HI HB1730

Appropriates $500,000 from general revenues for fiscal year 2022-2023 to the Hawaii Healthy Aging Partnership (HHAP) program administered by the Executive Office on Aging.

HHAP program provides evidence-based health interventions for older adults including disease self-management programs (Ke Ola Pono/Better Choices Better Health) and EnhanceFitness exercise classes.

Program received state funding in fiscal years 2017-2018 and 2019-2020 but had no state funding for fiscal years 2020-2022, relying instead on county and federal Title IIID funds.

During COVID-19 pandemic, HHAP adapted programs to virtual and remote formats, serving over 392 kupuna through online classes, televised programs, and phone-based instruction while maintaining program effectiveness.

Appropriation effective July 1, 2022, intended to enable program expansion in both remote and in-person formats to better serve Hawaii's aging population.