A children’s storybook developed through the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is now available in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, offering Hawaiian-speaking families a new resource to support loved ones with dementia.
Pōmai Lāua ʻo Papa: Ka Wā Kamaliʻi a me ka Makua Poina Wale: Pehea e Mālama ai i nā Mea Koʻikoʻi loa is the Hawaiian-language version of Pōmai and Her Papa: Growing Up Around Memory Loss and Holding on to What Matters Most, originally published in English.
Expanding access
The translation, led by Hā Kūpuna: National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders at UH Mānoa’s Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health, helps meet a growing need for culturally and linguistically relevant resources for Hawaiian-speaking families caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Related UH News story: ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi for elder care, February 2025
Translating medical concepts such as “geriatrician” and “social worker” into ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi required the thoughtful creation of new terms. It reflects the commitment to improving access for the increasing number of Hawaiian language speakers.
“We wanted to contribute to increasing language access for Hawaiian speakers by having Pōmai Lāua ʻo Papa available everywhere Pōmai and Her Papa is already available,” said Hā Kūpuna graduate assistant Kepo ʻo Keliʻipaʻakaua, who led the project.
Understanding dementia together
The initiative was prompted by Hā Kūpuna’s joint advisory committee, which identified a pressing need for Hawaiian-language eldercare materials. Both versions of the storybook help families recognize the signs of dementia, understand the difference between memory loss and normal aging, and connect with support services.
Initially, partners at the Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center requested a small number of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi copies for outreach kits to houseless families.
“There was such an interest, even among volunteers, that they requested more Hawaiian language books,” said Shelley Muneoka of Hā Kūpuna. “It’s so exciting to see the enthusiasm for this resource!”
By the end of 2025, more than 1,500 copies of the English book will have been distributed, and nearly 350 Hawaiian language copies will join them in public and school libraries statewide.
In Hawaiʻi, where multigenerational homes are common, and dementia rates are rising, Pōmai Lāua ʻo Papa offers families a child-friendly way to talk about memory loss and support kūpuna with care and compassion.
To download the books or request printed copies, visit Hā Kūpuna’s website or email Shelley Muneoka at muneokas@hawaii.edu.
