My plan for 2013 is to improve my health and hopefully for you, our readers, you will make this a goal too. We pledge to bring you more resources and provide you with helpful tips on living that better quality of life. Last month’s 91 year old super senior Joan Packer
will always be my role model as I age and I will always remember her words to me “Don’t sit too long on the couch—stay active”.
In this issue our cover story brings to the forefront of the arthritis disease in Hawai‘i. I do have to thank Dr. Ritabelle Ferdandes who opened my eyes where this disease affects 236,000 people in Hawaii. We feature Dr. Thomas Kane who is the Arthritis Foundation of Hawai‘i’s Medical Honoree. His personal commitment to this cause and to promote awareness is inspiring.
I also want you to mark your calenders as our very popular workshop is coming up.
Elderhood Project/Generations Magazine’s
7th annual “Aging in Place” workshop
Friday August 9th at the Ala Moana Hotel
from 9am–3pm.
This is also a call for exhibitors to exhibit at this event where over 800 seniors and their families attend. Exhibitors please email Hope Young at Hope@kokuacare.com. More information to follow in our June/July issue.
Lastly, a special call for **Mother’s Day** stories and sentiments. We would like to honor the very special person in our lives—our mom. This will be your chance to tell her how special she is. I’m requesting our readers to submit their warmest memories or sentiments of their mother in celebration of Mother’s Day in May. We hope to print some of your submissions in our April/May issue and send your thanks and appreciation to your moms. You may submit it by mail or email us with the subject “My Mom.” Please note: maximum of 250 words, plus a photo (if you have it); and materials must be received by March 18.*
Don’t forget, in addition, we are always looking for stories, pictures and events from you—our valued readers.
Live Well,
Percy Ihara, Editor / Publisher
808-368-6747 | Percy@Generations808.com
This fall, I hope you will exercise your right as an American to vote on November 6th. Generations Magazine has Linda Coble to thank for our flag-waving cover story, as she is one of my favorite ladies, community leaders, and I am honored to call her my friend. We’d also like to thank Principal Shannon Goo of Lincoln Elementary School for allowing us to shoot the magazine’s cover on campus, as my son Zachary and his schoolmates had a blast. If you need some inspiration to vote this year (or general voting information), turn to our cover story, Make Your Voice Count.
I have recommended to hundreds of families that we all need to have the talk with our family members on “aging in place” and the options to where we want to live the rest of our lives or at least for the foreseeable future. The Plaza Assisted Properties offer one of the options that our middle class will and should seriously take a visit and check out the benefits of living in a comfortable and safe place. Developer Steve Metter made a significant comment that we must think of it as a major benefit for our loved ones that “most residents who were previously living alone in their own homes have improved health after moving into an assisted living community. This usually occurs due to improved nutrition, socialization with peers, better exercise, health monitoring and medication management.”
As we kick off the summer, it is time to start spending more time with our friends and families, and to be thankful for our health. Although the summer days are long, our time is short. Take a moment to call and say hello to a family member or friend. Personally, once a year I spend several days with my entire family (30+ and growing) to play sports, go to the beach, eat meals together and reminisce about the good ol’ days. We spend hours talking story and, yes, we probably tell the same stories each year, but none of us mind. I tell all my friends that this is what keeps our family together. Thanks, Mom and Dad!