Help in Hawaii
For people starting over after prison, foster care, treatment, homelessness, abuse, or trafficking
We've verified 23 places in Hawaii, most of them in Honolulu, Hilo and Wailuku, plus 13 that serve the whole state. The most help we've found here is for people leaving homelessness (13) and after prison or jail (11).
Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Statewide coalition of Hawaii's domestic violence programs. It does not run a shelter or hotline itself, but its Find Help page routes survivors to the member program on their island. Call the office for referrals or training requests.
Domestic Violence Action Center
Oahu's main DV advocacy agency, with a confidential helpline, court accompaniment, risk assessment, safety planning, and legal representation. Services are open to cis, trans, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming survivors; outreach reaches immigrant and ethnic communities.
AUW 211 Hawaii
Hawaii's only statewide information and referral line, with a database of more than 1,400 agencies and 4,000 programs. Specialists help with shelter, food, rent and utility aid, SNAP prescreening, DV, mental health and legal referrals on every island.
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
The state prison and jail agency. Its Rehabilitation Services and Programs Division runs work furlough programs (Laumaka at OCCC, Maui Furlough, Lifetime Stand at KCCC, Hale Nani at HCCC, YWCA Fernhurst for women) that let eligible people job search, save money and line up housing before release, plus family reunification and parenting programs.
Going Home Hawaii
Hawaii Island reentry nonprofit serving justice-involved men, women and youth since 2004. Its In-Reach and Reintegration program (Second Chance Act funded) offers intensive case management, mentors, housing navigation, job readiness, and links to benefits and treatment, with offices in East and West Hawaii.
EPIC Ohana
Works with youth and families involved with Child Welfare Services. Runs the Independent Living Collaborative, HI H.O.P.E.S. youth leadership boards, Youth Partners, E Makua Ana youth circles for teens preparing to age out, and ohana conferencing.
Hale Kipa
Youth-serving agency with ten shelters across the islands. Kauhale Opio on Oahu houses unsheltered young adults 18–24, Hale Huliau in Kona houses 18–21, and a Housing First voucher program with case management helps homeless youth secure city housing. Pu'uhonua emergency shelters for ages 12–17 take CWS referrals only.
Office of Community Services
State office that administers federal Refugee Resettlement Assistance (ORR) funds along with CSBG, TEFAP and LIHEAP. It contracts with nonprofits rather than serving clients directly; call to learn which agency holds the current refugee services contract.
Pacific Gateway Center
Honolulu resettlement and immigrant services agency founded in 1973, affiliated with USCRI and CLINIC. Provides accredited immigration legal help, housing navigation, health access, job training, ESL and a Hawaii Language Bank for interpretation. Also serves survivors of trafficking and asylum seekers.
Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center
Drop-in harm reduction and clinical agency downtown. Buprenorphine, syringe exchange, naloxone, wound care, hepatitis and HIV testing, hormone therapy, HIV case management and help enrolling in health insurance, with a focus on people affected by substance use, homelessness and the transgender and Native Hawaiian communities.
Hina Mauka
Fifty-year-old alcohol and drug treatment provider in Kaneohe offering residential, day treatment and outpatient tracks, including a dedicated Offender Program track and the Ke Alaula program for incarcerated women. Pregnant applicants and people who inject drugs get first priority for admission.
Big Island Substance Abuse Council
Hawaii Island's largest substance use treatment agency, with outpatient programs in Hilo (across from the Hilo Library) and Kealakekua, a seven-day non-medical detox called Hulihia Ke Ola, mental health services and smoking cessation. BISAC also delivers parenting programs inside Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Hawaii CARES 988
The state's 24/7 crisis, mental health and substance use line, staffed by local counselors. Callers can get help finding treatment and recovery resources, mobile crisis response, or somewhere to go. Dial 988 from a Hawaii number; use the direct line from an out-of-state phone.
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii
Free civil legal help for low-income residents statewide: landlord-tenant and eviction, family law and protective orders, domestic violence, human trafficking, public benefits, and immigration through the Hawaii Immigrant Justice Center. Offices in Honolulu, Hilo, Kona, Wailuku, Lihue, Molokai and Lanai, but no walk-in intake.
Hoola Na Pua
Hawaii's trafficking-specific provider for minors, operating Pearl Haven, the state's only licensed residential treatment campus for girls who have survived sex trafficking and sexual abuse. Starfish Mentoring and Hoku groups serve exploited youth in the community on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Hawaii Island.
HOPE Services Hawaii
Hawaii Island's homeless services agency, running Keolahou men's shelter, Hale Maluhia women's and couples shelter, Kihei Pua family shelter, a kupuna shelter, West Hawaii emergency housing, medical respite, street medicine and eviction prevention. You must register with their team before being admitted to any shelter.
Family Life Center
Kahului-based agency serving Maui, Molokai and Kauai with street outreach, emergency shelter (Hoolanani and Wahi Hoomalu o Wailuku), the Ohana Hope Village, rental and deposit assistance and homelessness prevention. Apply for shelter or housing help through the online application.
Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers
Maui's long-running housing-focused shelter campus in Wailuku, with emergency shelter for families and singles, meals, case management, life skills classes, an on-site primary care clinic and child care. The Lahaina Westside Center was lost in the 2023 fires and remains closed.
Women Helping Women
Maui County's domestic violence agency since 1977, with a 24-hour crisis hotline, confidential shelter, a Transitions housing program, children's services, help filing temporary restraining orders, and offices in West Maui, Hana and Lanai. Serves women, men and children.
Office of Health Status Monitoring, Vital Records
Where to get a certified Hawaii birth certificate, needed for a state ID, benefits and employment. Order online statewide or visit the Oahu office at City Financial Tower; neighbor island residents go through their District Health Office. Divorce records are no longer held here as of February 2026.
State ID and Driver's License
Oahu's driver licensing centers issue the Hawaii state ID card ($40, valid eight years) by appointment through AlohaQ. Bring originals or certified copies proving legal presence, legal name, date of birth and residential address; a temporary paper ID is issued and the card is mailed in four to five weeks.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Hawaii's food stamp program. Apply online, by mail or by dropping a paper form at a processing center; DHS then schedules an interview. Gross income limit is 130% of poverty (200% under broad-based categorical eligibility), with a $1,989 monthly limit for one person as of October 2026.
Med-QUEST (Hawaii Medicaid)
Hawaii's Medicaid program, called QUEST Integration. Apply through the KOLEA online eligibility portal, then choose a health plan. Covers medical, behavioral health and substance use treatment for low-income adults and children.
National lines that work in Hawaii
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential treatment referral for substance use and mental health. Finds local programs that take your insurance or none.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 for any mental health or substance use crisis. Available to anyone in any program.
Lifeline free phone program
Free or discounted phone and service for people on Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or low income. Apply online or through a carrier.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
24/7 confidential hotline for survivors of trafficking and people who suspect it. Connects to vetted local services.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
24/7 confidential help for anyone affected by domestic violence. Advocates connect you to local shelters and legal help.
Start right where you are
Each program has a step-by-step checklist for the first 72 hours, 30 days, and 90 days, so you always know your next step.