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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKupuna News A Magazine For And About Hawai`i's Seniors (October - December 2014)Elderly Activities Division's Kupuna News A MAGAZINE FOR AND ABOUT HAWAI‘I’S SENIORS Vol. 16 No. 4 October-December 2014 ERS: Primetime Wellness Fair, Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium, October 24 Kamana Karaoke Recital, Hilo Daijingu, October 29 ERS: Ground Golf Spooktacular, Old Kona Airport Park Pavilion, October 31 Coordinated Services, West Hawai‘i Volunteer Recognition Luncheon, November 7 RSVP: Blood Drive Kailua LDS Church, Kona, November 12 ERS: Casino Day, Hilo Civic, November 13 ERS: Ground Golf Turkey Trot for Ka‘ū District, November 21 ERS: Teacher & Volunteer Recognition Luncheon, December 12 Published quarterly by the County of Hawai‘i Department of Parks and Recreation Elderly Activities Division Information and Assistance Hilo (808) 961-8777, Kona (808) 323-4320 William P. Kenoi, Mayor, County of Hawai‘i Coordinated Services for the Elderly Coran Kitaoka, EAD Operations Assistant Director, (808) 323-4320 Christine Namahoe-Loo, East Hawai‘i (808) 961-8777, Fran Takamiyashiro, West Hawai‘i (808) 323-4320 After 19 years of service, MAHALO and CONGRATULATIONS to Zoe Anne Bianchi who retired on August 31, 2014. Serving as the CSE program Account Clerk, Zoey has played an important role in keeping the program budget on track. Good luck and best wishes on your retirement! Kealakekua Ranch Center Health Fair On August 23, 2014, Kona Coordinated Services for the Elderly (CSE) manned a booth at the Kealakekua Ranch Center Health Fair. The Health fair included booths from West Hawai‘i Community Heath Center, Kona Community Hospital, Hui Malama, Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), Malama Pharmacy, among other organizations. CSE provided brochures/handouts on “Homeowner’s Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards”, “Hurricane Preparedness Guide”, EAD/CSE brochures as well as free senior ID cards to seniors 60 and better. Hawai‘i County Mass Emergency Notification System Hawai‘i County Civil Defense operates “Black Board”, a mass emergency notification system which can quickly contact the public in the event of an emergency. “Black Board” is an electronic notification system that can notify residents about evacuations or other emergency measures via phone, text and email by sending registered residents a brief voice and/or email message. The service is FREE to all residents. Cell phone users will need to register their call numbers, and all residents wishing to be contacted by email must register their email addresses. For more information, Call Coordinated Services in Hilo 961-8777 or Kona 323-4320. Kupuna News 2 Information and Assistance (808) 961-8777 NEW MEDICAID CHANGES Hawai‘i Medicaid is launching a new program called QUEST Integration. If you are covered by a QUEST or QExA health plan, and are still Medicaid eligible in January 2015, you will be affected. What is QUEST Integration? The Med-QUEST Division (MQD) is combining the QUEST and QExA programs into one program called QUEST Integration. QUEST Integration will start on January 1, 2015. There is no change to your eligibility. If you are eligible for QUEST or QExA, you will be eligible for QUEST Integration. QUEST Integration allows all recipients in your family to be covered by the same health plan. There is no reduction to benefits, and you may have access to additional benefits. More people will have access to home and community based services. You don’t need to change your health plan when you turn 65 years old, or if you develop a disability. You can now stay with the same plan. Which health plans are available? AlohaCare, HMSA, Kaiser (Oahu & Maui only), Ohana Health Plan, United Healthcare. When can I change my health plan? The QUEST Integration open enrollment period is September 2-September 30, 2014. In Mid-August, the MQD should have mailed you a QUEST Integration open enrollment packet that included a choice form, health plan ads, newsletter, and a reply envelop. If you choose a new health plan during the open enrollment period, your new health plan will start on January 1, 2015. If you do not want to make changes, you will remain in your current health plan under QUEST Integration as long as you are still eligible for Medicaid on January 1, 2015. When will I know my new health plan? MQD will mail you a confirmation Notice in mid-December confirming your new health plan effective January 1, 2015. Your health plan will mail ID cards in January 2015. If you need to access medical care before receiving you health plan ID card, providers will accept you health plan Confirmation Notice. Recipients are encouraged to call the Med-QUEST Enrollment Call Center at 1 (808) 524-3370 (OAHU) or 1-800-316-8005 from the neighbor islands. What to Include in Your Hurricane Preparedness Kits With the recent severe weather affecting the islands and the hurricane season running until November, here are just a few tips from the “Hurricane Preparedness Guide” from the Hawai‘i Civil Defense Website http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/civil-defense/. When in a “watch” area: (1) listen to the radio, TV or NOAA weather radio for the storms progress; (2) fuel and service vehicles; (3) have extra cash handy; (4) prepare to cover windows/ doors with shielding material; (5) check batteries and stock up on can goods, first-aid supplies, drinking water, and medications (7 day supply); bring in light objects (ex: garbage cans, garden tools, etc.). Plan to leave if: (1) you live in a weakly constructed building such as single wall building that have not been properly retrofitted; (2) live in a low lying/evacuation area, near a stream, river or flood prone zone; (3) live in a high rise building If you decide to evacuate to a shelter, some of the things you should bring along: (1) first aid kits; (2) medicine/prescriptions; (3) toiletries; (4) battery powered radio and cell phone; (5) flashlights; (6) extra batteries; (7) blanket/sleeping bag; (8) Identification; (9) copies of important documents; some cash and credit card; (10) special items for children/seniors. For more information on hurricane preparedness, you can go to the County of Hawai‘i Civil Defense “Hurricane Preparedness Guide” website. Jill Sugiyama has assumed the duties as the Account Clerk for CSE. Jill officially was promoted to her new position on September 1, 2014. Jill’s employment with the County began December 2000 and has been working in the West Hawai‘i Civic Center Office as a Clerk III. Congratulations!!! Kupuna Alert Partners Presentation / Medication Take-Back On August 12th and 13th, Coordinated Services for the Elderly (CSE) participated in the “Kupuna Alert Partners Presentation/ Medication Take-Back” in Kona, Waimea, Hilo and Puna. CSE provided senior identification cards for those seniors who were interested in obtaining one, as well as informational brochures such as EAD and CSE brochures; Urgent Services Directory for Families; Seniors Safe and Independent; and etc. If you are 60 years of age or better, a resident of Hawai‘i, and would like to obtain a senior identification card, you can contact your district CSE office for more information: Hilo (961-8777), Kona (323-4320), Waimea (887-3008), Kohala (889-6502), Hamakua (775-7503), North Hilo (962-2101), Puna (966-5800), Pāhala (928-3100), and Nā‘ālehu (939-2504). West Hawai‘i CSE Volunteer Recognition Luncheon West Hawai‘i Coordinated Services for the Elderly (CSE) will be holding its annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on November 7, 2014, at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center. The theme for this year’s luncheon will be “CSE Volunteer Make Everyday Feel Like Christmas!”. CSE volunteers assist with answering phones, filing, assisting staff with Senior ID cards, driving, providing companionship to frail homebound seniors and in many other ways. A big MAHALO to our valuable volunteers, you truly make everyday feel like Christmas! Kupuna News 4 Information and Assistance (808) 961-8777 Elderly Recreational Services Special Programs Iris Higa, Program Director (808) 961-8710 Randell Kokubun, N/S Hilo 961-8710 Margaret Yafuso, Puna/Ka‘ū 966-5801 Kelly Hudik, West Hawai‘i 323-4330 ELDERLY RECREATION SERVICES A Big Mahalo goes out to all of our participants in our Annual Kupuna Softball League that concluded in August. It was an exciting season and we look forward to putting on our Island and State Tournament next year. Call our offices at: Hilo 961-8710, Kea‘au 966-5801 and Kona 323-4330 for more information about our programs, or online at www.hawaiicounty.gov. The 13th Annual 2014 Big Island Senior Line Dance Roundup held on June 06 at the Hilo Civic Auditorium. 192 seniors from Oahu, Maui, and classes from around the Big Island strutted their stuff to the theme of “Can't Stop Dancing”. Mass Dancing, the Fox Line Dance, Grease from Pāhoa, Rena Rainbow from Kona, the largest group of 63 dancers-the Young at Heart and the ladies in pink doing “Memory” dedicated to their long time instructor, Jimmy Murayama. Kupuna News 5 October-December 2014 Senior Club Activity An outing to Pacific Island Nursery, a beautiful Vireya nursery, in Orchidland by the Keaau Senior Club (Pictured Above). Sherla Bertelman explains how to grow them and the various varieties available (Pictured Right). Seniors from Honaunau at an outing at Big Island Bees making candles. (Pictured Above) Crafty Waimea Seniors making fringed bandana leis for their hats (Pictured Above) Seniors of Paradise's excursion to the Hamakua Mushroom Farm was quite an experience as they learned how to enjoy a life with mushrooms. How spores grow to Alii, Pioppini and other varieties and tasting it cooked, in cookies or in tea. (Pictured Above) Bonsai expert, Bill Newton, explains the Japanese art form using miniature trees grown in containers to the Pahala Seniors at Ota's Nursery in Panaewa. A nursery full of bonsai encouraged a few to try their hand at this art form. Bill showed the seniors how to mount the trees onto lava rock and how to take care of them. (Pictured Above) The newly opened Mokupāpapa Discovery Center for Hawaiʻi’s Remote Coral Reefs at the old Koehnen Building featured a 3,500 gallon saltwater aquairum, lifesize models of sea animals, and a chance to do Gyotaku, Japanese fish printing, an experience Naalehu's seniors will never forget. (Pictured Above and Below) Rotary ground golf social at Yano Hall A big MAHALO to the Kona Mauka Rotary Club and the Kealakekua Ranch Center for sponsoring the event. Hole in One Winners (Pictured Above) 3rd place winners: Waimea (Pictured Top Left) 2nd place winners: Ladies of Kohala (Pictured Middle Left) 1st place winners: Kohala Kane Group (Pictured Bottom Left) Kupuna News 6 Information and Assistance (808) 961-8777 Senior Class Fun Kamana Instructor Kris Key (Pictured above) holds up her needlepoint masterpiece. Students Amy Hamane (Pictured Top Right) and Pat Branco (Pictured Bottom Right) displayed their beautiful projects that they worked on throughout the quarter. Students from Kamana’s Full Body Conditioning Class (Pictured Left) at Aunty Sally’s Lu‘au Hale show off their toned muscles after finishing an awesome workout. Kamana’s Cooking Class excursion to Volcano Winery and Audrey Wilson’s Cottage for a cooking demo and delicious lunch catered by Audrey. Home and Home Bowling Tournament ERS sponsored it’s long awaited Annual Home and Home Bowling Tournament at Kona Bowl on Thursday, August 21. 80 Bowlers from Kona and Hilo participated in event that was filled with fellowship, delicious food and lots of prizes. Kupuna News 7 October-December 2014 2014 Kupuna Softball League 2014 Hawai‘i Kupuna Softball Tournament celebrated its 40th year anniversary. This year it was held at Maka‘eo Park (Old Airport Fields) in Kailua-Kona, 24 of the 25 island league teams participated in the tournament. There were 4 divisions (A, B, C, D) with A and B playing “Double Elimination” format and C and D playing “Pool Play.” Kona’s beautiful weather held up for all the divisions to play in the hot sun. There was surely a great turn out of spectators cheering on teams that they came out to support. Thank you to all the teams that participated and helped to prep the fields for the games. A big thank you to all the volunteers and County of Hawai‘i employees that helped to make this tournament a success. Island Tournament Division Winners: 1st Place Division A: Honomu Rockets (Pictured Top Left) 1st Place Division B: Onipa‘a (Pictured Top Right) 1st Place Division C Onomea Rangers (Pictured Middle Left) 1st Place Division D: Ka Nani O Honoka‘a (Pictured Middle Right) East Hawai‘i League Champions: Honomu Rockets (Pictured Bottom Left) West Hawai‘i League Champions: Kona Gold (Pictured Bottom Right) Kona Gold (Pictured Above) took 1st Place in the A Division for the State Tournament. 39th Annual Hawai‘i Kupuna Softball Tournament was held on Maui. It was a 3-day tournament, but due to Hurricane Iselle heading towards the Big Island, many of the Big Island teams were trying to change their flights to return home to prepare for the hurricane. Overall we still managed to have two teams make it to the championship games held on Thursday, August 7. We are so proud of our teams for participating in the state tournament. Mahalo to all of you, Kona Gold and the Junk Yard Dogs, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Junk Yard Dogs (Pictured Above) took 1st Place in the B Division for the State Tournament. Kupuna News 8 Information and Assistance (808) 961-8777 Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Kaui Paleka-Kama, Program Director, (808) 961-8730 Kathleen Azevedo, East Hawai‘i (808) 961-8730, Mark White, West Hawai‘i (808) 323-4333 Hawaii Island Adult Care Center Golf Tournament FRONT l-r: Annie Aoki, Mittzi Maeda, Doreen Usui, Itsue Yamasaki, Ray Miyashiro & Ed Madamba BACK l-r: Masa Shimabukuro, Paula Usitalo (HIAC), Joan Shimoda, Dwayne Miyashiro & Harold Uyeno KOKUA PUNA Kathleen Azevedo, Mo & Leslie Mirseydi, Fumi Maeda HILO TRIATHALON REGISTRATION Front l-r: Nobu Oshiro, Elsie Oka, Ed Madamba Middle l-r: Marie Kuramoto, Clarita Corpuz, Kathleen Azevedo, Back l-r: Volunteer, Levi Mangiboyat, Fumi Maeda Front l-r: Marie Kuramoto Back l-r: Arlene Waugh, Helen Matsui, Kathleen Azevedo, Anna Honda, Race Participant, Trudy Ozaki RACE DAY Front l-r: Vicky Calica, Diane Miyaji, Kathleen Azevedo, Kaui Paleka-Kama Back: Mayor Billy Kenoi Front l-r: Diane Miyaji, Vicky Calica, Kathleen & Louis Azevedo, Jenn Azevedo, Madysin Galima, Chris Pacheco Kupuna News 9 October-December 2014 RSVP IN ACTION 2014 Senior Produce The Food Basket Hawaii's Island Food Bank Kailua-Kona Patricia Aarhus, Shirlee Shumway, Florence Babbitt, and Roger Yamauchi Kohala Elizabeth Paalua, Tomie Miyashiro, Dorothy Caravalho, Mamo Shontell, Leonila Guitang, Geraldine Ayoso, Winnie Gonsalves, and Mina Switzer Yano Hall Irene Higashi, Kay Sugai, Gladys Arase, Gladys Nelson, Francisca Delo Santos, Jane Henriques, Laura Yano Imin Center Lita Kuniyoshi, Beverly Carvalho (EAD Staff), Myrtle Kunitake, Mary Iwanaga, Etsuko Nanashima Kupuna News 10 Information and Assistance (808) 961-8777 Pāhoa Workers get ready to distribute fresh produce at the Pāhoa Community Center Hale Anuhea Eileen Evanshan gives Diane Wassman her bag of fresh produce Hilo Distributing fresh produce at the Civic Auditorium County of Hawai‘i EMS Run T-shirt Folding Volunteers (l-r): Mary Basque, Mo & Leslie Mirseydi, Kathleen Azevedo (E HI CSPA) & Carol Yamamoto Blood Bank of Hawaii Kona Blood Bank volunteers (l-r): Claire Inman, Sydney Byrnes-Chun, Dolly Somampong, Martha Bormann Mahalo to our Partner Agencies Kupuna News 11 October-December 2014 SPECIAL PROJECT UNIVERSTY OF HAWAI‘I AT HILO MASS MAILING OF SEASON BROCHURES L-R: Mo & Leslie Mirseydi, Rachel Yamashita, Vivian Ueyama, Fumi Maeda & Pat Arima Front l-r: UH Staff, Rachel Yamashita, Vivian Ueyama, Kay Fukuda, Jeanette Fukuda, Diana Miyaji, & Mary Basque Back l-r: Fumi Maeda, Pat Arima, Carol Denis, Kathleen Azevedo (E HI CSPA), Mo Mirseydi, Lee Drombroski (Performing Arts Center Manager) & Leslie Mirseydi L-R: Pat Arima, Carol Denis, Mary Basque, UH Staff, Kay Fukuda, UH Staff & Mo Mirseydi INTRODUCING: Brent “Kainoa” Kailimai Van Driver Some members of the East Hawai‘i Advisory Council Back: Ed Madamba, Mel Miyasaki, Front: Audrey Kagawa, Leticia Agustin, Vicky Calica If you are interested in becoming a West Hawaii Advisory Council Member, please call Kaui at 961-8730. Come join our wonderful advisors (shown). Kupuna News 12 Information and Assistance (808) 961-8777 Nutrition Program Highlights Joan Kawakone, Program Director, (808) 961-8726 Carla Carpenter Kabalis, Community Service Program Assistant II, (808) 961-8726 “Meals on Wheels” Supervisor Carla Carpenter-Kabalis (left), and Nutrition Program Director Joan Kawakone. Emergency Kits Were you prepared for Hurricane Iselle? Some people were without electricity for almost a month, and seniors receiving frozen meals were not able to store them. The Akaka Falls Lions Club stepped in to provide shelf stable food items for our “Meals on Wheels” participants. Each emergency kit contained bottled water, cartons of milk, fruit cups, fruit bars, crackers and protein sources. Mahalo! ALOHA! On page 14, we say “Aloha” to Linnea Reid, who was the Community Service Worker at the Waimea Nutrition Site. Also retiring was Roger Pflum, the Community Service Worker in charge of the Hilo Nutrition Site at Aunty Sally’s. Lunch With Miyo Pāhala seniors enjoyed shrimp tempura and beef teriyaki at Miyo’s Restaurant on a recent outing to Hilo. Standing in back is owner Miyo. Going clockwise is Irene Takahara, Tom Wright, Dolly Kalua, Jane Ueda, Akie Kajiyama. The Nutrition Program welcomes two new staff. Kanoe Lee (left), is the new CSW at the Pepe‘ekeō Nutrition Site. Maureen Denning is the new CSW at Aunty Sally’s. Both of them had to quickly learn County procedures for emergencies! Kupuna News 13 October-December 2014 Linnea Reid Retires (Waimea) after 20 Years! Aunty Sally’s Bids “Aloha” to Roger Pflum after 15 Years! Kupuna News 14 Information and Assistance (808) 961-8777 Senior Training & Employment Program Clyde Yoshida, Program Director, (808) 961-8750 Standing on the right of Maxine Aki, Librarian at the Kea‘au Public/School Library is enrollee Edith Valentine who is receiving training as a circulation aide. Supervisor Lani Ho‘omanawanui, is standing between enrollee Fay Wong on the left and Margot Sluka. Both enrollee’s are receiving clerical training at the Kona DMV office. A new Host Agency, the County’s Planning Department, is providing clerical aide training to Rodjana Bisel. Her Host Agency Supervisor is Susan Gagorik, Planning Program Manager. Standing on the left of Host Agency Supervisor George Saito is Thomas Dela Cruz who is receiving training as a ground maintenance aide at the Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo. Standing between Brian Oshiro and Shaun Downie from the Hilo Municipal Golf Course is Scott Cushman, who is receiving valuable training as a ground maintenance aide. On the left is Raymond Gomes standing next to Host Agency Supervisor Trent Hata. Raymond is receiving training as a janitorial aide at the Komohana Research & Extension Center. Kupuna News 15 October-December 2014 Pictures of Elderly Activities Division's staff Roann Okamura, EAD Director Patricia Dunn, CSE CSW I, Hilo Sophia Iaukea, CSE CSW I, Hilo/Ka‘u Geri Lyman, CSE CSW I, Hilo Reyn Maeno, CSE CSW I, Hilo Coran Kitaoka, EAD Operations Assistant Director Arlene Ohara, CSE CSW I, Hilo Wendy Souza, CSE CSW I, Hilo/Puna Tereza Waite, CSE CSW I, Kona Brent Kailimai, Van Driver, RSVP Hilo Calvin Tsugawa, Van Driver, Nutrition Hilo Bernadette Johansen, Van Driver, Nutrition Honoka‘a Michael Au, Meals on Wheels, Nutrition Hilo April Bautista, Meals on Wheels, Nutrition Hilo Earl Fujishige, Meals on Wheels, Nutrition Hilo Edward Grantz, Meals on Wheels, Nutrition Hilo Alfred Fernandez, Meals on Wheels, Nutrition Kona Jennifer Hofpar, Meals on Wheels, Nutrition Kona CALENDAR OF EVENTS OCTOBER 24: ERS: East Hawai‘i Primetime Wellness Fair Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Margaret Yafuso, (808) 966-5801 29: Kamana Karaoke Recital Hilo Daijingu, 6:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Iris Higa, (808) 961-8710 31: ERS: Halloween Ground Golf Spooktacular Old Kona Airport, 10:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Kelly Hudik, (808) 323-4340 NOVEMBER 4: GENERAL ELECTION DAY 11: VETERANS’ DAY - HOLIDAY 12: RSVP: Kona Blood Drive Kailua LDS Church 11:00 a.m.–5:15 p.m. Mark White, (808) 323-4333 13: ERS: Casino Day Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium, 9:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Randell Kokubun, (808) 961-8710 21: ERS: Ground Golf Turkey Trot for Ka‘ū District Nā‘ālehu, 9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Margaret Yafuso, (808) 966-5801 27: THANKSGIVING DAY - HOLIDAY DECEMBER 12: ERS: Teacher & Volunteer Recognition Luncheon Aunty Sally’s, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Iris Higa, (808) 961-8710 15: ERS: Winter Class Registration Begins Winter Classes begin January 5, 2015 Hilo (808) 961-8710 Kea‘au (808) 966-5801 Kona (808) 323-4340 25: CHRISTMAS DAY - HOLIDAY The County of Hawai‘i 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.