Singer Paula Fuga will be featured on "Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox" tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Fuga will talk about a childhood that included living on the beach and being teased for homelessness.

Fuga, who first received notice for her appearance on American Idol Season Three, released her successful debut album, "Lilikoi," last year. Lauded as Most Promising Artist in this year's Hoku awards, Fuga has performed with Jack Johnson and is scheduled to sing with Sheryl Crow.

At 28, she is establishing a non-profit organization, the Lilikoi Foundation, to support women who are struggling.

"I was very fortunate to have positive adult role models in my life, namely my grandparents, my aunties," Fuga said. "I feel so fortunate to have had those people in my life that set me straight and said, 'no, that's not OK, that's unacceptable.'"

"Paula Fuga is a rising star in Hawai'i's music industry, with a message as powerful as her voice, said Wilcox. "This is a resilient young woman who as an adult is choosing a new path."

Upcoming guests on the weekly PBS Hawaii program include Peter Rockford Espiritu, founder of the Tau Dance Theater and surf-rescue pioneer Brian Keaulana.