Honolulu Senior AdvisorWhat help does the Elderly Affairs Division provide on Oahu?
The Elderly Affairs Division (EAD) of the City and County of Honolulu is Oahu's office on aging, and through it older adults can get in-home and community-based services such as adult day care, assisted transportation, attendant care, case management, chore services, congregate and home-delivered meals, homemaker help, legal assistance, personal care and transportation; call (808) 768-7700.
These services are funded by the federal Older Americans Act and state programs, including Hawaii's Kupuna Care program for older adults who are not in a facility and lack other support. They are not entitlements: funding is limited, so there can be waiting lists, and EAD prioritizes people at greatest risk.
What support is there for family caregivers?
Family caregivers on Oahu can get information and help finding services, individual counseling, support groups and training, respite and supplemental services through EAD's caregiver support program, and Hawaii also runs a Kupuna Caregivers program for caregivers who work while caring for a kupuna.
Respite can mean a few hours of in-home help, a day at adult day care or a short stay elsewhere so the caregiver can rest. Ask EAD what is available now, whether there is a waiting list and what documentation is needed. The Hawaii ADRC, (808) 643-2372, is the statewide front door to the same services.
How does adult day care fit in?
Adult day care gives a kupuna supervised activities, meals and company during the day while the family works, and on Oahu the Department of Health certifies 23 adult day care centers with certified capacities ranging from a handful of participants to about 100.
CareScout's 2025 Hawaii median for adult day health care is $30,615 a year for five days a week. Many families use two or three days a week, which keeps costs manageable and gives the caregiver regular breaks. See the list of certified centers.
When is in-home support no longer enough?
In-home support stops being enough when a kupuna needs help at night, cannot be left alone safely for the hours between visits, has repeated falls or hospital stays, or when the caregiver's own health is failing.
That is the point to compare a care home, foster family home or assisted living. Read about caregiver burnout and when a parent can no longer live alone.
At a glance
| EAD services are | EAD services are not | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | For older adults on Oahu and their caregivers | Limited to Med-QUEST members |
| Cost | Free or low cost, with possible contributions | Unlimited; funding and waiting lists apply |
| Type | Help to stay at home: meals, personal care, respite | A residential placement |
| Access | One call to (808) 768-7700 or the ADRC | Something you need a lawyer to obtain |
Sources include Hawaii Administrative Rules chapters 11-100.1, 11-90 and 11-800, HRS 321-481 and 321-1.8, Office of Health Care Assurance rosters and pages, the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines, CMS, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
