2020 Message from Ho’ola Na Pua President

Welcome, 2020 and the start of a new decade!

We are thrilled for all that is in store for Ho’ola Na Pua this new year. Many of us have been engaged in this work and mission for over a decade, and we look forward to another decade of change. 2019 truly marked a year of building incredible momentum and strengthening collaborative partnerships both locally and nationally. We are so thankful for the dedication and commitment on behalf of our donors, board members, staff, and volunteers.

January has been recognized as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and provides a great avenue to continue to raise awareness and elevate the conversation. We hosted our 6th Annual Community-wide Awareness Walk & Fair on January 15, 2020. We were joined by Lt. Governor Josh Green, Attorney General Clare Connors, Acting Special Agent in Charge Homeland Security Investigations Lucy Cabral, and Honolulu Police Department Lt. Michael Brede who offered their remarks about the importance of combatting this issue in our community. We are encouraged that our state’s leadership is prioritizing this issue.

In January, we also observe Martin Luther King Day. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the most transformative disruptive leaders recognized for changing history and driving cultural shifts. His vision, courage, and compassion compelled him forward despite the challenges.

We remain committed and steadfast in our passion for justice, creating systemic change, and building innovative programming. We know that today’s leaders will shape tomorrow’s history. Every significant moment in history had leaders who were committed to doing things another way.

Our vision is a community that ends the sexual exploitation of children. Protecting innocence at all costs and creating avenues for hope and healing for those who have been victimized.

We embrace a theme word every year, and this year our word is “amplify“. The word amplify means to expand, to increase in strength and voice, to multiply.

It still amazes me how many people do not know about the issue of child sex trafficking in America. There is still much work to be done.

Because of this – We will continue to:

Together, we have a lot to do in 2020 to increase our reach within the community and build more capacity to serve youth. We invite the opportunity to have more conversations with individuals and stakeholders to further shine light on the issue of sex trafficking in order to build the continuum of care needed.

We are focused on finishing the Re/Imagine capital campaign so that we can open the doors of healing at Pearl Haven.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. We are thankful for the relationships, support, encouragement, and commitments to being a part of the solution to protect the most vulnerable and create healthy and bright futures.

Thank you for your continued support,

Jessica Munoz

President Ho’ola Na Pua

 

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