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 for a safer, more peaceful Hawaiʻi


Stand with Maui

In the wake of Lāhainā's recent devastation, Governor Green's acknowledgment of this as the worst natural disaster in Hawaiʻi’s history strikes a chord with us all. As the first state Capitol and a place immersed in the history of chiefs, Kings, and Queens, Lāhainā's significance is profound. The memories of Mokuʻula, Mokuhinia, and Kihawahine, and the time when boats could navigate freely around Waiola Church, remind us of its rich heritage.

The loss felt by Lāhainā resonates deeply, not just in the physical sense, but in the emotional ties to the land. Let's stand together, offering help and solidarity to heal and rebuild this cherished piece of Hawaiʻi's history.

Your help is vital:

  • Rebuild Lives

  • Provide Essentials

  • Restore Beauty

Compiled by The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI)

“Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost loved ones in the wildfires in Maui, as well as to the people of Hawaiʻi who have seen their homes, businesses, and places of historical significance destroyed. Please find a list of federal and state resources below that may help during this difficult time”

For more information, click here.

The Maui Strong Fund was created to provide community resilience with resources for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The fund is currently being used to support communities affected by the wildfires on Maui.

Hawaiʻi CARES 988 combines two former statewide services: the ACCESS Line and the Crisis Line of Hawaiʻi whose primary focus was mental health telephonic support and community mental health crisis response.


History

In 2015, IVAT established a local office in Hawaiʻi, given the Hawaiian name “Hoʻomaluhia” by Hawaiian kupuna, Aunty Lynette Paglinawan, to deliver more consistent support for the front-line social workers, advocates, justice, medical/public health, education and allied professionals working to address violence and build healthier Pacific communities through collaborative leadership and peace-building education.

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

Punahou Aina, State of Hawai‘i Department of Health Maternal and Child Health Branch

Darlene Beatty*, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i & Ho‘omaluhia Chair

Annie Bell, State of Hawai‘i Department of Health Maternal and Child Health Branch

Tammy Bitanga, Ho‘ōla Nā Pua

Nathan Bossick

Dianne Bowen-Coleman, Department of the Attorney General

David Brown, Behavioral Health Clinical Management Team, Defense Health Agency

Sandi Capuano Morrison*, Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma

Ryan Catalani, Family Promise of Hawai‘i

Susie Chun Oakland, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i

Lori Daniels, Hawai‘i Pacific University

Melissa Luana Data, Lili‘uokalani Trust

Kunane Dreier, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center

Dennis Dunn

Lisa Dunn*, Hawai‘i Pacific University & Former Ho‘omaluhia Chair

Bob Geffner*, Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma

Leanne Gillespie, State of Hawai‘i Department of Human Services Office of Youth Services

Mai Hall, Hawai‘i Children’s Action Network

Daisy Hartsfield, State of Hawai‘i Department of Human Services Child Welfare Services

Violet Horvath, Pacific Disabilities Center

Monique Ibarra, Domestic Violence Action Center

Lisa Kehl, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Kathi Kreinik*, P.A.R.E.N.T.S., Inc.

Ryan Kusumoto*, Parents And Children Together

Heather Lusk, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center

Lynn Matsuoka, Sex Abuse Treatment Center

Amanda Pump, Child & Family Service

Braulio Rodas, Hope Center Ministries

Dayna Schultz

Debbie Shimizu*

Debbie Spencer-Chun, Adult Friends for Youth

Bryan Talisayan, Mental Health America of Hawai‘i

Cheri Tarutani, Lili‘uokalani Trust

Kerrie Urosevich, Early Childhood Action Strategy

La‘akea Yoshida, Family Programs Hawai‘i

Jared Yurow

*Executive Committee Member

Ho‘omaluhia Advisory Council Holiday Gathering
January 2025