Degrees: 

• MPH, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
• B.S. (Public Health), University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Bio: 

Melody Halzel is a PhD student in Public Health at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, specializing in Community-Based and Translational Research. She serves as a Graduate Assistant for the Mauli Ola Initiative at the Ho’ola ‘Āina Pilipili accessible community garden and the Center on Aging, where she supports the Kūpuna Collective’s monthly meeting recaps and biweekly newsletters. Melody’s research focuses on accessible garden interventions for older adults and people with disabilities, including those with dementia and their caregivers. She is committed to promoting health equity, disability inclusion, and well-being through community engagement

Research Interests: 

• Health and well-being of older adults
• Dementia care and interventions
• Garden-based and nature-based interventions
• Accessibility and disability inclusion
• Health equity and Indigenous health