Our incredible mentors and volunteers are the backbone of Humanity Hale! We are so lucky to have people in our community who care about our keiki and ‘ōpio just as much as we do. Huge mahalo to these beautiful souls!
Charis Higginson
The Founder and CEO of Humanity Hale, home grown right here in Kailua-Kona, has been an advocate for underserved youth for many years. Charis has been involved with community organizations, who's primary goals were cultivating change and fostering a sense of well-being within our youth. As a mentor for Sunburst Youth Academy & Awaken Arts, with additional training in art therapy, she heard endless stories of sexual and physical abuse, sex-trafficking, self-harm and unfathomable traumas. After mentoring several groups of these strong, amazing young kids over several years, it became very obvious to her that her life mission was to create a safe haven...A place to cultivate warriors who could do more than survive, but to thrive! It has taken four years, working three jobs to self-fund Humanity Hale, but with the support of the amazing people within our Big Island Community, we were able to launch our first program Happy Hearts, Healing Arts, June 2022! Her three year goal is to create a large group foster home, a community center and housing for foster youth aging out of the foster care system. "We have witnessed foster kids being passed around from home to home and being forced back into unsafe environments and we will do everything in our power to create a fully staffed, permanent housing foundation for them, for as long as they need us. A place to keep them safe, protected and loved...A place to create healing and the life skills needed to become contributing members of society...A place they can always call their home...We are that place...we are their forever hale and we will be their forever ohana." Charis dreams big, but there are no limits to the healing we can create when we come together in love.
Kim Brown
Born and raised in Kailua Kona Hawaii, Kim Brown has been actively serving her community over the years. Kim dedicates her days off to nonprofit organizations such as Ikaikamauloa Youth Foundation, where she coaches boxing on the weekends, and now Humanity Hale, where she gets to be a champion for inclusion, diversity, and growth. As a member of the LGBTQ family, Kim knows how it feels to be placed in less than ideal circumstances as it relates to gender and equality. These challenges have only built her resilience and Kim is determined to help create a space where it’s safe for all children to recognize and respect themselves and others for who they truly are. Kim believes using her own experience to mentor youth is a critical ingredient in supporting positive outcomes for our Keiki, their healing, and their future.
Sarah Benjamin
My name is Sarah Benjamin! I grew up in a small town in North Carolina, and my brothers and I were raised by our incredibly strong and resilient mother. My mom’s tenacity to be stronger than her past and become an incredible social worker, single mother, and foster parent has made me seek out injustices and create more equity in my community. I am a recent graduate of San Diego State University with a BS in Criminal Justice, Psychology, and Humanities. I focused mostly on the school to prison pipeline and inclusivity issues in our welfare system. My goal is to get my masters degree in counseling to better serve my community. Since moving to Kona in the summer of 2021, I have been able to explore my roots in a deeper way and connect with a community that is so welcoming and acts as such a strong and caring collective.
I have worked in many different fields such as, working with kiddos with autism, or a learning disability, as well as families with domestic violence, and/or those who have been through trauma. Volunteering at Humanity Hale has created a safe space for me to be open about my heritage and being a part of the LGBTQ community. I want to create a happy and safe place for everyone in our community.
I have worked in many different fields such as, working with kiddos with autism, or a learning disability, as well as families with domestic violence, and/or those who have been through trauma. Volunteering at Humanity Hale has created a safe space for me to be open about my heritage and being a part of the LGBTQ community. I want to create a happy and safe place for everyone in our community.
Kristin Francis
Radha Mistry
Lily Bolton
Aloha! My name is Lily and I am thrilled to join Humanity Hale as a volunteer to support young people on the Big Island! I have more than 10 years of clinical experience treating trauma and PTSD (particularly in individuals with histories of sexual abuse and domestic violence), anxiety, depression, relationship issues, identity issues, life transitions, eating disorders, attachment issues, stress management/burnout, religious trauma/cults, and self-esteem/self-worth concerns. I hope to provide group and individual support to young people who might need a listening ear or some concrete coping skills to manage challenges in their lives. 'm looking forward to learning from the members of this program and having some laughs along the way! My husband and I have two rescue pups, Koa and Sierra, who add so much joy and silliness to our lives. I love getting out in nature whenever possible—gardening, snorkeling, hiking, and taking in all of the rugged beauty here in Hawai'i!
Naoho Kanahele
Aloha, my name is Naoho Kanahele. I was raised in Hawaiian culture and use it in my everyday life. Hula has been a specific passion of mine and I am so excited to share this experience with others.