The Haleiwa Project for Homeless Youth

A place to land can change everything. For youth experiencing housing insecurity in Waianae or transitioning out of the foster system, that place is taking shape through RYSE (Residential Youth Services & Empowerment).

By official counts, just a handful of homeless teens live on the streets of Hawaiʻi. Those who try to help them suggest that’s all wrong, that there are many more — perhaps 150 doing their best not to be counted.

They hide in tents at beach parks. On a friend or stranger’s couch. Far back in the valleys that stretch out of towns.