BOOKKEEPING

In the heart of Waimea, a quiet crisis is unfolding. While our community is rich in culture and aloha, we are facing a demographic shift that our current infrastructure is not built to sustain. The Kupuna Collective was founded not just as a charity, but as a necessary bridge between medical necessity and community compassion.

Here is why this resource center is critical to the health and dignity of our elders right now.

Kamuela is aging faster than the rest of the state. Recent data indicates that approximately 25% of our local population is over the age of 65. This "Silver Tsunami" presents a unique challenge for our rural community.

Unlike urban centers like Honolulu, Waimea faces geographic isolation. Our kupuna often have to travel long distances for specialty care, and many battle the high cost of living that makes "aging in place" a financial struggle. Without local, accessible support, our elders are at risk of isolation, medical decline, and displacement from the homes they love.

Medical care alone is not enough. The Kupuna Collective operates on the belief that true health is holistic. Our bylaws mandate a specific scope of services designed to fill the gaps that hospitals and clinics cannot reach:

• Navigation & Advocacy: The healthcare system is a maze. We provide specialized guidance for healthcare transitions, helping families understand their options and handle the logistics of aging in place.
• A Holistic Resource Hub: We serve as a central station for elder-care literacy. Instead of scouring the internet or making endless phone calls, Waimea families have a physical hub for community education.
• Respite & Social Wellness: Isolation is a silent killer in rural areas. Our therapeutic engagement and respite sessions are designed to promote cognitive health and keep our kupuna connected to their community.

In Hawaii, we take care of our own. But who takes care of the caregiver? Multi-generational households are the backbone of Kamuela, but the burden on family caregivers is immense. The Collective is dedicated to Caregiver Empowerment, offering workshops, support circles, and resilience tools. We provide the "navigation tools and respite care necessary to sustain the journey together," ensuring that ’ohana can care for their loved ones without burning out.

We are not an outside agency; we are your neighbors. The Kupuna Collective is a Hawaii Nonprofit Corporation headquartered right here in Kamuela.

Our leadership reflects the very community we serve. Our Board of Directors is required to represent a balance of healthcare, financial, legal, and cultural expertise. We are guided by the steady hands of our Founding Directors—Waynette Belaski, James Belaski, Waeleen Onaka, Luana Keakealani, Jacy Young, Shawn Vasquez-Villanueva and Alvin Villaneuva —leaders who are committed to this mission for life.

Our mission is simple but vital: Mālama Kupuna. Empowering ’Ohana.. We ensure every Kupuna can age with dignity, purpose, and support.

Join us in building a future where no kupuna in Waimea ages alone.