Category: Articles

  • Cultivating Care in the Memory Garden

    Tucked between campus classrooms near the College of Education, the leafy paths of the University of Hawai‘i’s (UH) Ho‘ōla ‘Āina Pilipili garden come alive every third Thursday afternoon. Soft laughter blends with the rustling of leaves and the hum of gentle conversation. Under the shelter of liliko‘i shade tents, a kūpuna presses seeds into the…

  • How to Minimize Capital Gains Taxes

    Selling real estate is one of the most impactful financial decisions you make. Understanding taxes, especially capital gains, can make the difference between simply selling a property and creating a lasting legacy. When you sell your property for more than you paid for it, the profit is called a “capital gain.” If the property was…

  • Minimizing Estate Taxes

    Hawai‘i’s estate tax exclusion remains at $5,490,000 per person, with tax rates as high as 20%. While this may seem like a high threshold, many Hawai‘i residents can exceed it quickly—especially when factoring in the value of a primary residence, inherited assets, life insurance proceeds, retirement accounts and investment portfolios. Minimizing exposure to Hawai‘i’s estate…

  • Is Travel on Your Retirement Agenda?

    One of the great benefits of retirement is having the freedom to pursue new interests and hobbies at your leisure. For many, travel is at the top of their retirement bucket list. The key question is how to make sure your retirement savings can keep up with your travel ambitions. The following considerations can help…

  • How to Avoid Caregiver’s Guilt

    “Something bad will happen if I am not there.” It’s the familiar fear of caregivers everywhere. Caregivers often live under the constant pressure that their presence alone keeps disaster from striking. This deeply human belief can trap us in emotional chains and lead to exhaustion. Many caregivers feel indispensable. “No one else helps. I’m the…

  • Namaste Care for Dementia Patients

    Namaste Care is a sensory-focused program for people with dementia living in a care home. It’s especially helpful for those in the later stages of dementia who may not be able to join in traditional activities due to a loss of abilities. Facilities with a dedicated space that includes elements like mood lighting, fish tanks,…

  • Caring is Sharing in a Group Setting

    Maria no longer felt doubtful after her warm welcome at the pau hana gathering. Her dad recently moved into a care home, but she and her siblings had second thoughts about the move when he pleaded to go home. She spoke softly then smiled after other attendees shared their own stories. By the end of…

  • Ask the Doctor: Physical Activity

    In this ongoing column, Kaiser Permanente doctors will answer commonly asked questions. When a new year rolls around, it always feels like a fresh start. So it’s the perfect opportunity to turn that positive energy into simple, healthy habits that keep you strong, steady and feeling good. What are the best exercises for strength without…

  • Maintain Balance in the New Year

    As we welcome a new year, it’s the perfect time to focus on balance, building strength, stability and confidence through movement. For seniors, fitness isn’t just about exercise, it’s about maintaining independence, living fully and preventing falls. Nearly every senior worries about falling, and for good reason. Falls are a leading cause of injury, so…

  • Guard Your Vision Against Glaucoma

    Our eyesight is one of the most important ways we experience life, yet it’s easy to take it for granted. From noticing subtle changes in the sky over Mauna Kea to reading the expressions of your mo‘opuna, vision keeps us connected to the people and places we love. January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, serving as…

  • Start the New Year With a Smile

    The beginning of a new year is a great time to focus on your health. What better place to start than your smile? Many people don’t realize how closely oral health is connected to overall well-being, especially as we get older. Gum inflammation has been linked to serious conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and…

  • Meeting a Growing Need: Palliative Care

    As Hawai‘i’s population ages rapidly, the need for compassionate, coordinated care for kūpuna living with serious illness is growing. Palliative care offers a vital solution providing relief from symptoms, emotional support and guidance for individuals and families navigating complex health challenges. Unlike hospice care, which is reserved for end of-life support, palliative care can begin…