Kapolei and 'Ewa, HI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement

Description: New curb extensions on Kopolei's Papipi Road not only help local children safely navigate their route to school, they also remind passersby of their rich Hawaiian history and culture. Over the past five years, daily traffic on the road increased 50 percent, with many drivers exceeding the posted speed limit. To calm traffic, Hawaii's Blue Zones Project installed bulb outs at an intersection, which safely extend the sidewalk into the street. This shortens the street crossing distance for pedestrians and makes them more visible to drivers. To make the curb extensions even more noticeable, volunteers used paint to depict limu in shades of gold and green on the pavement. Limu are edible, underwater plants -- a vital component of Hawaiian cuisine and ceremonies for generations.

Honolulu, HI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Digital navigation skills

Description: U.S. VETS expanded its Career Center to reach older veterans and other residents who struggle to translate skills, use online tools and navigate language barriers. The team purchased computers for public use, offered workshops on networking profiles, online certifications and skills translation. They provided bus passes and kept classes running at the current site. It promoted the effort at career events, organized a clothing drive and planned employer-led mock interviews as partnerships are finalized. As building is being finalized, services continue, expanding outreach and positioning older adults to access training, devices and employer connections when doors open.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.