MANA Award

Maile’s Achievement Nourishing Ambition

Photo taken at the 7th Annual CAM & Red Sands Event & in collaboration with Lite the Hoan Bridge "Shine a Light" program.

Shining a Light in the Darkness of Grief and Loss

The MANA Award was established by Lea S. Denny, Founder, CEO, and Clinical Director of the HIR Wellness Institute, as a powerful initiative to highlight and take social justice action in response to the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIWR). The HIR Wellness Institute’s Inaugural CAM™ & Red Sands Event, held in 2017, marked a collective moment of recognition, honor, and mourning for the victims of MMIWR. Among those remembered was Maile Lehua Chow, a young woman whose life was tragically taken at the age of 24 as a result of human trafficking. At this event, Maile's family found a meaningful space within the community to grieve, honor her memory, and begin the healing process.

Since then, Maile's ‘ohana (family) has attended the event annually, coming together to honor her and others who have suffered similar losses. In November 2020, the HIR Wellness Institute's CEO announced the creation of the MANA Award, named in Maile’s honor—Maile’s Achievement Nourishing Ambition. In Hawaiian culture, "mana" represents energy, strength, and power, reflecting the spirit of the award.

The MANA NOW Award is designed to support survivors of sex trafficking, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and domestic violence, as well as their families. It offers recipients an opportunity for relief, healing, and hope as they continue their journeys of recovery. At the HIR Wellness Institute, we believe that true advocacy, healing, and restoration occur when individuals are empowered to focus on their own growth while also supporting and uplifting others.

Award recipients will be granted a scholarship to help nourish their aspirations, along with access to free mental health counseling and advocacy services to support their ongoing healing process.

In Memory

Say her name

Maile Lehua Chow was a strong, spirited and intelligent young woman. Her dreams were filled with possibilities. Like many young people, Maile had her heart set on the "American Dream" to make a difference in this world as a visual and performing artist and writer. She followed her ambitions to Las Vegas where she was manipulated and forced into trafficking. Upon her attempt to escape, her life was taken from her and her family, never returning home to be placed to rest. 

Honor Their Stories

Never Forget

What happened to Maile is all too common, and yet invisible to the mainstream society. Our sisters, mothers, daughters, aunties, and friends are taken in plain sight and never come back home. When this happens, not only is there no justice for the victim, but there is no justice for their families, and no place to grieve their loss and pain. It is time for us to come together and raise social justice action for survivors and those whose voices were forever silenced. 

*Photos of Maile L. Chow courtesy of her ‘ohana

Honor

Maile's mother Sandie being honored as the inaugural recipients of the MANA Award. Blanket was presented to her by Malia, Maile's twin sister, and Lea, our CEO & Founder.

132035780_472456477490101_92114774688121

Support

Join our network o MANA Sponsors!

To learn more about donating or becoming a legacy giver for the MANA Award, please reach out to us at Donate@HIRwellness.org.

Donate Now

MicrosoftTeams-image - 2024-05-02T084114.738.jpg

shared image - 2024-09-01T102956.634.jpg

Policy Change

Protect the Sacred

At HIR Wellness Institute we understand that Mental Health is directly connected to the environments in which we live. When we do not feel safe, when loved ones experience unrest and constant heartache, this will have an impact on not only the individual but their community too.

Our leadership team is honored to be part of the Wisconsin MMIW State Task Force.

CEO & Clinical Director Lea S. Denny who is on the "Research & Data" subcommittee
Community Engagement & Indigenous Affairs Director Jamie Kellicut who is on the "Systems" Subcommittee
HIR Wellness Institute Board Chair Skye Alloway who is the former Co-Chair for the Task Force.