Who do we help?

Kōkua project has a special focus on supporting Hawaii’s underserved youth by starting with 3,600+ children identified by the state as currently living in “unstable housing”.

How do we help?

Kōkua Project’s martial arts sponsorships provide:

• Consistent mentorship

• Physical exercise

• A safe space after school

• An opportunity for youths to benefit from values and principles to better equip them for life

Did you know?

• The chronic stress of living in impoverished and unhealthy conditions can overwhelm a child’s stress response systems, causing what has been referred to as “toxic stress” (Garner et al., 2012) -National Institute of Health

• Toxic stress affects a child’s brain architecture and increases the risk of developing poor physical, behavioral, socio-emotional, and cognitive health (Shonkoff et al., 2012). It can also lead to a range of chronic illnesses well into adulthood, including heart disease, substance abuse, and depression (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2018a; Braveman, 2009; Shonkoff et al., 2012). -National Institute of Health

Research has shown that access to consistent, caring adults who are positive, nurturing, and responsive can protect children from the harmful health effects toxic stress (National Academies, 2016).

Kokua Programs