In times of growing division and uncertainty, one issue continues to unite people across the country: Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). ADRD remains a pressing public health concern—and a rare bipartisan priority.

In the recent H.R.1, funding for dementia education and public health infrastructure was preserved, ensuring continued support for communities like ours.

What Is the BOLD Program?

The Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (Public Law 115-406) was signed into law in 2018, reauthorized in 2024, and is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This landmark legislation funds a national public health initiative to strengthen the infrastructure needed to address ADRD.

Through BOLD, jurisdictions across the U.S. receive funding to:

• Develop and implement strategic plans on ADRD
• Build multisector coalitions of community stakeholders
• Educate the public and professionals on ADRD
• Implement public health strategies to raise awareness, improve care, and support families

Together, we’re creating a collective response—educating communities about brain health, training professionals in dementia care, improving data collection, and strengthening connections between clinical and community services.

Guided by the Healthy Brain Initiative

This work is grounded in the Healthy Brain Initiative, a national movement that promotes brain health as a core part of public health. The Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map outlines strategic actions for states and communities to follow. Hawai‘i’s own plan, Hawai‘i 2035: State Strategic Plan on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias, is aligned with this national framework.

Hawai‘i’s Progress and Challenges

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Executive Office on Aging was awarded a BOLD planning grant in 2020-2023 and BOLD implementation grant for 2023-2028. They recently received approval to continue this BOLD work in Year 3 of the five-year implementation grant. While the current federal shutdown may cause delays, the Hawai‘i BOLD Program remains committed to its mission.

The program continues to support the Hawai‘i Dementia Initiative coalition and recently welcomed a new BOLD Coordinator to manage the BOLD grant and help coordinate coalition efforts.

A Cause That Unites Us

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias affect families from all walks of life. The color purple, often used to represent Alzheimer’s, is fitting—it symbolizes unity across political lines, backgrounds, and beliefs. People from the right and left, red and blue, are coming together to make a difference for Hawai‘i’s kūpuna and families.

Join the movement. Become a Dementia Champion.
Together, we can build a stronger, more dementia-friendly Hawai‘i.