The Ho’olehua Homesteaders Association on Molokai has received $15,000 from an AARP Community Challenge grant to help repair homestead houses for kūpuna, including the home of Christine Aki (center). Celebrating with her (from left) are association president Charlie Kaahanui, treasurer Lu Ann Mahiki Lankford, vice president Tricia Mersberg and Maui AARP volunteer Kathleen McNamara. Photo courtesy AARP

Her roof is leaking, affecting the floors and electrical system in her Molokai house.

Hoolehua Hawaiian homesteader Christine Aki said she’s looking forward to fixing the leaks now that a grant from AARP has been approved.

“I will definitely do the roof,” she said. “If I have enough, I want to do a change-over of the bathroom so I have a walk-in shower.”

AARP’s Community Challenge has awarded $57,000 to Maui County recipients, including $15,000 to the Hoolehua Homesteaders Association for kupuna living on fixed incomes to complete home repairs.

AARP is also donating $15,000 to the Krause Family Foundation Alana Ke Aloha to establish a Kupuna Homesteader community garden at Hoolehua.

The garden is intended to create an accessible outdoor space that enhances local food security, preserves cultural agricultural knowledge and strengthens intergenerational community bonds.

“The cost of food here is pretty expensive so it helps kupuna and any people of age to be more subsistence to grow more food and to eat more subsistence on their own instead of going to the store,” Molokai resident Bradford Kaahanui said.

Homesteaders Vice President Tricia Mersberg said many Maui kupuna are on fixed incomes and the grants will go a long way because people in her community are willing to lend a hand.

“We are really, really proud of our community,” she said.

A separate $15,000 grant is going to Our Kupuna to support ride-hailing dispatch services to coordinate trips for kupuna impacted by wildfires who face barriers accessing rideshare services on their own.

AARP has also provided a $9,500 grant to the Pacific Cancer Foundation for home safety workshops on Maui 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.

A $2,500 grant from AARP is going to the Maui Emergency Management Agency to support community workshops on emergency preparedness in neighborhoods across Maui County.

“These projects will directly improve the quality of life for kupuna and other residents on Maui and Molokai,” said Keali’i Lopez, AARP Hawaii state director. “Thanks to Community Challenge grants, we’re empowering residents to implement impactful improvements that make a sizable difference.”

The $57,000 in grants are part of AARP’s Community Challenge grants, which include more than $553,000 for 40 nonprofit organizations and local government entities statewide.