Retired and Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP)
About RSVP
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is a national program administered by AmeriCorps Seniors and sponsored by The Department of Community Services Honolulu County Elderly Affairs Division.
RSVP is a volunteer program that helps to meet the needs of the Honolulu County’s Community while maintaining the cultural uniqueness of our rich heritage, diversity, and aloha spirit.
RSVP recruits and pairs adults, age 55 and older, with volunteer opportunities that align with their personal interests and to share their wisdom, skills and experiences.
Our Mission
Build community capacity across the island of ‘Oahu, by providing high quality volunteer experience, encouraging community partnerships, and facilitating community growth.
Sign Up to Volunteer
Join the RSVP Program and make a difference in your community. Share your time and skills to support local programs and help older adults thrive.
RSVP Newsletter
We Love Photos! May 2025 RSVP Newsletter
Special thank you to: Marilyn N, Hannah, Grace, Teri M and Stan
Read NewsletterRSVP 2025 March-April Newsletter
Special Thank You: Linda Dyer (Editor-in-Chief and Crossword), Mae Fujii (Interviewer and Writer), Carol Tashima (Interviewer and Writer), Marilyn Nobriga (Writer), Judy Dente (Writer), Toni Aranita (Writer), Rick, Tabor (Writer), […]
View PDFOur Volunteers In Action
The History of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
AmeriCorps Seniors was formed from a merger of its constituent programs: Foster Grandparents, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and Senior Companions. The three were originally mandated under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 with similar aims. The three programs have unique histories, and each was developed to meet a specific need, but all were crafted on the same belief that older adults are valuable resources to their communities. When the Corporation for National Community Service was formed by then President Bill Clinton in 1993, the three organizations were reformed into the single agency Senior Corps.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) began as an outgrowth by private groups and government agencies to create opportunities of engagement, activity, and growth for older Americans following the work of the Community Service Society of New York on Staten Island beginning in 1965; the Society’s success led the Older Americans Act being amended to create RSVP as a nationwide program in 1969.
In 1972, RSVP Oahu was initially sponsored by Helping Hands Hawaii. Then in 2007, RSVP was sponsored by the State Department of Human Services. The current sponsorship is with the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Community Services Elderly Affairs Division that began in 2010.