When HIPHI launched the Kūpuna Climate Champion initiative earlier this year, the vision was clear: empower kūpuna not only to prepare for climate-related health threats, but to help lead Hawaiʻiʻs climate change response. Since then, one message has emerged again…
On March 25, healthy aging changemakers from across Hawai‘i gathered at St. Anthony’s Retreat Center in Kalihi Uka for the 2026 Kūpuna Collective in-person convening. In a fast-moving world, the opportunity to pause and connect was both timely and meaningful…
Kūpuna (older adult) health includes physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being that comes from a lifetime of connection to ʻāina, culture, and community. Practices like mālama kūpuna remind us of our shared responsibility to care for elders and honor the…
What if the key to a more climate-resilient Hawaiʻi lies with those who have already weathered a lifetime of change? While Hawaiʻi is often celebrated as one of the “healthiest” states, we know that gaps between groups still remain, including…
By Madison LaFleur Substance use is a growing public health concern across all age groups, but when it comes to finding solutions, older adults are often overlooked. While much of the focus tends to be on youth and young adults,…
In public health, we work every day to create better community conditions where we live, learn, work, and play. One of the major wins of public health is that we get to live longer and healthier lives, thanks to initiatives…
Attendees enjoying a Farm-to-Table lunch at the Hawaiian Beaches Event in January, 2025 The story of Moku o Keawe Mālama nā Kūpuna began in 2023 with one clear vision: to support kūpuna in Hawai‘i struggling with poor nutrition, isolation, and…
This October, over 60 partners from across the state came together at the Annual Kūpuna Collective Gathering to advance our shared vision of building an age-empowered Hawaiʻi. Community organizers, nonprofit organizations, care providers, and other champions for kūpuna shined a…
There was a buzz about the venue as soon as I walked in. A line of kūpuna waited patiently for the vendors to get set up and ready to receive them. I could tell it was going to be a…
Though housing insecurity across Hawaiʻi persists, many kūpuna (older adults) and people with disabilities find a safe home and a sense of community at government-assisted housing complexes. This is particularly true for kūpuna who are not lucky enough to own…
When working in public health, as with any other field, it’s good to take space and gain perspective to recenter oneself in why this work matters. Earlier this month, I did just that when I had the privilege of attending…
