E komo mai. Welcome.
About Hale Kiapu
Hale Kiapu — House of Kiapu — is the name of our residential campus at 525 Kiapu Place in Honolulu’s Liliha neighborhood. The name reflects what we strive to be: not a facility, but a home, rooted in the quiet street where our community has stood for nearly a century.
Our Mission
To care for the residents with compassion for their individual needs and encourage them to live to their fullest.
Our Vision
To create a community for residents where we assist, and inspire them to live to their fullest.
Our History
Korean Care Home is a not-for-profit organization and an affiliate of the Korean Christian Church.
The Home was founded by Dr. Seung Man Rhee in 1929 to meet the needs of aging first-generation Korean immigrants settling in Honolulu. What began as a mission of cultural belonging has grown into a multi-generational community — today, Korean Care Home provides 24-hour care to 20–30 residents regardless of ethnic background.
The current building was constructed in 1955 and in 1972 was Hawaii State certified as an Adult Residential Care Home, Type II — a designation it has held with pride ever since.
Nearly a century on, the founding spirit remains unchanged: compassionate care, rooted in community.
Our Management
Kanani Ornellas, MBA-HCA, MSN, FNP Executive Director
Kanani brings both clinical expertise and executive leadership to Korean Care Home. Her credentials — Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration, Master of Science in Nursing, and Family Nurse Practitioner — reflect a commitment to care that is at once compassionate and clinically rigorous.
Deborah Carr Office Manager
Deborah ensures the day-to-day operations of the home run smoothly, serving as a key point of contact for residents, families, and community partners.
Faith Affiliation
Korean Care Home is a ministry of the Korean Christian Church, a congregation rooted in Honolulu’s Korean immigrant community. The church’s mission of compassionate service finds direct expression here — not as a condition of admission, but as the spirit that shapes how every resident is treated.
Pastoral visits, prayer, and worship services are available to any resident who wishes to participate.
Licensing & Oversight
- Organization type: Not-for-profit
- License type: Adult Residential Care Home, Type II (certified 1972)
- Regulatory authority: Hawaii Department of Health, Office of Health Care Assurance
- Capacity: 31 residents
- Founded: 1929 by Dr. Seung Man Rhee
Families are welcome to request a copy of our current license and most recent inspection report.
Our Values
How we provide care matters just as much as the care itself. We are guided by five core values:
| Fair | We treat every resident with respect and equity |
| Honest | We communicate openly with families |
| Reliable | Dependable care you can count on |
| Consistent | High standards in every interaction |
| Doing the Right Thing | Always acting in the best interest of residents |
Part of the GPH Family
Korean Care Home is part of the GPH family of companies — a network of organizations serving housing, healthcare, education, and community needs across Hawaii. Our goal is simple: provide quality care while making our community a better place.
Good People Helping Good People