AARP TaxAide Volunteers Begin Free Tax Preparation at Līhuʻe Center

AARP Foundation TaxAide volunteers began offering free tax-preparation services for qualifying residents at the Līhuʻe Neighborhood Center on Tuesday mornings, bringing in-person help to older adults and low- to moderate-income taxpayers who often face barriers to filing and claiming refunds.

The local corps of volunteers serves taxpayers free of charge and does not require AARP membership. Volunteers are trained and IRS-certified to prepare returns and help clients find credits and deductions they are eligible for. Jerry Yankowitz, one of the tax preparers, pointed to a leadership transition in the program: “Brian and Coleen Kasperek have been heading the AARP Tax Aide program on Kauai for many years. They want to retire, and Alan Momohara has been named the district coordinator.”

Local organizers stress that the service reduces financial strain and prevents errors that can delay refunds. Nationally, AARP says Tax-Aide has helped more than 82 million taxpayers since 1968. AARP materials add that this year over 28,300 volunteers helped secure more than $1.3 billion in total refunds for more than 1.7 million people, and that the program operates at over 3,600 locations nationwide.

Volunteers fill a range of roles at neighborhood sites. Tax counselors prepare returns and identify credits and deductions. Client facilitators welcome taxpayers and help organize paperwork. Technology coordinators manage computers and data security. Leadership, communications and bilingual volunteers support operations and outreach. AARP highlights that volunteers receive training and support and that time commitments vary by role. “As an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteer, you’ll receive training and support, learn new skills, and connect with people in your community while helping others,” the program notes. Volunteer Chuck Raeder summed up the experience this way: “For whatever you put in, you get so much more out.”

Photos on file show local teams preparing in advance; a set of images by Dennis Fujimoto documents past training at the Līhuʻe Neighborhood Center. One caption reads, “The 2025 team of volunteer AARP Tax Aide tax preparers get final instruction on Wedneday, Jan. 22, 2025, at the Lihue Neighborhood Center.” Another notes, “AARP Foundation Tax Aide volunteer Alan Momohara works with Coleen Kasperek on the latest tax information on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, at the Lihue Neighborhood Center.” Those images reflect the ongoing, multi-year effort by volunteers to maintain IRS certification and stay current with tax rules.

On Kaua‘i, the program has provided neighborhood access to filing assistance, and organizers have previously run additional sites on the island. Last season, TaxAide locations ran through the spring; planners said sites may expand based on community demand. That local flexibility matters for residents who cannot easily travel or pay for paid preparers.

For readers, the arrival of TaxAide in Līhuʻe means more accessible, no-cost help to file accurate returns and claim refunds that support household budgets. Community members interested in volunteering or finding an appointment are encouraged to connect with the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program and local site coordinators to learn how to get assistance or join the volunteer corps. “Volunteer for Tax-Aide Today.”