Located along Metcalf Avenue at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Education, Hoʻōla ʻĀina Pilipili is both a garden and an educational hub. In April, it welcomed dozens of visitors who helped test a new inclusivity checklist developed by researchers from the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health. A College of Education initiative, the garden emphasizes ʻāina-based learning and community connection.
The checklist, part of a research study “Exploring the Usability, Appropriateness, and Inclusivity of the Dementia-Friendly Garden Checklist,” is led by Melody Halzel, a PhD student in public health, and Christy Nishita, interim director of the UH Mānoa Center on Aging, who serves as principal investigator. The study focuses on accessible garden interventions for older adults and people with disabilities, including those with dementia and their caregivers.
“The use of this checklist is for community sites to identify and remove common barriers to inclusion,” Halzel explained. “The items are aligned with evidence-based research and the ADA-accessibility guidelines to provide recommendations to design and implement accessible garden sites in Hawaiʻi.&rdquo
Research has shown that gardening offers both physical and mental health benefits, particularly for individuals with dementia. However, traditional gardens can be difficult to navigate for older adults and people with limited mobility.
“Gardening can be a calming, non-pharmacological intervention,” said Halzel. “An age-friendly and dementia-friendly accessible garden attempts to eliminate barriers to participation–a goal the checklist was designed to support.”
Checklist walkthrough aims to improve inclusivity
Participants received a checklist with 45 items grouped into categories, such as “accessible entrance,” “garden beds and pathways,” “safety” and “sensory features.” As they walked through the garden, they checked off features they observed, including raised beds or shaded seating, and offered additional feedback.
Hoʻōla ʻĀina Pilipili, once an underutilized space in 2022, now flourishes with native plants like mamaki, a native Hawaiian plant, and kalo, ʻōlena, rosemary, lilikoʻi, cherry tomatoes and more. It features elevated planter boxes, resting areas and wide pathways, all designed with accessibility in mind.
Growing community resource
Attendees took home a clean copy of the checklist, along with a guide detailing how to build accessible gardens, including approximate costs and dimensions for beds, paths, seating and shade.
Support for the garden has come from across UH Mānoa. Summer Maunakea, associate professor of curriculum studies in the College of Education, integrates it into her ʻāina-based education classes, while the Center on Aging has offered ongoing guidance to grow the site into a model for other communities.
During the event, organizers previewed the next phase: the development of an age-friendly café and education program, offering a space for learning and connection.
Community work days
Community members are invited to take part in monthly work days this summer at Hoʻōla ʻĀina Pilipili. Held every second Saturday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., the gatherings offer opportunities to engage in hands-on garden care, including harvesting, weeding, and preparing herbal teas and lāʻau bundles from plants grown on-site.
