Hawai'i & Pacific Deaf-Blind Project

08/07/2026

Fresh Start is here at CSC! 💚

With the help of community donations, we now have essential personal care items available for community members who need them.

Items are available at CSC while supplies last.

Want to help us keep Fresh Start stocked? We welcome donations of new, unopened personal care items.

📍 CSC
1953 S. Beretania St., Suite 5A
Honolulu, HI 96826

Image description: Fresh Start graphic from the Comprehensive Service Center. Personal care items including body wipes, soap, deodorant, a toothbrush, toothpaste, tissues, and a green towel are arranged together. Text reads: “Fresh Start. Personal care items available at CSC while supplies last. Help Stock the Fresh Start Program.”

07/15/2026

Accessible games are for everyone!

CSC recently welcomed DOE professionals to explore adapted tabletop games and learn ways to make play more accessible for students, families, and adults with vision, hearing, and Deaf-Blind access needs.

Participants had hands-on time with:
Flat Connect Four
Battleship
Box / Tactile Bingo
Texture Dominos
Tactile Concentration

Together, we practiced adaptations, shared ideas, and talked about how simple changes can make games more inclusive and enjoyable.

Feedback was very positive. Participants shared that the session gave them practical ideas they can use with students and families, helped them better understand available adapted games, and made them feel more prepared to make activities accessible.

One participant shared, “Thank you so much for letting us try all the games! It was very helpful and meaningful!”

Mahalo to everyone who came ready to play, learn, and brainstorm with us. We look forward to more opportunities to make fun and connection accessible for all.

If you are interested in stopping by or borrowing any of our games, please send us a message. We'd love to connect with you!

Image descriptions: three women enjoy adapted versions of Battleship, Connect Four, and Texture Dominos.

07/07/2026

Yesterday, July 6, 2026, Hands & Voices Hawaiʻi and CSC partnered for a community gathering in Hilo, where everyone came together to learn, share, and connect.

The best part was seeing communication happen naturally among all ages. Families spent time with one another, teens reunited after CSC's Leadership Camp, and adults modeled different ways of communicating throughout the day. As everyone explored the exhibits, people shared signs, spoken language, gestures, and conversations in the ways that worked best for them.

It was a fabulous reminder that language, communication, and connection grow in everyday moments shared together.

Mahalo to Hands & Voices Hawaiʻi, Signs of Camp, and Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo for helping create a memorable day for all.

07/01/2026

**Accessible Connect Four at CSC**

Mike designed an accessible version of Connect Four that uses a tactile board and pieces so deaf-blind players can feel the board, track the moves, and enjoy the game in a more accessible way.

In this video, Mike explains how the game works and why tactile access matters. His design shows how small adaptations can make a familiar game more inclusive, hands-on, and fun for more people.

This game is available at CSC, and anyone is welcome to come try it! Stop by, play a round, and see how accessible games can bring people together.

https://youtu.be/lHFL4ECR7Gk
**Connected by Touch: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges**

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

07/01/2026

Day 5: Accessible Games & Activities

Accessible games bring people together. They give us a chance to learn, laugh, problem-solve, take turns, and connect.

For Deaf-Blind individuals, access can look different depending on the person and the activity. Games may be adapted with tactile pieces, textures, high contrast, large print, braille, lighting changes, sound, vibration, or partner support.

Check out our next post where Mike will explain the accessible version of Connect Four that he designed. This adapted game uses tactile components and is available to play at the CSC.

Join us for upcoming Deaf-Blind Lunch Bunch events:

July 25, 2026
11:00 AM–1:00 PM
Taco bar potluck, games, and community connection

August 29, 2026
4:30–7:00 PM
Karaoke & Potluck — open to anyone who loves to sing or just wants to hang out!

September 19, 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Tentative)
Usher Syndrome Awareness Event

Connected by Touch: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges

06/30/2026

Day 4 of Deaf-Blind Awareness Week: Access Through Touch

Touch can be a powerful way to communicate, connect, and access the world.

For many Deaf-Blind individuals, tactile communication opens doors to information, education, relationships, and community participation. This may include tactile sign language, touch cues, haptics, hand-under-hand exploration, and other forms of communication through touch.

When communication is accessible, people can connect more fully, build trust, and take part in the conversation.

Tactile communication is more than a method. It is a bridge that connects people, builds understanding, and creates access.

Join us for upcoming Deaf-Blind Lunch Bunch events:

July 25, 2026
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Lunch, games, and community connection.

August 29, 2026
4:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Karaoke & Potluck — open to anyone who loves to sing!

Connected by Touch: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges

06/29/2026

Deaf-Blind Awareness Week – Day 3: Community Matters

Deaf-blindness can be isolating, but it doesn't have to be.

Our Deaf-Blind Lunch Bunch and Small Group Sessions create a welcoming space where people can connect, build friendships, practice communication, and learn from one another. Whether sharing a meal, laughing together, or communicating through touch, these gatherings remind us that everyone deserves to belong.

💙 Join us at an upcoming Deaf-Blind Lunch Bunch!

📅 Saturday, July 25, 2026
🕚 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
🍽️ Lunch, games, and community connection

📅 Saturday, August 29, 2026
🕟 4:30–7:00 PM
🎤 Karaoke & Potluck – open to anyone who loves to sing!

Because community isn't just about being together—it's about creating spaces where everyone can communicate, participate, and support one another.

Connected by Touch: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges.

06/26/2026

Day 2 of Deaf-Blind Awareness Week: Vision matters.

Deaf and hard of hearing keiki use their eyes every day to learn, communicate, and connect. Vision changes are not always easy to notice, so regular vision testing is important.

When hearing loss and vision loss happen together, it is called deaf-blindness. Early identification helps families and teachers connect children to the right support sooner.

Free support is available through the Hawaiʻi & Pacific Deaf-Blind Project for keiki birth to age 21, families, and teachers across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Islands.



Image description: Flyer that says, “If Your Child Is Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Get Their Vision Tested, Too!” It explains that vision is important for learning, communication, and connection. The flyer includes photos of children and adults, colorful icons, and information about deaf-blindness, early identification, and support from the Hawaiʻi & Pacific Deaf-Blind Project.

06/26/2026

Day 1 of Deaf-Blind Awareness Week

Join CSC and HPDBP as we celebrate Deaf-Blind Awareness Week, June 25–July 1.

This year’s national campaign theme from Helen Keller National Center is “Connected by Touch: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges.”

Throughout the week, we will share information and resources to help build understanding of deaf-blindness, early identification, communication access, and the supports that help children, adults, families, and professionals connect.

Deaf-blindness is its own unique disability, and access can look different for each person. Together, we can build stronger bridges across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.



Image Description: Deaf-Blind Awareness Week announcement graphic

A square social media graphic in black, teal, and white announces Deaf-Blind Awareness Week, June 25–July 1, 2026. At the top and bottom are five circular photos showing deaf-blind community members and staff interacting in group and one-on-one settings. The photos include people seated around tables, tactile or close-up communication, and a small-group activity.

Centered in large white text is: “Deaf-Blind Awareness Week.” Below that, in a teal banner, the graphic reads: “Connected by Touch” and “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges.” Smaller text underneath says: “2026 National Campaign Theme from Helen Keller National Center.”

The CSC and HPDBP logos appear near the center above the main title. The overall design feels bold, welcoming, and community-centered.

06/24/2026

On Saturday, June 20, 2026, CSC joined the Hawaiʻi Association of the Blind at Nā Mea Kūpono Learning Center in Waialua for a hands-on aloha ʻāina experience.

We learned: “I ka wā ma mua, ka wā ma hope” — “The future is in the past.”

Nā Mea Kūpono taught us about the ahupuaʻa of Kamananui, the natural spring waters that supported kalo and other crops, and how land, water, people, and food are connected from mountain to sea.

Participants stepped into the loʻi kalo, moved through the water and mud, helped clear plant material, and learned through touch, movement, conversation, and shared work.

Hawaiʻi Association of the Blind offers regular STEAM events for children and families. CSC is excited to partner with HAB so deaf-blind children and families can join, connect, and participate fully too. Stay tuned for upcoming events.

Mahalo to Hawaiʻi Association of the Blind and Nā Mea Kūpono Learning Center for a meaningful day of culture, sustainability, and connection.

Image description

A collage flyer shows CSC and Hawaiʻi Association of the Blind participants at Nā Mea Kūpono Learning Center. Photos show people learning near the loʻi kalo, sitting and floating in water, working in the muddy loʻi, and listening to a teacher under a covered outdoor area. Center text says CSC joined Hawaiʻi Association of the Blind at Nā Mea Kūpono Learning Center in Waialua for hands-on cultural learning, community connection, and aloha ʻāina.