Hoʻōla Nā Pua Announces A-E Team for Pearl Haven Campus
Hawaii’s First Rehabilitation Campus for Sexually Exploited Girls
(Honolulu, January 10, 2017) — AHL and Hoʻōla Nā Pua (HNP) announced today the team behind Pearl Haven, the first rehabilitation campus in Hawai’i to be dedicated to work specifically with sexually exploited girls. Located on O’ahu, the Pearl Haven renovation project will be led by AHL in collaboration with Design Partners Incorporated (DPI). The renovation project is part of AHL’s 1% Pro Bono Program, an annual program that provides pro bono architectural services to nonprofits.
As part of the program, AHL brings together a team of partners who are also willing to give pro bono or discounted services. The full project team, led by AHL and DPI, includes KAI Hawaiʻi Inc. and InSynergy Engineering, Inc. for engineering services, and Minatoishi Architects for historical architecture services.
“It is auspicious to announce this amazing team as this month is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Our mission is to support the renewal of sex trafficked girls through health, education, advocacy and reintegration. A long-term safe residential campus is vital to the effort, and we cannot thank AHL and this team enough for their generosity,” noted Jessica Munoz, founder and president of HNP.
As of 2013, there are only around five homes specific to children who have been trafficked in the United States. Most of the homes have around 6-8 beds. Pearl Haven, with 32 beds, will be a residential rehabilitation campus that will help to meet a national need for intensive therapeutic aftercare for this vulnerable population of children.
The 12-acre grounds of Pearl Haven will have gardens and greenhouses, complemented by a training studio and commercial kitchen. The renovated, 20,000 square foot Pearl Haven residential therapeutic campus will be located in the center of these grounds and have 32 beds. Pearl Haven will be renovated to house these girls and offer the many services specific for sex trafficked victims including: individual and group therapy, clinical care, and family therapy. Pearl Haven will offer these girls critical life skills that include: academic education, personal care and protection, interpersonal skills, music, dance, and art and equine therapy.
Hoʻōla Nā Pua will pursue Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for the Pearl Haven Campus.
“It is exciting to work with Hoʻōla Nā Pua and this incredible team of project partners to make Pearl Haven a reality. There is a pressing need in our community to support trafficked girls through the process of healing and re-integration. We hope to bring awareness to this issue with a world-class facility for these girls,” said Bettina Mehnert, president and CEO of AHL.
Minimally there are hundreds of Hawai`I children vulnerable to traffickers each month.
· Nationally >70% of runaway youth are estimated to be endangered, most commonly with physical or sexual violence thus, an estimated 2,780 Hawai‘i youth may be at risk for commercial sexual exploitation. This number is based on an average of 3,976 runaway reports per year in the state of Hawai‘i (Attorney General’s Uniform Crime Report Statistics, 2003 to 2012).
** The National Runaway Safeline presented the following data on runaway statistics:
**Some 80 percent of runaway and homeless children report having been sexually or physically abused.
**Within 48 hours of being on the streets, one-third of runaways will be approached for sexual services.
Currently, sexually exploited girls have limited options for treatment in Hawai’i.
Wednesday, January 11, is the Human Trafficking Awareness & Fair at Bishop Square, marking Human Trafficking Awareness Day. For More information, visit: http://hoolanapua.org/event/human-trafficking-awareness-day-walk-fair/
About Hoʻōla Nā Pua
Ho‘ōla Nā Pua (HNP) 501(c)(3) was founded by a dedicated group of local volunteers. HNP is committed to the renewal of sex trafficked girls through health, education, advocacy and reintegration. Our vision is to establish a safe environment where girls who have been sexually exploited can heal from their trauma, be empowered and develop the skills they need to successfully reintegrate into the community.
