Hawaii
Safe Places program aims to help young runaways on Hawaii Island, Oahu
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – One in seven youth in Hawaii ages 10 to 18 run away from home due to abuse, neglect, and family conflicts.
A new state program called Safe Places offers children support and a haven when they have nowhere to turn and aims to prevent homelessness and exploitation. It’s part of a national outreach and prevention program for youth in crisis and implemented with a project called Safe Spaces for Youth that was passed by the 2022 state legislature.
Roxanne Costa with the Salvation Army and Connie Bell-Mullen with Hale Kipa joined HNN’s Sunrise to talk about the program and encourage local businesses and organizations to become Safe Place sites.
A Safe Place is a business, church or community center that displays the yellow Safe Place sign that any youth can go to if they are in need of shelter or services. An employee there will sit with them until a counselor from the Hawaii Department of Human Services’ Office of Youth Services can get there and meet with them. A Safe Place staff member can also transport the child to a shelter if necessary. Sites who sign up to be a Safe Place get training.
“The Salvation Army is fortunate that we were a Safe Place site some 20 years ago due to our Executive Director at the time wanting a safe place for youth to go to if they were in need. So it was nice to have it re-started in Hilo. Also last year, the County of Hawaii had all of their Hele On buses become Safe Places for our youth. Besides that, our emergency shelter in Hilo and The Salvation Army Corp are Safe Place sites in Hilo,” Costa said.
If you’re a teen and need immediate help, look for the Safe Place sign on buildings and public transportation vehicles in your community. You can also text the word SAFE and the city/state or zip code to a nationwide, 24-hour service for youth in crisis 4HELP (44357). Within seconds, they will receive a message with the closest Safe Place location. Youth can also call 808-999-SAFE (7233).
Hale Kipa is implementing the Safe Place program on Oahu.
“We are currently in the early stages of development of the program as we are in recruitment of locations to agree to participate by becoming a Safe Place, and by having their staff go through the short training and display the program sign. The success of a Safe Place is highly dependent on the aloha and support for our youth from the community,” said Bell-Mullen.
If your agency or business is interested in becoming a Safe Place site, reach out to The Salvation Army Family Intervention Services in Hilo or Hale Kipa on Oahu, or call 808-999-SAFE (7233).
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Hawaii
Community memorial service for Kazuo Todd today in Hilo – West Hawaii Today
The funeral procession for deceased Fire Chief Kazuo Todd with pass-in-review for Hawaii Fire Department firefighters took place Saturday morning at HFD Administration in the County Building on Aupuni Street in Hilo.
Hawaii
What’s Cooking: Celebrating Lunar New Year with Hawaii Dim Sum & Seafood
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A family-run Chinese restaurant in Honolulu’s Chinatown is gearing up for Lunar New Year festivities.
Hawaii Dim Sum & Seafood Restaurant owner Karen Tam and her son Kirave Liang joined HNN’s Sunrise to showcase their dim sum and Chinese specialties.
Lunar New Year specials include a special jai with 18 vegetarian ingredients and the sweet, sticky, steamed rice cake gau in brown sugar and coconut flavors, which symbolize good fortune and prosperity.
”We eat food with a lucky meaning to start the great year,” Tam said. “We have jin dui (sesame balls) every day.“
Feb. 17 marks the start of the year of the Fire Horse, when families gather to celebrate with big meals and auspicious dishes. Hawaii Dim Sum & Seafood will offer set party menus and special orders for foods not commonly found in Honolulu, such as whole stuffed duck, braised abalone in oyster sauce, and basin meal.
“It’s the biggest fest of the year. We celebrate Chinese New Year by eating with family in a round table,“ Tam said.
Hawaii Dim Sum & Seafood also has private rooms with karaoke systems and a banquet hall to accommodate small family gatherings to large parties.
Hawaii Dim Sum & Seafood is located on 111 N. King St. and is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, There is street parking and paid parking behind the restaurant on Nimitz and Maunakea.
For more information, visit hawaiidimsumseafood.com or follow on Instagram @hawaiidimsumseafood.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Hawaii
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