Eden Plan Hawaii
Breaking cycles for kids
We are a grassroots 501(c)(4) nonprofit dedicated to creating safe, supportive, and creative places for foster youth, former foster youth, and children with IEPs or other learning and developmental needs.
Our goal is pretty simple: we want young people to feel safe, valued in their gifts, and capable in their goals. We align with a Montessori approach – we track what the young person values and encourage them in their interests. We strive to help them build confidence, learn practical life skills, become more independent, and cultivate a sense of belonging. Through housing, mentorship, hands-on work, healthy meals, gardening, job skills, and connections to community resources, we give young people the chance to discover what they’re good at and figure out what comes next.
Our 38-acre property gives young people room to learn by doing. They can grow food, care for the land and animals, learn job skills, work alongside positive adults, and be part of a community where they are encouraged to participate and contribute. If they have developmental needs – slow and steady is welcome. We believe small wins like helping to grow a hydroponic lettuce can be transformative to self esteem. It is not worlds different than adults self esteem boosting by getting a small activity done like making the bed! We believe young people learn best when they are given real responsibilities, trusted to try, and supported when things don’t go as planned.
We have a particular focus on youth in foster care who need additional developmental or educational support. At the same time, we try not to put people in boxes or define them by a label. Every young person is different, and we meet them where they are. We also are expanding to support families who may not have easy access to the resources their children need.
We believe in hand-ups, not handouts. That means earlier interventions in cycles of poverty. It also means giving young people real opportunities to learn, work, contribute, and take ownership of their future — while making sure they have the support they need along the way.
This started with Bran personally flipping houses with a mission on mind. Having overcome his own foster experience -- he wanted to right for others. He donated his private land donation to the project and recruited a small group of dedicated, energetic volunteers who believed we could build something different. Today, we are working to grow that vision into a model that can eventually be replicated on other properties, creating more places where young people can live, learn, work, and feel like they belong.
Most importantly, we want every young person who comes through our doors to know four things: you belong here, you matter, you have value and gifts, and your future is worth investing in.
Services
We have comprehensive programming for those we serve.
Housing
We are currently fundraising to build or acquire a six-bedroom home designed to provide a safe, stable, and supportive environment for up to five foster youth.
The home will be more than a place to live—it will be a foundation for stability, connection, education, and personal growth.
Our property also includes tiny homes for volunteers and staff, allowing caring adults and mentors to live on-site and contribute to a positive, consistent community for the youth we serve.
By combining safe housing, supportive relationships, hands-on learning, healthy food, life-skills development, and access to community resources, we are creating an environment where foster youth can feel secure, build confidence, and develop the skills they need to thrive.
Food Security & Health
Food security is about more than having enough to eat. It is about understanding the process that cultivated your food as well as getting enough nutrition. Food is this amazing opportunity to tap into across the spectrum skill including in soil production, compost, and culinary skill.
We provide year-round meal preparation, along with expanding into after-school and summer programming that give children and youth access to healthy meals, hands-on learning, and a supportive community. When possible, food is grown and prepared on-site.
As we expand our shelter and programming - our goal is to make healthy food, learning, and community part of everyday life while creating a positive environment where kids can build confidence, learn new skills, and feel good.
job pathways +
Skill development
What is unique about Eden is our “hand up” culture. We believe older foster youth and young adults transitioning into independence need more than a place to live—they need opportunities to discover what they are capable of and build skills that can change the direction of their lives.
Youth have opportunities to learn practical skills in construction, solar, agriculture, culinary arts, property management, and other areas of hands-on work. Through mentorship and real-world experience, they can develop confidence, responsibility, work experience, and skills they can carry into future employment and independent living.
We love seeing young people gain confidence, discover their strengths, and begin to see a future they can build for themselves. Our goal is to create an environment where transitioning youth are supported while also being given meaningful opportunities to contribute, learn, and grow.
As we expand, we hope to add creative and entrepreneurial spaces where young people can explore art, small business, entrepreneurship, and other pathways to economic independence.
Community partnerships
We are partnered with several organizations across Big Island, including One Ohana, Salvation Army, and Hydroponic Hut. These partnerships ensure our long term viability, offering wrap around services, workshops, and referrals.
After school programs
We uphold State priorities to re-connect people with the care of land (Malama aina). We have bees on site, use and train regenerative agriculture (over mono-cropping), practice organic farming using horse manure compost, and use 100% solar energy. We stack time, layering conservation values with pragmatic skill.
therapeutic frame
Our residents have the opportunity to advance their training during their time here. Residents are matched with a case manager, who provides wrap around support. They have the opportunity to live and work with the animals. Research points to this as a top practice for trauma informed nervous system care.
Work Bee Events
We welcome nonprofits, families, and community projects from across the area to join our work bee events and be part of the work happening on site. These hands-on days are a chance to pitch in, meet others, learn something new, and help care for and improve the property.
Animal well-being
We treasure our 13 horses rescued in the 2018 Lava Flow. Next to them, we have a flock of chickens, 2 goats, 2 ducks, and wild pigs. We uphold a sanctuary space for them that offers therapeutic support for residents + training grounds for our residents and staff. We give our animals optimal quality of life with acreage for free roaming. They help manage our land and orchards adjacent volunteers. Aligned with our love for animals, we have one vegetarian community meal a day, cultivated on the land.
creativity + entrepreneurship
We highly value supporting self starters. Whether someone is interested in launching a landscaping business, work in mechanics, green energy, construction, the arts, the digital world, or nutrition... we do our best to support residents to launch and thrive.
testimonials from our community
Video Testimonial by Dani, former resident
Before Eden Plan, Hanale was homeless and living in a tent. Eden helped him stabilize his life, improve his health, and start working towards his goals. He gained access to food, healthcare, identification, and support he didn’t have before. Eden gave him a real foundation to build from.
Story of Hanale, Former Resident
Eden Plan gave Daniel stability when he had none. With our support, Daniel was able to get his ID, health insurance, medical care, and basic life tools he’d never had access to. We were able to help him move forward with confidence and direction.
story of Daniel, former resident
Our community partners
