AARP Releases Hawai‘i Data on Caregivers

A new AARP caregiving report, Caregiving in the U.S. 2025: Caring Across States, finds that 23 percent of adults in Hawai‘i — about 260,000 people — are family caregivers, providing largely unpaid and unsupported care to older parents, spouses, and other loved ones.

“When a loved one needs help, family members, friends, and neighbors step up, that’s what we do,” said Keali‘i Lopez, AARP Hawai‘i State Director. “But too often, caregivers carry this responsibility alone, often putting their finances, health and jobs at risk. As our state population ages, the demand for care will only grow. With the release of this new data and ahead of the 2026 legislative session, AARP Hawai‘i is urging policymakers at every level to act now to help family caregivers save money, time and get the support they need.”

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Family caregivers provide more than $2.6 billion in unpaid care each year in Hawai‘i, helping adult family members live independently at home and in their communities—where they want to be. Their caregiving responsibilities range from bathing and meal prep to managing medications, arranging transportation and handling medical tasks, with little or no training.

But the toll on our family caregivers is great— financially, physically, and emotionally.

• 80 percent of caregivers pay out of their own pockets to help meet their loved ones’ needs, averaging $7,200 each year, or 25% of their income.
• About half of family caregivers in Hawai‘i and West Coast states report financial setbacks— taking on debt, draining savings, or struggling to afford basics like food and medicine.
• About 60 percent of caregivers are also juggling full- or part-time jobs. Many must reduce work hours or leave the workforce entirely due to caregiving responsibilities, jeopardizing their own long-term financial security.
• AARP Hawai‘i is fighting for commonsense solutions to save caregivers money and time, and provide greater support:
• We are pushing for legislation to save caregivers money through state tax credits of up to $2,000 and federal tax credits of up to $5,000 for working caregivers.
• We are also working with partners on a task force to create a paid family leave program for working caregivers.