Hoʻomaluhia – IVAT Hawaiʻi-Pacific Branch

A Center of Excellence where East meets West, where Indigenous voices are valued and diversity is honored, Hoʻomaluhia is the Hawaiʻi-Pacific branch of the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma (IVAT). 

The organization has been doing business for over 30 years and delivering training throughout the Hawaiian Islands and the Pacific for more than 20 years.  Hoʻomaluhia’s Mission is to improve the quality of life and to contribute to violence-free, abuse-free living for all the peoples of Hawaiʻi. Recognizing unequal access to systems of justice, protection, health and education by marginalized communities in the Pacific.

Hoʻomaluhia/IVAT focuses on addressing inequity in the access to care, and evidenced-based and promising practices in the delivery of care. We provide technical assistance, evaluation and research for programs and systems of care. 

Hoʻomaluhia/IVAT’s approach is one of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), working collaboratively with providers and purchasers to improve systems responses and access for our most vulnerable populations

Our Vision is for a safer, more peaceful Hawaiʻi

Principles

To these ends, Hoʻomaluhia embraces the following principles and ideals:

1. Support for partner organizations in Hawaiʻi and a commitment to supporting local partners and building funding streams from sources outside of the State of Hawaiʻi

2. Prioritizing the peoples of Hawaiʻi and Native Hawaiian partners

3. A collaborative approach, which respects diversity of opinion

4. Mutual respect among all members

5. Promoting peace and peace-building processes in all of our interactions

6. Transparency in all decision-making processes

Hoʻomaluhia’s Impact

1. Systems analysis and design — Examination and evaluation of care systems to ensure a comprehensive array of services are components of the system of care.  Analysis includes the “right-sizing” or “dosage” consistent with the needs of the population(s) affected by trauma and violence.

2. Promising Practices - Coordinate, integrate, evaluate and disseminate what is currently being practiced in Hawaiʻi regarding trauma-informed care;

3. Evidence-based Program Delivery - Share successful, culturally responsive, effective, trauma-informed, data-driven and evidence-based programs developed in Hawaiʻi with the Pacific region, the Continental United States and other countries;

4. Dissemination of Program and Interventions -Bring successful, effective, data-driven and evidence-based programs from the continental United States and the Pacific region to Hawaiʻi; and

5. Training and Evaluation – Deliver and expand local and onsite training to staff of state agencies and nonprofit organizations in providing front-line services and resources for those who have been traumatized to build regional capacity.​

Training

Hoʻomaluhia provides evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive and victim-centered training and technical assistance to the agencies, organizations front-line professionals serving the people of Hawaiʻi. It has partnered with organizations throughout the Pacific to bring vital training to the islands and beyond. Hoʻomaluhia collaborated with partners to support the local and regional initiatives needed to build peace and health in the Pacific region, especially indigenous populations.

Topic areas for potential training include:

• Training outreach for neighbor islands

• Substance abuse treatment program for adolescents

• Vicarious trauma

• Witness intimidation for domestic violence victims

• Domestic violence training for law enforcement and possibilities for train the trainer

• Sex assault prevention

• Undocumented families’ needs

• Forensic interviewing

• Mandated reporting for educators

• Safer victims’ assistance practices for service providers

Ho‘omaluhia Advisory Council