Directory, Report to Help Kupuna go Online Available

A new printed and online directory of classes, programs, and online and technical support to help kūpuna use their devices to access the Internet is now available at Hawai`i public libraries, county aging offices and online at hiphi.org/kupuna-digital-inclusion-workgroup/.

AARP Hawai`i and the Hawai`i Public Health Institute created the Kūpuna Digital Resource Directory and the Hawai`i Digital Inclusion Roadmap as part of a larger effort to bridge the digital divide and help more kūpuna go online. A $20,000 AARP national grant funded the directory and roadmap.

“The pandemic taught us that it’s vital that kūpuna know how to go online. They need to be able to access healthcare services through telehealth, talk to friends and family members on Zoom or Facebook, take virtual classes, and get access to news and government services that have moved online,” said Keali`i Lopez, AARP Hawai`i State Director.

The roadmap found that 77.4% of Hawai`i’s kūpuna 65 and older have access to a computer and broadband internet at home compared to 73.3% of adults 65 and older across the United States. However, a significant digital divide still exists between older and younger residents and between urban and rural residents in Hawaiʻi.

“Not having high-speed broadband internet means we can’t access streaming services or participate in webinars because our internet connection is through copper wires that can’t handle modern communications,” said Fred Burian, a retiree who lives on the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island. “We have to drive to town or find a spot along the highway and park where there’s a good wifi connection so we can make phone calls and go online.”

In addition to a lack of broadband connections, fear of new technology, concern about online scams, and affordability contribute to the digital divide among kūpuna, the report found. It recommends that government agencies and nonprofit groups seek funding for broadband infrastructure improvements and outreach to help kūpuna go online and is designed to help agencies address specific problems leading to digital inequity.

“We hope the Digital Inclusion Roadmap will guide policymakers and nonprofits that work with kūpuna in applying for federal funding and other grants to address digital inequity,” said Kayla Carlisle, one of the authors of the report. “We see the roadmap and the Kūpuna Digital Resource Directory as living documents that will be updated as more information becomes available and as more programs and resources to help kupuna with internet and technology training and questions come online.”

“I applaud the work that went into the Kūpuna Digital Inclusion Roadmap and the Kūpuna Digital Resource Directory. These foundational documents are not only v

valuable resources but are also key indicators as we build the statewide digital equity plan. This plan will inform how we sustain this effort and achieve our digital equity goals,” said Burt Lum, Broadband Strategy Officer at the Hawai`i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Groups offering online help for kūpuna can contact Kayla Carlisle at kayla@hiphi.org with updated information that can be added to the online resource directory.