Senior health and wellness fairs are held on all islands to promote education, entertainment, food and fun. It was my honor to be a VIP at the Helemano Plantation’s Moon Festival Country Fair in Wahiawa on Sept. 17. I met the founder, president and CEO, Susanna Cheung, learned about her background, and felt her passion to assist the community with a wellness center which sits on part of their 50-acre property.

Where Aloha Begins

Christina Chen, Dr. Ming Chen, Susanna F. Cheung, First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige, Ho-Ming Cheung and Councilman Ernie Martin.

Hawai‘i’s First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige and Honolulu City Council chairman Ernie Martin talked about being impressed with the Susanna’s facilities, programs, staff, and volunteers. There was a variety of entertainment, with a private tour and special oxtail soup lunch in the well-known Country Inn Restaurant, plus the best pineapple pie I ever tasted.

The Ho-Ming and Susanna Cheung Foundation were the event sponsors. I know it was their generosity that paid for the bento lunch and transportation for the Koolau Seniors to attend (I’m a little partial to them because I’m from Kaneohe), along with senior groups from Pearl City, Waipahu, and other areas of O‘ahu. All attendees enjoyed their day of celebration with Helemano Plantation.

To learn more about Helemano Plantation’s senior educational classes and facilities, visit them at 64-1488 Kamehameha Hwy (next to Dole Plantation) or call 808-622-3929.


Stories for and about seniors and their caregivers are always worth sharing, like a 100 birthday announcement, call Sherry at 808-722-8487.