The children¡¯s storybook , which helps children understand Alzheimer¡¯s disease, has been adapted into a . The story follows P¨mai, a young girl learning to support her Papa (grandfather) as he experiences memory loss, offering a gentle, culturally grounded way for families to start conversations about dementia. First released by the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ in 2019 and translated into ʻōlelo Â鶹´«Ã½ in 2025, the story has reached keiki and caregivers across the islands.
Related UH News story: Dementia storybook released statewide
The animation was developed by Kalilinoe Detwiler, a UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ PhD candidate in English, with the , housed in the . It brings the storybook to life with vibrant visuals, expressive characters and narration voiced by H¨¡ K¨±puna team members.
“We hope the book and video will open conversations between children, parents and k¨±puna about dementia in a cultural and age-appropriate way,” said Detwiler, who is an , and co-principal investigator for the Symphony of Â鶹´«Ã½ Seas project. “I enjoy spending time with the characters, imagining their expressions and who they might sit beside in the setting. I also enjoy imagining visual representations to subtle changes in their emotions and understanding of dementia.”
The project began in January 2025 and included storyboarding, visual design, background art, voice recording, animation and editing.
“As we create resources for ʻōpio (youth) and caregivers, we recognize there are mediums that best suit the intergenerational households in Â鶹´«Ã½,” added Detwiler. “Animation is one of those mediums. It opens possibilities for stories that can be challenging or heavy,”
“The purpose of H¨¡ K¨±puna is to enhance understanding of k¨±puna, celebrate their lives, and improve eldercare services,” said Shelley Muneoka, H¨¡ K¨±puna program coordinator. “Storybooks and animation help extend this information to new audiences in a meaningful way.”
.