Age-Friendly Honolulu
Striving to promote active aging, intergenerational connection, and social inclusion.
Age-Friendly Honolulu is a project of the
City and County of Honolulu and the
University of Hawaiʻi Center on Aging.
Our mission is to change mindsets about aging by empowering kūpuna, promoting intergenerational engagement, and supporting accessibility and inclusion for all. As a public/private initiative, we collaborate with both city departments and community organizations, and are a member of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and AARP National’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities.
Our History
Bill 54 (2018), Relating to Age-Friendly Honolulu
On October 11th, 2018, the Age-Friendly Honolulu Initiative celebrated a milestone event, Mayor Caldwell’s signing of Bill 54 (2018), Relating to Age-Friendly Honolulu. The passage of this ordinance signifies a commitment by the City and County of Honolulu to be “age-friendly.”
WHO and AARP
In 2013, the City and County of Honolulu applied for and was accepted into the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities and AARP’s National Network of Age-Friendly Communities.
6 Features of Age-Friendly Honolulu
Our focus encompasses all facets of community life, including key features of the built and social environment, which are organized into six domains. Explore each domain below to discover our vision, goals, current initiatives, and an extensive collection of relevant data.
Training
GIA Training
This brief training video is required for community-based organizations whose Grants-in-Aids proposals align with Age-Friendly Honolulu's goals and wish to receive bonus points on their application.
City Department Training
This brief training video provides an overview of the concept "age-friendly" and the background of Age-Friendly Honolulu. It is intended for City Department representatives, but anyone is encouraged to view.
Current Projects
Collaborative Discussions on Age-Friendly Initiatives
Each year, Age-Friendly Honolulu staff meets with City Department representatives to learn about their department’s current age-friendly initiatives. Along with identifying new and current Strategies and Actions, this year staff gathered new insights, including the sustainability of programs, barriers and key factors for success, and categorized each action to its corresponding age-friendly domain.
To learn more, contact Saikaew Dudla at dudla@hawaii.edu
Dementia Friends
Honolulu strives to not only be age-friendly but dementia-friendly as well. Dementia Friends seeks to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage different community sectors to become a Dementia Friend. With support from AARP Hawaiʻi, Age-Friendly Honolulu initiative obtained the state license for Dementia Friends and is part of the Dementia Friends USA network. Dementia Friends is part of a global movement to educate community members from different sectors (libraries, financial institutions, business owners, church members, and students) about dementia and how to help those in the community with dementia. To date, more than 65 sessions have been offered to 1,722 individuals.
To learn more, contact Christy Nishita at cnishita@hawaii.edu
Web Map Interface for the Senior Information and Assistance Handbook
Coming Soon: The web map interface of the Senior Information and Assistance Handbook by Elderly Affairs Division will enhance the accessibility of resources for the older adult population in Honolulu, contributing to the city’s age-friendly initiatives. By providing a visual representation of various resources’ geographical locations and related information, such as healthcare facilities, community centers, and social services, the web map interface would empower organizations, social workers, and seniors to easily locate and access the support they need.
To learn more, contact Nargis Sultana at nargis@hawaii.edu
Evaluation of Older Adults’ Perceptions on Park Accessibility
Coming Soon: This initiative will evaluate older adults’ perceptions about park accessibility and holds significant potential for enhancing urban environments to be more age-friendly. This project will seek input from older adults to identify barriers and facilitators they face when accessing parks, such as uneven walking paths, lack of benches, or insufficient signage. Understanding older adults’ perceptions is crucial for designing and implementing improvements aimed at meeting the specific needs of older adults, ultimately fostering inclusivity and promoting active and healthy aging.
To learn more, contact Nargis Sultana at nargis@hawaii.edu
Reports and Publications
The 2022-2023 Age-Friendly Honolulu Annual Report has been published, showcasing the City & County of Honolulu’s significant strides in age-friendly initiatives within each department. It highlights how key staff across city departments have been trained in age-friendly practices. Additionally, each department has developed tailored checklists to guide their ongoing efforts to become more age-friendly.
The Age-Friendly Organization Booklet offers tips, including a checklist, for organizations to be age-friendly.
NEW! The Age-Friendly Honolulu 2021-2022 Annual Report was recently released in June 2022. The report details many success and accomplishments by the City & County of Honolulu and its community partners to realize age-friendly goals.
Our Collaborators
City Departments
Board of Water Supply
Department of Community Services
Department of Customer Services
Department of Design and Construction
Department of Emergency Management
Department of Environmental Services
Department of Enterprise Services
Department of Facility Maintenance
Department of Human Resources and Equal Employment Opportunity
Department of Information Technology
Department of Land Management
Department of the Medical Examiner
Department of Planning and Permitting
Department of Parks and Recreation
Department of Transportation Services
Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation
Honolulu Emergency Services Department
Honolulu Fire Department
Honolulu Police Department
Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts
Mayor’s Office – Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency
Mayor’s Office – Office of Economic Revitalization
Mayor’s Office – Office of Housing
Mayor’s Office – Royal Hawaiian Band
Neighborhood Commission Office
To enhance the well-being of older adults through interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts in research, educational programs, and service to the community
Contact
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Gartley Hall
2430 Campus Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
- Mail : uhcoa@hawaii.edu
The University of Hawaiʻi is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution
©2020 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
