Pearl Haven Turns Two!

On Friday, June 2, 2023, a small gathering was held to celebrate the second anniversary of Pearl Haven. Everyone came together to make the day special, with community members donating their time, gift of music, delicious food, and shaved ice for all to enjoy!

Sound of Freedom is an inspiring story based on true events that sheds light on the grim reality of child sex trafficking. It is the true story of Tim Ballard, a former U.S. government agent who quit his job and risks everything to bring a ray of light and hope to the most hidden corners of our world, seeking to save children chained in the dark. It is not just a movie, Sound of Freedom is a cinematic experience that will be part of a global movement destined to raise awareness and with the intent to end the trafficking of children.

Premiering July 3rd and July 4th! Click the link to find a theatre near you.

Sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of our children are sadly happening daily throughout our state. It will take us, the community at large, to shine the light and stop these youth from being victimized.

Please partner with us today by making a donation to our 2023 Spring Appeal.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR SPRING APPEAL!

On June 1, 2023, UH West Oahu hosted the Ho’olokai, a Native Hawaiian Health and Wellbeing Summit. More than 600 attendees from across the nation came together to discuss issues of preservation, protection, and perpetuation of traditional Hawaiian healing practices.

Pictured above is Jamee Miller (Executive Director, Ho’ōla Nā Pua ), Dr. Sheri Daniels (Executive Director, Papa Ola Lōkahi), Dr. Kealoha Fox (Native Hawaiian Liaison, Aloha Care) and Kalei K-aloha (Owner, Kahikolu Enterprises). These women are all Native Hawaiian practitioners and professionals dedicated to uplifting the well-being of Hawaii’s communities.

The youth participated in an honor’s banquet on site to celebrate the end of the traditional school year. Many supporters from the community and the Board of Directors came to participate and celebrate the youth’s achievements and academic excellence. Attending school routinely and completing class work and tests is a daily expectation for the youth in the program, and we know that many of our youth have had to work extra hard to catch up on grade-level work. A youth recently shared, “I have never gone to school and been able to stay focused or understand what I am doing, but the teachers here help me understand, and I feel like I can finish school. “ We are so proud of their efforts and grateful to our teaching and support staff who stand side by side with the girls to reach their goals.

To kick off the summer season, our youth has taken several trips to the beautiful local beaches to swim, relax and rest in nature and all the beauty Hawaii offers. Many of the girls have never experienced trips to the beach that are relaxing and playful and meant for pure enjoyment. It is an honor to see the youth be able to play in the ocean and gain the benefits of creating new experiences that are healthy and age-appropriate. One of our youth shared, “I never knew the ocean could be so fun; I never had the chance just to swim without worrying about something else.”

 

In addition to the beach trips, our evidenced based surf therapy program continues to see tremendous strides in the youth building confidence, self-awareness, and leadership skills. Led by a trained facilitator, these girls hit the waves every Monday to learn new skills that not only help them with surfing but also aid in the recovery from traumatic experiences that have been stored in their bodies and need healthy forms of release to help them move forward.

In the youth’s cultural groups, they created Hope Boxes filled with positive messages and notes of gratitude that they can pull when feeling overwhelmed or needing a message that helps them remember how far they have come and what strengths they hold within themselves. The youth expressed how good it felt to reflect on their journeys thus far and to share their hope with their peers.