When Deborah first came to Kupuna to Kamaliʻi, a program of Family and Therapeutic Services at Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, she carried more than stress. She carried generations of silence, trauma, and broken connections.
She had seen it before—relationships unraveling between mothers and daughters, passed down like an inheritance no one asked for. When she felt that same distance growing between herself and her children, Deborah knew she wanted something different.
She wanted healing.
At Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, families like Deborah’s are met with dignity, compassion, and respect. Guided by our mission to serve those in need and strengthen families, Deborah began receiving wraparound care through therapy, neurofeedback, and Child-Parent Psychotherapy.
Slowly, change took root.
She learned how to regulate her emotions.
She gained tools to respond with patience and presence.
Moments of frustration became moments of connection.
Her 3-year-old was the first to feel the shift. The home grew calmer. Their bond grew stronger.
And then healing reached even deeper.
With the stability and support she received, Deborah began repairing her relationship with her eldest child—now fifteen years older. Years of emotional distance shaped by trauma and domestic violence began to soften. For the first time, Deborah could show up fully as a parent—breaking a cycle that had lasted generations.
Today, Deborah calls herself a cycle-breaker.
Her story reflects what’s possible when families are supported with compassionate, trauma-informed care. Through Family & Youth Services at Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, 5,702 individuals received support designed to nurture keiki, empower parents, honor kūpuna, and strengthen families—regardless of faith or background.
Your generosity makes stories like Deborah’s possible.
Because when you support Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, you don’t just help one person—
you help change generations.
