Walk into Spill the Tea Café in Kakaako and you’ll find a menu board like no other.
Instead of lattes and iced coffees, a large corkboard is filled with colorful, positive sticky notes sharing words of encouragement: Remember we love you. You’re doing amazing; keep going. Thank you for existing in every space you are in.
Take what you need; give what you can: Teens leave notes of encouragement for each other.
These notes are all written by the patrons of Spill the Tea, which has the cozy, welcoming aesthetic of a typical café but is actually Hawaii’s only teen-focused mental health clinic. It’s a safe space for youth to attend individual and group therapy sessions, talk story with their peers, drink free boba, and play games. Haylin Dennison, a licensed therapist and social worker in Honolulu, opened the nonprofit cafe in 2022 after her oldest son expressed a need for mental health resources.
“There are two issues when it comes to adolescent mental health in Hawaii: a lack of access to therapists and resources, and the stigma surrounding mental health,” says Dennison. “I felt like I needed to take action.”
A safe haven to belong
The mom of four opened the space in just two months. She and her family worked day and night painting, building walls, and ensuring therapy offices were ready to meet the demand.
“We were just trying to get this place up and running for our kiddos,” says Dennison. “And then, within the first few months, we needed to put up some crisis rooms because too many kids were crying in the parking lot.”
Spill the Tea is tucked away on the second floor of a building on Queen St.
With the need so high, the café quickly expanded from two to six therapy rooms, including one for group therapy and three soundproof pods for individual sessions. While therapy is a crucial part of supporting youth, one of Spill the Tea’s main draws is its casual setting for teens to connect and be themselves.
“They can just drop in; they don’t need an appointment or to be a client to come and hang out,” explains Kiki Rosario, outreach coordinator at Spill the Tea.
It’s a space where they feel seen and engaged and experience a sense of belonging, especially since they’ve also made the café their own. The teens added their personal touches, painting a galaxy mural on the ceiling of one office, with crocheted flower garlands adorning the walls of another.
Teens painted the galaxy-themed ceiling in the group therapy room.
“They really take the lead on what they want,” says Rosario. “It empowers them to have their voices heard, so if there’s something we can do to make that happen, then yes; let’s make this a galaxy with grass and a tree coming out.”
All respect, no judgment
Spill the Tea’s leadership team wanted the kids to know their opinions, thoughts, and feelings are valued. So, they created the youth advisory board, which helps shape the café’s policies. Nothing gets approved without consulting the board, and they let the leadership team know when something isn’t working.
“We have a rule here: You can say anything to us as long as it’s respectful,” says Dennison. “Have a respectful tone, try to regulate your emotions, and we’ll listen to you. We’re providing a space for youth to know they can use their voice without fear of judgment.”
Creative expression encouraged; respect and inclusion required.
That also comes in the form of creative expression. A community closet in the back corner of the café might seem random, but it plays an important role in helping teens explore their identity.
“Some of our kiddos may not have a safe space where they can go to the adults in their lives and say, ‘I’d like to try wearing different clothes,’” says Rosario.
She recalls a teen who came into the café with his “regular” clothes on and headed straight for the community closet. He spent six hours in the clothing he chose before changing back to his original clothes for the trip home.
“The transformation in his face was remarkable; he was glowing and so much happier when he was here,” says Rosario. “He felt like he had found where he belonged. And that’s exactly why we do this.”
Fueling hope and healing
For teenagers who may be hesitant about visiting Spill the Tea for the first time, Dennison and Rosario created monthly nonclinical events with input from the youth advisory board. Previous events included karaoke nights, art and poetry workshops, and dance parties.
“It helps destigmatize the presence of a kid coming here,” explains Rosario. “Once they realize not everything we do is mental health-related, they’re more likely to come back because they’re not worried about any labels being placed on them.”
Dennison and Rosario are affectionately known as Aunty Haylin and Aunty Kiki, respectively, to the kids. They’re not their parents, guardians, or even therapists, but they’re trusted adults in their lives whom they can turn to for help or just a listening ear.
Haylin Dennison and Kiki Rosario.
Growing the next generation
For therapy sessions, the café has a full staff of licensed therapists, pre-licensed therapists who receive free clinical supervision, and master level interns. While the main priority is giving kids a safe space where they feel seen and hold a sense of belonging, Dennison believes in equally investing in training the next generation of mental health providers.
“We want pre-licensed therapists to get licensed with us, but then we want them to leave and open a private practice. That’s how we can increase the quality of mental health care for our youth and transform families,” she explains. “So, we have a roadmap for them to help ensure we will have enough therapists in the next 30 years.”
Hawaii is one of the least resourced states, with just one licensed therapist for every 360 kids. Spill the Tea has helped nearly 700 kids statewide in the three years it’s been open, working with other youth partners to strengthen the kids’ support network and provide a community of healing. And their work is just beginning.
“It’s been rewarding to see how much we’ve done for individuals and their families,” says Rosario, “but this is honestly just the tip of the iceberg.”
Supporting our youth
Teenage years can be challenging, but there are resources to support our youth. Read below to learn what’s being done:
riding the wave
From watching the reef pass below you to feeling the wind on your face, there’s no other feeling like riding a wave. Learn how surfing is improving kids’ mental health with the help of nonprofit Surfrider Spirit Sessions.
supporting kids’ mental health
The Hawaii Department of Education is working to equip parents and educators with the resources they need to help support their kids. Adults now have free access to one-on-one coaching, mental health virtual seminars, and online lessons led by therapists. Ayada Bonilla, school-based behavioral health educational specialist for the Office of Student Support Services, explains how this program is helping improve kids’ emotional well-being.
school counselors on a mental health mission
How has being a school counselor changed post-pandemic, and with the growing focus on mental health? We highlight the importance of school counselors and how they play a crucial role in students’ lives, both educationally and emotionally.
