COURTESY HO’OLA NA PUA
“Hawaii Five-0” star Alex O’Loughlin with Ho’ola Na Pua founders Aaron Schnobrich, left, and Jessica Munoz, right. Also pictured is Ho’ola Na Pua development director Jovanna Giannasio-Fern.
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Ho‘ola Na Pua founder Jessica Munoz hopes tonight’s episode of “Hawaii Five-0” will spark new conversations about child sex trafficking when it airs alongside a national public service announcement featuring series stars Alex O’Loughlin, Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park and Chi McBride.
“One of the biggest barriers we face is lack of awareness,” said Munoz, who noted Hawaii passed a law against sex trafficking only last year. “(CBS wants) to bring the issue of child trafficking that happens in America, that happens here in Hawaii, to the forefront because these kids need our help.”
Tonight’s episode, “Puka ‘ana” (which CBS translates as “exodus”), features scenes shot at Dillingham Ranch that portray Ho‘ola Na Pua’s envisioned Pearl Haven residential treatment campus. The nonprofit is raising funds for the project with the hope of opening in late 2018.
The final version of the PSA will be posted at hoolanapua.org; the website currently features a preview with “Five-0” star Grace Park and photos from filming at Dillingham Ranch.
“Hawaii Five-0” airs at 8 p.m. Fridays on CBS.