05/30/2026
12 days until half Helen turns 13!
Our countdown continues with one of half Helen’s first major projects. In 2014, Chelsea learned that the State of Hawaii had discontinued funding for state-mandated vision and hearing screenings. Recognizing the impact this could have on thousands of children, she saw an opportunity to put half Helen’s new Spot Vision Screener to work.
Chelsea began reaching out to local organizations, building partnerships, and coordinating efforts to screen more than 20,000 students across the island of Maui. Over the course of the project, thousands of children with potential vision problems were identified and connected with the care they needed. One memorable moment came when a screening identified a vision problem in the child of a Maui Electric employee. The experience was so meaningful that Chelsea was invited to speak at Maui Electric about the importance of children's vision health.
This project helped demonstrate what would become a core part of half Helen’s mission: identifying vision problems early and ensuring that children have access to the care they need to succeed.
