diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index b3845a4..ef765d2 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -284,6 +284,12 @@ async def gemini_voice_ws(websocket: WebSocket):
                             # Push updated task list to frontend after any mutation
                             if fn_name in ("add_task", "remove_task", "complete_task", "clear_completed_tasks"):
                                 await send_tasks_to_frontend()
+                                # Persist to Honcho
+                                try:
+                                    if kira_memory.enabled:
+                                        kira_memory.set_user_preference(user_id, "tasks", json.dumps(tasks))
+                                except Exception:
+                                    pass
 
                         # Send tool response back to Gemini
                         if tool_results:
@@ -332,6 +338,14 @@ async def gemini_voice_ws(websocket: WebSocket):
                         except Exception as e:
                             logger.warning(f"Honcho error during identify: {e}")
                             prefs = {}
+                        # Load tasks from Honcho
+                        try:
+                            saved_tasks = prefs.get("tasks", "")
+                            if saved_tasks:
+                                tasks.clear()
+                                tasks.extend(json.loads(saved_tasks))
+                        except Exception:
+                            pass
                         await websocket.send_json({
                             "type": "identified",
                             "user_id": user_id,
@@ -392,6 +406,19 @@ async def gemini_voice_ws(websocket: WebSocket):
                     if msg_type == "ping":
                         await websocket.send_json({"type": "pong"})
 
+                    if msg_type == "add_task":
+                        text = msg.get("text", "").strip()
+                        if text:
+                            result = execute_tool("add_task", {"text": text}, tasks)
+                            await send_tasks_to_frontend()
+                            # Persist to Honcho
+                            try:
+                                if kira_memory.enabled:
+                                    kira_memory.set_user_preference(user_id, "tasks", json.dumps(tasks))
+                            except Exception:
+                                pass
+                        continue
+
             except WebSocketDisconnect:
                 pass
             except Exception as e:
diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index bd2f797..a59ee7d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export default function App() {
     startRecording,
     stopRecording,
     tasks,
+    addTask,
   } = useConversation();
 
   const [currentSceneId, setCurrentSceneId] = useState('cozy-room');
@@ -144,7 +145,7 @@ export default function App() {
             </div>
             <div className="shrink-0">
               <Notes />
-              <TaskList tasks={tasks} />
+              <TaskList tasks={tasks} addTask={addTask} />
             </div>
             <div className="shrink-0">
               <ChatBubble messages={messages} isKiraSpeaking={isKiraSpeaking} userName={userName} />
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/TaskList.tsx b/frontend/src/components/TaskList.tsx
index fee6cf0..d1e6a0f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/TaskList.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/TaskList.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,23 @@
+import { useState } from 'react';
 import { Task } from '../hooks/useConversation';
 
 interface Props {
   tasks: Task[];
+  addTask: (text: string) => void;
 }
 
-export default function TaskList({ tasks }: Props) {
+export default function TaskList({ tasks, addTask }: Props) {
+  const [input, setInput] = useState('');
   const pending = tasks.filter((t) => !t.completed);
   const done = tasks.filter((t) => t.completed);
 
+  const handleSubmit = (e: React.FormEvent) => {
+    e.preventDefault();
+    if (!input.trim()) return;
+    addTask(input.trim());
+    setInput('');
+  };
+
   return (
     <div className="p-3">
       <h3 className="text-sm font-bold text-kira-plum mb-2 flex items-center gap-2">
@@ -19,9 +29,25 @@ export default function TaskList({ tasks }: Props) {
         )}
       </h3>
 
+      <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} className="flex gap-1.5 mb-2">
+        <input
+          type="text"
+          value={input}
+          onChange={(e) => setInput(e.target.value)}
+          placeholder="add a task..."
+          className="flex-1 bg-white/30 border border-kira-pink/20 rounded-lg px-2 py-1 text-xs text-kira-plum placeholder:text-kira-plum/30 focus:outline-none focus:border-kira-pink/50"
+        />
+        <button
+          type="submit"
+          className="bg-kira-pink/30 hover:bg-kira-pink/50 text-kira-plum text-xs px-2 py-1 rounded-lg transition-colors"
+        >
+          +
+        </button>
+      </form>
+
       {tasks.length === 0 && (
-        <div className="text-xs text-kira-plum/30 text-center py-4">
-          tell Kira what you need to do!
+        <div className="text-xs text-kira-plum/30 text-center py-2">
+          tell Kira or type a task above!
         </div>
       )}
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useConversation.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useConversation.ts
index ac68efe..2e736a3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useConversation.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useConversation.ts
@@ -331,5 +331,9 @@ export function useConversation() {
     startRecording,
     stopRecording,
     tasks,
+    addTask: (text: string) => {
+      if (!text.trim() || !wsRef.current || wsRef.current.readyState !== WebSocket.OPEN) return;
+      wsRef.current.send(JSON.stringify({ type: 'add_task', text: text.trim() }));
+    },
   };
 }