Walk to End Alzheimer’s raises more than $1M in 2025

Alzheimer’s Association – Hawai‘i’s 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s Hawai‘i campaign raised more than $1 million, marking a milestone made possible by thousands of walkers, donors, sponsors and volunteer leaders throughout the state.

Funds raised through the event support free local education programs, caregiver support groups, conferences, care consultations, caregiver respite and the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline while also advancing critical research toward better treatments and, ultimately, a cure.

“This isn’t just a number, it represents families here in Hawai‘i getting the support they need, when they need it most,” said Walk to End Alzheimer’s Hawai‘i Island Chairwoman Renae Akau in a release about the milestone. “It represents caregivers who feel less alone, kūpuna and others who are treated with dignity, and a community choosing to show up with compassion and urgency.”

The 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s was driven by executive leaders and dedicated volunteer committees who worked year-round to build teams, engage workplaces and share personal stories that helped mobilize the community.

“Volunteers are the heart of the walk and all we do,” said Alzheimer’s Association – Hawai‘i Executive Director LJ Duenas. “They lead with purpose and driven from passion, often because this disease has touched their own families, and they help others turn grief, love and hope into action.”

Families throughout the islands are navigating the daily realities of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, often quietly and often while balancing work, child care and the rising cost of living.

The walk raises critical funds so Alzheimer’s Association local chapters can continue offering no-cost resources and support while strengthening public awareness and advocating for policies that improve dementia care throughout Hawai‘i.

Alzheimer’s Association – Hawai‘i Chapter also recognized the many companies and organizations that invested in the mission through sponsorship and workplace engagement.

“Our sponsors and partners didn’t just put their names on a banner,” Duenas said. “They helped ensure families in our community have somewhere to turn, whether they are newly diagnosed, caregiving or overwhelmed and unsure of what comes next.”

Alzheimer’s Association – Hawai‘i Chapter will continue expanding programs and outreach throughout the state in 2026, with a renewed focus on meeting families where they are, on every island, and continuing to build momentum toward a future with earlier detection, better treatments and hope that reaches everyone no matter where they live or who their doctor is.

Visit the Alzheimer’s Association – Hawai‘i Chapter website to learn more, donate or get involved.