Meet Tamara Hudson - Home Care in Hawaii

Meet Tamara Hudson – Owner & Founder

Owner & Founder of Helping Hands Hale, a Home Care Service Provider in Hawaii

Why I Do What I Do – T. Hudson

Clients and their families often ask me how I found my way into homecare, and I always love sharing the story—because it begins with my mother. She was a single parent and a night-shift nurse, and some of my earliest memories are of accompanying her to work. At just three years old, I was tagging along on overnight shifts, sleeping on couches while my mom cared for elderly clients in their homes. I watched her with admiration as she provided gentle, compassionate care—helping someone bathe, preparing meals, sitting and talking with them. She let me help in small ways, and I felt like I had a new set of grandparents every time.

By the time I was nine, I was already fascinated by nursing. I would read through my mom’s old college textbooks and surprise her with how many answers I got right. I lived for weekends and summer breaks—those were my chances to go on overnight shifts with her and be part of what she did.

At 17, I landed my first job at the same supervisory care home where my mother worked. A year later, I earned my nursing license and started my professional journey in a nursing home. But my excitement was quickly tempered. I saw how broken the system was—understaffed, underfunded, and emotionally draining. The residents were lonely, confused, and lacked the individualized attention they deserved. I promised myself then: I would never place my mom in a facility like that. She deserved better—and so did everyone else’s loved ones.

In 2005, I moved to the Big Island of Hawai‘i and spent a year soul-searching, unsure of my next step. Then I met a neighbor who needed simple help with daily tasks—rides to appointments, light housekeeping, meals. That experience lit a spark in me. I saw the deep need in our community for in-home care that allowed kupuna to remain where they were happiest—at home.

In 2008, I founded a homecare agency built on the foundation of quality, compassion, and dignity. My goal was to provide affordable, professional care by well-trained and deeply committed caregivers. Today, we proudly support families across the island, offering an alternative to nursing homes that prioritizes one-on-one attention, safety, independence, and love.

Every day, I wake up grateful knowing that the work we do allows people to age with dignity, in comfort, and surrounded by familiarity. That’s why I do what I do.