Our Story

Jerolyn Johnston and Kailani Meheula, founders of Kupuna Housed lived through a season of homelessness with their children. Having met in a women’s shelter, they both discovered a passion to help Hawaii's growing homeless Kupuna population. In May of 2020 they launched a roadside educational campaign to build awareness in their hometown of Kaneohe. As their season of homelessness came to an end, both Jerolyn and Kailani began to serve homeless Kupuna in the Windward, Oahu area. They launched several “meet and feed” campaigns from April – September in 2022.

 Using their own funds and donations from family and friends, they began feeding, transporting and advocating for homeless Kupuna in the area. Since then, Kupuna Housed has helped to successfully house 10 Kupuna through partnerships with other organizations. At the same time, Joshua Kaina  began reaching out to the homeless population in his area of Ko’olauloa, Hawaii. He helped to successfully transition three Kupuna into government funded shelters before combining efforts with Jerolyn and Kailani. Princess Rodrigues and Jamie Keama joined them shortly after. And today, we all continue to serve those in need.