Our Mission & Values
In 1871, Prince William Charles Lunalilo executed his will that would leave his vast landholdings for the Trustees to erect a building or buildings for the use and accommodation of poor, destitute and infirm kanaka ʻōiwi (Native Hawaiians), giving preference to old people (kūpuna). While he did not leave a written record of the reasons why he executed his will, the Prince witnessed first-hand the struggles of his people over decades.
Since Captain Cook’s landing in 1778, successive waves of epidemics killed tens of thousands of kanaka ʻōiwi (Native Hawaiians) at a time. Prince Lunalilo lost his own mother to an influenza epidemic in 1845, when he was 10 years old. By the 1860s, the population of the islands had declined between 70% and 90%. The depopulation of the islands was obvious even to malihini, with complex earthworks, built for agriculture and aquaculture, fallen into disrepair and disuse.
In addition, while King Kamehameha III created private land ownership in the 1850s to forestall the takeover of the Kingdom by a foreign power, the unanticipated impacts of private property were becoming ever more apparent in the 1860s and 1870s. The sugar plantation barons were aggressively acquiring vast tracts of land, burning down whole forests and wreaking havoc on the islands that haunt us until today.
Prince Lunalilo executed his will to address these unprecedented social ills among his people. While epidemics continued to steal loved ones away, many kanaka ʻōiwi were losing access to their ancestral lands. Even kūpuna were finding themselves on the streets of a rapidly urbanizing Honolulu, with no one to care for them. Prince Lunalilo rose to become King Lunalilo only two years after he signed his will, only to pass away a year and 25 days later.
Today, we provide a safe and loving refuge for kūpuna in need, building a community of aloha at Lunalilo Home. Indeed, we strive to live up to the legacy of the original Lunalilo Home in Makiki, whose residents created a haven for the Hawaiian language and culture to grow during the darkest times of the Lāhui. All of our services are rooted in our Hawaiian culture and values, and we care for kūpuna as part of our Lunalilo Trust ʻohana.
Our Beginning
Our Mission
Through his will and codicil, Lunalilo charged our Trustees to erect a building or buildings for the use and accommodation of poor, destitute, and infirm kanaka ʻōiwi (Native Hawaiians), giving preference to kūpuna (elders). The Probate Court reviews and approves the governance provided by our Trustees, including our 2017-2027 Strategic Plan.
Since 2007, the Probate Court has allowed Lunalilo Home to offer our services to all kūpuna, regardless of race, ethnicity or ancestry.
Today, our mission is to provide kūpuna and others in need with shelter and care that is grounded in Hawaiian culture and values. Our promise is “Always with aloha!”
While we are committed as a Native Hawaiian organization to the diverse and complex set of Hawaiian cultural values, we keep our focus on five core values to help keep our team moving in the same direction for the betterment of the care and environment we provide for our kūpuna.
We care for every person with aloha—especially when it might be hard.
We show up with haʻahaʻa, being willing to do whatever is needed to care for each other, our kūpuna, and the lāhui.
We readily offer hoʻomanawanui, making plenty of time for everyone with patience and grace.
We practice laulima, knowing that many hands working together can lighten any load.
We keep our eyes on kūlia i ka nuʻu, striving for excellence and quality in all we do.
Our Core Values
History of the King Lunalilo Trust
Lunalilo Home was established through the will of High Chief William Charles Lunalilo, who entrusted his legacy to care for kānaka in need. His wish was to create a home for those of Hawaiian ancestry — especially our kūpuna — who are poor, infirm, or without support, ensuring they would always have a place of dignity, compassion, and aloha.
Campus & Facilities
The King Lunalilo Trust campus is a place of aloha — a safe and nurturing space dedicated to the well-being of our kūpuna. Nestled on five beautiful acres on the western slopes of Koko Crater in Hawaiʻi Kai, Lunalilo Home offers a peaceful setting where care, culture, and community come together.
Governance
Lunalilo Home is guided by Trustees who carry the kuleana of stewarding King Lunalilo’s legacy in accordance with King Lunalilo’s will and with integrity, cultural grounding, and aloha. Their oversight helps us to secure the future of the organization for generations to come.
Leadership
The leadership of Lunalilo Home serves with deep aloha — grounded in Hawaiian values and guided by a commitment to our kūpuna. With compassion, haʻahaʻa, and a dedication to excellence, they carry forward the mission of providing quality care while nurturing a strong sense of ʻohana throughout our Home.
“Lunalilo Home is the perfect place to live. Their food is nourishing, and there are beautiful gardens and walkways to stroll and benches to sit on to enjoy the outdoors. Every week there are groups from the community to kanikapila. It is wonderful!”
-Aunty Shirley
