For families across Hawai‘i facing the uncertainty of memory concerns, help is on the way — and it carries a name rooted in our local values. The HĀNAI Memory Network, an acronym for Hawai‘i’s Assistance for the Navigation of Alzheimer’s Intervention, was signed into law in 2026 as Act 245, capping off this past session’s advocacy efforts by the Alzheimer’s Association and its community partners.
Hānai speaks to a cultural tradition of caring for others as ‘ohana, extending support beyond blood ties — and that spirit shapes the program itself. Rather than leaving families to piece together care on their own, HĀNAI weaves clinical and nonclinical services into one coordinated system. Call it a “no wrong door” approach: Wherever someone enters, they’re met with guidance toward diagnosis, treatment and ongoing support that honors both dignity and culture.
Two core pillars will carry the work forward:
- Dementia Care Specialists will offer cognitive screening, assessment and referrals directly in their communities.
- Memory Clinics, established in partnership with a health system in each county, will provide clinical diagnosis, care planning and access to emerging treatments — including therapies that clear amyloid plaque and slow disease progression.
With the law now in place, the Executive Office on Aging is collecting public input and preparing to release a Request for Proposal this fall. If momentum holds, families should see HĀNAI up and running by mid-to-late 2027, giving Hawai‘i families a trusted place to turn for care.
If you have any questions about the HĀNAI Memory Network, please contact the Alzheimer’s Association – Hawai‘i.
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION (nonprofit)
677 Ala Moana Blvd., Ste. 301, Honolulu, HI 96813
808-591-2771 | 24/7 Helpline: 800-272-3900
hawaii@alz.org | alz.org/hawaii
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