Dear HNP Friends and Family,
First and foremost, thank you! Without your support and partnership, we could not sustain this mission. Your time, talent, and resources are vital as we walk alongside our vulnerable youth. Together, we are creating bright futures for children through our collective advocacy. Every conversation, connection, and introduction helps to ignite the chain reaction that brings lasting sustainable change around protecting our most vulnerable. I am incredibly proud of our HNP and Pearl Haven team who work diligently every day to provide care for youth, their families, and the community.
In April of 2023, HNP participated in the Merrie Monarch Festival. Through a partnership with Hawaii News Now, we created a PSA that aired multiple times on TV during the week of the festival that brought awareness to the reality of sexual exploitation in Hawaii. This festival has people from over 151 countries tune in to enjoy the art of Hula and the culture we embrace here in the islands.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, we partnered with iHeart Radio Honolulu and built a PSA campaign to “light up the sky” using multiple touchpoints to engage individuals, stakeholders, and leaders in the fight against child sex trafficking.
The campaign brought islands wide awareness through 3,183 PSA spots that were heard across 7 top rated stations. (KDNN, KHVH, KIKI, KSSK, KUBT, KUCD, NUCD). iHeart Honolulu has over 400,000 weekly listeners/ 784,000 listeners islands wide. Through iHeart’s strong community connections with top level influencers both locally and nationally, we were able to leverage a strong platform to spread Ho’ola Na Pua’s message. Voices that joined this PSA campaign included former Miss Hawaii Moani Hara, Chardonnay, Oahu’s Mayor and First Lady Jaime Green, and Amy Hill and Stephen Hill of Magnum PI, Ka’iulani Murphy, Shawn Kanaiaupuni, and Dr. Angela Pratt.
In addition to the above reach, the campaign also lead to the following:
We are so thankful for this incredible opportunity to shine the light!
Many of you know I have a tradition of sharing the inspirational and visionary “word of the year” at the beginning of every new year. As I have prayed, meditated, and contemplated this visionary word for HNP in 2024, the word for this year is “Embrace”
Embracing change is a commitment to continuous learning, enabling us to stay relevant and valuable in a constantly evolving world. Resilience is born from embracing change. When we encounter setbacks or unexpected shifts, our ability to adapt allows us to overcome challenges and thrive in adversity – embracing no matter what and embracing new seasons.
It demands sustaining commitment and support to one another, the youth and community we serve, and the systemic change we work so hard every day to positively impact.
In 2024, HNP is committed to “embracing” all that is ahead.
We remain dedicated to relevance, excellence, quality programming, service delivery, and community partnerships.
Our story as an organization has been one of grit, perseverance, and resilience. We have been through many seasons, global challenges, and economic uncertainties and have had a front-row seat to many miracles. Sometimes, change can be challenging. It requires an extra layer of grit and grace while maintaining a hopeful perspective for the adventures ahead.
We remain dedicated to relevance, excellence, quality programming, service delivery, and community partnerships.
We embrace igniting the flame of change, a beacon that will guide us toward eradicating the darkness that shrouds the lives of innocent children. We remain united in purpose, driven by a collective determination to end the harrowing trauma of child trafficking and sexual exploitation. In a world that can feel rife with despair, the children who often endure the cruelest circumstances embody the essence of resilience. These young lives, who will go through more than we will ever truly understand, carry within them an indomitable spirit that shines through the darkest of nights. They remind us that hope, like a flickering flame, can never be extinguished. Our duty, our moral imperative, is to nurture and protect that flame, allowing it to grow into a blazing inferno that engulfs every shadow of injustice.
We embrace igniting the flame of change, a beacon that will guide us toward eradicating the darkness that shrouds the lives of innocent children. We remain united in purpose, driven by a collective determination to end the harrowing trauma of child trafficking and sexual exploitation. In a world that can feel rife with despair, the children who often endure the cruelest circumstances embody the essence of resilience. These young lives, who will go through more than we will ever truly understand, carry within them an indomitable spirit that shines through the darkest of nights. They remind us that hope, like a flickering flame, can never be extinguished. Our duty, our moral imperative, is to nurture and protect that flame, allowing it to grow into a blazing inferno that engulfs every shadow of injustice.
We embrace standing as witnesses to their stories and active participants in their healing and empowerment. We recognize this is not a fleeting moment of goodwill but a lifelong commitment to these courageous children. Our journey with them is not mere sympathy but of empathy, understanding, and unwavering support. Our commitment is lifelong. Programming is one of many focuses; we must embrace the challenge of effecting systemic change.
The road to transformation is rarely smooth. Yet, in the face of adversity, we find strength. We find resilience. We must take a proactive stance and move away from the reactionary to bring sustainable, lasting change. Together, we will dismantle the structures that perpetuate this cycle of exploitation, abuse, and the robbing of the innocence of a child.
We will shine a light on the shadows.
The image to the right was drawn by one of our Pearl Haven graduates. This youth has overcome what many would say is impossible. She illustrated the power of resilience, the ability to overcome, and the new life that comes from being nurtured and cared for through the ups and downs of the healing journey.
Resilient hope is not just a saying at HNP that we embrace; it is the beacon of light, shining into the darkness, illuminating the paths of countless children who have faced adversity. The enduring power of these young hearts inspires us every day, reminding us of the strength and courage that reside within the human spirit.
The image below was drawn by one of our Pearl Haven graduates. This youth has overcome what many would say is impossible. She illustrated the power of resilience, the ability to overcome, and the new life that comes from being nurtured and cared for through the ups and downs of the healing journey.
For the past 15 years, I have had the privilege of bringing to light the needs and voices of these children in our community, leading this organization from our grassroots days to where it is today, and witnessing firsthand the transformative impact of resilient hope.
We have journeyed together, overcoming challenges, building something that some thought would never be possible, and changing the system to create a safer, more nurturing environment for our children. Youth voices must be heard throughout our nation as I continue to support our advocacy, fundraising, and programmatic efforts. I embrace all that is ahead in this journey of limitless opportunities to impact remarkable change across our local, national, and international landscape.
Thank you for supporting our heart-felt and passionate mission and participating in this incredible journey. Your commitment is the pillar upon which the future of these children rests. Let us continue to challenge the status quo, to change the system, and to protect our children. To create a safer community, let us embody resilient hope and embrace what our kids need through the light that shines into the darkness and paves the way for a brighter, more hopeful future for all.
Mahalo Nui Loa,
Jessica Munoz | Founder, MSN, APRN-RX, FNP-BC
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