The Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans (HARA) is the official state affiliate of The Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA). HARA serves as an umbrella organization for groups in Hawaii interested in building a broad-based coalition that includes senior centers, tenant associations, retired public employee organizations, trade union retirees, and a variety of other agencies and associations. This Alliance will educate, advocate and communicate to its membership, the public, and elected officials about issues that affect the well being of all Hawaii seniors and retirees. HARA is working to ensure that our island community is a good place to retire and age by supporting the aspirations of seniors to remain healthy, live independently, and lead full and productive lives. Critical issues include expanding local programs that help people remain in their own homes, protecting the rights of nursing and care home residents, reducing the cost of prescription drugs, improving affordable transportation options, and developing a comprehensive family caregiver support program.
HARA received its state charter in 2006 at its founding convention from the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA), which is the successor organization of the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC). As a national advocate for retirees and seniors, ARA with 3.5 million members seeks to help create an America that protects the health and economic security of seniors, strengthens families and builds safe and thriving communities.
HARA Mission
HARA strives to better the health, economic security, and quality of life of retirees.
HARA Values
Build a community based on respect, mutuality, interdependence, and coexistence of all generations. HARA believes that everyone has something to contribute regardless of age, background, experience, or training. The common thread is to make Hawaii a better place to retire and age in place, as well as provide this legacy to future generations.
Make an ongoing commitment to addressing the needs of our aging community. As Hawaii faces the changing demographic of an aging population, HARA believes that it is important to make a long-term commitment to creating and implementing a community agenda that anticipates these challenges. HARA seeks an environment with a high quality of life to support positive personal growth as kama'aina grow older.
Provide retirees with choice and quality options. HARA believes opportunities for engagement must be provided at different levels of intensity and length of commitment to appeal to a broad range of retirees and seniors. It is important to encourage opportunities for the aging community - even those not formally associated with HARA - to initiate activities that contribute to the quality of life of people in Hawaii.
Recognize and embrace diversity. HARA believes that creating an island community that is a good place to retire and age rests on the contributions of a diverse groups of people -- from those born and raised in Hawaii to malihini and baby boomers now calling Hawaii home. HARA must reflect the diversity of Hawaii's aging population to ensure that all voices feel empowered to engage in and influence decisions affecting their quality of life.
Respect aging as a lifelong process. HARA believes that fostering an environment that supports and respects aging as a lifelong process will help develop the community we want to live in now and as we age. HARA will focus on issues that are age neutral, broadly inclusive, and focused on meeting the needs of all generations as they age.
HARA Vision
Retirees enjoy "choices" that result in improved standards of living and a higher quality of life.