The mission of Hale Hau’oli Hawai’i is to promote positive aging through community education programs, adult day care options, and caregiver support. We are a non-profit organization serving the needs of aging seniors and their caregivers.
Hale Hau’oli Hawai’i’s vision is to provide services for the elderly and their caregivers and to act as a resource and referral partner for them.
As the population in Hawaii ages, there is a significant need to provide support services to the elderly and disabled and their caregivers. Census data shows that 16.5% of Hawaii’s population of over 1.4 million is over the age of 65, totaling over 236,000 individuals. One report shows that most families struggle to cover the out-of-pocket costs of long-term care. According to a 2017 report by Genworth Financial, Inc., in Hawaii, the average monthly cost of a Homemaker Health Aide is $4,957 per month, adult day care is $1,650, assisted living is $4,750, and nursing home care is $13,216. Because the culture in Hawaii is to have our seniors age in place, and most caregivers have to continue to work outside of the home, adult day care is the most economical care option for the Kupuna.

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (alzfdn) is a funder and partner of Hale Hau`oli Hawai`i.

Affiliations: The Caregiver Foundation, The Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, Kokua Council, The National Adult Day Services Association, Adult Day Centers Hawaii, The Hawaii Gerontological Society, Alzheimer’s Association, and AARP.

Kathy Wyatt is President of Hale Hauʻoli Hawaiʻi, whose mission is to promote positive aging through community education programs, adult day care options, and caregiver support groups, established in 2017. She is a registered nurse with Master’s degrees in Nursing and Business Administration, and is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator. Ms. Wyatt’s experience spans 20 years working with the elderly in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, as well as adult day care. She is on the Board of Directors of the Policy Advisory Board for Elderly Affairs (Chair of the Recognition and Awards Committee), the Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition (Treasurer), the Caregiver Foundation, and Kokua Council (Secretary), was the 2019 President of the Hawaii Pacific Gerontology Society and she is active in the Kupuna Caucus. In addition, she operates Hale Hauʻoli Hawaiʻi, an adult day care center in Aiea and is founder and instructor for Hoaloha Nurse Aide Training Program. She is past President of Adult Day Centers Hawaii.

Dr. Lois Ricci, Vice President of the Hale Hau`oli Hawai`i Board of Directors, is a geriatric nurse practitioner/educator and consultant, is our guest speaker from Atlanta, Georgia. She holds Master’s degrees in Gerontology and Nursing Education, and a Doctorate in Adult Education. Currently, she is a consultant for the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, and adjunct faculty member and consultant with University of Georgia, Kennesaw State University and Clayton State University, where she teaches Gerontology courses and the Professional Development in Gerontology Certificate Class. Professional organization memberships include American Nurses Association, National Nursing Staff Development Association, Georgia Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, and the Georgia Gerontology Society. She is a volunteer and spokesperson for AARP and the Tucker Lifelong Community Committee.

Dr. Balaz, a member of the Board of Directors of Hale Hau`oli Hawai`i, grew up in Hawai’i and
attended the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, receiving a Bachelor of Science (BSN) degree in Nursing.
Dr. Balaz received her Masters of Science (MSN) degree in Nursing Education from the
University of Oklahoma, graduated with honors and was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing
Honor Society. After working in Los Angeles she returned to Hawai’i to obtain her Doctorate in Nursing
Practice (DNP) from the University of Hawai’i at Hilo. Dr. Balaz describes herself as a lifetime learner and is
double board certified as a family nurse practitioner. Dr. Balaz’s professional interests include Native Hawaiian health, kupuna (geriatrics), brain health, and the ‘ohana and community that is affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias. Her devotion
to her profession stems from her culture which also exemplifies the notion to serve others before yourself.

Scholarship funding from The Milton and Phyllis Berg Spring Respite Grant through the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.