HoTOP Is Helping Launch HALO in Hawaiʻi

By the Transitioning Offenders Program (TOP) | www.topwashington.org

Building on a Proven Peer-to-Peer Model

HALO is being founded by Larry Ballesteros, a longtime advocate and TOP founder, who recognized that the same reentry challenges we face in Washington — housing instability, employment barriers, substance abuse, and trauma — exist in uniquely intensified forms on the rural islands of Hawaiʻi.Molokaʻi in particular, often called “The Friendly Isle,” is a close-knit and culturally rooted community. But it faces a severe lack of reentry services, no juvenile detention facility, and limited access to wraparound support for adults and youth returning from incarceration. With few resources on the island, many individuals are released to Honolulu or other islands, far from their ʻohana (family), cultural healing practices, and community supports — increasing the risk of isolation and recidivism.TOP is stepping in to help change that.

TOP’s Role in Launching HALO

As HALO’s founding team begins building the legal, operational, and programmatic infrastructure of a new 501(c)(3), TOP is serving as its fiscal sponsor and technical advisor. Here’s how we’re supporting HALO’s launch:

·       - 501(c)(3) Umbrella: HALO is operating under TOP’s nonprofit umbrella while they complete their independent registration. This allows HALO to begin fundraising, delivering services, and building credibility while TOP provides administrative oversight and compliance.

·       - Curriculum & Materials: We are adapting TOP’s existing peer mentorship curriculum, housing readiness tools, and intake processes for HALO’s unique island context — integrating cultural values like hoʻoponopono (reconciliation), aloha ʻāina (love of land and people), and hoʻomau (perseverance).

·       - Training & Consultation: TOP staff are working directly with HALO founder Larry Ballesteros and his consulting team — including leaders from the Molokai Land Trust and Molokai Heritage Trust — to help train local peer mentors, develop community custody support systems, and engage stakeholders across Maui County.

·       - Grant Support: TOP is supporting HALO’s initial fundraising and grant application strategy, ensuring alignment with public and private funding priorities, including the Second Chance Act and Native Hawaiian health initiatives.

Why It Matters

Launching HALO isn’t just about extending our model — it’s about local empowerment. The goal is not to transplant TOP to Hawaiʻi, but to nurture a place-based, culturally grounded solution that honors the deep community values of Molokaʻi.As HALO’s motto says: “E hoʻi i ka hale me ke aloha” — Come home with love. This vision affirms that every person returning from incarceration deserves the dignity of healing within their community, guided by love, accountability, and culture.With the strength of the TOP model and the heart of Molokaʻi’s people, we believe HALO will become a beacon of what’s possible when reentry is rooted in local values.

Get Involved

To support HALO’s development, visit: www.topwashington.org

Or contact: Larry Ballesteros (Founder, HALO) via info@topwashington.org