AARP Commits $139,200 to Strengthen Communities

Ho’olehua Homestead Association President Charlie Kaahanui, Treasurer Luu Ann Mahiki Lankford, homestead homeowner Christine Aki-Kupuna, and Vice President Tricia Mersber hold a ceremonial check with Maui AARP Volunteer Kathleen McNamara in front of Aki-Kupuna’s home. Submitted photo (AARP Hawaii)

AARP News Release

AARP is awarding five grants totaling $57,000 to improve communities on Maui, part of $139,000 given to 12 organizations throughout Hawai‘i through the AARP Livable Communities 2026 Community Challenge grant program.
Marking the program’s 10th anniversary, the grants are part of an $8.3 million commitment by AARP, doubling last year’s total, to fund 750 quick-action projects nationwide aimed at making communities more livable for people of all ages, especially older adults. The funds support improvements to public spaces, transportation, housing, digital connectivity, disaster preparedness and other local priorities that help improve social connections and strengthen neighborhoods and towns of all sizes.

Bradford Ilika Kaahanui and Leonora “Nora” Espaniola of the Krause Family Foundation ‘Alana Ke ‘Aloha and Maui volunteer Kathleen McNamara show a ceremonial check in Ho’olehua, Molokai that will help build a community garden. Submitted photo (AARP Hawaii)

The Maui County projects are:

• $15,000 to the Ho’olehua Homesteader’s Association to complete home repairs for kūpuna to improve safety and comfort for Hawaiian homestead residents living on fixed incomes.
• $15,000 to the Krause Family Foundation ʻAlana Ke ʻAloha to establish a Kupuna Homesteader community garden in Ho’olehua, Moloka’i, creating an accessible outdoor space that enhances local food security, preserves cultural agricultural knowledge and strengthens intergenerational community bonds.
• $2,500 to the Maui Emergency Management Agency to support community workshops to teach emergency preparedness in neighborhoods across Maui County.

“There’s a lot of kūpuna here on fixed incomes,” Tricia Mersberg of the Ho‘olehua Homestead Association said about its grant to repair the homes of kūpuna in the community. “We also have people in our community who lend a hand with labor. We are really, really proud of our community starting to gather and become one again. And it’s all around helping kūpuna.”
“These projects will directly improve the quality of life for kupuna and other residents on Maui and Molokaʻi. They help make kūpuna safer by increasing awareness of fall prevention and disaster preparation and help with transportation,” said Keali ‘i Lopez, AARP Hawai‘i state director. “Thanks to Community Challenge grants, we’re empowering residents to implement impactful improvements that make a sizable difference.”
Since 2017, the AARP Community Challenge has awarded more than $553,000 through grants in Hawai’i to about 40 nonprofit organizations and local government entities across the state. Visit www.aarp.org/livable-communities/community-challenge/ to find out more. 

Photo credit: AARP Hawai’i