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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKupuna News A Magazine For and About Hawaii's Seniors (January-June 2024)r ­Kup.u.nal-��,�N A MAGAZINE. A)R AND ABOUT HAWAI`I' S SENIORS +,,,. ` Vol: 24 No.,1 January -June 2024 mow: �:_... ��•-, -�., '' � ,�,�,°„�,���:� �,.: ���.� _ ,. �■ r AARP Tax Appointments Begin, January 2 ... r :a ■ r ■. it i N NNE i NJ" A March National Nutrition Month Line Dance Roundup Social Day May 20 Take Senior Classes EAD Advisory Council 50th Annual Kupuna Softball Meeting, Hilo, January 26 League Begins, January 27 Hawaii Senior Ukulele Festival April 16 a Q d �y, 4 Casino Day RSVP Volunteers May 28 Serving Our Community F�� Join a Senior Club Coordinated Services for the Elderly Senior Transportation Published quarterly by the Information and Assistance`s.,,:. County of Hawaii Hilo (808) 961-8777 Department of Parks and Recreation Elderly Activities Division Kona (808) 323-4320 Mitch Roth Mayor, County of Hawaii Elde"rlct:ivities :-Divisiony Roann Okamura, EAD Operations Director, (808) 961-8708 Senior Advisory Council 2024 Club Presidents Hakalau Kona Imin Ocean View Pepe`ekeo Lorraine Brenda Sue Mendoza Duquette Brown I Hilo ILWU Kona Regional Pa`auilo Pomaika`i Aurellio Edythe Irene David Nina Maeda Angot Downs Honoka`a Laupahoehoe Pahala Srs of Paradise Shirley Lucy Linda Silva Makuakane McIntosh Kailua-Kona Mt. View Pahoa Volcano Lawaiana Gary Mahi Langford Weaver Snell Av Kea`au Na`alehu Pana`ewa Waikoloa Faybien Mary Jane Stephanie Waltjen Kamoku Stearns Kohala National Guard Papa`ikou Waimea Faye Elena Patricia Pat Yates Ongais Dunn Lewi Nutrition Representatives Hilo Captain Cook Kula`imano Pahala Venus Edythe Louise Fely Motonaga Maeda Oliveira Villegas Holualoa Kea`au Na`alehu Pahoa Brenda Sally Annie Duquette Dela Cruz Kaaukai Honoka`a Kealakekua HOVE Papa`aloa Alice Blanche Carl Lucy Cypriano Gouveia Ferrin Bolosan 00. Waimea Kealoha Irene Sugiyama Angot RSVP i\ RSVP Vice Chairperson RSVP Chairperson Jacque Kealoha Green Sugiyama Elderly Information and Assistance (808) 961-8777 (Hilo) (808) 323-4320 (Kona) Kupuna News 2 Information and Assistance (808) 961-8777 f 1 :- = d-inate +�e s "or Eld� he,-rl ' .' , / '. Coran Kitaoka, EAD Operations Assistant Director, (809) 323-4320 �. ' ,Leihua Malani, East Hawaii (808) 961-8777, Kathi-Lynn Kam, West Hawaii (808) 323-432G COORDINATED SERVICES WELCOMES Congratulations Cynthia "Leihua" Malani on her recent promotion to the Coordinated Services East Hawaii Program Director III position. Leihua began her county career in 1989 as an emergency hire Community Service Worker I. Throughout her 34 years of service she has worked her way up the ranks holding various positions within the Coordinated Service program. In her free time Leihua enjoys traveling, sports, and spending time with family. Way to go Leihua! She is a spending weekends. Congratulations to Nadine Dela Cruz on her recent promotion to North/South Hilo's Community Service Program Assistant I. Nadine has spent the last eight years assisting the Coordinated Services Program as the Clerk III and then Account Clerk in Hiln. proud mother of two who enjoys quality time with her family on AARP IS OFFERING SENIOR TAX PREPARATION SERVICES Appointments for the 2024 tax season starts January 2, 2024 by calling Coordinated Services for the Elderly office Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at (808) 961-8777. Mahalo! East Hawaii West Hawaii East Back row L-R: Susan Labrenz, Evelyn Pacheco, Aileen Obina, Gail Crosthwaite, Glenn Hansen, Carolyn Murray, Helen Hemmes. Seated: Helena Hurd & Lucy Maloney. West Back row L-R: Eunice Saito, Helga Tossmann and seated Bernt Grundseth. Welcome aboard Gwendolyn Scott, Kona's new Community Service Worker I. Gwen joined our CSE team in September 2023. She was born in Honolulu and raised in Honaunau. She previously worked for Greenwell Farms for 16 years and Manago Hotel restau- rant. She always had the desire to help the Kupuna's and can do so now. Gwen is enjoying her new adventure working with the clients and staff. During her spare time, Gwen loves cooking and enjoys being with her grandchildren. JEFF GAETH RETIRED! First and foremost, a BIG MAHALO to an awesome EAD staff that will be missed by all who was touched by his kindness, assistance and his positive "mellow" vibe! Jeff ALJ started his career with the Elderly Activities Division in 2009 as a HCNP site manager in .19 Papa`aloa. He was well received and kept the program vibrant. In 2012 he joined the CSE �;.. team as a CSW I, in 2013 was promoted to CSW III and in 2016 was promoted to CSPA I in Lower Puna, where he retired from. He committed himself unwaveringly to the seniors. `- If you were to ask Jeff what was his most challenging experiences during his career, it is attested that it was being in charge of the shelter at the Pahoa Senior Center for the three major natural disaster events, not to mention the support he provided post event. Life changing experiences! Describing Jeff is easy as it is all the vocabulary in the Webster's Dictionary that reflects what an awesome decent human being should portray. He is kind, compassionate, diligent, loyal, honest, positive, calm and always willing to go beyond the call of duty. He did anything to assist the seniors and staff. When queried what his plans were after retiring he stated: "As far as I know, I'll be looking forward to spending time with family and friends, travel and continuing with my music projects...kinda cheesy but that is all I can come up with at the moment..." We know he will be just a phone call away and will sign up to be a RSVP volunteer!!! Congratulations Jeff and best wishes as you start your new chapter in life! Kupuna News 3 January -June 2024 uP»n 2(124 2023 was such a wonderful year filled with so much great memories. ERS events were back in full swing and we enjoyed seeing all of the seniors participating in the activities. 2024 will be an even better year and we look forward to having lots of fun with everyone! Happy New Year! !! Highlights from 2023 Ric, Tdnnrl T.ine Tlanne V 4th Annual Ukulele Festival V r Kupuna News 4 Information & Assistance (808) 961-8777 1' 14 MENNUF jqIUI MINIM 11 . I ELI 133, 11 Ali I -1i M i AI I go, I she _ Bon Dance Festival , P/A R Oft, Karaoke Home and Home 04 OK Farms Hawp!i OK F"Mund C. 0i "Iun� i'Ust "AA �-1 KV I ram. 1141 IIIIIV- Ar -�Aw , 1P A deaVolunteer1ry ram..,,.Retired a Kaui Pateka-Kama, Program Director, (808) 961-8730 Olivia Tavares, East Hawaii (808) 961-8730, Joy Foster, West Hawaii (808) 323-4333 r - KUPUNA EXPO Joanne Yokote, Carol Ah Yo, Susan Donohue Presenting our new Community Service Program Assistant for East Hawaii Olivia Tavares Welcome aboard!! ACS MAY FottlEM Lynn Shirai Tanimoto & Jenny Wakida Hawaii Science and Technology Museum (Hilo) -Museum Docent Hawai` i Island Humane Society (Kea` au, Kona) -Animal Care Keep Puako Beautiful (South Kohala)-Beach Clean Up St. Augustine's Church (North Kohala)-Gift Shop, Food Distribution, Beautification/Maintenance � -Y .gY Food Basket (Hilo, Kona) -Food Distribution Kuikahi Mediation (Hilo) -Mediators CERT (Islandwide Community Emergency Response Team) - Emergency Response and Disaster Preparation Kupuna News 6 Information and Assistance (808) 961-8777 if . -Prograiii, Hi lit Christine Namahoe Loo, Program Director, (808) 961-8726 therine.Medeiros, Community Service Program Assistant H, (808) 961-8726 HAWAI`I COUNTY KUPUNA NUTRITION PROGRAM GETS HOT SHOT VEHICLES Hawaii County is pleased to announce a significant enhancement to its Nutrition Program, thanks to the acquisition of two state-of-the-art F-150 Ford Hot Shot vehicles. Through a combination of Federal and State funding, these specialized vehicles equipped with hot and refrigerated sections will play a crucial role in ensuring the safe and timely delivery of meals to elderly residents participating in the program. The Hawaii County Nutrition Program is dedicated to serving the needs of Hawaii Island's elderly population, with approximately 430 home -delivered participants and an additional 620 congregate meal site participants across Hawaii County. Recognizing the unique challenges posed by the diverse geography of Hawaii County, these new vehicles will greatly facilitate the delivery of hot and cold meals to those in need. The heated and refrigerated sections of the vehicles are specially designed to maintain the required safety temperatures for food items during transportation. Hot meals will be kept at no less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit, while cold foods will be maintained at no higher than 45 degrees Fahrenheit at the point of delivery. Frozen meals will remain frozen (0 degrees Fahrenheit or below) from packing to the meal site or participant's home. Hawaii County, encompassing approximately two-thirds rural areas, has often faced logistical challenges in reaching all participants of the Nutrition Program. These new vehicles will address these challenges head-on, allowing the program to expand its reach and better serve the elderly residents throughout the county. Office of Aging Administrator Horace Farr and Mayor Mitch Roth QNHAZ4 _. r I5ENIOR5 Pahala Seniors Celebrating Christmas Na`alehu Seniors enjoying lunch at Don's Grill Kupuna News 7 January -June 2024 a . J Roann Okamura Coran Kitaoka Iris Higa Christine Kaui Leihua Malani. Kathi-Lynn Kam EAD Operations EAD Operations Elderly Recreation Namahoe-Loo Paleka-Kama CSE CSE Director ,Assistant Director Nutrition Program RSVP East Hawaii, West Hawaii Coordinated Services for the Elderly q z Darwin Reyn Damien Milford "1111i1" Pardela Chioke Alex Egusa Maerro Mercado Anthony Fabian Kauhane Kost Hilo CSW III Hilo CSW III Hilo CSW III Hilo/Ka`u CSW II Hilo CSW I Hilo CSW I Hilo CSW I Bowen Wendy Randall Nadeen "rtiki" Tania Gwendolyn, M'uXaoka Souza f ; Doi Kahananui Leslie Scott Hilo CSW I 'Hilo/Puna CSW I Kona CSW III Kona•CSW III Kona CSW III Kona CSW I Hawaili County Nutrition Prggram , Brent "Kaino\a" Stanford Regidor, , Stacy Padaken Naomi Okinaga Lovely Simonson Ksilirriai , Van Driver Hilo ' Meals on Wheels Meals on Wheels Meals on Wheels EAD Van Driver,Hi-lo / ✓ Hilo . Hilo,, Hilo V \ Tereza Anderson Michael Aug Maureen Denning Renee Gonsalves Mary Maloney - Ocean View CSW III Pepe`ekeb CSW I1I . Hilo CSW III Kohala CSW III Henderson ' i - Na`alehu CSW III Andrea Hess ` Arlene Ohara Julie Ann Pasquale. Sherlyn Pasion Bronwyn Powers Papa`aloa CSW III Honoka`a CSW III Pahala CSW III Pahoa CSW III Captain Cook CSW-Ill and Meals on Wheels The County of Hawaii does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admissions or access to, or treatment, or employment in its programs or activities. Should you require any special needs, contact the respective program at least 10 days prior to the event. If you are unable to provide the advance notice, the Elderly Activities Division staff will attempt to make a reasonable accommodation to satisfy the request as long as it does not impose an undue hardship.