Spotlight : Annual Reports
Between 1907 and 1925, Palama Settlement grew from a single district nurse into a citywide network of health services. Its work included visiting nursing, infant care through a Pure Milk Depot, dispensaries across Honolulu, and the Pa Ola Day Camp for tuberculosis patients, which was vital during the 1920 influenza epidemic. Palama also addressed poor housing conditions, opened medical and dental clinics in 1914, and created the Fresh Air Camp to give overworked mothers and children a place to recover. By 1920, it operated thirteen centers in fifty-three buildings, becoming a cornerstone of Honolulu’s early public health system.
By 1925, Palama Settlement moved to a new ten-acre site on Vineyard Street, with modern facilities including gyms, a swimming pool, an auditorium, recreation spaces, and a medical-dental building. The Strong-Carter Dental Clinic, founded in 1920 to provide free care for public school children, was incorporated into the new campus. Health services expanded to include prenatal clinics, child health conferences, and a venereal disease clinic. During World War II, Palama became a vital first-aid and war service center, supporting both neighborhood families and thousands of service members with medical care, recreation, and community programs. After the war, Palama rededicated itself to building better health, citizenship, and community.
In the decades following World War II, medical services were phased out as Palama Settlement shifted its focus to neighborhood development, youth programs, adult education, and family support. Programs prioritized social work and community outreach, addressing the needs of a growing population and the rise of public housing complexes in the Kalihi-Pālama area. By the 1970s and 1980s, the Settlement had expanded coordinated social services, tutoring, vocational and computer programs, drop-in youth centers, and residential treatment for troubled teens. Two signature programs, Pākōlea and the In-Community Treatment Program, employed behavior modification through positive reinforcement and integrated approaches promoting health, education, and nutrition. In 1996, Palama celebrated its 100th anniversary, honoring a century of community-centered programs and neighborhood partnerships.
From 2000–2006, Palama Settlement strengthened the Kalihi-Pālama community through programs for youth, families, adults, and seniors. Family Service Centers supported public housing families, addressing crises and at-risk youth needs. Youth programs combined academics, arts, and sports—Pākōlea, intramurals, flag football, and Learning Center classes fostered growth, discipline, and creativity. Partnerships with the University of Hawaii, PREL, and Ohana Komputer expanded technology, literacy, and arts opportunities. Adults and seniors engaged in ESL, GED, cultural, and fitness programs. Volunteers, donors, and the Board’s Charity Golf Tournament provided vital support, while facility upgrades, including the Archives, preserved Palama’s legacy and empowered the community.