Child and Family Service opens permanent Hilo facility for East Hawaii families

Child and Family Service opened its permanent Hilo facility with a blessing and dedication Thursday, giving East Hawaii families a fixed address on Kilauea Avenue for services that often start in moments of crisis. The move replaces a temporary setup near the agency’s former office and gives the nonprofit a long-term home in a part of Hawaii County where distance and access can shape whether families get help.

Community leaders gathered for the traditional Hawaiian blessing at the new office, and Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen was among the guests who toured the center after the ceremony. The presence of county and community figures reflected how closely Child and Family Service’s work intersects with the courts, social services and other parts of the local safety net in Hilo.

Amanda Pump, the organization’s president and CEO, said the facility is “more than just a building” and reflects the commitment of government, philanthropy and the community to strengthen families. For East Hawaii households dealing with child welfare concerns, domestic stress, trauma or parenting challenges, a permanent location can reduce the uncertainty that comes with temporary space and make it easier to find the same door when they need support again.

The new site is at 1015 Kilauea Avenue in Hilo, according to Child & Family Service’s East Hawaii Island listing. Programs on the east side include Crisis Mobile Outreach and Developing Options to Violence / Alternatives to Violence, both services that depend on quick access and continuity for residents who may be navigating unsafe home situations or urgent behavioral health needs.

Child & Family Service says it has been helping families in the Hilo community for more than 40 years, and the permanent facility marks a more established presence in town. In a county spread across a wide geography, keeping key services close to home matters for families who may not have the time, transportation or stability to travel far for help.

The opening also comes as the agency has continued to highlight mental health pressures across the islands. In a June 2 news post, Child & Family Service pointed to an op-ed by Chief Program Officer Robert Boyack on a “quiet mental health crisis,” underscoring the demand for steady counseling and family-support locations on Hawaii Island. With the Hilo office now anchored on Kilauea Avenue, the agency has a more permanent base for that work.