HUGS (Help, Understanding & Group Support)

06/12/2026

Sending a very big mahalo to our friends at for hosting their annual School Supply Drive for HUGS. We greatly appreciate their on-going commitment in supporting our HUGS keiki and their siblings for the upcoming school year!

06/11/2026

Today we honor King Kamehameha I who united the Hawaiian Islands and shaped the future of Hawai'i. Happy Kamehameha Day from HUGS🌺

06/10/2026

This past was amazing for our HUGS keiki as they dove into a Respite full of Fun in the Sun! They captured unforgettable moments with polaroid photos and frames, sang their hearts out during Surfs Up Karaoke, eagerly explored and gathered fish and sea creatures, and wowed everyone with their creativity and strength in the Sandcastle Competition, celebrating three incredible winners!

A huge mahalo to MERCYWORLDWIDE for organizing and leading such fantastic activities that brought joy to everyone involved, and to Pastor Rebecca and Wellspring Covenant Church for warmly welcoming us into their beautiful space.

Our incredible Big Buddy volunteers from MERCY Worldwide, Chaminade University of Honolulu, HI Nursing program, , and the HUGS community made Respite extra special with their sunny encouragement and support, which is leaving a lasting positive impact on our HUGS keiki.

A big shoutout to Fairway Tavern for a delicious dinner, and of course, a heartfelt thank you to the City’s Grant-in-Aid program for its generous support. Events like these create wonderful opportunities for HUGS families to relax, connect, and build treasured memories together. We are so grateful to all our community partners who make these magical moments possible!

Respite is just one of the programs that HUGS provides, to give the parents or guardians of our HUGS kids some time off for themselves, while HUGS kids and their siblings get to hang out with the peers, play with their big buddies and just be a "kid"

To learn more, visit www.hugshawaii.org

06/09/2026

HUGS is excited to welcome back our intern from last year Gem for the Summer!

"My name is Gem, and I’m excited to be returning to HUGS as their summer intern and a recent Master of Social Work (MSW) graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa , with a specialization in behavioral mental health.

My previous summer experience and continued involvement with HUGS at respite events has been amazing and continuously reinforced my passion for supporting children and their families who are navigating challenging circumstances. HUGS has really drawn me as a witness to children of joy, resilience, and unique perspectives and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue building relationships with HUGS families and the community.

I look forward to continuing my growth as a social worker while supporting the incredible mission of HUGS. I am thankful to be back and reconnect with familiar faces, meet new families, and contribute to creating meaningful experiences and providing support for our HUGS community."

06/08/2026

Our recent Moms’ Night at at Pearlridge was an unforgettable evening filled with laughter, connection, and a whole lot of fun!

We were especially excited to welcome our largest group of neighbor island moms yet, with four moms joining us from the Big Island. For two of these moms, it was their very first Moms’ Night, making the evening even more meaningful as they experienced the HUGS community for the first time.

Moms enjoyed a delicious dinner catered by CPK, followed by an evening of virtual sport games and karaoke. The energy stayed high all night as moms relaxed, competed, and most importantly connected with one another in a fun and welcoming space.

A very special mahalo to Jayla and the amazing team at Sports Box for hosting our moms with so much aloha and generosity, even allowing us to stay until the very last minute as our moms sang their hearts out in the karaoke lounge. Your hospitality helped create such a memorable and joy-filled experience.

HUGS Mom’s Night provides peer support from other moms facing similar challenges of caring for a seriously ill child and creates lifelong friendships fueled by sharing that common bond. To learn more about HUGS’ programs visit www.hugshawaii.org.

06/05/2026

The 2026 Rock-a-Hula for HUGS Gala presented by Arrillaga Foundation. Mahalo again to everyone who supported this impactful night! Very huge thank you to William Hatcher (www.bywillhatcher.com) for the amazing video.

06/04/2026

Some of our HUGS families recently enjoyed a wonderful Horse Experience with Bonnie and her beloved horse, Flash, and it truly was a perfect day. The weather was overcast with spots of sunshine, creating the ideal setting for families to connect, relax, and enjoy the healing power of horses.

Families had the opportunity to meet Flash, brush him, feed him his favorite treat (bananas 🍌), and for many, enjoy a ride. With Bonnie’s guidance and the helping hands of caring volunteers, each child was able to interact with Flash in their own way and at their own pace.

Bonnie brings over 35 years of experience in counseling, family therapy, behavioral health, and equine-assisted therapy. Her passion for helping children and families shines through every interaction. Flash, who has been bringing joy to children for more than 25 years, once again demonstrated his gentle and intuitive nature.

Mahalo nui loa to Bonnie, Flash, and the incredible volunteers who made this special day possible. Experiences like these create meaningful moments of connection, confidence, joy, and healing for our HUGS families.

And mahalo to for providing such a beautiful space where our families can create meaningful memories together. We are so grateful for community partners who help make opportunities like this possible for our HUGS families.

06/03/2026

There are so many ways to support HUGS and the families we serve. 💖

Whether you're able to give your time, talents, resources, or financial support, every act of generosity helps us provide comfort, connection, and care to families navigating a child's serious illness.

✨ Ways you can help:
• Make a monetary donation online or send a check
• Donate goods or services through in-kind contributions
• Donate your HawaiianMiles through the ATMOS Rewards program to support our Airfare Assistance Program
• Volunteer at HUGS events and programs
• Host a fundraiser with your friends, workplace, school, or community group

No matter how you choose to give, you're helping create moments of relief, hope, and support for local families when they need it most. And because HUGS is a local organization, your donation stays in Hawaii supporting families in your communities.

For more information on how you can support HUGS, visit www.hugshawaii.org/donate

06/03/2026

Mahalo for your continued support Atlas Insurance Agency, Inc. 😁

Atlas was proud to sponsor and attend the HUGS (Help, Understanding & Group Support) “Rock-A-Hula for HUGS” Gala, an unforgettable evening celebrating hope, resilience, and the incredible work HUGS does to support Hawaiʻi’s seriously ill children and their families.

We’re grateful to support organizations that make a lasting difference in the lives of local families!