About Us

Working together to keep our 'ohana healthy, safe & supported

A Hui Dedicated to Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect in Maui County

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About Us

The Ho’oikaika Partnership is a cross-sector coalition of community-based organizations, individuals, county and state agencies committed to preventing child abuse and neglect in Maui County. We are providers of health and human services such as early childhood and parent educators, social workers, public health nurses, substance abuse counselors, law enforcement, faith-based leaders, and others concerned with ensuring our keiki grow up healthy, safe and supported.

Our roots began in 2007, with research that identified the need for collaboration among public and private partners to prevent child maltreatment in Maui County. From a five person team receiving training on coalition building and the protective factors, to developing strategic plans and logic models, we’ve evolved to serve as a convener of agencies involved in the prevention of child abuse and neglect in Maui County – to improve coordination of efforts, increase partnerships, support the workforce, and further the use of evidence-based approaches, especially the protective factors.

Our Mission

Ho’oikaika Partnership’s mission is to strengthen and expand the system of supports in Maui County by building a strong prevention and provider network that supports collaboration, shares knowledge and resources, and shapes policy to prevent child maltreatment. It is our vision that our ‘ohana are healthy, safe and supported.

Our History

Our roots began in 2007, when an oversight committee undertook research to identify best practices in child maltreatment prevention and index current projects and programs in Maui County. Among other findings, Preventing Child Maltreatment in Maui County: A Report on Best Program Practices identified the need for collaboration among public and private partners across the spectrum of prevention.

In 2008, the economic recession provided additional incentive to work together to sustain family support and child abuse prevention programs. The Ho’oikaika Partnership started with a 5-person team. We were one of 16 applicants selected to participate in the University of North Carolina’s PREVENT Institute, which helped guide us in the development of our first strategic plan and logic model. We also received training and technical assistance on coalition building and the Protective Factors. The Child Abuse Protection Treatment Act provided funds to improve the systems’ response to child maltreatment and we also received seed funding from the Consuelo Foundation.

The Hoʻoikaika Partnership evolved to serve as a convener of agencies involved in the prevention of child abuse and neglect in Maui County – to improve coordination of efforts, increase partnerships, support the workforce, and further the use of evidence-based approaches, especially the protective factors.

Our Goals

  1. Create a seamless safety net of services to support children and their caregivers.
  2. Strengthen the prevention and provider workforce.
  3. Successfully educate and advocate for policy, program, and systems changes to prevent child abuse and neglect.
  4. Engage the community in prevention of child abuse and neglect.
  5. Strengthen the foundation of the Ho‘oikaika Partnership.

Our Values

We Act with Purpose – We Embrace Opportunities

We Embrace Meaningful Outcomes – We Strive for Continuous Improvement

Aloha

All partners have strengths and are valued. All persons within the Partnership have an equal voice working together in relationships based on equality and respect.

LAULIMA

Together we are stronger in spirit and action than we are alone. We embrace opportunities to collaborate to improve the safety and well-being of our ʻohana.

HA‘AHA‘A

We recognize and acknowledge the contributions of all partners. We foster a 3 learning culture and remain open to new ideas. We do not bring attention to oneself; instead, we act as a whole.

MĀLAMA

We honor primary caregivers and recognize that they are their children’s first teachers. We act with confidence knowing that strengthening protective factors are in the best interest of our ʻohana.

KULEANA

Our responsibility is to keep our children safe. We are privileged to work together, educating the community, and embracing promising, emerging, and best practices.

Pono

We act with purpose. We are sensitive and respectful in our approach, recognizing the wide range of culturally diverse needs of our community. We take risks together to do what is right for our ʻohana.

Leadership Hui

Our 10 core and supporting partners of our leadership hui provide leadership, vision, strategic direction, in-kind and financial support that is essential to sustaining a thriving coalition.

Maui Family Support Services Logo
Ho'oikaika Partnership's partner Friends of the Children's Justice Center's Logo
HooikaikaPartnership-Leadership Hui-Discover-Imua
Child & Family Service
Ho'oikaika Partnership's partner Friends of the Children's Justice Center's Logo
Hawaii State Department of Health CAMHD
Hawaii State Department of Health logo
State of Hawaii Seal - child welfare devision
Hooikaika-Conference-2023-Sponsor-Kamehameha Schools-Kaiaulu
Ho'oikaika Partnership's partner, Casey Family Programs Logo

Our Funders

Our work at Hoʻoikaika Partnership is made possible through the generous funding from our donors including those listed below and many more. Maui Family Support Services is the fiscal agent for Hoʻoikaika Partnership.

Ho'oikaika Partnership's partner, Casey Family Programs Logo
Ho'oikaika Partnership's partner, Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation's Logo
Ho'oikaika Partnership's partner Friends of the Children's Justice Center's Logo
Hooikaika Partnershipʻs funder Hawaii Community Foundationʻs Maui Strong Fund
Ho'oikaika Partnership's partner Hawaii Children's Action Network's Logo
Hoʻoikaika Partnershipʻs Funder, the Hawaii State Department of Health
Ho'oikaika Partnership's partner Kamehameha Schools' logo
Hoʻoikaika Partnershipʻs funder Hawaiʻi Community Foundation
Ho'oikaika Partnership's favicon

Our Logo

Our logo is the hukilau or net, which serves to remind us that our strength is in working together to make sure that our safety net has no puka’s (holes). In this effort, we work together in the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

As we join together to create a safety net for our ʻohana and keiki, in the logo, the net is illustrated as the 3-dimensional triangular shape representing the partners joining arms to produce a safety net for the ‘ohana. The diamond shaped fish represents the ʻohana and keiki we are serving. The name of the partnership is to the left, indicating that the partners are also part of the ʻohana we endeavor to keep safe and supported. The triangular net points to the right, indicating we are committed to keep moving forward together.

The color selection represents the blue and purple shading that reminds us of the bruising and pain that comes from child abuse and neglect.  The colors are on the lighter and brighter shade to signify how we are working to PREVENT child abuse and neglect.  The green also symbolizes life and growth towards health, wellness and safety.  The 3 colors also denote the core colors of the ocean and aligned with our Hukilau* theme.

* A hukilau is a way of fishing invented by the ancient Hawaiians. The word comes from huki, meaning pull, and lau, meaning leaves. A large number of people, usually family and friends, would work together in casting the net from shore and then pulling it back. The net was lined with ti leaves, which would help scare the fish into the center of the net. Consistent with the Hawaiian subsistence economy, anybody who helped could share in the catch and celebrate their successes together.