Three Months of Awe

I am so excited to be a part of this edition of the EPIC Newsletter. It has been three months since I took on the role as Executive Director and I have been humbled by what I have experienced and witnessed in this short time.

Aloha Pumehana Kākou!

I am deeply humbled and honored to take on the kūlana and kuleana as EPIC 'Ohana’s Executive Director. It has been my privilege to be a part of EPIC 'Ohana for nearly 15 years with the HI H.O.P.E.S. Initiative. I believe I was divinely led to this work and am grateful to Arlynna Livingston, and EPIC 'Ohana Board of Directors, for taking a chance, then and now, on this Kalihi girl, and for both Arlynna and Laurie Tochiki’s mentorship, aloha and visionary leadership through the years.

As you can see by the 2023 “numbers” EPIC ‘Ohana was quite busy in 2023. A large decline in the number of children taken into care was a big shift for child welfare in 2023. CWS has worked hard to prevent removals and provide other services to families to stabilize them. Our efforts have also shifted a bit to reach out to families early in CWS involvement.

Our hearts go out to our ‘ohana on Maui. The concept of being “trauma informed” seems more important than ever as we deal with tragedy at home, and in the world. Over the last two years, we have been blessed to partner with the Pū'ā Foundation as they work to build a peer support network and workforce and to find ways, based on Hawaiian culture and values, to build a trauma effective and beloved community.

EPIC ‘Ohana is celebrating its 25th year as a nonprofit organization in 2023. We are so very grateful for each and every one of you. We have been able to raise up the voices of families and young people in ‘Ohana Conferences, Youth Circles, Wraparound meetings, convenings like Nā Kama a Hāloa because of your support.

Since our last newsletter EPIC `Ohana has been busy with some very exciting projects and programs. In the next few paragraphs I will share some of the highlights.

Aloha family and friends:
EPIC `Ohana, like many organizations in Hawai`i, uses a July – June fiscal year. On the 24th, our `Ohana Conferencing, `Ohana Finding, and Youth Circles staff celebrate with a get together for the first time in person since 2019.

A few weeks ago, our EPIC `Ohana gathered on Zoom for our annual Kūhiō Day training. It was our third virtual Kūhiō Day, and we paused to think about Hawai'i in 1922, when Prince Kūhiō passed away, 100 years ago.

There is so much to be grateful for as we end this difficult year. Most especially, all of us at EPIC ‘Ohana are grateful for all of you. During those times this year when our hearts ached from grief and hurt, we were grateful for the spirit of aloha that endures within this complicated system serving our most vulnerable families and children. In those moments when we witnessed renewal, hope and healing, we were thankful for the steadfast courage of the many people who joined in our circles, our conferences, our meetings, and our network.

We hope that you are enjoying our EPIC Connections newsletters. Thank you so much for your support, it means so much to us. We also hope that you and your family are safe and healthy.

In this issue we celebrate 25 years of 'Ohana Conferencing (OC).

Since the last newsletter, two virtual events inspired and motivated us. The Voices of Hope event at the Hawai`i Theater was magical! In the next few months, we will post the inspiring FYA talks from our HI H.O.P.E.S. leaders.

Welcome to our new, quarterly newsletter. What a time this has been. A year ago, we pivoted to virtual meetings, circles, conferences and have not looked back! I know that sometimes it is hard to be hopeful in this challenging time. This is one reason why we are sending this newsletter, so that we can reflect on the many accomplishments that come from all of us working together.