One of the trending online fraud schemes involves being contacted by either friends or relatives via email or through social networking services like Facebook about receiving large amounts of money through investments, a class action lawsuit, or even a random contest drawing.
However, these “friends” or “relatives” are NOT who they claim to be, but online fraudsters impersonating the subject’s real friends and relatives. They try to convince the subject that the scheme, whatever it may be, is legitimate and, once doing so, then introduce them to another party to assist the subject in obtaining the funds. Again, this person is just another fraudster in the scam and may even be the same person who claims to be the subject’s friend/relative!
The best thing to do in these situations is not respond at all. If it becomes a nuisance, block the sender or unfriend that “friend.”
One of the trending online fraud schemes involves being contacted by either friends or relatives via email or through social networking services like Facebook about receiving large amounts of money through investments, a class action lawsuit, or even a random contest drawing. However, these “friends” or “relatives” are NOT who they claim to be.
Purchasing medication and even filling prescriptions online can be a risky process, but the chances of being victimized can be greatly reduced by taking a few necessary precautions.
Avoid email scams
Try not to respond to email “spam.” But if you are inclined to do so, do your research to see how reputable the company is and make sure the email address is legitimate. Also check where the company is based and where the products are being shipped from. Steer clear of foreign-based companies.
Save all email correspondence until you have received your product and are satisfied.
Be website-wary
If you are dealing with a vendor on a website, look closely at the URL to check that it’s not a slight misspelling of a trusted company, created to fool you. Also, check that it starts with “https:” and has a padlock icon on the left.
It is also good practice to take a screencap of the webpage listing the product you’re buying. Press Help if you are unsure how to do this.
Minimize credit card risk
If you are using a credit card, use one with a low line of credit but enough to make the purchase.
If a purchase was made by mistake, contact your credit card company’s fraud and security department immediately. They will flag any unauthorized billings from that company.
And finally, review your credit card statements regularly to detect any inconsistencies.
Purchasing medication and even filling prescriptions online can be a risky process, but the chances of being victimized can be greatly reduced by taking a few necessary precautions. Avoid email scams Try not to respond to email “spam.” But if you are inclined to do so, do your research to see how reputable the company…
Right here in Waikīkī there is more to learn about our famous nisei “Go For Broke” 442nd Infantry Regiment — at the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii. It’s on the corner of Kalia and Saratoga Roads inside Fort DeRussy Military Reservation park.
During World War II, U.S. Army Artillery “Battery Randolph” was located on the point. Coastal batteries were fortifications of cannon, tanks and ammunition, and bunkers strategically positioned for battle or defense. In modern warfare, batteries also facilitate battlefield communications, command operations and disbursement of artillery materials to gunnery crews.
Courtesy of U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii
Battery Randolph’s main guns were removed before the museum began, but today, its holdings include choppers, tanks, cannon, and light weaponry as well as military photos from the Vietnam, Korea and WWII Pacific Theater eras. The exhibit represents the entire post-annexation military history of the U.S. Army in Hawai‘i, including key projects of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers throughout Hawai‘i.
Of unique interest is the museum’s “Gallery of Heroes,” which displays commendations, Medals of Honor and Distinguished Service Crosses awarded to Hawai‘i veterans. It is a permanent tribute to our heroes, including the 442nd Infantry Regiment and nisei Military Intelligence Service during WWII.
Leave plenty of time to see all the vintage U.S. Army photos and identify your family members who fought for freedom. The end of summer is a great time to take your grandchildren to the museum for a powerful educational adventure.
Remember when you meet a veteran to thank them for their service.
U.S. ARMY MUSEUM OF HAWAII
2131 Kalia Road, (nr. Hale Koa Hotel) Honolulu HI 96815 808-955-9552 | www.hiarmymuseumsoc.org
Open 10 am – 5 pm, Tues.– Sat.
Audio tours: $5.00 per person
Parking: $3.50 for the first hour, $2.00 for additional hrs.
Driving directions: see their website
Bus routes to the museum: www.moovit.com
Right here in Waikīkī there is more to learn about our famous nisei “Go For Broke” 442nd Infantry Regiment — at the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii. It’s on the corner of Kalia and Saratoga Roads inside Fort DeRussy Military Reservation park.
The measures that came into effect in wartime Hawai‘i were described by one man who helped create them, Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Green, as “a new experiment in government — a joint operation of the military, civilian business and the general public.”
Bella Fernandez. Photo courtesy UH Archives
A great number of the general public were, of course, women and they played many roles on the home front. Bella Fernandez is noted as a “rated woman boat builder at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard” on the back of a U.S. Navy photograph in the University of Hawai‘i Archives. Others did piecework at home for the armed services, some creating the camouflage netting that was put over the helmets U.S. soldiers wore, as Rosaline Ventura did. Her oral history in the UH Center for Oral History’s project “An Era of Change” also tells of day-to-day life under martial law for this mother of three young children — including toting a heavy gas mask with her wherever she went and making sure the keiki had theirs.
Many women already worked in professions that could immediately make a useful contribution to the war effort. In the immediate aftermath of the bombing, all schools were closed for a time, but teachers were reassigned to assist in registering the entire population for ID cards. For public health reasons, everyone had to be immunized against typhoid, and nurses played their part in getting that done. Office workers formed a Women’s Volunteer Army Corps, many of its members working long hours in the offices of military staff.
Children in gas masks. Photo courtesy of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i
“Society women,” whose household and family obligations were taken care of by paid staff, volunteered for a myriad of roles. The Red Cross Motor Corps, composed of a group of about 38 women, operated a 24-hour ambulance service as part of Civil Defense. Others volunteered their time on the many committees that gave support to agencies created to deal with specific wartime needs, including the Evacuee Assignment Office.
In total, 13,000 women and children were evacuated to the mainland, most of them dependents of military personnel. Hawai‘i’s Military Governor, Lt. Gen. Delos C. Emmons, resisted any mass evacuation of civilians of Japanese ancestry believing it would be illegal and would adversely affect the war effort. The military did, however, force many families from their homes and land. In her oral history, Ruth Yamaguchi tells how their home at Pu‘uloa was commandeered to house soldiers. Her father found work at Pearl Harbor and she herself left school before graduation to work at the Hawaiian Army Exchange.
The measures that came into effect in wartime Hawai‘i were described by one man who helped create them, Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Green, as “a new experiment in government — a joint operation of the military, civilian business and the general public.” A great number of the general public were, of course, women and they played many…
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is for the physically challenged and disabled community. The elevator industry, with the help of the government and educators in civil law, has been addressing ADA issues over the years. Elevator and lift manufacturers have many solutions to meet and exceed the ADA requirements.
Today, here in Hawai‘i, there is a continued effort to address the ADA conditions that affect our elderly and disabled community. The work to provide those communities with the freedom to live independently and safely, while making their lives easier, relies on multiple solutions.
One example of these different kinds of solutions is a residential chair lift. This provides the senior community, and those who are physically challenged, the ability to have the mobility and access to parts of their home they may not have seen in years, or the ability to leave their home safely and with ease. In some instances, a chair lift can also provide an extra pair of helping hands, such as carrying the laundry or even groceries up and down the stairs.
This provides them with a higher quality of life while maintaining their pride and independence.
ACCESS LIFTS HAWAII
1525 Young St., Honolulu HI 96826
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is for the physically challenged and disabled community. The elevator industry, with the help of the government and educators in civil law, has been addressing ADA issues over the years. Elevator and lift manufacturers have many solutions to meet and exceed the ADA requirements.
Many seniors, especially those who live alone, might not realize that there are items they should have in their hurricane emergency kit other than Spam, baked beans and Vienna sausage. June marks the beginning of the six-month-long hurricane season and reminders about being prepared are all over the media.
The messages always emphasize the need for the basics:
◆ drinking water
◆ non-perishable food
◆ toiletries, batteries
◆ your prescription medicines
But those things may not be enough to meet seniors’ needs.
Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency say to remember four things:
How will you receive alerts and warnings?
What is your shelter plan?
What’s your evacuation route?
And what is your family communication plan?
These four FEMA questions bring to mind specific steps you might not have thought of:
▲ NOAA weather alerts. In addition to a portable AM/FM radio, consider getting one that picks up NOAA weather alerts.
▲ FEMA app. Install the FEMA app on your smartphone and acquaint yourself with its navigation. Additionally, make sure emergency alerts are enabled on your phone.
▲ Phone text. Know how to text on your phone. Even if the voice network goes out, texting may still be an option because it requires less bandwidth and transmits more easily. But that won’t matter if you don’t know how to text!
▲ Support network. Make a list of your support network — people who can help you out in the event of an emergency. Does someone have an extra key to your home?
▲ Hard copy list of contacts. Have your most important contact names and numbers written on real paper and stored in plastic zip-lock bags. Remember — when the power goes out, your phone won’t last long and when it dies, so does any chance of reaching your contacts.
▲ Medical alternatives. If you have medical issues that require regular doctor’s visits, find out what your doctor’s plan is should his office become inaccessible. Where’s the nearest alternative?
▲ Prescription drug supply. For required regular doses of prescription drugs like insulin shots, consult with your doctor for an extra supply.
▲ Pet emergency kit. Prepare an emergency kit just for your pet, including food, bedding and treats. But have you thought to include drinking water? Your pet will get thirsty, too.
▲ Inventory valuable possessions. Make sure you have a complete and up-to-date inventory of your home and your valuable possessions for insurance purposes. Photograph as much as you can for documentation and store the photos or digital output (for example, USB stick or DVD) in your zip-lock bag.
▲ Automatic Deposit. If you aren’t doing it already, have your benefit checks–pensions, social security, etc.— deposited directly into your bank account. If you have to relocate, your monthly check may have no idea where you’ve gone.
▲ Cash. Got some cash and coins? There’s always a possibility ATMs won’t be working.
Hawai‘i has had its share of disastrous hurricanes and evacuations, but it’s been over 15 years since the last one and it’s important to remember that the threat is always looming.
One very useful website to help you plan for any emergency is www.ready.gov/make-a-plan There, you will find downloadable documents that will guide you each step of the way as you prepare a plan for your own particular situation.
For further information, go to the websites of FEMA, the American Red Cross, NOAA, and Hawai‘i state and local Civil Defense. Links to these agencies and their respective emergency preparedness information are available below with additional ones on our website, www.Generations808.com. Click on Emergency Preparedness.
Many seniors, especially those who live alone, might not realize that there are items they should have in their hurricane emergency kit other than Spam, baked beans and Vienna sausage. June marks the beginning of the six-month-long hurricane season and reminders about being prepared are all over the media.
Telephone scams have been around for years, even before the birth of the internet, and they are just as dangerous as their online counterparts. Because modern telephone networks use digital technology, it is easy for cybercriminals to manipulate what appears in the Caller ID to trick you into thinking you are receiving a call from a trusted source. This tactic is called “spoofing.”
Listen for these red flags:
◆ A sense of urgency. The caller wants you to act immediately or something bad will happen.
◆ The caller advises payments be made using gift cards or prepaid debit card.
◆ You are asked to download and install programs onto your computer to fix the “problems” the caller claims your computer has.
Some Safety tips:
◆ Do not provide any personal or bank information to the caller or confirm any information.
◆ Do not respond to any voice messages to contact a telephone number the caller provided without checking first by calling the customer service number on the company or government website.
◆ Do not download any programs the caller says you need, or confirm your computer’s type.
Telephone scams have been around for years, even before the birth of the internet, and they are just as dangerous as their online counterparts. Because modern telephone networks use digital technology, it is easy for cybercriminals to manipulate what appears in the Caller ID to trick you into thinking you are receiving a call from…
At Common Cause Hawaii, we believe that the more people who participate in civic engagement, the more representative our democracy. Participation can come in the form of service, or testifying on an important issue, but the most important way to get involved is through voting. As the state with the lowest voter turnout, we need to make our elections more accessible, convenient, and secure so that specific needs are given more attention by public officials; needs like producing more affordable housing, securing better healthcare options for kūpuna, and investing in high quality education to benefit our keiki.
Two commonsense election modernizations that could add such an element of convenience are Automatic Voter Registration and Vote by Mail. One is a small technical change to update our opt-in system to an opt-out one, and the other a logical expansion of absentee voting which allows people to vote in the privacy of their own home if they wish. Together these practices can cut out the cost of provisional ballots, sending ballots to the wrong addresses, and allow voters ample time to fully vet candidates and the issues by offering the ballot to voters in advance of Election Day. Both fit into voters’ routines without altering long-standing traditions like voting in person.
Automatic Voter Registration registers eligible citizens to vote anytime they sign up for or renew their driver’s license or state ID unless they opt out. Under Vote by Mail, these same eligible voters receive a ballot at their current address.
With Vote by Mail, Hawai‘i will take steps to increase turnout, improve voter education, and combat fraud. More than half of those who voted in the 2014 and 2016 elections in Hawai‘i did so via absentee ballot, with more votes cast before Election Day proving we are already familiar with both the efficiencies and required precautions of this method. In Oregon where they now vote entirely by mail, election officials have found no indication of increased fraud or undue influence.
Hawai‘i deserves a balanced democracy and constituencies that represent our true demographics to include those who are home bound, voters from rural areas, as well as voters of varying incomes and diverse ethnic backgrounds. Hawai‘i has been a leader in voting reform with the implementation of online voter registration and more recently, same day voter registration. We should maintain this momentum and continue to reduce barriers to voting so we can engage all eligible citizens in the political process. Your vote is one of the most direct ways to build a better Hawai‘i for the generations to come.
At Common Cause Hawaii, we believe that the more people who participate in civic engagement, the more representative our democracy. Participation can come in the form of service, or testifying on an important issue, but the most important way to get involved is through voting.
Giving back. That’s the theme and the name of a special — and talented — seniors group who entertain other seniors as a way of giving enjoyment back to their community.
Project Giving Back is a group of 36 singers, ranging in age from 60 to 87, who are now in their 8th year of performing. Wayne Uejo is the founder and administrator of the group, overseeing the singers and coordinating the concert schedule at venues across O‘ahu.
Performances include hit songs from the ’50s through the ’80s, with some Hawaiian and Japanese tunes included in the mix. Uejo says the audiences love everything, but especially those old tunes that really bring back happy memories from a time when life was fun and simple. “Sukiyaki” by Kyu Sakamoto, and the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” are audience favorites.
Project Giving Back is currently not accepting new singers, but Uejo strongly encourages other like-minded individuals from O‘ahu or the Neighbor Islands to start their own group. He says there is always a need to give back to the senior community.
If you are interested in having Project Giving Back perform at your location for any occasion, contact Wayne Uejo.
PROJECT GIVING BACK
2018 HONOLULU PERFORMANCES
Saturdays at 9am
THE PLAZA
1280 Moanalualani Place
June 9
July 14
August 11
September 8
October 6
November 3
December 1
KUAKINI AUDITORIUM
347 N Kuakini St.
June 23
July 28
August 18
September 22
October 20
November 17
December 8
LEAHI HOSPITAL
3675 Kilauea Ave.
August 25
November 24
Seniors giving back to seniors. It’s a fun and rewarding way to spend that free time.
Giving back. That’s the theme and the name of a special — and talented — seniors group who entertain other seniors as a way of giving enjoyment back to their community. Project Giving Back is a group of 36 singers, ranging in age from 60 to 87, who are now in their 8th year of…
It’s hard to believe 22 years have passed since the renovated Hawaii Theatre Center reopened its doors to the public following a decade-long effort by community volunteers to raise $32 million and save the historic structure from the developer’s wrecking ball. Today, volunteerism is still the lifeblood of the Hawaii Theatre Center. The complex encompasses not only the historic Hawaii Theatre building, but also the McLean Block building, the historically significant Pantheon Saloon building and the Austin Block building. HTC also stewards Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park adjacent to the theatre.
Having nearly an entire block of Chinatown to maintain and manage is a challenge not for the faint of heart. First and foremost, our volunteers are critical in ensuring the theatre is staffed with helpful and smiling ushers who not only assist in welcoming patrons to the theatre, but also are trained to assist in any emergencies or evacuations we may be faced with.
Volunteers who are part of our Hawaii Theatre Docent program provide historical tours of the facility, during which guests are treated to a mini-concert on the 1922 Robert Morton pipe organ in the Weinberg Auditorium. Though we currently only have enough docents for monthly, or bi-monthly tours, we hope to recruit additional volunteers for expanded reach into the community.
Another very active volunteer group is our HTC Stars group. This group of community-minded philanthropists help in supporting our fundraising events, HTC membership recruitment at our shows and other work needed by our Membership Services staff.
One of the areas of focus for the coming year will be facilities repair and maintenance. Our hope is to form a group of tradespeople with a little time on their hands to help with minor carpentry, painting, landscaping, and generally completing odd jobs around the facility. Our list of deferred maintenance items is too long to list here, but for an active group of seniors who take pride in their handiwork and would like to remain active by helping to maintain and improve the condition of the entire Hawaii Theatre Center campus, this is a golden opportunity!
For more information on any of our volunteer opportunities, please call to schedule a visit. Amy Bennett, our Director of Donor Services, would appreciate hearing from you at 808-791-1301, or you can email amybennett@hawaiitheatre.com to set up a time for you to visit! E Komo Mai! Join us in preserving our community’s last remaining historic theatre—“The Pride of the Pacific”.
It’s hard to believe 22 years have passed since the renovated Hawaii Theatre Center reopened its doors to the public following a decade-long effort by community volunteers to raise $32 million and save the historic structure from the developer’s wrecking ball. Today, volunteerism is still the lifeblood of the Hawaii Theatre Center.
Dottie Crowell and Galen Narimatsu in the courtyard of historic Kawaiha‘o Hall. The Hall was built in 1908 when the Kawaiha‘o Seminary for girls and the Mills Institute for boys moved to their new joint campus in Mānoa, known as the Mid-Pacific Institute.
Giving back to your high school or college allows you not only to rekindle warm memories of school days but also to help the school prepare today’s students for a successful future.
Generations Magazine celebrates “school pride” with the stories of two retirees who volunteer their time to support their school and its alumni family. If you grew up in Hawai‘i, you probably graduated with some of the same students that you first knew in elementary school. Neighborhoods were small, and families didn’t move around much. Classmates depended on one another like a baseball team: all practice the fundamentals, but in the game, each one has a position to cover. If one does not perform, the whole team suffers unless the others step up and pull out a win. Camaradarie and good performance builds trust in the clutches, and deep friendships that last a lifetime. So students all add to the ultimate success of their class.
As you might guess, expressing school pride is more than wearing school colors at the game, or sharing stories of back in the day. These are great fun, but the foundations, disciplines and fresh horizons shared with us by teachers, administrators and classmates — tools and habits that later served us well as adults — these are the gifts that make us proud to be called alumni.
Cousins Dottie Crowell and Galen Narimatsu graduated from Mid-Pacific Institute in 1955 and are still actively involved with supporting their alma mater. They are still friends with their roommates, classmates and team members. You will see them at home games, cheering on the Owls; on campus, helping on alumni projects; and working with alumni of all ages on student events and projects.
What is the source of this love and admiration for their school? As they tell their stories, you will hear the facts and history of Mid-Pacific Institute in the ’50s, but between the lines you will sense the gratitude Dottie and Galen have. They are not only thankful for what they learned, but for the process. The academic bar was set very high. They were eighth graders away from home for the first time — eager to please their parents, unsure of what the future would hold, and not quite sure if they had “the right stuff” for college.
But they were not alone or without suppport. And what they achieved in high school prepared them for meaningful, successful lives. This is a story retold many times in post-WWII America. May the stories of Dottie and Galen inspire you to remember your school days, look up classmates and express your gratitude and your school pride. We have much for which to be grateful.
Dorothy “Dottie” Crowell, Former Director of Admissions, Mid-Pacific Institute, Class of ’55
Dorothy “Dottie” Crowell
Dottie Crowell graduated from MPI in 1955 and began working there in school administration. No one knows more Mid-Pacific alumni than Dottie because, for nearly 30 years, she and a committee of faculty and deans made decisions about which students would be accepted. She delights in connecting graduates to one another and the school. Graduates are always looking her up. Her devotion and pride for her school can be summed up as a big mahalo to her parents, teachers and principals who encouraged her to pursue higher education.
“I was a naïve, back-country eighth grader in Ha‘ikū, Maui, who had no idea how high school would be. My parents told me I was going to a high school in Honolulu, and I just accepted it. My class of 35 boys and girls grew to 65 by graduation. We were not sophisticated like the students of today, but we were all away from home, so we followed the rules and did well. On weekends, we saw the big city of Honolulu. I still keep up with my roommates, Lenora and Junette. A whole world opened up to us with class members from Japan, Korea and the Marshall Islands. Two years of foreign language were required: French or Latin. Today, MPI also offers Spanish, German, Japanese, Hawaiian and Mandarin Chinese,” says Dottie. But her favorite subjects were Mathematics and English because she liked the teachers.
Today, Dottie Crowell volunteers her time to work on the Alumni Archives Research Project. Growing public interest in family history and her own school pride spurred alumna Tomiko “Koco” Conner to reorganize the MPI school yearbooks and academic records for easy access. Archival records going back as far as 1904 had never found a permanent home while Mid-Pacific campus was growing. Now they are housed in a climate-controlled area, and two days a week, Dottie and alumna volunteer Bobbi Sakamoto manage the collection and fulfill requests for information from the families of graduates. Historical requests come from family members looking for pictures of their parents or ancestors — what activities they enjoyed in high school or who their friends were. “Sometimes it is alumni I knew. Mid-Pacific grads are close.
“While helping others, I discovered that my grandfather’s sister, Reba Hanamaika‘i, from Maui, attended school here in 1904 and 1905 when this campus was Kawaiha‘o Seminary for girls,” says Dottie. Mid-Pacific Institute was founded officially in 1908 when Mills Institute for boys, located in downtown Honolulu, moved to Mānoa. From that time, this small college preparatory boarding school slowly grew from less than 100 students to a current student body of more than 1,500. The boarding program was discontinued in 2003.
As we flipped through the yearbooks, Dottie showed us the roots of her school pride. One was the MPI headmaster who recruited Dottie in 1951, Joseph Bakken. He taught Dottie’s parents English at Maui High School, so her parents trusted his decision that Dottie was college material, and they sent her by boat to high school in Honolulu.
Mid-Pacific Institute was structured to protect and support every student and assure his or her success. An upperclassman “brother” or “sister” helped them get accustomed to dormitory life and the scholastic rigor of a college preparatory curriculum. Dorothy remembers that the dormitory had a live-in nurse, two “dorm mothers” to supervise activities and two senior class “Senators,” who acted as counselors, tutors and representatives of the student government. Teachers lived in cottages next to the dormitories and were available 24/7 in emergencies. The entire school staff encouraged students to become one close family and assist one another.
“One time I was walking to the dining hall, and Mr. Bakken caught up alongside me and asked how I was doing. I told him that I was homesick. He didn’t say anything more to me, but that evening, my aunty from Honolulu showed up at my door because Mr. Bakken had called and asked her to come and see me. The school was that caring for my classmates, and me,” says Dottie.
The MPI mandatory 2.5-hour study hall every evening helped students make the grade; even after study hall, when the lights went out, they continued their studies with flashlights under their blankets. Hard work was a given; everyone was college-bound. Students were only allowed off campus on Saturday and Sunday and were responsible for keeping their dorm rooms clean at all times. If they failed room inspection, they were assigned “penalty work” chores. The discipline of dorm life paid off in later life too.
Today, Dottie is proud to be helping alumni and supporting students. She attends as many “Owls” games as she can, and delights at greeting returning graduates. “We are all one ‘ohana,” says Dottie — with always a fond memory.
Galen Narimatsu, MPI Alumni Association Board Member and Past President, Class of ’55
Galen Narimatsu
Galen Narimatsu also remembers being interviewed by Mr. Bakken. He is Dottie’s cousin, and grew up in Hale‘iwa and Honolulu. The sugar and pineapple plantations were still the main employers in Hawai‘i. After graduating from the ROTC program at Mid-Pacific in 1955, he studied Public Administration at University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and worked at Mid-Pacific as a dormitory supervisor. His pay was room and board. He also worked at the university bookstore. After graduating from UH, he began his career as an officer in the United States Army and did two tours in Vietnam. After Galen retired from the military, he started volunteering with the Mid-Pacific Institute Alumni Association, became a board member, and has served five terms as its president. Galen served on the MPI Board of Counselors and, in 2015, won the prestigious Volunteer in Philanthropy Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Aloha Chapter.
Galen remembers being interviewed by Joe Bakken in 1951. “He used to travel around to all the public schools in Hawai‘i interviewing and recruiting good students. I didn’t know who this man was and he was asking touchy-feely questions like ‘What kind of a person are you?’ I must have done OK because he asked my parents to enroll me. My dad was a schoolteacher and had a side business selling silverware to Japanese families in the camps. He especially wanted me to further my education so that I would have opportunities beyond the plantations,” says Galen.
“When I got to Mid-Pacific, I was happy to find that some of my Waialua classmates had been selected too,” says Galen. He was able to room with two of them — another way the school helped freshmen transition to boarding school life. It was a big change from home, where kids were free to swim, fish and play after chores were done. At Mid-Pacific, everything was regimented. Galen says the discipline and restrictions provided structure and a level playing field that helped him succeed.
All Mid-Pacific alums agree that scholastics were at a higher level than the public schools they left. They also regard mandatory study hall as necessary for their academic achievements. Academic discipline is a cornerstone of their attachment to Mid-Pacific and a reason they want to help today’s students be successful. They know how Mid-Pacific prepared them for the real world challenges they faced after graduation. “We learned
academics, teamwork, citizenship and leadership — which helped us succeed in all our endeavors,” says Galen. “And the friendships we made here have lasted the tests of fickle fortune.”
Galen is a great fan of MPI Baseball, and you will often see him in the stands. He was on the baseball team, under Coach Harry Kitamura, but didn’t get to play center field much, “because we had such great players in my time — still do.” Galen also ran the quarter mile for MPI Track Team. School athletics were a source of fun and teamwork. But Galen’s favorite subject was History.
“In my senior year,” says Galen, “I was a Senator. We were strict and it was for the good of the students. We looked out for the younger students and maintained discipline, but we also hooked them up with a tutor when they needed academic help. I saw the military as a good career option. Because of the draft system in the 1950s, every family had someone who served in the military. Dorm life at MPI prepared me for military training too. Serving my country was my way of giving back. It worries me today that the younger generations don’t think about what they are going to give back and young men don’t even consider serving their country.”
The MPI Alumni Association offers graduates many ways to support the school, express their gratitude and demonstrate school pride. “We support community events throughout the year. Tuition only pays for about 80 percent of what it costs the school to educate a student for one year. We try to bridge that gap by raising funds with the annual Chicken Sale and a golf tournament. Graduates love getting together, and all the events are times to share and catch up.
“Every July we hold our annual reunion, called ‘The Pā‘ina,’ and help out at the Ho‘olaule‘a Festival and Graduation. We award grants for student projects, and organize our MPI class reunion, which alternates between California and Las Vegas every other year. Every event, from ball games to fancy affairs makes us proud to be helping the students, the same way we were helped years ago. I guess the best thing about school pride is that it brings all the alumni together. Regardless of how old or young we are, we all share the Mid-Pacific experience and take pride in the successes we achieved with the gifts our teachers, alumni and classmates gave us.”
Generations encourages our readers to reach out to your schools and volunteer or find a program to donate to. Put your school pride to work and help prepare today’s students for success.
Generations Magazine celebrates “school pride” with the stories of two retirees who volunteer their time to support their school and its alumni family. If you grew up in Hawai‘i, you probably graduated with some of the same students that you first knew in elementary school.
Twenty-nine years ago, Honolulu resident Joan Davis decided to reclaim her health. “I was having some health problems,” she says. “It was time to make a change.”
So, the then-49-year-old bought a pair of athletic shoes and joined the “Saturday Amblers,” a walking group that met at Kapiolani Park every Saturday morning. A few weeks later, a member of Faerber’s Flyers, a women’s running group, nudged her into signing up for a 5K “fun run” at the park. With no running experience to speak of, Davis was initially hesitant, but decided to give it a try. To her astonishment, 3.1 miles later, she had won a medal in her age division. “My love of running blossomed from there,” she recalls.
Not long after her triumphant 5K debut, she laced up her running shoes once again and finished a 15K race at Hickam Air Force Base. “I told myself: ‘If I can do a 15K… well, I guess I could do a marathon, too,’” she laughs. She started a training regimen, and in December of 1990, ran the Honolulu Marathon at the age of 50. That’s when Davis says she realized how far she’d come — literally — in her health and fitness journey.
And looking back on it now, it was really just the beginning.
Joan Davis feeling good at the National Senior Games in California.
Davis went on to cross the Honolulu Marathon finish line eight more times, and if that weren’t impressive enough, she also completed dozens of 5Ks, 10Ks, and a handful of half-marathons — in Hawai‘i, on the mainland, and as far away as Australia, Indonesia, and China.
In 1995, her life took yet another unexpected turn when a friend asked her to join the Hawaii Masters Track Club. As the track and field club’s first female member, she added the javelin throw, discus, shot put, and hammer throw to her expanding athletic repertoire. “If you told me 30 years ago that I’d be a hammer thrower, I wouldn’t have believed you,” she laughs.
In 2001, Davis learned she’d qualified for the National Senior Games, a multi-sport, biennial competition for men and women ages 50 and over. Since then, she’s competed in seven National Senior Games and has racked up her fair share of medals, ribbons, and trophies; she’s also earned All-American status. In 2015, she placed 14th in the javelin throw, 16th in the discus, and 17th in the shot put in the women’s 75 – 79 age division. And Davis isn’t stopping there: She has her sights set on competing internationally, too.
For Davis, athletics is far more than a recreational pastime — it’s a passion. So much, in fact, that she readily accepted a friend’s invitation to attend a luncheon at the Honolulu Quarterback Club (HQC) 15 years ago, and five years later, joined HQC’s board of directors as its secretary. Since then, she’s added a few other titles to her expanding résumé: Hawaii Masters Track Club secretary, president of Faerber’s Flyers, state representative for the Road Runners Club of America, and first vice president in charge of race operations for the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club.
Apart from the physiological benefits of exercising regularly, Davis, now 77, says there’s a social component that makes it twice as fulfilling.
And she will be the first to tell you that embracing an active lifestyle can be a true game-changer. “I encourage everyone to try it,” she says. “It’s never too late to start.”
HONOLULU QUARTERBACK CLUB
Maple Garden, 909 Isenberg St., Honolulu HI 808-220-6454 | HermanHStern@msn.com
Meeting: Every Monday, 11:30 am – 1 pm
It all started with a new pair of shoes. Twenty-nine years ago, Honolulu resident Joan Davis decided to reclaim her health. “I was having some health problems,” she says. “It was time to make a change.” So, the then-49-year-old bought a pair of athletic shoes and joined the “Saturday Amblers,” a walking group that met…
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