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Hawaiʻi's Intergenerational Tech Program

Two generations.
One mission.
Bridging the
digital divide.

We train Hawaiʻi youth in tech, then pair them one-on-one with kūpuna at senior homes and community centers. Teens get paid and certified. Kūpuna get connected.

I'm a teen — get me in I'm a kupuna — I need help

Our impact so far

  • 2,797hours of service
  • 3,370kūpuna helped
  • 99teens enrolled
  • Since 2022across Oʻahu

Mahalo to our sponsors and partners

Backed by people who believe in our ʻōpio

  • Spectrum
  • Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
  • The KEY Project
  • Hawaiʻi Broadband Office
  • Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center
  • Koʻolau Pilina Fund
  • AARP Hawaiʻi
  • Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Watch

Hawaiʻi's Intergenerational Tech Program

Ninety seconds on what happens when a teen and a kupuna sit down.

Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

It's what we do

Teens who teach.
Kūpuna who thrive.

We train Hawaiʻi youth in tech, then send them to help kūpuna one-on-one at senior homes and community centers.

Since 2022, our teens have given 3,000+ hours and helped 2,500+ kūpuna across Oʻahu stay connected. It comes down to three core areas.

  1. Core area

    Workforce Readiness

    After 30+ volunteer hours, teens earn IC3, Microsoft, or cybersecurity certifications — and a path to tech jobs and internships.

    • IC3
    • Microsoft
    • Cybersecurity
    Co-founder Jaffer Dakroub speaking at the 2025 Hawaiʻi Broadband Hōʻike session on broadband equity

  2. Core area

    Intergenerational Connection

    Teens sit with kūpuna in person, one-on-one — video calls, telehealth, smartphones, internet basics, scams, and more.

    Not a class. Relationship-based learning, grounded in aloha.

    A Tech Savvy Teen sitting beside a kupuna, working through her smartphone with her at a community center table

  3. Core area

    Indigenous Youth Leadership

    Rooted in mālama kekahi i kekahi — youth from underrepresented communities lead with aloha, patience, and purpose.

    Read our story
    Six Tech Savvy Teens standing together at the City and County of Honolulu podium

Our impact by the numbers

As of June 2026

3,370

kūpuna got one-on-one tech help from a Tech Savvy Teen.

2,797
hours supporting kūpuna
99
teens enrolled right now

What kūpuna ask for most

  1. Smart Phone & Small Devices

    Most requested tech support request

  2. Laptop & Printer Setup

    Second most requested

  3. Email Support

    Third most requested

What teens teach

Real questions. Real devices. Real patience.

Not a class. It's learning side by side with a kupuna, at their pace, grounded in aloha.

See how the program works

  1. AI & Smart Devices

    Voice assistants and AI tools — what they are, what they can do for you, and how to stay safe.

  2. Photos & Cloud Storage

    Organizing photos, sharing them with family near and far, and backing up so nothing is lost.

  3. Telehealth Access

    Video visits with doctors, patient portals, and apps for medication reminders and health tracking.

  4. Online Safety & Scams

    Spotting scams, making strong passwords, protecting your data, and knowing who to call when something feels wrong.

This is what it looks like

Community centers, senior homes, libraries, and expos — all across the islands.

  • A Tech Savvy Teen sitting beside a kupuna, helping her with a smartphone at a community center table
  • Six Tech Savvy Teens standing together at the City and County of Honolulu podium
  • Two Tech Savvy Teens volunteers staffing an outreach table with program flyers
  • Two teen volunteers beside a Tech Savvy Teens banner reading Connecting Generations Through Technology
  • Co-founder Jaffer Dakroub at the 2025 Hawaiʻi Broadband Hōʻike speaker session

Three ways in

Pick your door.