OUR COVER STORY – Naturally, the gift of food starts with fishers, farmers and ranchers, whose wisdom and toil produce an abundant harvest from the ʻaīna. We know how food gets distributed at the market to people who can afford to buy it. For those who can’t, every day, a network of Hawai‘i nonprofits work together to collect food donations and deliver them to the hungry. They serve seniors on a fixed income, low-income families, disabled persons and homeless persons who may not be getting enough food to sustain health or the energy to work. They help children who may not be getting the nutrition they need to thrive and do well in school. This story explores some benevolent organizations in Hawai‘i that are working hard to distribute food to persons in need. We encourage our readers to celebrate all the volunteers, food producers, wholesale and retail outlets, food service professionals and administrators fighting food insecurity and hunger in Hawai‘i.​

Author Scott Makuakane reflects on Generations Magazine, now in its tenth year. Scott answers these questions from Generations Magazine: Hawai‘i has the largest older population in the country. How do you think our seniors are currently living and thriving? What important information or trends do seniors and their families need right now to enjoy better quality of life? Active baby boomers are now seniors. How do you think they will change the way we look at a “frail senior?”

Ancients 3,000 years ago implicitly understood how stimulating acupuncture points with very thin needles could affect both our central and peripheral nervous systems. The central nervous system is made up of our brain and spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system is the system of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. For low back pain, for example, a needle is inserted into the area and a signal is sent through the nervous system to the brain, where natural painkillers are released. Some of these are 10 to 200 times stronger than morphine!

​Most people only visit the doctor a few times a year, so it’s important to make the most of your appointment. The more information you share with your physician, the better he or she can take care of you. Here are three tips to remember:  Bring a list to your appointment; Write down the answers; Follow through.

Making financial decisions takes time, attention and energy at any age. In the case of elderly adults, it can become increasingly difficult to manage daily finances, particularly if their health is declining or they’re experiencing cognitive issues. If you’re providing support to aging parents — or plan to in the future — here is some advice on how to handle the situation and prepare for what’s to come.