Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA), a statewide nonprofit dedicated to building economic self-sufficiency and housing stability for low- and moderate-income communities, recently launched Project Maka‘ala (to be alert, vigilant and aware), a culturally grounded community initiative designed to help kūpuna recognize, avoid and respond to financial scams and fraud. The program is rooted in Hawaiian values: When something feels wrong — pause, kāhea (reach out), then decide. Kūpuna are encouraged to kāhea to a trusted person/resource before acting, to enhance clarity, protection and support.
This spring, kūpuna gathered for a lunch-and learn event, fraud/scam awareness and protection seminar, community resource fairs, a film event and a workshop. Participants learned valuable skills, such as how to recognize, avoid and report potential fraud and scams. Guests shared real world mo‘olelo (stories) about how they identified and avoided fraud.
Project Maka‘ala works with numerous community partners, including local law enforcement, the Kualoa-He‘eia Ecumenical Youth (KEY) Project and the multi-agency Kūpuna Alert Partners (KAP) program. The program provides free presentations on fraud, scams and prescription drug misuse to communities statewide. Project Maka‘ala also collaborates with Windward O‘ahu communities and Hawaiian Homestead residents.
To protect yourself and your loved ones from an “under-the-radar” fraud epidemic, refer to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s free “Smart Money for Older Adults” resource guide. If you suspect you may be a victim of fraud, contact the State of Hawai‘i’s Adult Protective and Community Services Branch Statewide Reporting Line: 808-832-5115.
Help protect yourself by:
- Identifying a trusted contact
- Reviewing your accounts regularly
- Securing personal information
- Planning for financial, legal or medical decisions
Stay tuned for future Project Maka‘ala events to
learn more.
HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY ASSETS (nonprofit)
310 Paoakalani Ave., #204e, Honolulu, HI 96815
808-587-7886 | oahufoc@hawaiiancommunity.net
hawaiiancommunity.net
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