Kauai fair draws 200-plus seeking senior, disability help

More than 200 people filled the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall in Līhue for Kauai’s first senior and disability resource fair, a turnout that showed how much demand remains for face-to-face help with aging, caregiving and disability services. The May 6 event ran from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and offered free breakfast bentos to the first 200 attendees, drawing residents to more than 40 exhibitors and service tables.

Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami described the gathering as the first fair of its kind, and the crowd suggested why it mattered. Attendees moved among tables from Akamai Seniors, Generations magazine and the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, looking for practical information that can be hard to piece together on their own. The Kauai RSVP table was a frequent stop, as organizers mixed giveaways with referrals and on-the-spot guidance for kupuna, people with disabilities, caregivers and families.

The fair functioned as a compact service hub. The County of Kauai Agency on Elderly Affairs said its vision is for older adults to live independently at home or in the community with dignity and respect, while family caregivers receive adequate support. At the event, agency staff and Kauai RSVP led a presentation on falls and falling, a direct concern for older adults who want to stay in their homes longer. The Kauai Police Department, including Sgt. Jonathan Anderson, focused on scam and fraud awareness, while the state library system pointed patrons to technology resources and financial institutions pitched safer ways to manage money.

The event also tied into Older Americans Month, with the Agency on Elderly Affairs saying Kauai has eight nominees for the island’s Most Outstanding Male and Female Older American honors, to be recognized later in May. The county’s nomination form set a deadline of Feb. 28 at 4:30 p.m. and said nominees must be at least 65 years old by Dec. 31, 2025. An AEA release on Feb. 9 invited the public to nominate kūpuna who have made meaningful and lasting contributions to the island.

For many who came through the hall, the fair showed both progress and a gap. Kauai now has agencies willing to explain benefits, safety, technology and caregiving support in one place, but the turnout made clear that residents still want those answers in person, without having to navigate the system alone.