Hawaiian foster homes
targeted

A Honolulu nonprofit gets federal
money to improve ethnic match
in state custody cases

A private nonprofit has received a federal grant to launch a new three-year program to recruit, certify and train native Hawaiian foster parents statewide.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded the Honolulu-based Partners-in-Development Foundation a $715,536 grant, which will fund two of the program's three years, officials said earlier this week.

The project aims to add 144 Hawaiian foster parents and assist more than 100 Hawaiian families from losing their children to the state.

"There has really been a huge deficit in the recruitment of native Hawaiians, and they represent most of the foster placement," said Lillian Koller, director of the state Department of Human Services.

Of the roughly 2,700 foster children in the state system, more than half are of Hawaiian descent, according to state figures.

"Over 40 percent are placed in homes that are safe but not of the same culture and ethnic background," Koller said. "That really, if you will, exacerbates the injury to the child."

She said placing Hawaiian children into a home of their ethnic background will "better suit their needs."

Partners-in-Development received the grant with assistance from the state Human Services and Hawaiian Home Lands departments.

"A house is a house is a house, but a house with a family is a home," said Micah Kane, director of the Hawaiian Home Lands Department. "I think that's what today is all about."

Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona said that as a former Family Court judge, he knows "how important it is to find good homes for our native Hawaiian foster children."

"I know this is an area we desperately need help in," he said. "Of course, money is a big part of it, and that's what we have here. But the other big part of this equation is the people themselves."

Foster parents Dave and Alicia Dolifka of Red Hill have three foster children of various ethnic backgrounds.

Dave Dolifka, who is Hawaiian, Korean and Bohemian, said being familiar with his foster children's ancestry allows them to "thrive better," preserve their cultural identities and experience less culture shock.

Kurt and Jolyn Kipapa, who have adopted eight foster children and have three biological children of their own, said having a Hawaiian child placed in a Hawaiian home eases transition into the home and breaks down the cultural, language and food barriers.

But in the end, it is still a child needing a home, care and support.

"It doesn't matter what race they are," Jolyn Kipapa said. "We love them for who they are."