Entrance to the Ho‘ōla ʻĀina Pilipili māla (garden site), with the garden sign in front, surrounded by greenery and native plants.
Located at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa campus, College of Education.
Embedded Files
Cultivating Care: A Memory Café
Join our monthly Cultivating Care: A Memory Café events at Hoʻōla ʻĀina Pilipili
January- May 2026 (Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:00 PM)
A free monthly, garden-based gathering for people living with memory loss and their care partners. Join us for community, connection, and ʻāina-based activities in a safe, welcoming space and supported by trained student volunteers.
Get Involved!
Community Participants (person living with memory loss + care partner):
Sign up to attend upcoming Memory Café gatherings using the Community Registration Form below.
Scroll down to learn more, view the flyer and see upcoming dates.
To learn more or if you need help signing up, contact Melody Halzel at mhalzel@hawaii.edu
Our program will continue throughout 2026—stay tuned for updates and additional event dates. Join our mailing list to receive announcements and reminders.
Cultivating Care: A Memory Café in Action
Our gatherings bring caregivers, kūpuna, and volunteers together for connection, planting, creative hands-on activities, and spending time in the garden.
Register here: https://go.hawaii.edu/tSr
Join our upcoming Spring 2026 events held monthly on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:00 PM:
February 19 – Communication (Storytelling and reflection with sunflowers, transplanting into garden beds, seed planting, and pot decorating.)
March 12 – Creation (Watercolor painting, pesto-making demo, herb-bundles)
April 16 – Cultivation (Bouquet and herb-bundle making, plant flowers, watercolor painting and photo-taking for scrapbook activity)
May 21 – Celebration (Scrapbook page creation, memory art using collage or pressed flowers, and lei making.)
Activities are optional and self-paced; participants may choose one activity or move between activities at their own pace. All activities are adaptable for different ability levels and may change slightly based on participant needs, weather, and garden conditions. Trained volunteers will be present to support activities and engage with participants.
This pilot project is funded by the Community Care Corps and hosted by the Kūpuna Collective and the University of Hawai‘i Center on Aging, in partnership with the Ho‘ōla ʻĀina Pilipili garden site (māla) at the College of Education.
What is a Memory Café?
A Memory Café is a social gathering for people living with memory loss and their care partner, including family, friends, or professional caregivers. These events offer a welcoming and supportive space to connect with others, share experiences, and engage in meaningful activities.
The Cultivating Care: Memory Café takes place in the accessible garden site at Ho‘ōla ʻĀina Pilipili. It is not a form of respite care or therapy, but rather a place for social interaction and building community. Each event will be supported by trained student volunteers who help create a safe, inclusive, and engaging environment.
Please scroll down to view the flyers and register with the links provided.
Community members and care partners sit at picnic tables under the shade tent at Ho‘ōla ʻĀina Pilipili. Photo by Jena Funakoshi
For Community Members & Care Partners
Join Us for the Cultivating Care: A Memory Café
The Cultivating Care: Memory Café is a monthly garden-based program for people living with memory loss and their care partners. Held at Ho‘ōla ʻĀina Pilipili Accessible Garden site, each gathering offers a welcoming outdoor space to connect, create, and build community through meaningful, accessible activities.
The garden includes wide pathways, shaded areas, seating, accessible restrooms, lighting, and nearby parking. We provide all tools, gloves, and garden materials, and serve light refreshments at each session. Registration is required, and a map with parking and site details will be shared upon sign-up.
Participants will be asked to sign in at the event and complete a brief evaluation form to support and improve the program. Our sessions are designed to provide a supportive, relaxing environment for both kūpuna and care partners.
2026 Memory Café Dates & Themes (Thursdays, 4:30–6:00 PM):
January 29 – Connection
February 19 – Communication
March 12 – Creation
April 16 – Cultivation
May 21 – Celebration
RSVP using the Link or QR code on the flyer.
Registration Link: https://go.hawaii.edu/tSr
Join Us as a Student Volunteer
Now Recruiting Student Volunteers (Spring 2026)
Join our team of student volunteers for the Cultivating Care: Memory Café, a monthly, ʻāina-based garden program for older adults living with memory loss and their care partners. Events are held outdoors at Ho‘ōla ʻĀina Pilipili, an accessible school and community garden site on the UH Mānoa campus. This is a meaningful opportunity to gain hands-on experience in community health, dementia-friendly engagement, and intergenerational connection.
Volunteers assist with set-up, guest support, creative activities, and reflection. Roles may include welcoming participants, guiding guests in the garden, supporting activities, and creating an inclusive and accessible environment. Training, orientation, and on-site support will be provided, and all volunteers will receive free CPR and First Aid certification.
Student Eligibility:
Open to undergraduate and graduate students (and recent graduates) from UH Mānoa, KCC, and other local colleges and universities, especially those in Public Health, Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, OT/PT, Community Health Work, Gerontology, and related fields. All levels are welcome—no prior experience is required.
Limited spots are available. After you register, our team will follow up with additional details, including training dates, parking information, and volunteer roles.
Student Volunteer Registration Link: https://go.hawaii.edu/XVD
Page updated
Report abuse