While the word Hānai has adopted a loose term for an adult or child you consider and care for as family, Hānai literally means ‘foster child’ in Hawaiian. It’s common to think of fostering with the sole intention of adoption, or to hold negative thoughts towards their struggling parents. But to maintain a heart that hopes for reunification, to hope for restoration of health and relationships is the goal of foster care.

Seafarer Child has organized ‘The Hānai Project’ to help raise awareness for our island’s foster needs and to begin this conversation in our community. They have committed to donating 50% of all profits from the Hānai trucker hats to Partners In Development Foundation’s Hui Ho’omalu Foster Care program. All proceeds earned will be used for events that directly support Hawaiʻi’s foster keiki and the resource families who care for them.

Visit seafarerchild.com/hanai to purchase your Hānai trucker hats or to learn other tangible ways of how you can help our state’s 1,500 foster children and their care families.

In light of Foster Care Awareness Month, wear your hats and join in for the sign-waving event on May 23rd from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the corner of Kāane St. and Kaʻahamanu St. See you there!