Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health crisis in Hawaii. The impact of Alzheimer’s is projected to rise, and the most recent data show:

• 31,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in Hawaii.
• 6.7% of people aged 45 and older have subjective cognitive decline.
• 60,000 family caregivers bear the burden of the disease in Hawaii.
• 91 million hours of unpaid care provided by Alzheimer’s caregivers.
• $1.9 billion is the value of the unpaid care.
• $285 million is the cost of Alzheimer’s to the state Medicaid program.

These numbers show that a public health approach is necessary to lessen the burden and enhance the quality of life for those living with cognitive impairment and their families.

Learn more about Hawaii: Alzheimer’s Statistics (PDF), Cognitive Decline (PDF), Dementia Caregiving (PDF), Risk Factors (PDF), County-Level Alzheimer's Prevalence (PDF)

Tribes in your state

Use the HBI Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples to start conversations with tribal leaders on public health actions that can be taken to support brain health and caregivers. Find tribal leaders and federally recognized tribes in your state: Tribal Leaders Directory.

Public health spotlight

A former Hawaii Director of Health sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to physicians throughout the state encouraging early detection and diagnosis of dementia including through the use of the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit benefit. The letter recommended training and informational resources.

In September 2020, the Hawaii Department of Health received a Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Program Award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

State plan overview

In 2011 the Hawaii Executive Office on Aging, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Aloha Chapter, formed a special Task Force to develop a State Plan on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). The task force included representatives from state agencies, care provider organizations, community organizations, faith communities and research centers as well as advocates, long-term care providers, consumers and elder law attorneys. In December 2013, the Office on Aging published Hawaii 2025: State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias.

In 2018, Governor David Ige signed into law House Bill 1916, which mandates that the Executive Office on Aging update and bi-annually report to the state legislature and the Governor on the progress of the implementation of the Hawaii State Plan on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. In 2021, Governor Ige signed a budget funding an Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia Services Coordinator within the Executive Office on Aging and Act 115 permits the employers of first responder personnel to obtain dementia training for their employees.

Resources for action

State and local public health agencies around the country are taking action against Alzheimer’s by implementing the Healthy Brain Initiative: State and Local Road Map for Public Health, 2023–2027. Public health practitioners can learn by example and find resources to help guide their response below.