AARP Community Challenge awards Kauaʻi with $40,000 in grant funding for three projects

The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) is awarding 12 grants totaling $139,000 to improve communities in Hawai‘i, including three grants for Kaua‘i.

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 will 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.

Three grants from AARP have been awarded to projects on Kaua‘i that will enhance downtown Līhuʻe public spaces, build an accessible community garden, and construct a wheelchair-accessible ramp at a residential medical respite site in Līhuʻe.

Kaua‘i’s new grant funds include:

• $15,000 to the Rice Street Business Association to enhance downtown Līhuʻe public spaces through native plant restoration, seating, and shade.
• $15,000 to Leadership Kaua‘i to build an accessible community garden with raised beds, shaded seating, and wide pathways.
• $12,000 to Project Vision Hawai‘i to build a wheelchair-accessible ramp at a residential medical respite site in Līhuʻe to help residents reach housing, recovery services, and food programs.

Across the state, another $15,000 to Our Kūpuna will support a ride-hailing dispatch service to coordinate trips for kūpuna impacted by wildfires who face barriers accessing rideshare services on their own.

On Hawai‘i Island, AARP is providing $15,000 to offer digital literacy classes to residents at Hale Nā Koa ‘O Hanakahi, a 92-unit affordable housing community in Hilo primarily serving older veterans and their surviving spouses.

“Communities across Hawai‘i are eager for solutions that boost mobility, connection, and quality of life,” 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 significant 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.

Other 2026 projects in Hawai‘i include:

O‘ahu

• $9,500 to the Pacific Cancer Foundation for home safety workshops to teach simple room-by-room changes to prevent falls. Education and safety kits will help older adults remain secure during recovery and daily living.
• $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 Our Kūpuna to support a ride-hailing dispatch service to coordinate trips for kūpuna impacted by wildfires who face barriers accessing rideshare services on their own.

Moloka‘i and Maui

• $15,000 to the Krause Family Foundation ‘Alana Ke ‘Aloha to establish a kūpuna homesteader community garden in Ho‘olehua, Moloka‘i by 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.

Pedestrian safety initiatives will be funded with support from Toyota Motor North America, and projects that expand high-speed internet access and adoption will be funded with support from Microsoft.

“America is aging, and most older adults want to stay in the communities they know and love. There are a lot of things that localities can do to support residents of all ages,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer. “AARP Community Challenge grants help transform local ideas into real improvements—from safer sidewalks and improved transportation options to public spaces that bring neighbors together and enhance community connections.”

“As we celebrate the program’s 10th year, we’re proud to double our investment so even more communities can become great places to live for people at all stages of life,” she continued.

Find a full list of grantees and their projects at the AARP Community Challenge webpage.