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Welcome
Build a Brighter Future Together
Join the TAHIRIH ASSOCIATION in our mission to create lasting social change in our world.
BEYOND BARS Reentry Project
This community-based, trauma-informed initiative serves formerly incarcerated women who are on parole or have successfully completed their prison sentences.
The program addresses the critical transition period following release, when individuals face heightened risk of relapse, unemployment, housing instability, and recidivism. Many participants enter reentry with histories of trauma, substance use, and disrupted education, requiring structured support that extends beyond the correctional system.
BEYOND BARS provides this support through a structured curriculum delivered in a community setting, focused on rebuilding core competencies necessary for long-term stability. Using performance-based learning, communication training, and collaborative skill-building, participants develop self-discipline, emotional regulation, accountability, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills are directly aligned with successful reintegration into the workforce, family systems, and community life.
In 2025, the BEYOND BARS Reentry Program was delivered as a community-based initiative serving formerly incarcerated women transitioning from correctional systems into independent living. Participants included women on parole as well as those who had fully completed their sentences and were navigating reintegration without ongoing institutional support. This period represents one of the most critical and vulnerable phases of the justice continuum, where the absence of structured guidance often leads to relapse, instability, and recidivism.
The women entering BEYOND BARS carried complex and layered challenges. Many had histories of substance use beginning in adolescence, compounded by early exposure to trauma, including domestic violence, sexual abuse, and chronic instability. Educational disruption was common, and many participants had limited work histories or lacked the communication and behavioral skills required for employment. In addition, participants often returned to environments where the conditions that contributed to their incarceration remained unchanged.
BEYOND BARS was designed to interrupt this cycle by providing a structured, trauma-informed curriculum delivered in a consistent, community-based setting. The program focused on rebuilding foundational capacities that are often underdeveloped or disrupted by trauma and incarceration, including emotional regulation, communication, accountability, and self-efficacy.
The core of the program consisted of weekly sessions combining communication training, performance-based learning, and collaborative exercises. While unconventional in appearance, this methodology directly addressed the underlying behavioral patterns that affect decision-making and social functioning.
The 2025 implementation of BEYOND BARS demonstrated that reentry support must extend beyond basic services to address the behavioral and cognitive dimensions of reintegration. By combining structured skill development with creative and experiential learning, the program provides a comprehensive approach to rebuilding the capacities necessary for long-term stability.
Ultimately, BEYOND BARS operates on a clear premise: sustainable reentry is not achieved through supervision alone, but through the development of internal competencies that enable individuals to navigate complex social and economic environments. The program’s design and outcomes reflect its effectiveness in supporting formerly incarcerated women as they transition from systems of control to lives of responsibility, contribution, and self-determination.
Hōʻāla Reentry Workforce Project
In Hawaiian Olelo hōʻāla means "to awaken, revive, and restore"
The Hōʻāla Reentry Workforce Project is a comprehensive, evidence-informed workforce development initiative designed to support justice-involved individuals in successfully transitioning from incarceration to sustainable, unsubsidized employment. Led by Tahirih Association—an organization dedicated to reentry treatment and support for incarcerated women—this project brings together a high-impact, multi-sector partnership to deliver integrated workforce training, housing stabilization, behavioral health services, cultural support, and wraparound services aligned with the priorities of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO) program.
The Hōʻāla Reentry Workforce Project will serve 400 justice-involved individuals, including both adults and young people ages 15–24, across Oʻahu and the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. The project is designed to serve a broad demographic population, including both men and women, with a targeted focus on justice-involved youth and women—populations that face some of the highest barriers to employment and successful reintegration.
Through this integrated and scalable model, the Hōʻāla Reentry Workforce Project directly addresses critical gaps in reentry services across Oʻahu and the Big Island by aligning workforce development, housing, behavioral health, cultural support, and employer engagement into a unified strategy. By serving a broad justice-involved population while prioritizing youth and women with the greatest barriers, this initiative advances the goals of the U.S. Department of Labor to improve employment outcomes, reduce recidivism, and create pathways to long-term economic mobility and community stability.
"TEACH A GIRL, CHANGE THE WORLD" Scholarships
For over 20 years we have granted education scholarships to girls and women around the world who are agents of change in their own communities, with a focus on communications, science, technology, and artistic excellence.
Every girl deserves the chance to learn, grow, and realize her fullest potential. But in too many parts of the world, girls face unimaginable obstacles just to access education. At Tahirih Association, we believe that educating a girl can truly change the world one empowered young woman at a time. We invite you to join us in building a brighter future for girls everywhere.
Why This Matters
When a girl receives an education, she gains more than knowledge she gains the power to shape her life, influence her community, and even uplift her nation.
Educated girls are less likely to marry young, more likely to advocate for their rights, and have healthier families. But for many girls, cultural barriers, economic challenges, and safety concerns stand in the way of accessing this fundamental right.
Your Impact
Every dollar you give is an investment in a girl's future - and in the future of our world. Together, we can break down barriers and open doors to opportunities that will empower girls to become leaders, innovators, and changemakers. When you teach a girl you truly change the world.
How You Can Make a Difference
With your help, we can create lasting change for girls around the globe. Your contribution will directly support initiatives that provide safe learning environments, scholarships, and mentorship programs for young women eager to transform their future. Here's how your generosity helps:
- Provide a young girl with school supplies for a full year
- Ensure safe transportation to and from school
- Fund a semester of tuition for a girl at risk of dropping out
- Support a mentorship program, connecting girls with inspiring role models
- Sponsor a year of education, empowering a girl to break free from poverty and achieve her dreams
Thank you for being a
champion for girls
Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua
Honoring Legacy, Preserving Culture
Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua stands as a vibrant center of Hawaiian cultural preservation, where the sacred art of hula is taught, practiced, and shared with deep reverence for tradition. Under the guidance of Kumu Hula Charlani Kalama, this hālau carries forward a legacy that spans generations, rooted in the wisdom of her mother and the rich cultural heritage of Windward O'ahu.
Students, 'Ohana, and Alumni
The strength of Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua lies not only in its kumu but in its devoted students, supportive mākua (parents), and loyal alumni who return to support their hālau family. This sense of 'ohana—family—creates a nurturing environment where cultural knowledge is passed down with care and students learn that hula is more than performance; it is a responsibility to honor those who came before and protect what will be passed to future generations.
Aloha 'Āina: Dancing for the Future
Under Kumu Charlani's leadership, the hālau embodies the principle of aloha 'āina—love and respect for the land and people of Hawai'i. Kumu Charlani, who describes herself as "an alien in my own country," leads her students with the understanding that their work is an act of cultural resistance and preservation. "I will stand for my aina for the future of our children, openness yet to be born," she declares, "that this aina belongs and will always be within our people of Hawaii."
Through every performance, every protocol observed, and every student taught, Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua ensures that the heartbeat of Hawaiian culture continues to pulse strong and true.
A Living Tradition
Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua represents more than a school of dance—it is a sanctuary where Hawaiian language, music, history, and values are woven together through the sacred practice of hula. By honoring the protocols taught by previous generations and maintaining deep connections to community and 'āina, the hālau serves as a beacon of cultural integrity and hope for all who seek to keep Hawaiian traditions alive and thriving.
A Presence in the Community
Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua has become a cherished presence throughout O'ahu, sharing the beauty of hula at diverse community events.
The hālau has been featured in:
- Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Celebrations: The hālau's Hula Academy entertained a full house at Ola Ka ʻĪ, kicking off Hawaiian Language Month with performances that celebrated the inseparable connection between Hawaiian language and dance.
- "I Love Hula in Kailua" Series: This popular monthly program, sponsored by the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, brings free hula performances to the heart of Kailua Town. The hālau's participation in this series helps fulfill the foundation's mission to celebrate Hawaiian cultural traditions and share the cultural expertise that exists within the Windward community.
- Shine A Light for Caregivers: The hālau has performed at this annual celebration, which raises awareness for caregivers who often become isolated and withdrawn. Through their performances, the hālau helps "shine a light" to show caregivers they are seen, appreciated, and supported.
- "Journey to Emalani": The hālau has been part of PBS Hawai'i presentations, including programs that commemorate Queen Emma's historic 1871 visit to the upland forests of West Kaua'i, sharing these cultural narratives with broader audiences.
Students, 'Ohana, and Alumni
The strength of Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua lies not only in its kumu but in its devoted students, supportive mākua (parents), and loyal alumni who return to support their hālau family. This sense of 'ohana—family—creates a nurturing environment where cultural knowledge is passed down with care and students learn that hula is more than performance; it is a responsibility to honor those who came before and protect what will be passed to future generations.
Foundations of Respect and Protocol
Kumu Hula Charlani Kalama embodies Hawaiian culture and is the heart of the hālau's practice and the principles passed down from Kumu Charlani's mother: when a songwriter is alive, it is only proper to seek their mana'o (thoughts and intentions) as well as permission before performing their work. This practice ensures that each hula carries the authentic spirit and meaning intended by its creator. It is through this respectful approach that "your song comes to life in our halau," as Kumu Charlani explains—honoring not just the mechanics of movement, but the living essence of Hawaiian artistic expression.
A Name Rooted in Legacy
The hālau's name itself tells a story of lineage and place. "Kekau'ilani" honors Kumu Charlani's mother, Elizabeth Kekau'ilaniKaai'akawaha Ako Correa Kalama, known affectionately as Aunty Nana or Lani Kalama, who was herself a respected Kumu Hula. "Na Pua Hala O Kailua"—the pandanus flowers of Kailua—connects the hālau to the beloved Windward O'ahu community where it was born and continues to thrive. This name embodies both familial devotion and deep connection to 'āina (land).
Aloha 'Āina: Dancing for the Future
Under Kumu Charlani's leadership, the hālau embodies the principle of aloha 'āina—love and respect for the land and people of Hawai'i. Kumu Charlani, who describes herself as "an alien in my own country," leads her students with the understanding that their work is an act of cultural resistance and preservation. "I will stand for my aina for the future of our children, openness yet to be born," she declares, "that this aina belongs and will always be within our people of Hawaii."
Through every performance, every protocol observed, and every student taught, Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua ensures that the heartbeat of Hawaiian culture continues to pulse strong and true.
A Living Tradition
Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua represents more than a school of dance—it is a sanctuary where Hawaiian language, music, history, and values are woven together through the sacred practice of hula. By honoring the protocols taught by previous generations and maintaining deep connections to community and 'āina, the hālau serves as a beacon of cultural integrity and hope for all who seek to keep Hawaiian traditions alive and thriving.
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For 83 cents a day you can help educate a worthy education candidate. Contribute once a month $25 or more!
Together we can create a ripple effect of positive change that will touch generations to come.
Help us make a difference by making a donation to Tahirih Association. Earmark where you money to go and we'll make it happen. Every contribution counts!
Have a question or want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you. Contact us today and we'll get back to you as soon as possible tahirihassociation@gmail.com or (310) 800-1441
Tahirih Association
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A unique walking tour of the City with time to enjoy lunch and shopping too! Maximize your sightseeing with this exceptional tour.