Hawaii senior services and Kupuna Care
Hawaii has one of the most developed senior services networks in the country, anchored by the Executive Office on Aging, four county Area Agencies on Aging, and the nation-leading Kupuna Caregivers Program.
Hawaii Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) statewide line: 643-ADRC (643-2372) — the single front door for senior services on any island.
Hawaii Executive Office on Aging
The Executive Office on Aging (EOA), part of the Hawaii Department of Health, is the state's lead agency for kupuna services. Located at 250 South Hotel Street, Suite 406, Honolulu, EOA coordinates the four county Area Agencies on Aging and oversees programs authorized under the federal Older Americans Act.
Four county Area Agencies on Aging
Each county has its own Area Agency on Aging. They administer Older Americans Act services and the state's Kupuna Care program in their region.
| County / Island | Agency | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu County (Oahu) | Elderly Affairs Division | (808) 768-7700 |
| Hawaii County (Big Island) | Hawaii County Office of Aging | (808) 961-8626 |
| Maui County (Maui, Molokai, Lanai) | Maui County Office on Aging | (808) 270-7774 |
| Kauai County | Kauai Agency on Elderly Affairs | (808) 241-4470 |
Kupuna Care Program
Kupuna Care is Hawaii's state-funded program that helps older adults remain in their homes and communities rather than entering institutional care. It's available to Hawaii residents age 60 and older who have functional impairments and are not eligible for similar Med-QUEST services.
Kupuna Care services include:
- Personal care — bathing, dressing, eating, transfers
- Homemaker / housekeeper — meal prep, light housework, errands
- Adult day care — supervised daytime care in a group setting
- Home-delivered meals — for homebound seniors
- Congregate meals — at senior centers
- Chore services — heavy housework and yard work
- Assisted transportation — door-to-door transit with escort
- Case management — care planning and coordination
- Respite — short breaks for family caregivers
Kupuna Caregivers Program
The Kupuna Caregivers Program is a national first — the only program of its kind in the country. It provides up to $210 per week (up to $10,500 per year) to help working family caregivers pay for adult day care, home health services, transportation, or other supports for an elderly relative they care for.
To qualify, the caregiver must be employed at least 30 hours per week and caring for a relative age 60+ who needs help with at least two activities of daily living. Apply through the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) advocates for residents of nursing homes, care homes, and assisted living facilities. If you have a complaint or concern about a long-term care facility, contact the Ombudsman at (808) 586-7268 (Oahu) or through your county Office on Aging.
Healthy Aging Partnership
Hawaii's Healthy Aging Partnership offers free or low-cost evidence-based programs for kupuna across the state, including EnhanceFitness (group exercise), Chronic Disease Self-Management classes, and the Better Choices, Better Health program. Programs are offered through senior centers, county aging offices, and Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems on every island.
Aging in place — the ohana approach
Hawaii has the highest rate of multigenerational households in the country. Many kupuna live with adult children and grandchildren — what's locally called the ohana approach. The state's senior services are designed around this model, supporting families who care for kupuna at home rather than defaulting to institutional placement.
If you're caring for an aging family member, start with the ADRC at 643-ADRC. They'll help you map the available resources — Kupuna Care, Kupuna Caregivers, Med-QUEST HCBS, Medicare home health, and Native Hawaiian Health Care System programs — into a workable plan.
Frequently asked questions
Kupuna Care is state-funded and serves seniors who aren't eligible for Medicaid. Med-QUEST (Medicaid) provides similar Home and Community-Based Services for income-eligible seniors. Both fund similar services — personal care, meals, day care — but you can't be on both for the same service.
The state of Hawaii funds Kupuna Care through the Department of Health's Executive Office on Aging. Some services may have a small voluntary contribution, but no senior is denied service due to inability to pay.
Medicare home health is short-term skilled care after a medical event. Kupuna Caregivers is a stipend (up to $10,500/year) to help working caregivers pay for ongoing supports for an elderly relative — adult day care, respite, transportation. They serve different needs.
Some 2026 Medicare Advantage plans include supplemental benefits like home meals, transportation, and personal emergency response — but coverage and limits vary widely by plan. Kupuna Care fills gaps that Medicare doesn't cover, especially long-term in-home support.
Call your county Area Agency on Aging directly (numbers above) or the statewide ADRC line at 643-ADRC. Services are available on every island, though wait times and provider availability vary.