A huge rainbow of teams took to the field: Kona Gold tested their mettle and prevailed in the A Division
The 40th Hawaii State Senior Softball Tournament drew 67 teams to compete at Kailua-Kona on Aug. 4–6. This year, eight divisions vied for victory on Kona Makaeo ball fields at Old A’s Airport Park. Maui fielded 13 teams, while O‘ahu gathered 17. Hawai’i Island turned out a big 25 teams, and 12 more teams flew in from Kaua’i. When all the players huddled together for the Pledge of Allegiance, their vibrant colored team shirts created a solid rainbow — a sign of the great games ahead and a unified spirit. The heat rose, as pitchers and fielders stared down batters prepared to take the bases. By tournament end, brown dirt masked tennis shoes and sticky shins. It did not matter which team came in first, second, or third. Hats off, there were happy smiles all around.
Solid competition in the A Division decided three winners: Kona Gold slid to first place, the Honomu Rockets landed second, and Kona Legends placed third. League Director Randell Kokubun honored the two longest standing teams to play in this competition: The Pomaika’i Seniors from Hilo and the Kohala Seniors.
One might assume that senior softball is an allmale game, but a number of women swung the bat too! The day shined with a love for the game, a get-together of friends, and good sportsmanship. That’s really what it’s all about — playing hard and having fun!
For Honolulu residents, assisted living and retirement communities used to mean moving away to a quiet suburb. They yearned for a simple life, free from home maintenance, chores, cooking and cleaning, but not seclusion — miles from their church, social clubs, stores, restaurants and civic events.
The growing demand for assisted living options means that Honolulu companies like The Plaza Assisted Living will be “building more facilities in familiar neighborhoods,” says Colby Takeda, administrator of The Plaza at Waikiki. “Our seniors want to remain active in their community — to stay at the ‘urban core’ of the city they love.”
Generations Magazine asked me to share my thoughts about the first six months of my retirement. My feelings have definitely been surreal. I can expend all the time and energy I want to on hobbies and interests I rarely had time for over the past 42 years; more importantly I have time to spend with my grandson, family and friends. If there’s a downside to retirement, it’s the loss of contact with so many great people I encountered along life’s journey. It’s a good feeling when people call or write — they still have you in their thoughts. Keeping in contact with old friends creates a lot of comfort. I know I am very fortunate, having witnessed firsthand over my career, the plight of many of our island’s kupuna, who struggle just to survive.
Generations Magazine asked me to share my thoughts about the first six months of my retirement. My feelings have definitely been surreal. I can expend all the time and energy I want to on hobbies and interests I rarely had time for over the past 42 years; more importantly I have time to spend with my grandson, family and friends. If there’s a downside to retirement, it’s the loss of contact with so many great people I encountered along life’s journey. It’s a good feeling when people call or write — they still have you in their thoughts. Keeping in contact with old friends creates a lot of comfort. I know I am very fortunate, having witnessed firsthand over my career, the plight of many of our island’s kupuna, who struggle just to survive.
In midlife, documenting the lives of our ancestors and our own memories suddenly becomes important. Even if our kids aren’t interested — we know someday they will be.
Author Burns said, “I realized that it is time to pass on those lessons from his life to the next generation.” For Burns, an educator and principal of ‘Aina Haina Elementary School, the lessons are about leadership and consensus building, wrapped in detailed and well-
It is said that many people want to write a book, but few do. Keiko Higa did it, and rich memories about growing up in Hawai‘i will inspire you to get started on your own story — even if it’s only for your grandchildren.
of local places and times past, are Higa’s heartfelt concerns — social injustice of the Japanese internment era, low plantation wages and tracking by race when she was in school. Higa was educated at UH Manoa, Claremont School of Theology and UC Berkley, and was a city planner for the City of Las Vegas. Her stories are at once ethereal and mundane. She mixes the salt of her ideas on global oppression and colonization with the pepper of pidgin poetry, ethnic traditions and church potlucks. It is local, candid and engaging. Even if you do not agree with her views, you will understand exactly how she came to them — and respect her courage to put words into action, and follow her deep passion for justice and peace.