A lifeline for students: UH West O‘ahu’s Basic Needs Program

At first, Chelstine “Kau‘i” Tavares hesitated to walk through the doors. The UH West O‘ahu sophomore felt a quiet reluctance to ask for support – the exact same barrier faced by Norinna-Lynne Ili. Between working as a full-time secretary and taking classes part-time, Ili was accustomed to surviving her busy days on nothing but cough drops and free coffee.

For Tavares and Ili, the campus’s Kumu Ola – Basic Needs Center has been an essential resource, especially the Pueo Pantry and the days of food distribution. Both visit the pantry, stocking up on canned goods, soups, dried ramen and other necessities that don’t fit within their budgets.

When Tavares’s family ran low on funds, she turned to the pantry's staples just to get through the week. Today, she works as a student assistant for the program, while for working students like Ili, the Center continues to provide the sustenance needed to balance employment and academics.

"Many students initially feel a sense of shame when admitting they need help," Tavares explained, recalling her own journey. "But over time, they realize this food is for them, and they open up about their struggles. Seeing their gratitude when they realize they can feed their families is amazing."

A comprehensive safety net

The initiative targets the everyday challenges that force students to choose between opportunity and stability. Crucially, the fund does more than just purchase supplies; it supports the development and sustainment of a campus-wide basic needs support system. Kumu Ola Committee Chair Loea Akiona notes the program is driven by a deep commitment to helping others.

“Drawing from my own experience as a student, there is tremendous satisfaction in helping our students remain on campus and achieve success,” Loea said. “We believe no student should have to choose between their education and their well-being.”

A growing need, met with growing support

Kumu Ola addresses rising concerns about the number of college students facing food insecurity and financial instability. The program provides access to essential hygiene and menstrual products, and it allows students to borrow laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots for the entire semester. Students can also access free professional and everyday attire through the Pueo Closet, which sees about 100 visitors a year.

The most visible area of growth is in food assistance. Through the Pueo Pantry – which averages about 400 visitors a year and is growing each semester – and weekly Pueo Food Drops, the campus partners with Aloha Harvest to distribute fresh, nutritious food to students.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, the program distributed 3,945 pounds of food to 1,090 students. The following year saw an increase to 4,422 pounds distributed to 1,650 students. Now, just halfway through the current academic year (from Fall 2025 to February 2026), the program has already distributed 7,915 pounds of food to 900 students.

Building a permanent foundation on Giving Day

With donor support the campus can ensure these resources remain permanently available.

By contributing to the Kumu Ola Basic – Needs Fund, donors give UH West Oʻahu students the chance to focus on their education instead of worrying about their basic needs. It gives the campus the ability to respond when life’s challenges threaten to derail a student’s dreams, ensuring they have the support needed to cross the graduation stage.

“Having access to the pantry and the clothing closet means everything to me and my family,” Ili said. “With our rent going up, our budget is already stretched thin. So, it really makes a difference and it helps relieve a lot of stress.”