Renee Rivera, MSW
Founder & Program Director
Renee Rivera,MSW was born and raised on Kaua‘i and is a proud Kanaka Maoli survivor of homelessness, sexual assault, domestic violence, addiction, and trafficking. Her lived experience fuels a deep passion for advocacy, healing, and creating safe spaces for others navigating their own journeys.
In 2022, she co-founded a nonprofit organization titled He Ho`omaka Hou Ana O` Puna dedicated to supporting women in her community. At age 37, Renee earned her GED through the Pane‘e Mua Project and went on to complete an AA in Liberal Arts and a Certificate in Human Services from Hawai‘i Community College. She later received her BA in Sociology from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and an MSW from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.
Today, Renee serves as a faculty instructor in Human Services at Hawai‘i Community College, where she teaches courses in Human Services, Sociology, Psychology, and Interdisciplinary Studies. She also contributes her leadership and lived expertise as a board member for several organizations, including HOPE Services Hawai‘i, the Hawai‘i Island Service Area Board on Mental Health & Substance Abuse, and the United Way Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
Deeply rooted in her Native Hawaiian culture, Renee walks with the guidance of her kupuna and honors her greatest accomplishment—her family—who continue to carry forward her values of humility, resilience, and aloha.