Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Jul 15, 2020 | Column, March 2011
In early February, seniors enjoyed the company of each other and a number of middle school students at the annual Senior Valentine Dance at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. Oh, and by the way, there were some celebrities on hand to take a spin or two around the dance floor. I have had the pleasure in the past of taking part in this frivolity.
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Jul 13, 2020 | Column, February 2011
Mrs. Matthews, Linda Coble, and I just celebrated our birthdays. I’m not going to say how old we are but I will say that we’ve had our AARP cards for quite a while. We are boomers and our generation has often been referred to as the “Me” generation. That may have been appropriate at some point in our lives and it may still be an apt description for some, but I get the feeling that more and more of us are looking for ways that we can give back to a community, a society that has done so much for us.
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Jul 11, 2020 | Column, December 2010
Last week, Mrs. Matthews—Linda Coble— had back surgery. The doctor was pleased with the results and four days later, she came home from the hospital. The doctor said to me, “This will be tougher on you than it is on her.” In some ways, he was right. I watch her like a hawk so she won’t do anything she’s not supposed to do during recovery. I bring home the groceries, vacuum, do the dishes, laundry. But in another way, the doctor was wrong. It has been a meaningful experience.
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Jul 10, 2020 | Column, November 2010
In Hawai‘i, our life expectancy is 80 years old. It’s among the longest in the nation (and the world). Living longer is a good thing. However, it also places a new burden on each of us to stay healthy longer. It behooves us to take care of ourselves.
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Jul 8, 2020 | Column, October 2010
My mother just got her first cell phone. It doesn’t take pictures or play music — it just makes phone calls. It took her a while to get used to the idea — she would talk into the wrong end of the phone in the beginning. But she’s got the technology figured out and now she can call me any time. ANY TIME. But I’m glad about that.
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Apr 1, 2015 | April - May 2015, Articles, Editorial
Retired. No gold watch. No pension. Just — retired. Now what? Since I have been retired, I realize there is really no such thing. Life goes on. You may spend a little time watching “Family Feud.” You may spend more time working on your golf swing or with friends and...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Feb 1, 2015 | Articles, Editorial, February - March 2015
I was tired yesterday and I’m tired today. So I guess I’m re-tired. It’s an old joke, but one that sort of fits my situation. At the end of September, I left KHON2 after 27 years. It was time. I will miss my friends at the station, and I will miss having the chance to...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Oct 1, 2014 | Articles, Editorial, October - November 2014
In 1992, when Hurricane Iniki hit the islands, my mother-in-law refused to leave the house. Both Linda and I were working and we called her over and over, trying to get her to go to a shelter. She wouldn’t leave her beloved dog behind and at that time, not many...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Oct 1, 2014 | Articles, Editorial, October - November 2014
In 1992, when Hurricane Iniki hit the islands, my mother-in-law refused to leave the house. Both Linda and I were working and we called her over and over, trying to get her to go to a shelter. She wouldn’t leave her beloved dog behind and at that time, not many...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Aug 1, 2014 | Articles, August - September 2014, Editorial
In Hawaii, that’s considered heresy. Some call Vegas the 9th island. I’m not a gambler. I’m not much for crowds and bright lights. Mrs. Matthews says we need to go there for “the shows.” The fact, she entertains me every day. Why would I want anything else? Okay, okay...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Jun 1, 2014 | Articles, Editorial, June - July 2014
Refugees don’t flee FROM America, they come TO America. There is promise here. There is hope. “The Greatest Generation.” That’s what Tom Brokaw called my parents and their peers, with good reason. They were asked to defend and support their country in whatever way...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Apr 1, 2014 | April - May 2014, Articles, Editorial
I love reading and writing. And, so do you probably or you wouldn’t be reading this issue of Generations Magazine. There are times though when words on a page cannot convey what is going on around us. I recently traveled to the Lanakila Senior Center for a KHON...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Feb 1, 2014 | Articles, Editorial, February - March 2014
On the KHON2 Elderhood Project, we meet many seniors and the ones who impress me most are those who stay active. Recently, our cameras went to a softball tournament where we watched seniors as they laughed and joked with each other. But when the gloves were put on and...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Dec 1, 2013 | Articles, December - January 2014, Editorial
I was attending a legislative hearing some years ago dealing with senior issues. The hearing went on for some time as the committee members talked about significant health care problems affecting seniors in Honolulu. At some point, a respected senior advocate from...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Oct 1, 2013 | Articles, Editorial, October - November 2013
My mother fell and hurt her knee. She’s 86 years old. I am thousands of miles away. My sister lives in the same town as my mother which makes her, by default, my mother’s caregiver. I feel guilty. That is not uncommon for siblings who are not able to provide...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Aug 1, 2013 | Articles, August - September 2013, Editorial
Mrs. Matthews and I just returned from a trip to Europe. We went to Lisbon, Portugal for a Rotary International Convention and then to Munich, Germany to visit with friends. The thrill of international travel can often be marred by the fact of international travel....
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Jun 1, 2013 | Articles, Editorial, June - July 2013
My dad had a saying when he was trying to fix things around the house. He was a wonderful man, let there be no question. But when it came to being a “handy-man” — not so much. When he would finish a project, no matter how big or how small, he would finish with this...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Apr 1, 2013 | April - May 2013, Articles, Editorial
Change is inevitable. We all experience it on almost a daily basis. How we adapt to that change can make the difference between moving forward — or not. It may be an easier task for seniors to adapt to change that you might think. For one thing, and I know you have...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Feb 1, 2013 | Articles, Editorial, February - March 2013
The boomers grew up listening to the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Who. My Generation — remember that? When I’m 64 — I know you remember that song. We joked about getting older — and now, here we are. We are the age our parents warned us about. Linda and I just...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Dec 1, 2012 | Articles, December - January 2013, Editorial
It is the holiday season — the time, maybe the only time of the year, when families get together. There will be lots of food, fun, songs, and presents. But, this may also be a good time for THE TALK. We have visited with many experts on the Elderhood Project who have...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Oct 1, 2012 | Articles, Editorial, October - November 2012
Linda and I just returned from a trip to Texas and Louisiana. We were hosting a group of folks from Hawai‘i. If I didn’t know what ‘ohana meant before, I do now. Howard and I were the only men in the group. We had a good time. Not as much fun as the ladies had, still,...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Aug 1, 2012 | Articles, August - September 2012, Editorial
“$51? Are you sure that’s right?” — Yes, the young lady told him. “Does that include the tax?” — Yes, she said again. “Okay,” the man said and pulled a $50 and $1 out of his pocket. “We had a nice time,” he told her. — “We hope you join us again,” she said. Through a...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Jun 1, 2012 | Articles, Editorial, June - July 2012
If you’re reading this magazine, it means you want more information about the world around you. That’s a good thing. Sometimes, though the information we need is inside us … way inside us. I had my first colonoscopy a few weeks back. I put it off as long as I could...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Apr 1, 2012 | Articles, Editorial
On the cover of this magazine, you will see former UH baseball coach Les Murakami. Over the years, he’s made a tremendous difference in the lives of young men. He has a stadium named after him, afterall. My dad was also a coach. I still hear from people 50 years later...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Feb 1, 2012 | Articles, Editorial, February - March 2012
The Elderhood Project airs Thursday at 5:30am and at 5:00pm There is an old Beatles song that includes the lyrics…”Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64.” The obvious answer is -“I want to, but how do I do that?” Not the need me part, the...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Dec 1, 2011 | Articles, December - January 2012, Editorial
My mother just completed her annual visit here to the Islands. She doesn’t stay at our house … she likes her own space. I won’t tell you how old she is. That would just be plain rude. But she is in good health and going strong. She finally got a cell phone (thanks to...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Oct 1, 2011 | Articles, Editorial, October - November 2011
Mrs. Matthews [Linda Coble] and I went on a bus tour of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and points east in Canada. We had never been to that part of the world before. We had 20-plus fellow travelers along for the ride … and it was fantastic! While the scenery and...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Aug 1, 2011 | Articles, August - September 2011, Editorial
I am headed off this summer to a place I’ve never been before, with people I’ve never met before, and I couldn’t be more excited. Linda and I were asked to host a tour group to Nova Scotia. There will be ferry rides, lobster and bus tours and lobster and hikes and...
Kirk Matthews of KHON’s The Elderhood Project | Jun 1, 2011 | Articles, Editorial, June - July 2011
We take too many things in our lives for granted. I’m not the first person to say or notice that. But it has become abundantly clear to me in recent months that it is something I want to correct. I’ve had a “health challenge” that involves radiation therapy five days...