Category: Column

  • The Search for Ancestors

    I’ve been researching my ancestors for about 20 years. On my Hawaiian side, I’ve gone back five generations, and three generations on my Filipino side. I get so excited when I connect the dots in my family tree and discover a new family member, because I now have a name and story to share with my grandchildren.

    I’ve been blessed with three granddaughters and two grandsons. Analea, 13, loves to draw and has her own blog. Olena, 11, loves to cook and listen to my stories. Hoku, 4, who loves to talk and show me how to use her iPad, is the sole survivor of triplets. My grandsons (her brothers) Nahoa and Koa, lived a few hours.

    I tell my grandkids stories about their ancestors, including Uncle Travis, my son who passed away at age 23 and loved to draw. They want to one day own some of his drawings. When we visit Hilo, I make an effort to take them to the gravesites of their ancestors. Before my father passed away in HPP, Kea‘au, I took the girls to visit him and took pictures of each of their hands holding their great-grandfather.

    The author’s grandchildren Olena, 11, Analea, 13, and Hoku, 4.
    The author’s grandchildren Olena, 11, Analea, 13, and Hoku, 4.

    A few years ago, I started a private family blog that only my husband and children can access. There, I share ancestors’ pictures and stories, journal entries from my youth, family traditions, photos of treasured items from my parents, and letters from my late grandparents. When my grandchildren are older, I will open this blog to them so they can learn about our family.

    In February, I attended a genealogical convention in Utah, where I purchased four DNA kits for my family and am hoping to learn more about my family. I want my children and their future families to know where they came from and lessons that can help them in their lives. I want them to know they are connected to a rich heritage.

    GENEALOGY RESOURCES

    I’ve been researching my ancestors for about 20 years. On my Hawaiian side, I’ve gone back five generations, and three generations on my Filipino side. I get so excited when I connect the dots in my family tree and discover a new family member, because I now have a name and story to share with…

  • The Best is Yet to Be

    by Pastor Russ Higa

    On a frosty winter’s morning, my fellow seminarian, Cal Chinen, picked me up in his old beige Volvo. We drove across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, to Washougal, a small town at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State. We were responding to a senior citizen’s request to do some yard-work. We drove deep into the snow-covered forest and finally arrived at her cabin.

    Busily, we chopped branches and started a bon- fire to burn the brush. As we worked, we saw bunny rabbits hopping across the snow and a deer checking us out to see what we were doing. For a local boy who had never seen snow, it was surreal — a winter wonderland.

    After three hours of labor, the woman of the house called us in for lunch. The warmth from the fireplace felt amazing after being in the freezing cold. As I enjoyed the soup and sandwich, I admired the cabin’s beautiful woodwork.

    The woman told us about her husband, who, in his younger years, built this cabin for her. Now in their sunset years, they were enjoying life in the cozy cabin built with his own hands. On the beam above the kitchen counter, her husband had lovingly carved the words “Grow old with me. The best is yet to be!” Although it has been 39 years since I sat in that cabin, I still remember the woman’s glowing face as she spoke of her hus-band and spending their golden years together.

    Yes, our later years can be a time of great blessing, but as we know all too well, it can be a time of loss. The loss of productivity, health, well-being, independence, and sadly, the loss of cherished loved ones. But all is not lost. Many have found comfort and peace of mind through spiritual nourishment. Developing supportive relationships in a spiritual fellowship can do wonders for the soul. A woman in her later years began attend-ing our church just a few months after losing her husband. Every Sunday, she tells me how blessed she feels being part of a loving church family. So, in your sunset years, consider developing the spiritual dimensions of your life. You will be glad you did. “The best is yet to be!”

    STREAMS OF LIFE FELLOWSHIP

    Manoa District Park
    2721 Ka‘aipu Ave, Honolulu HI 96822
    808-554-4513  |  www.streamsoflife.org
    Services: Sundays, 10 am
    Alternative site: Manoa Elementary School Cafeteria 3155 Manoa Rd., Honolulu, HI 96822

    On a frosty winter’s morning, my fellow seminarian, Cal Chinen, picked me up in his old beige Volvo. We drove across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, to Washougal, a small town at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State. We were responding to a senior citizen’s request to do some yardwork.

  • Success! The 2016 Aging in Place Workshop

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    Abundance was definitely the word of the day! Vendors. Seniors. Caregivers. It was booth to booth, chair to chair, shoulder to shoulder. This year garnered the biggest turnout in years — and that means seniors want to know “what’s next” as they age. Being informed and prepared is the wisest decision. Presented by Generations Magazine and KITV4, and sponsored by many organizations and businesses supporting health and aging, the AIP senior workshop is an annual “must-attend” free event.

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    Success! The 2016 Aging in Place Workshop by Generations Magazine Staff from the DecJan 2017 issue of Generations Magazine, Hawai‘i’s Resource for Life

  • Veterans: Understanding Moral Injury

    OctNov2016 - veteransunderstanding_image1When veterans return from war, we offer them a handshake and a generic “thank you for your service.”

    But there is much more we can do to help those who have lived through the hellish experience of combat to reintegrate into communities — the majority of which are comprised of members who have never even been close to the front lines.

    In generations past, soldiers were left to work out for themselves how to fit back into society, and most kept their nightmares and worries to themselves.

    More recently, we have come to understand post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Extremely traumatic experiences like being ambushed or failing to save fellow troops can leave one overcome with physiological symptoms, such as hypervigilance, memory or concentration problems, insomnia, panic attacks and flashbacks. Recognition of the problem and therapies to address the symptoms are becoming more mainstream.

    Like progress in cancer research, advances in the study of PTSD offer tremendous hope to those who suffer and to society as a whole. This understanding of the effects of war gave rise in 2009 to a new term —“moral injury.” We send bodies and souls into battle; however, fixing the body does not by itself bring a survivor back to wholeness.

    Moral injury, as defined by the Veterans Health Administration, “is disruption in an individual’s confidence and expectations about his or her own moral behavior or others’ capacity to behave in a just and ethical manner.” Moral injury involves the brain’s sense of conscience and agency; in contrast, PTSD affects the brain’s reflex to fear and trauma.

    Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock, a theologian who heads the Soul Repair Center at Brite Divinity School, explained that “moral injury can result in agony from inner judgment against oneself, anger, survivor guilt, isolation, despair and/or loss of will to live.”

    Just as there are ways to heal the physical symptoms of PTSD, there are ways to redeem the moral landscape.

    Key to this work are groups in which soldiers feel free to tell their stories without facing judgment and without having people mouth pat answers.

    Families, support groups, churches and temples that offer deep listening in safe, long-term settings can help rebuild a veteran’s ability to feel valued in society. Listening groups trained to assist in this soul repair work are being formed across the United States.

    Our communities of faith can open their doors to such groups, but we can do even more by up-dating our rituals of lamentation, forgiveness, penance and absolution in contemporary, and creative ways.

    Opportunities for veterans to make amends and a difference in other people’s lives may replace their sense of shame with one of pride.

    By pointing to examples of faithfulness and compassion, we can offer certainty that those who have seen the worst in war are not cut off from life’s goodness. In this way, our actions as people of faith can bring our troops all the way home.

     

    WINDWARD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
    Rev. Jayne Ryan Kuroiwa
    
808-254-3802  |  windwardpastor@hawaii.rr.com
www.windwarducc.org

    Veterans: Understanding Moral Injury by Rev. Jayne Ryan Kuroiwa from the Oct-Nov 2016 issue of Generations Magazine, Hawai‘i’s Resource for Life

  • 41st Annual Senior Softball Tournament

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    More than 1,000 players aged 60 and over, representing 63 teams from all islands, faced off in friendly but spirited competition at the Annual Hawaii State Senior Softball Tournament on Kaua‘i on Aug. 2. Kaua‘i teams welcomed their opponents at Hanapepe Stadium, Ele‘ele Field and Kaumakani Ball Parks.

    At the opening ceremony, players thanked Pat Baniaga, who served as league coordinator for the Kaua‘i Senior Citizen Softball League for the past 14 years, and as director for the 41st annual tournament. He is passing the mantle to Jeffrey Kimoto, who recently moved to Hawai‘i from Northern California.

    “It is time for some new blood and ideas to allow growth, and more success for the Kaua‘i senior softball program,” Baniaga said.

    The Shaka Boyz of Hui Ohana, and managers Les Lunasco and Sonny Miller put up some great hitting, and strategic defense to capture a win at ‘Ele‘ele Field.

     

    CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
    Garrett Iwai, Recreation Specialist
    808-768-3030  |  giwai1@honolulu.gov

    41st Annual Senior Softball Tournament by Garrett Iwai, Recreation Specialist from the Oct-Nov 2016 issue of Generations Magazine, Hawai‘i’s Resource for Life

  • Substitute Parents

    Grandparenting is sometimes being a substitute parent. For instance, when our son, Dan, and his wife, Julie, went on a trip, we took care of their three sons for several days.

    Since the oldest is already a sophomore at the University of Hawai‘i and the younger two are still attending Mid-Pacific Institute, they can be home by themselves, so our responsibilities are quite limited. We begin grandparenting late in the afternoon, sometimes picking up the younger two boys after school or baseball practice.

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    We also prepare dinner for them. The boys love their grandma’s cooking! She normally asks them what they would like to eat and without hesitation, they ask for their favorites — spaghetti, meatloaf, pork or chicken tofu, or her tasty chicken divan. They devour every dish to their heart’s content. During dinner, we talk about the boys’ schooling, baseball and other interests.

    After dinner, Grandpa washes the dishes so that the boys can do their homework. Since it was the beginning of the school year, the younger boys said they needed to buy additional school supplies, so Grandpa drove them to a nearby Longs to get what they needed. When they got there, Grandpa got a basket for them and after they were finished getting what they needed, he told them to give him the basket. He got in the check-out line, paid and handed over one big sack of school supplies!

    Grandparenting can be such an easy, throughly rewarding and simply delightful experience! n

    To send Shirley and Les a note or grandparenting tips of your own, go to www.generations808.com and click on “Comments” at the bottom of the article.

    Substitute Parents by Shirley and Les Ihara, Grandparents from the Oct-Nov 2016 issue of Generations Magazine, Hawai‘i’s Resource for Life

  • At Your Service…Vietnam Vets

    OctNov2016 - atyourservice_image1May 22 to 28, 2017, is a very special commemorative event for all Vietnam vets. By a 2012 presidential proclamation and at the request of the national project director for the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration, key Vietnam veteran volunteers joined a state planning committee. Hawai‘i was asked to host not only local events, but also the United States National Vietnam War Commemoration Symposium, Memorial and Celebration, with participation by American dignitaries and military representatives from all of the countries that supported U.S war efforts in Vietnam. Last year, Gov. David Ige issued a letter of support.

    OctNov2016 - atyourservice_image2I am a Tet Offensive survivor and a member of this planning committee. Seven planning commitee members and one advisory board member belong to Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), O’ahu Chapter 858. One of my responsibilities is to notify all Vietnam veterans about this weeklong event, May 22 through May 28, 2017, when we will all finally be “welcomed home.”

    Core events in Honolulu are a great parade in Waikīkī, a concert, a reception, a taste of Hawai‘i night or a lū‘au, a POW/MIA/Gold Star family dinner or lū‘au, and a memorial ceremony at Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

    Maybe you are thinking as I did when I joined this committee — What! Are you kidding? Too little too late! But then I thought, Hmmmm! Better late than never! Please join us May 22 through 28.

    If I lived on O‘ahu, I would register this way:

    • Go to www.vietnam50years.org/contact

    • Type in this message: “I AM ONLY GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARADE AND THE PUNCHBOWL CEREMONY WHICH ARE FREE. PLEASE ADVISE ON HOW TO REGISTER.”

    • DO NOT sign up or pay for anything else.

    • Then register on this website: www.dod.hawaii.gov/ovs/50th-anniversary-vietnam/

    If I were not on O‘ahu, I would search online for an air/hotel/car rental package that fits my budget, then follow the steps above to register.

    If you want to march with VVA Chapter 858 in the parade in Waikīkī, please contact me.

     

    Rona Adams, president, VVA O‘ahu Chapter 858
    ronaadams@hawaii.rr.com  |  808-524-6231

    At Your Service…Vietnam Vets by Capt. Rona Adams, RN, US Army Nurse Corps, Vietnam from the Oct-Nov 2016 issue of Generations Magazine, Hawai‘i’s Resource for Life

  • When You Gotta Walk – Walk

    OctNov2016 - whenyougottawalk_image1I met Sharon and Randy Reynolds, both in their 60s, on a Saturday afternoon at a Starbucks in Ewa Beach. They are avid walkers with their daughter, Kimberly, and they participate in several charity walks throughout the year, including the 2014 Making Strides (against breast cancer) of Hawai‘i (see photo).

    How important is exercise to you? What do you do?

    For Sharon and Randy, walking is much more than a simple form of exercise.

    “We walk a lot,” said Randy. “But it’s more for the charity part than the walking part,” said Sharon. They are former members of the Lions Club and have participated in charity walks since 1994.

    They also spend a lot of time walking because “if we want to go anywhere, we have to walk,” said Sharon. They also use The Bus. But since they live about a half-mile from the nearest bus stop, even taking The Bus requires a bit of exercise.

    “It’s not set out to be ‘we are going out for a walk,’ because that’s boring,” said Sharon. “if we are doing it because we have to, then it becomes a chore.”

    “It becomes work,” Randy chimed in.

    “If you are going for enjoyment, then it is a different story,” Randy concluded.

    What do you eat so you can walk better?

    “We eat fresh vegetables and salads,” they both said in agreement.

     

    When You Gotta Walk by Stephanie Kim, Generations Magazine Intern from the DecJan 2017 issue of Generations Magazine, Hawai‘i’s Resource for Life

  • Serving Our Country

    One of the best parts of being on the staff of Generations Magazine is that I have the opportunity to meet so many wonderful families. Quite often, I receive calls and emails from people who have a “story” to tell me, and it is very hard to write about everyone I meet or every event I attend.

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    Donna Cadiente and Armand Bartolome

    Back in June of this year, I received an email from Donna Cadiente, who said that her father was a presidential chef for Presidents Truman and Eisenhower as part of his tour of duty in the Navy. He was aboard the presidential yacht, in the White House and at the presidential retreat camp, now called “Camp David,” after President Eisenhower’s son — that’s what Armand told me. His memories of living in the Philippines, being drafted in the United States Navy, and working in Washington, D.C., back in 1946 are still strong. His tour of duty also sent him to Seattle, Taiwan, California and Hawai‘i.

    I enjoyed talking with Armand, and saw his eyes twinkle when he smiled and laughed at me — hey, he’s the one with the funny disposition.

    Armand retired from the Navy, apprenticed at Pearl Harbor to become a marine machinist and retired at age 60 to babysit his grandchildren. His daughters say that at almost 88 years old, he now spends his days at St. Francis Adult Day Care, where he enjoys playing solitaire while the ladies enjoy his company. Armand served our country in more ways than one!

     

    Stories for and about seniors and their caregivers are always worth sharing, such as 100th birthday announcements.
    Send your stories and photos to Sherry Goya.
    808-722-8487  |  SGoyaLLC@aol.com

    Serving Our Country by Sherry Goya, Generations Magazine Staff from the Oct-Nov 2016 issue of Generations Magazine, Hawai‘i’s Resource for Life

  • At Your Service…

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    Rona Adams and Sen. Mazie K. Hirono at an
    O‘ahu Veterans Center Thanksgiving dinner. With Rona is Bindi, one of her two therapy dogs who also help veterans.

    I’ll be honest. When Percy Ihara asked me to write a column for veterans, it caught me off guard. “Writer” is not what I see in the mirror — U.S. Army nurse, college grad, civilian nurse manager, trainer and advocate for Vietnam Veterans are all in my kit. I’m good at paperwork: reports, manuals, a master’s thesis, letters home for injured soldiers who needed help writing and Hawai‘i State Legislature testimony.

    But this is different — it’s just you and me having that first conversation. Pardon my butterflies. I can only talk about what I know — helping people — civilians, military and vets. I did two tours in Vietnam as a captain in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, which covered the Tet Offensive. I am considered a Tet Offensive survivor. I worked in both operating and emergency rooms.

    Two things I learned: War is hell (I wish I could use some other word) and no matter how crappy the situation was, we could always find something to laugh about. The majority of us come back changed (some more than others), and yes, I have PTSD and some Agent Orange issues. In future columns, we can talk about these things, too.

    I came to Hawai‘i in 2001, retired from nursing in 2003, and joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Vietnam Veterans Association (VVA). I represent the VVA at the O‘ahu Veterans Council. If you’re a veteran, have active military or veterans in your family, or just want to reach out to that veteran next door, this column is for you.

     

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    Patients at Third Army Field Hospital in Saigon awaiting evacuation to Japan in 1967: Gunner Charlie Matherson and Nurse Rona Adams with their friend John Grey, wounded Army medic.

     

    You’ll be hearing a lot about plans for the State of Hawai‘i 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam Commemoration in 2017 to honor Vietnam and Vietnam-era veterans from 50 states, our territories and allies. They will be joining our activities here in Hawai‘i. In the next edition, you will be able to register and sign up online to volunteer.

    Happy to meet you. If you want to say “hello,” visit www.generations808.com and post your comments at the bottom of my column.

    Standing by. Over.

     

    Rona Adams, State of Hawai‘i 50th Anniversary 
of the Vietnam War Commemoration, Planning 
Committee Member
    ronaadams@hawaii.rr.com

    At Your Service by Rona Adams, Vietnam Veteran, U.S. Army Nurse Corps from the August-September 2016 issue of Generations Magazine, Hawai‘i’s Resource for Life

  • Bus or Rail? How About the Rec Parks?

    This column spotlights aging issues and asks random seniors their opinions. For this issue, we decided to ask about transportation and recreation: which would they use and if they’re still going to a recreational park. If you wish to comment on these questions, please visit this article on www.generations808.com and post a comment.

    Generations Magazine - August-September 2016 - Bus-Or-Rail_image1Alicia Nagasawa, 67

    Bus or Rail?: “At this age, I’d choose the bus,” said Alicia. “I live on University Avenue. I would choose the bus; the bus stop is across from 
my house. It’s convenient. I don’t think I’d use the rail — maybe just to sightsee, you know, the countryside.”

    How about using the recreational parks: “No, we used to a long time ago, every weekend. Now, police chase you out at a certain time,” said 
Alicia. “If I had grandchildren, I’d be at the parks more often. I wouldn’t go there at night though. It’s dangerous now.”

    Generations Magazine - August-September 2016 - Bus-Or-Rail_image2Melvin “Mel” Kellett, 71

    Bus or Rail?: “With the rail, I would have to go down to the station. I’d have to use the bus anyway to get there.”

    How about using the recreational parks: Mel shared that his family holds picnics at Ala Moana Beach Park often and that he “used to run around the park and used the exercise station… Now I hardly go because I’m 71 years old,” said Mel. “My wife and grandchildren still go.”

    Bus or Rail? How About the Rec Parks? by Stephanie Kim, Generations Magazine Intern from the August-September 2016 issue of Generations Magazine, Hawai‘i’s Resource for Life

  • A Love for Hawai‘i

    Generations Magazine - August-September 2016 - A Love For Hawaii_image1Love’s Bakery has been an important part of Hawai‘i’s history for generations — marking its 165th anniversary this year!

    Robert Love, his wife and three sons came to Hawai‘i from Britain and started the Love’s Biscuit & Bread Co. Ltd. in July 1851 on Fort Street Mall.

    In May 1853, the bakery moved to Nu‘uanu Street, then to Iwilei in March 1924. It was in July 1943 that Love’s Bakery moved to Kapahulu Avenue, and in January 1990, they opened a store at 911 Middle St.

    What a long history of providing baked goods to all of Hawai‘i!

    My husband, Clifford, has been working for Love’s for almost 30 years, but Generations’ Editor Katherine Smith has connections with the bakery that go even farther back. Her grandfather, Jack Mailer, immigrated to America from Scotland and worked for Baker Perkins Inc., a company that made heavy industrial machines and equipment. When talking with Katherine, she said that he was a machinist and installer who came to O‘ahu in 1924 to put the baking ovens in Love’s Bakery.

    Jack was in Hawai‘i for two years and brought home to New Jersey his love for the islands, which passed down to Katherine and her family.

    How fortunate for Generations that Katherine has joined our staff! I always knew that she and I had some kind of connection, and we found it. We both have a love for Hawai‘i—and Love’s Bakery.

    A Love for Hawai‘i by Sherry Goya, Generations Magazine Staff from the August-September 2016 issue of Generations Magazine, Hawai‘i’s Resource for Life