2 groups mobilize for caregivers bill

Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE) and Caring Across Generations will rally for public support of the kupuna caregivers assistance bill during a trolley ride through Chinatown on April 8.

Faith and community organizations must sign up to reserve space on the Waikiki Trolley, which will depart at 10 a.m. from Harris United Methodist Church, 20 S. Vineyard Blvd. The trolley will return at noon, when free bento lunches and cold bottled water will be served.

The kupuna caregivers assistance bill, identified as Senate Bill 534 and House Bill 607, requires the state Executive Office on Aging to establish a kupuna (senior) caregivers program, with an allotment of $600,000 to assist caregivers in obtaining care for elders, to help caregivers to remain in the workforce.

Dawn Morais, spokeswoman for Caring Across Generations, said the trolley will make several stops, and participants may get off to encourage the public to call their legislators about the issue.

“Both HB 607 and SB 534 are still very much alive and both have passed second reading. Especially worth noting is the fact that the Senate budget revealed that Senator Jill Tokuda (chairman of the Ways and Means Committee) has added the kupuna caregivers into the budget,” Morais said in a news release.

Participants should wear their FACE or church/temple/organization T-shirts, and bring homemade signs. RSVP to Patrick Zukemura at 391-3464 or pzuke2@gmail.com. Visit care4 ­kupuna.com.