Category: Column

  • 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.

    OctNov2016 - servingourcountry_image1
    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…

    Generations Magazine - August-September 2016 - At-Your-Service_image1
    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.

     

    Generations Magazine - August-September 2016 - At-Your-Service_image2
    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

  • The Many Joys of Grandparenting

    My wife, Shirley, and I have six children —three boys and three girls — who have made us grandparents 14 times since March 1979. The last was born in September 2004.

    The first 10 were born to my three daughters and their husbands, so I was kind of worried that I may not have a grandson to carry on the Ihara name. But my two youngest sons and their wives answered my prayers and gave us the four youngest grandsons, so I am very happy and thankful.

    We were overjoyed that our first grandchild, Cynthia, grew up to be just like her mother, our oldest daughter, Sherry Goya.

    We learned then that we could “spoil” our grandchildren, but not punish them, love them and enjoy our relationship with them without having parental responsibilities. We learned that as grandparents, we must let our children take responsibility for their children and that we shouldn’t interfere or criticize how they raise them.

    When every grandchild came home for the first time, Grandma Shirley would spend a week or two taking care of him or her. She’d let the new mother rest in bed and do everything for the newborns except breastfeeding. I always went with her, especially to Tacoma, Washington, where our second daughter, Arlene Thomas, had given birth to a daughter and three sons.

    Every grandchild brings us a different and unique personal relationship, because their childhood experiences and personalities vary. We love them all, and are happy and proud to be called “grandpa and grandma.”

     

    To send Shirley and Les a note or grandparenting tip of your own, share a comment at the bottom of the article.

    The Many Joys of Grandparenting by Shirley and Les Ihara, Grandparents from the August-September 2016 issue of Generations Magazine, Hawai‘i’s Resource for Life