Against Women Act, the HMSA Foundation and the Atherton Family Foundation. For more information about Ho'oikaika 'Ohana eall (808) 531 -3771 . Ho'oikaika 'Ohana Ctient Testimony "Ho'oikaika 'Ohana has heeome an inslrumental component in my healing anel recovery, not only as a Native Hawaiian woman, but as a surviving, victorious woman. As I gather weekly with the group, I find I have gained a newfound value, significance, purpose and family. My mind has been restored to a plaee of peaee and security, and my spirit ha s calmed. Ho'oikaika 'Ohana gives me an overall sense of wellbeing. My children have eome to be thankful for life's simplest pleasures and look forward to being able to run freely without fear. Their minds and spirits are renewed with hope and the promise of life. Mahalo." H)ebinar Series on Vomestic Violence Targets Ulen "He Huewai Ola," a webinar series developed by 'Aha Kōne, Kanaeokana, Papa Ola Lōkahi and the Consuelo Foundation seeks to address domestic violence in Native Hawaiian households by educating men and boys about traditional male roles and responsibilities and providing instruction on traditional skills and cultural practices as a means of positive redirection. The webinar is being offered as part of Kanaeokana's network of programming and is broadcast live every Friday at 2 p.m. via the Zoom videochat platform and archived on YouTube and Facebook. The show officially launched May l.