HONOLULU (HI Now) - March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and two Hawaiʻi organizations are joining forces to make their voices heard at the State Capitol. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities and Lanakila Pacific are co-hosting a Day at the Capitol and March for Meals event on Wednesday, March 4th — combining advocacy for people with disabilities and senior nutrition programs in one unified celebration.
The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities works to advance advocacy, capacity building, and systems change for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the state. At least 61% of its 28 Governor-appointed members are individuals with disabilities or their family members, ensuring those most impacted have a direct voice in shaping policy.
Lanakila Pacific, represented by President and CEO Rona Yagi Fukumoto, brings a deeply personal dimension to the event: this year marks the 55th anniversary of Lanakila Meals on Wheels. The milestone comes at a critical time — 32% of Hawaiʻi households and 15% of older adults are food insecure, and kūpuna with disabilities are more than twice as likely to face hunger.
Together, both organizations are rallying the community around a shared message: “We all have different faces, come from different places, and all of our voices shall be heard.” Learn more at hiddcouncil.org and LanakilaPacific.org or on social media @lanakilapacific.
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