A Fulfilling Life

Kameko Miyahira doesn’t look or act like a 100-year-old. She rises every day at 5 am, makes her own breakfast and lunch, exercises, does a little housekeeping, works in the yard and takes a nap. I was so impressed at how Kameko could manage all the steps in her daughter’s Aiea house, where she has lived since 2003, when her husband died at 101 years of age.

Kameko was born on Maui on Nov. 3, 1914. Her parents moved the family back to Okinawa when she was in fourth grade. She was enrolled in the Japanese school system, where it was a difficult cultural adjustment. At age 17, Kameko returned to Maui, then the next year moved to Honolulu. She met the love of her life, Tokutaro, and raised two children. Kameko is also very proud of her five grandchildren and three greatgranddaughters. What a fulfilling life!

In her younger years, Kameko worked as a waitress at various restaurants before acquiring a job at the Walker Estate as a personal companion to Mrs. Puna Walker. She worked until 1996, when she retired at the age of 86. The advice Kameko gave me to live as long as her is to “take care of yourself, plus walk slowly and safely.”

If you know a centenarian, send us a photo and something about him/her. We’ll help you write their story! Contact Sherry Goya: 808-722-8487 | SGoyaLLC@aol.com