Hawai'i Information, Health and Food Help During COVID-19 Outbreak

In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, AARP Hawaiʻi is providing information and resources to help kupuna and those caring for them to protect themselves from the virus and help prevent it from spreading to others. As the state opens up, it’s still important that people most vulnerable to the virus stay at home. Here are some resources to help you during this time.

If you feel sick and think you have coronavirus symptoms, don’t go to a clinic or doctor’s office right away because you might get others sick. Instead, call your healthcare provider or local public health department to figure out if you could — and should — get tested.

Tele-health options include phone calls and video-teleconferencing. Also check with your insurance company about tele-medicine. Medicare and Medicaid will now cover tele-medicine. Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olgs6mMXt6U. Signs of the virus are a dry cough, fever and shortness of breath.

(Read more about coronavirus and how to stay safe.)

If your condition is serious and an emergency, call 9-1-1.

COVID-19 information:

For COVID-19 updates on outbreaks throughout the state you can visit the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health Disease Outbreak Control Division’s website. Plus tips for prevention, public resources and contact information.

For up-to-date recommendations and information on the pandemic go to the Centers for Disease Control coronavirus website.

Food and other assistance resources:

For medical, food and recovery services and information, contact the Aloha United Way’s 211 information service online or by calling 2-1-1. Those 60 and older can call your county agency on aging. The numbers are: Honolulu: (808)768-7705, Hawaii: (808)961-8600, Maui/Molokai/Lanai: (808)270-7774 and Kauai: (808)241-4470. Catholic Charities Hawai’i also offers services for kupuna and others and can be reached at (808) 521-4357.
If financial difficulty is a barrier to food, contact the Hawai’i Foodbank on Oahu at 808 836-3600 and at (808) 482-2224 on Kauai, the Maui Food Bank at (808) 243-9500 or The Food Basket on Hawai'`i Island at (808) 933-6030.
Kanu Hawaii has information on volunteer groups that are providing and delivering food on the Covid-19 Respond with Aloha section of their website.

Unemployment benefits:

File a claim for unemployment benefits online and find filing information at the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations website. To apply for temporary financial assistance to workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Apply online here. If you were self-employed or an independent contractor, you can apply at the Labor Department's new PUA website.

Health Insurance:

· If you have a question about Medicare coverage, you can talk to a trained counseor at the State Insurance Assistance Program at 586-7299. For Med-Quest, contact the Department of Human Services at 524-3370 or toll free from the Neighbor Islands at 1-800-316-7182.

· The Department of Consumer Affairs also maintains a website with useful insurance information and phone numbers.

Social isolation and volunteer resources:

We may be isolated, but we’re not alone. AARP Community Connections, a new online platform launched by AARP Innovation Labs, allows users to organize and find local volunteer groups to help pick up groceries, provide financial assistance or lend emotional support to neighbors, friends and loved ones. You can also request a call from an AARP volunteer or trained counselor.
Catholic Charities Hawai`i has a Phone a Friend service. Call (808) 527-4777 if you want a call or if you want to volunteer.
Kanu Hawaii has a COVID-19 Respond With Aloha website matching volunteers and organizations in need of volunteers. However those in high risk groups should seriously consider social distancing and not taking part in activities that could put you in close contact with other people.

Mental Health

See above section on social isolation to get a supporting phone call.
The state Department of Health has expanded its mental health crisis line o support those experiencing stress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Call 1 (800) 753-6879 or text the word “ALOHA” to 741741 for support.

Other Resources

Honolulu Elderly Affairs Division resource webpage.
Honolulu Senior Assistance Handbook

The Caregiver Foundation resource webpage or call (808) 808-625-3782.

Grocery stores with senior hours:

Safeway is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 9 a.m. for older adults and other at-risk shoppers, including pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.

Whole Foods: Shoppers age 60 and up can shop at stores for one hour before they open to the general public. Store hours vary by location. If a store is scheduled to open at 9 a.m., older shoppers can go from 8 to 9 a.m.
Target reserves the first hour of shopping Tuesday and Wednesday for senior citizens.
Foodland/Sack N Save/Foodland Farms sets aside the first hour of business at stores statewide on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to serve 60+ including their caretakers.
Times Supermarkets reserves the first hour of its store opening every day fomr seniors and people with serious chronic medical conditions.
Tamura’s Market opens Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:15 to 8 a.m. for seniors 60+ including their caregiver.
Don Quijote Hawaii senior hour is from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. daily.
Costco opens for members 60 and older at all locations except Iwilei from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Iwilei will open from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Down to Earth Organic and Natural People aged 60 and over and for others who have pre-existing medical conditions can shop daily from 7 to 8 a.m.
Walmart: Every Tuesday from 6 to 7 a.m.

Hawaiʻi Island

KTA Super Stores First hour of store operations every Sunday and Wednesday for seniors age 60+ and an accompanying caregiver or assisting family member. Opening times may vary from each location.
Keaukaha General Store offers a shopping period for kupuna every day from 5:30 to 6:15 a.m.

Maui

Island Grocery Depot Senior hour for age 60+ from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. Monday and Wednesday.
Mana Foods Kupuna hours from 8 to 9 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Pukalani Superette Senior hours 60+ and those with preexisting health conditions are 7 to 8 a.m. Wednesday and 7 to 9 a.m. Sunday.

Kauai

Times/Big Save Market reserves the first two hours of store opening for stores that open at 5 a.m. and first hour for stores that open at 6 a.m.

Get outside without going outside:

Take a virtual tour of over 2,500 museums from around the world.
Google maps has a virtual tour of Hawai'ʻi where you can visit different islands.
@HawaiiMagazine has a series of videos on its Facebook page of Hawai`i scenes including sunsets and scenic drives.

More on Coronavirus

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