Hawaii Legal Aid and Support Resources for Kinship Caregivers

You Do Not Have to Navigate This Alone

Raising a grandchild or relative's child is an act of love that comes with paperwork, deadlines, and questions you never expected to face. Hawaii has a network of free legal, social, and community services that exist specifically to help kinship families. Here is who to call, what they can do, and which island offices serve your area.

Legal Aid Society of Hawaii (LASH)

LASH provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents across all islands. For kinship caregivers, their services include help with guardianship petitions, public benefits appeals (fair hearings), housing disputes, and custody matters.

• Statewide intake hotline: 808-536-4302 or 1-800-499-4302
• Offices on: Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island (Hilo and Kona), Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai

Call the intake line first. LASH screens for income eligibility and case type, then connects you with an attorney or refers you to another resource. Their caseload is high, so call as early in the process as possible — especially if you are facing a benefits denial and need representation at a fair hearing.

Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii (VLSH)

VLSH coordinates pro bono attorneys who volunteer their time for income-eligible clients. Services include legal advice sessions, power-of-attorney drafting, and family law clinics.

• Phone: 808-528-7046

VLSH is particularly helpful for one-time document preparation — such as drafting a minor-child power of attorney under HRS § 560:5-105 — where you need legal guidance but not ongoing representation.

Family Court Self-Help Centers

The Hawaiʻi Judiciary operates Self-Help Centers and Access-to-Justice Rooms across its four circuits. They provide court forms, including guardianship forms, and limited legal information to help self-represented litigants navigate court procedures. They cannot represent you in court.

• First Circuit (Oahu), Second Circuit (Maui County), Third Circuit (Hawaii Island), Fifth Circuit (Kauai)

If you are considering formal guardianship and cannot afford an attorney, the Self-Help Center is the place to start. They walk you through the petition forms and filing procedures.

Family Programs Hawaii Warmline

Family Programs Hawaii operates a statewide warmline specifically for resource caregivers and kinship families. They offer peer support, information and referrals, support groups, and holiday programs.

• Oahu: 808-545-1130
• Neighbor Islands (toll-free): 1-866-545-0882
• Hours: 7 days a week, 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM

The warmline is not a crisis line — it is staffed by people who understand kinship caregiving and can connect you with the right agency, explain a confusing DHS notice, or simply listen when you need to talk through a difficult situation.

Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs)

If you are 55 or older and raising a grandchild, your county ADRC can connect you with services through the Older Americans Act's National Family Caregiver Support Program (Title III-E). Services include respite care, support groups, case management, and information and referrals.

Contact your county ADRC:

• Honolulu (Elderly Affairs Division): 808-768-7700
• Maui County (Office on Aging): 808-270-7774 (Molokai: 808-553-5241; Lanai: 808-565-7114)
• Hawaii County (Office on Aging): Hilo 808-961-8626; Kona 808-323-4390
• Kauai (Agency on Elderly Affairs): 808-241-4470
• Statewide access line: 808-643-2372

PATCH (People Attentive To Children)

PATCH provides statewide childcare referral services, administers the Preschool Open Doors program, and offers caregiver training.

• Phone: 808-839-1988

If you need help finding licensed childcare, understanding subsidy options, or navigating the POD application, PATCH is the resource.

Putting It All Together

Each organization handles a different piece of the kinship caregiving puzzle. Legal Aid for legal matters and appeals. The Warmline for day-to-day support and referrals. ADRCs for older caregivers' specific needs. PATCH for childcare. The Self-Help Centers for court paperwork.

For a complete island-by-island directory of these resources, along with application checklists and tracking tools for every benefit program, see the Hawaii kinship financial help guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be low-income to use Legal Aid? Yes. LASH screens for income eligibility. If your income is above their threshold, they may refer you to VLSH for pro bono help or to the Hawaii State Bar Association's lawyer referral service.

Is the Family Programs Hawaii Warmline just for foster parents? No. The warmline serves all resource caregivers and kinship families, including informal caregivers who are not part of the foster care system.

Can the ADRC help me apply for TANF or SNAP? ADRCs focus on aging and disability services, not DHS benefits applications. But they can refer you to the right BESSD office and help with navigation. For direct help with DHS applications, contact your county processing center or call 1-855-643-1643.

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