Eric Schultz graduated from Waianae High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Graduating<\/a> from high school is a major milestone, but for a high school student in Oahu, Hawaii, it was a hard fought achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eric Schultz, 18, graduated from high school after years of homelessness<\/a>. Schultz earned his diploma from Waianae High School, where he celebrated the big day with his peers and supportive community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was so grateful to just walk to the stage and grab my diploma<\/a>,\u201d Schultz told WBRC News<\/a>. \u201cI was gonna cry, but I just held it in, and I just walked the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schultz\u2019s journey with homelessness began when he was 15 as his parents battled addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was living in my car for almost about a year, and I was still going to school at the same time,\u201d he previously told Hawaii News Now<\/a>. \u201cIt didn\u2019t change my view on anything. I just kept working toward my goal to graduate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to WBRC News, there are 802 homeless minors on Oahu\u2014including Schultz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Back in February 2026, he helped distribute donated items to other families effected by homelessness. He shared, \u201cSeeing all these kids out here today, it\u2019s just hurtful, hurts me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent interview with he told Hawaii News Now<\/a>, he shared, \u201cI am still at the transitioning home up in Kahamana Farms. It is called Rise [Ryse]. I couldn\u2019t find a guardian that could take care of me that was blood-related because everything has to be blood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schultz had lots of support from his local community, especially from a woman named Desiree Adams. Adams shared with WBRC News<\/a> that Schultz reached out to her for help and food, and she quickly decided to become one of his \u201chanai aunties\u201d to support him along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOvercoming homelessness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHanai auntie\u201d supports Schultz<\/h2>\n\n\n\n