Each year, The Exchange Club of Downtown Honolulu, in partnership with Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, LLC, selects a non-profit organization to be the recipient of a $10,000 donation.
Pictured left to Right: Exchange Club Directore Jesse Ryan Kawela Allen, HNP Chair Jody Allione, Exchange Club President Laverne Crawford, HNP Donor Activities Coordinator Debbie Namba
This year’s $10,000 donation will go to Hoʻōla Nā Pua, an organization dedicated to building a nurturing home that meets the unique needs of underage female sex trafficking victims through the utilization of individualized, comprehensive, and restorative therapies.
The National Exchange Club is the oldest service organization in the country. More than 650 local clubs throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico provide individuals with opportunities to use their time and talents to benefit their local communities and the country as a whole.
Jody Allione, Chairperson of Hoʻōla Nā Pua stated, “We are grateful for the support from the Exchange Club of Downtown Honolulu. It is so important for our mission to be supported by Honolulu’s organizations to not only spread awareness of this crime against our keiki, but to respond with financial and volunteer support for the children whose lives can be restored. While Hoʻōla Nā Pua is working to develop the long-term residential special treatment facility, the S.T.A.R.F.I.S.H. program (Structured Treatment for Adolescents Following Identification as Sexually Trafficked in Hawaii) provides mentorship and therapeutic services for young victims who have been identified as sexually trafficked. There is currently a lack of available therapeutic services for this population, creating a need to provide survivors with one-on-one support from a trusted, non-judgmental, appropriate adult. The S.T.A.R.F.I.S.H. program provides these services outside of a residential treatment program. My ongoing interaction with the Exchange Club of Downtown Honolulu has been very rewarding and their response to this need has been very encouraging to the volunteer driven effort of Hoʻōla Nā Pua.”
The development of S.T.A.R.F.I.S.H. is based on the rehabilitation needs of sexually trafficked survivors, the lack of available therapeutic services for this population, and the need to provide survivors with one-on-one support from a trusted, non-judgmental, appropriate adult.
Hawaii is a hub for international business and trading, with an economy fueled by tourism and a large military populati
For most people, time spent in community service might be a few weekend hours at a local shelter or fundraiser. But for
We are thrilled to announce another major milestone! Just this summer, Hoʻōla Nā Pua was conditionally approved to st
