Kauai County Invites Kupuna to Anahola Healthy Aging Presentations in March, April

The Anahola Clubhouse on Kawelo Street is hosting a pair of "talk story" sessions this week and next where north and east-side kupuna can ask questions about programs ranging from fall-prevention classes to transportation help and congregate meals.

The County of Kaua'i Agency on Elderly Affairs organized the informal gatherings as a low-barrier way to connect older adults and their caregivers with services that can help them stay independent and engaged. The first session runs 11 a.m. to noon today at the clubhouse at 3900 Kawelo Street, with a second session following Thursday, April 2, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the same location.

The AEA, which serves as Kaua'i's designated Area Agency on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), will cover a broad range of topics across both sessions: social and recreational activities, evidence-based wellness classes, fall prevention, nutrition and congregate meal options, transportation assistance, and caregiver supports. The ADRC's one-stop information and referral services will also be on the table, giving attendees a single point of contact for navigating the range of county and state programs available to older adults.

The "talk story" format, common across Hawai'i, is intentionally two-way rather than a one-way presentation. Attendees can raise concerns, request specific resources, and flag gaps in services they're already aware of. That community feedback is part of the point: the county sees both sessions as an opportunity to gather input that can directly shape future program planning and funding priorities.

Caregivers are encouraged to attend alongside the kupuna they support. Anyone who needs transportation or accommodations to get to either session should contact the Agency on Elderly Affairs before arriving. The county asked attendees to arrive on time for both the 60-minute and the 30-minute slots.