Sherry Goya, Generations Magazine Staff

  • Remember Your College Days?

    When we talk with family and friends, we often think back when we were younger! It’s not too hard for our immediate family to keep in touch; but it is my hope that friendships with those you met in school are still alive and vibrant. In my November/December 2024 issue, I wrote about my Tennis Ohana, sharing a photo of the women.

    My college girlfriends of over 50 years have spent birthdays with a dinner and movie three times a year. When we were younger, we would play games at Dave & Buster’s, have fun at Glow Putt, go shopping in a mall, and we even shared a hotel room to celebrate one of our milestones. When there wasn’t a good movie playing, we just spent hours eating, talking and laughing. I’m sure many Generations’ readers can remember their “Happy Days” with classmates too.

    After a dinner and movie last September, we were walking back to our cars when one of my girlfriends forgot that we didn’t take a picture. She took out her phone and tried to take a selfie of the three of us. We just kept laughing while trying to get a good photo. A group of young women stopped to help us take a photo; and I said “stay together so when you’re 71, you’ll have as much fun as us!”

    If you have a story you’d like to share or a topic you’d like to read, contact Sherry Goya.
    808-722-8487 | sgoyallc@aol.com

    When we talk with family and friends, we often think back when we were younger! It’s not too hard for our immediate family to keep in touch; but it is my hope that friendships with those you met in school are still alive and vibrant. In my November/December 2024 issue, I wrote about my Tennis…

  • She’s Such a Positive Crackerjack

    Having a very strict father was the key to the life of Jeanette S. Akamine because she has always been very independent. She said that his teachings were always with a positive attitude.

    Jeanette models a colorful traditional costume at this
    year’s Okinawan Festival. PC: One Moment in Time
    Photography

    She graduated from St. Francis Convent, then helped support the family’s Nu‘uanu Avenue Myogaya Restaurant in the kitchen. Jeanette completed beauty school at the age of 40, with night classes on fashion at the UH, then opened her own beauty shop called “J’s Waikiki Beauty Salon.” In order for her clients to use the only parking stall, Jeanette walked three miles to and from home. As of today, Jeanette still cuts hair for the family and keeps her license active.

    Turning 100 on Nov. 19, 2024, Jeanette being the oldest of 10 children, seven still surviving today, attributes her longevity to a caring and loving family, plus eating fruits and vegetables.

    A typical day in Jeanette’s life is to wake up about 6am, exercise, meditate and have breakfast as she reads the newspaper. She still prepares her own food for lunch and dinner too. Karaoke is every Friday at the Lanakila Multi-Purpose Center and Hanafuda on Thursday at the Windward Mall. I want to be like this vibrant “crackerjack.”

    If you know someone celebrating their centenarian year, contact Sherry: 808-722-8487, email sgoyallc@aol.com.

    Having a very strict father was the key to the life of Jeanette S. Akamine because she has always been very independent. She said that his teachings were always with a positive attitude. She graduated from St. Francis Convent, then helped support the family’s Nu‘uanu Avenue Myogaya Restaurant in the kitchen. Jeanette completed beauty school…

  • ‘Ohana Also Means Extended Family

    When we say “‘ohana” in Hawai‘i, we are talking about our parents, siblings, children, grandchildren and our extended family of friends, colleagues, team members, etc. My family has a “tennis ‘ohana” that goes as far back as 40-plus years. Yes, we met playing tennis in Kalihi, then on Sub-Base, and now in ‘Aiea. The oldest member is78 years old, with the youngest at 2 months old.

    This special ‘ohana has been together through weddings, births and deaths, being very supportive through it all. I recently counted that our 12 families have 22 adults, 35 young adults and those young adults produced 22 more tennis ‘ohana members. That totals 79 individuals which became 80 when one of our ‘ohana got married this October. So many memories are in the making by so many people!

    I found a picture of the tennis ‘ohana women to share with you in this article. It was taken at the wedding reception of one of our young adults last July. When the women were together for the bridal shower, one of them thought it would be nice for us to take out our previously worn mother-of-the-bride-or-groom outfits and wear them to this wedding. What a good idea, since I had three gowns that were worn only once.

    What does your ‘ohana look like? I hope you continue to make happy memories with them.

    If you have a story to share, contact Sherry Goya at 808-722-8487 or email sgoyallc@aol.com.

    When we say “‘ohana” in Hawai‘i, we are talking about our parents, siblings, children, grandchildren and our extended family of friends, colleagues, team members, etc. My family has a “tennis ‘ohana” that goes as far back as 40-plus years. Yes, we met playing tennis in Kalihi, then on Sub-Base, and now in ‘Aiea. The oldest…

  • Senior Discounts Are Da Bomb!

    Senior Discounts Are Da Bomb!

    When I turned 55, my daughter asked me to go to Ross Dress for Less to do some clothes shopping. I told her that I didn’t need clothes and didn’t want to shop. Well, the truth came out. “But mom, you can get their 10% discount when you buy my birthday present.” That was the first time I really knew about “senior discounts” and from then on, I didn’t mind stores or restaurants asking me if I would like a senior discount.

    I’m sure many of you like discounts, too, and may make a choice on where to shop or eat because they offer a senior discount or senior menu. I know that Big City Diner has a senior menu that is delicious and also a Senior Citizen Tuesday discount with 10% off dine-in food for customers 60 years or older. And on Thursday, take a grandchild 10 years or younger to get their “Kids Eat Free” meal.

    Some stores and restaurants have special menus or have a notice on the window about their senior discounts. The minimum age also varies from company to company. I think 55 is the youngest; however, some make you wait until you’re 60. No matter the age, we will all get to the point where a senior discount is appreciated.

    Generations Magazine will have a list of senior discounts in its November/December 2024 issue. If you know of companies that offer a senior discounts, call me at 808-722-8487 and I will contact that company to confirm the discount before we print it for our bargain-seeking readers.

    If you have a story you’d like to share or know of someone celebrating their centenarian year, contact Sherry Goya at 808-722-8487 or email sgoyallc@aol.com.

    When I turned 55, my daughter asked me to go to Ross Dress for Less to do some clothes shopping. I told her that I didn’t need clothes and didn’t want to shop. Well, the truth came out. “But mom, you can get their 10% discount when you buy my birthday present.” That was the…