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    Helping Hands Hawai'i

    3.5 (26 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

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    Response time

    1 day

    Response rate

    100%

    Services - Helping Hands Hawai'i

    Community Service/Non-Profit

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    Relief efforts for Maui wildfire victims
    Jo Y.

    One of our favorite local non-profit organizations is Helping Hands Hawaii. It began as the Honolulu Council of Social Agencies Volunteer Placement Bureau in 1941 and incorporated as Helping Hands Hawaii in 1974, it is a social service agency whose mission is to develop self-sufficiency and resilience by providing guidance, household goods, and opportunities for empowerment and connection. It includes the following programs: * Adopt-A-Family. It links individuals and families-in-need with generous donors in the community. Donors choose a family that they would like to assist during the holidays and purchase new items for their family wish list. * Bilingual Access Line. It provides interpretive services and language assistance via spoken interpretation or written translation for those with limited English proficiency. * Emergency Assistance. It provides financial assistance for rent and utilities to households who are at-risk of being homeless. * Ready-to-Learn. It provides free school supplies to children in grades K to 12. * Representative Payee Services. It provides financial management services to households, primarily those affected by mental illnesses or substance abuse disorders, that hinder them from making decisions themselves. * Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Outreach. It helps families reduce food insecurity and helps them to buy nutritious food. * Disaster Relief. It helps survivors of disasters, such as the Maui wildfire, as donations support disaster operations and recovery efforts for those affected by immediate and future needs. * Community Clearinghouse. Provides families-in-need of basic necessities, such as food, clothing, furniture, and basic household items. Families are given free items donated by the community or purchased from grant funds. This review focuses on its Community Clearinghouse, as we have and continue to use the Community Clearinghouse to donate our household items and furniture instead of donating them to other organizations, such as Goodwill, Savers, or the Salvation Army. Why? We are grateful that Helping Hands Hawaii is able to accept our donations, sort them with other donated items, and give them FREE OF CHARGE to families in need. There is no administrative fee, and NO RESELLING of items to anyone. At-risk families are evaluated based on need and are allowed to choose the items they need accordingly. Over the years, we have donated all kinds of furniture, household items, clothing, toys, books, kitchen items, linen, and other miscellaneous items and know that our donations will be made to good use by families with the goal of being self-sufficient. During the three years of Covid, Helping Hands HI elected not to accept donations of household goods for health and safety precautions. They now accept donated items from Mon to Fri 11a to 2p and on the third Sat of each month 9a to 1p at their warehouse near Puuhale Road in Kalihi, so we just drive up and drop the items off, requesting a receipt for tax purposes. Larger items, such as furniture may be picked up at your home by their truck by appointment. Note that there are some restrictions for donated items. As the donated items are distributed to families in an "as-is" condition, items must be clean and in usable and working conditions. While items such as beds, small appliances, linen, furniture, clothing, accessories, and hygienic products are allowable, items such as car seats, strollers, cribs, sporting equipment, hospital/medical equipment, musical instruments, computers, and electronic equipment are not accepted due to liability concerns. The Community Clearinghouse is surely a worthy cause and provides a win-win situation for both the donor and the recipient. We have always supported Helping Hands Hawaii with their ongoing philanthropy and human generosity efforts in assisting those in-need and guiding them to overcome their challenges.

    Thank you Helping Hands Hawaii and American Savings Bank.
    Katy P.

    Helping Hands Hawaii is very dedicated to helping families in need in our communities. My office has had the pleasure of partnering with Helping Hands Hawaii for many years on several community projects and have witnessed the great work they do. The most rewarding project we have been involved in is the Ready to Learn program. This program helps to provide low-income school aged children K-12 with the necessary school supplies needed to be successful in school. This year Helping Hands Hawaii partnered with American Savings Bank to include a beautiful drawstring bag with every school supply starter kit distributed. Depending on the grade level school supply starter kits include a drawstring bag and a variety of supplies such as pencils, crayons, glue, pens, a ruler, spiral notebooks, composition books, folder paper, a binder, portfolio's, scissors, erasers and a calculator. Each year the cost of school supplies rise and many low-income children attend the first day of school with no school supplies, simple because their families just can't afford them. Because of this it is very hard for these students to be successful and fit in with their peers. Every child deserves an equal opportunity to a great education no matter what their families economic status maybe. Helping Hands Hawaii and all the partnering agencies that help with the distribution of these special kits have pledged to help as many children as possible to begin their first day of school with the tools needed to be successful. My office is very proud to be a partner in this amazing program that provides hundreds of low-income children the opportunity to a fresh start at learning. Thank You to all the donors who helped to make this program successful and to all the great staff at Helping Hands Hawaii who obviously care about our communities.

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    6 months ago

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    Susan F.

    Helpful 2
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    5 months ago

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    Susan F.

    Helpful 1
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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Susan F.

    Helpful 34
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    9 months ago

    They don't respond to calls nor emails at all. How do you communicate with this organization?

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    Susan F.

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    8 years ago

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    Susan F.

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    10 years ago

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    3 years ago

    QGenuine people, couldn't drive had lost my office they help me get some paperwork in quickly with grace and kindness

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    5 years ago

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    Susan F.

    Helpful 4
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    10 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
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    7 years ago

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    Susan F.

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    Photo of Emi H.
    4968
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    19199

    14 years ago

    Helpful 16
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    15 years ago

    Helpful 5
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    7 years ago

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    Susan F.

    Helpful 1
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    7 years ago

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    10 years ago

    This is a great organization. Their approach is wonderful, and really make direct use of items donated

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    13 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Best place for Rep Payee services. Lori Hamada is the bomb and she manages a team better than most

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    8 years ago

    There program for assistance suck terrible service put yourself in my shoes they suck just like Salvation Army

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    12 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    Helping Hands Hawai'i Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Helping Hands Hawai'i

    Can I use this for Community service hours for High school?

    Please contact our volunteer coordinator at (808) 440-3812 or jamesli@helpinghandshawaii.org for more information.

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    Review Highlights - Helping Hands Hawai'i

    It provides interpretive services and language assistance via spoken interpretation or written translation for those with limited English proficiency.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Women’s & Family Shelter

    Women’s & Family Shelter

    (3 reviews)

    Kalihi

    My family lived here in 2014-2015 and it gave us a second chance at life. They gave us 3 beds to…read moresleep on for my parents, me and my 5 younger siblings. They fed us 3 meals a day and helped my parents find employment and budget their money. Eventually they helped us get into Weinberg village transitional homeless shelter in Waimanalo. We left Weinberg after 2 years and started renting a home in Pearl city and eventually we had our finances set well enough that in 2017 we bought our first home together. I was so ashamed to say that I lived here when I was in high school but looking back on it today as a grown man I have to say that IHS was an absolute blessing for me and my family. Thank you so much to the many kind and loving people that worked here and to everyone that sacrificed their own time and resources to make IHS what it is. -The Lopes Family

    I was looking for a place where I could donate some of my belongings that could be of better use…read morethan just sitting in my closet and drawers being unused, but I wanted to make sure the donation would go directly to the people in need right here in Hawaii. And specifically, to women and children in need. Surprisingly, I couldn't find many places that fit these specifications till I came across the the Women's & Family Shelter, an emergency shelter from the Institute for Human Services (IHS). IHS is an independent, local 501c3 nonprofit organization that makes sure 100% of all donations stays in Hawaii. Drop off was really simple. The donation drop off area is open Monday thru Friday from 0800-1600. You can park your vehicle temporarily right in front of the garage while you offload your items. On their website, there are 5 different ways you can help: 1. Monetary Donation. A link is provided on the website for your convenience. This can be a one time donation or you can set up a monthly donation. 2. An In-Kind Donation. The donation center is located around the corner of IHS at the garage entrance on Kaamahu Place. On the website " Wish List" you can find a list of what type of items are in need. Items needed are gently used clothing (all types) household toiletries (even makeup), school items, food, baby related items to name a few. Basically just think of what you use and need and eat on a daily basis to give yourself an idea of what you could donate to help another person/child. 3. Planned Giving, such as bequests from an estate plan or will, real estate, personal property, etc. 4. Cooperate and foundation giving, such as scholarships, grants, direct donations, etc. 5. Volunteer. There are many different types of volunteer opportunities, such as tutoring children, kitchen help, serving meals, working at the health clinic, sorting donations, etc. There's an opportunity for everyone to give in whatever form you choose. So instead of letting your drawers, closet, garage, shoe rack, etc get cluttered with unused or unwanted items, why not give it back to the community to help another person or child out? Or if you're not ready to part with your treasures a monetary gift is always appreciated. Donating my belongings not only made my house much tidier, but I was also happy knowing my items had a 2nd life while helping to meet the needs of a person/child right here in Hawaii.

    Aunty's Ukay Ukay - Dry-fit shirt for $10

    Aunty's Ukay Ukay

    (2 reviews)

    Kalihi

    Shopping in Honolulu, Hawaii…read more.. I'm so happy to see Aunty Shirley again! She used to have a shop on Maunakea Street, next to Cindy's Lei Shop! She's so sweet, organized, efficient, and has a great memory! Now, she has two stalls (both sides of the aisle) at The Marketplace at City Square. Look for her at the end of the building, right before the restrooms! She offered to let me try on some dresses, but I will pass because the prices are so good! One piece is $7 and two pieces total $10! She also has 3 for $10 deals on t-shirts, golf shirts, and children's clothing! Take a look! You might find a vintage Tommy Bahama shirt for $12 or a Cooke Street Aloha Shirt for $10! Parking is free, so come on over!

    It's a fashion statement…read more.. Aunty's Ukay Ukay is located in Marketplace at City Square and thanks to Nadine C she showed me that there's this place who had relocated from Chinatown and have found a new home here and you'd never know as it's primarily known to shop for groceries and other relatable items. You just need to walk all the way in the back by the restrooms (which I had no idea they had) and you can't miss her with racks of all types of clothings. A simple set up but the variety for both adults and kids from shirts to dresses I was quite impressed of the choices she has and the prices are just so hard to resist as what makes an outfit is how you present it and with values like this you'd be looking fabulous at a great price. Thank you!

    Helping Hands Hawai'i - nonprofit - Updated May 2026

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