Allene Uesugi has an affinity for children who live on the fringes.

They, in turn, find in her a confidant, someone they can tell the secrets no child should ever know, let alone keep — secrets of beatings, criminal behavior and sexual abuse that could launch them into a life without hope.

Uesugi and other foster parents like her are determined to prove to each of their foster children that they deserve to dream of being so much more.

As their foster mother, Allene Uesugi does what she can to comfort them and help them devise a plan to set their worlds — and their futures — aright.

"These children corner me to tell me their most dark and deep secrets," Uesugi said. "I am so shocked at what I hear that I cannot move."

Allene and Arthur, her husband of 39 years, moved into a six-bedroom, five-bathroom home on Wai'anae Valley Road after 17 years living in a low-income apartment complex in Kalihi, where Allene Uesugi worked as a resident manager.

Children in that community were drawn to Uesugi, who would store coloring books, puzzles and games in her office to keep them busy. Sometimes she'd take them on field trips and often had to call the local public swimming pool to give the lifeguards a heads up that she was coming by with more than 50 kids in need of some splash therapy.

Moving away from the cacophony of urban-style play dates put a void in Uesugi's heart. She and her husband wanted to raise a football team. Instead only their youngest child, now an adult, still lived at home.

"One day I was watching TV and I saw a commercial that said they were looking for foster parents," she said. "So we decided to see if we could help."

What they got, in some cases, were children who hated the world, hated themselves and behaved irrationally. One girl told a counselor of her plans to kill Uesugi. Allene didn't believe it: "It didn't stop us. We still foster. In fact, I'm a 'go-to' mom, and we run an emergency shelter. I get calls 24/7. It's a wonderful thing."

The Uesugis are affiliated with the Hui Ho'omalu program at the Partners in Development, a public nonprofit foundation. Over the years, countless foster children have stayed with the couple for various lengths of time.

Uesugi's organizational skills and household routine involve every child who enters her home, whether they are there for the day or for several weeks. Each morning, the children gather as Uesugi consults her calendar, organizes their day, plans their appointments, enrolls them in appropriate sporting or leisure programs, and shares scripture from the Bible.

"Allene is so resourceful and proactive," said Lisa Zablan, a social worker with the state Department of Human Services.

Lynne Kazama, assistant program administrator at DHS, said the Uesugis are adept at rehabilitating some of society's most challenging charges.

"They have adopted and fostered, and have seen the strengths and gems in the children and youth, (and have hung) in there during tough times," Kazama said.

"Their passion is to provide children with a safe and nurturing home so the children can concentrate on being the best they can be," said Margie Higa-Funai, a DHS social worker. "They have never given up on any child, and they have had some very difficult children in their care."

LEARN MORE

For information about the Department of Human Services' foster-care services, contact Hui Ho'omalu at the site closest to you:

O'ahu: 441-1117

Maui: 808-268-5122

Kaua'i: 808-346-8184

East Hawai'i: 808-987-5988

West Hawai'i: 808-896-3829

Toll-free: 888-879-8970

E-mail hui@pidfoundation.org or visit www.pidfoundation.org.