Promotional video of the King Lunalilo Trust and the Lunalilo Home featuring it’s deep history and daily operations and life of employees and kūpuna.
OUR MISSION
E malu ke kanaka i ka lokomaikaʻi o Lunalilo.
TO ADVANCE KING LUNALILO’S WILL TO SHELTER AND SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED.
OUR VISION
Nā kūpuna māhua i kauhale aloha.
THRIVING KŪPUNA IN LOVING COMMUNITIES AND HOMES.
A trust established by
King William
Charles Lunalilo
SERVING HIS PEOPLE
King Lunalilo established the King Lunalilo Trust in 1871 to create a charitable foundation for the poor, destitute, and infirm people of Hawaiian descent, with a preference for the elderly. This was the first time a Hawaiian chief set aside land in a will for charitable purposes. The trust addressed the growing problem of displaced Native Hawaiians who had lost their ʻohana and ancestral lands due to epidemics and the effects of the Māhele of 1848.
The original Lunalilo Home opened in Makiki in 1883, serving 53 residents, including younger adults and blind individuals. By the 1920s, Lunalilo Home had become recognized as a haven for Hawaiian culture. In 1928, the home moved to its current location, thanks to a generous donation from the Irene Īʻī Brown Holloway estate. Since a renovation in 2002, Lunalilo Home has offered three services for kūpuna (elders): residential care, an adult day center, and meals-to-go. In 2007, Lunalilo Home opened the residential care program to all kūpuna regardless of ancestry, with a preference for Native Hawaiians. Today, we continue to advance King Lunalilo’s mission to provide shelter and care for the Hawaiian people.
Services
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At Lunalilo Home, our residents enjoy comfortable accommodations and a vibrant community of kūpuna who enjoy frequent recreational, cultural and spiritual activities. Our expert staff are committed to delivering the highest quality of care in keeping with our core values — aloha (caring for everyone even when it is hard), haʻahaʻa (humility, willing to do anything and everything), hoʻomanawanui (making plenty time, patience and graciousness to all), laulima (many hands make light work, being a dependable team player) and kūlia i ka nuʻu (striving for excellence)
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We offer “respite” or short-term residential care (from a few days to several weeks) for kūpuna who need a supervised and structured setting. Respite care helps families take a break from the daily routine of caregiving. Respite residents enjoy the same benefits as our Residential Care residents.
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Our Adult Day Care Center offers a vibrant and social community for kūpuna to enjoy their day while our specially trained staff provide the health, nutritional, social and daily living support they need. Our Adult Day Care Center gives family caregivers peace of mind, knowing their loved-ones are spending the day in a safe, fun and socially engaging environment while receiving expert care.
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Whether you're a kupuna taking care of yourself or a caregiver caring for a parent, Lunalilo Home prepares delicious local-style meals designed for today's healthy senior lifestyle. Lunalilo Home's Meals-to-Go are ideal for single seniors or couples wanting to maintain independence.
90 Kūpuna
Nearly 90 kūpuna have benefited from short-term respite care at Lunalilo Home, including almost 40 of Native Hawaiian ancestry. This service gives families essential rest while their loved ones receive personalized, high-quality care.
165,000+ Meals
Lunalilo Home has provided more than 165,000 nutritious meals to kūpuna in our community — ensuring food security, connection, and care. Through our Meals-to-Go program, the King Lunalilo Trust continues to serve kūpuna across East and West Oʻahu with dignity and aloha.
50 Experts
Our dedicated team of over 50 professionals includes nurses, caregivers, cultural practitioners, and support staff — all committed to delivering compassionate, culturally rooted care to Hawaiʻi's kūpuna.
Since 1883
In 1883, the first trustees opened the original Lunalilo Home in Makiki for 53 residents. The first Lunalilo Home served adult kānaka as young as 25 years old, and many of these younger residents were blind. By the 1920s, Lunalilo Home was renowned as a center for Hawaiian culture.
$2.9 Million
The King Lunalilo Trust has provided over $2.9 million in financial subsidies to ensure that more than 20 Native Hawaiian residents could access full-time care, regardless of their financial situation — fulfilling the King’s wish to uplift those in need.