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HONOLULU - The Hawaii Legislature has taken decisive action to protect the state's elderly population from financial exploitation with the passage of new elder law protections. The move comes amidst a troubling trend of rising cases of financial abuse targeting seniors in the state.The new laws, which were unanimously approved by both chambers of the legislature, seek to strengthen safeguards for elderly residents and ensure that they are better protected from exploitation. Among the key provisions of the legislation are increased penalties for those found guilty of financially exploiting seniors, as well as improved resources for law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute such cases."In recent years, we have seen a disturbing uptick in financial exploitation cases targeting our elderly population," said State Senator Keoni Kamaka, who sponsored the legislation. "It is our duty to protect our kupuna and ensure that they can age with dignity and security. These new laws are a crucial step in that direction."In addition to bolstering penalties for perpetrators of financial abuse, the new laws also establish a dedicated Elder Abuse Task Force within the state's Department of Human Services. The task force will work to coordinate efforts across various agencies to better respond to reports of elder abuse and provide support to victims."We know that financial exploitation is just one form of abuse that our elderly residents may face," said State Representative Malia Wong, a co-sponsor of the legislation. "By establishing this task force, we are taking a comprehensive approach to addressing elder abuse in all its forms and ensuring that our seniors are safe and secure."The passage of the new elder law protections has been met with praise from advocacy groups and senior citizens alike. AARP Hawaii released a statement commending lawmakers for their efforts to safeguard the state's elderly population."These new laws are a significant step forward in protecting our kupuna from financial exploitation," said Carol Yamada, State Director of AARP Hawaii. "We thank the legislature for their commitment to addressing this important issue and ensuring that our seniors are able to age in a safe and secure environment."The new elder law protections are set to go into effect on January 1, 2026, and will apply to all residents of Hawaii aged 60 and older. Lawmakers have indicated that they will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the legislation and make any necessary adjustments to further strengthen protections for the state's elderly population.