Category: Living Life

Solar Savvy: Tips from the Industry Pros
Look around. Gleaming new solar panels are going up on roofs all over Hawai‘i. It’s no wonder — with our exorbitant electricity rates, year-round sun and substantial tax credits, installing a PV system in Hawai‘i makes so much sense, especially if you’re on a fixed income. Homeowners who educate themselves before investing will enjoy reliable energy savings for generations to come.

Here are four tips from the pros:

Be aware of sales gimmicks like cash rebates or free trips. Because of the tax credits involved, the government frowns upon these kinds of incentives. Avoid being vulnerable to an audit.

Insist on a reputable solar panel manufacturer. There are literally dozens of new brands jumping on the PV bandwagon. You are making an investment that should last decades. Will the company be around to honor its warranty?

Ask if the provider employs its installers. Many providers use sub-contractors to handle the all-important installation aspects. If something goes wrong two years down the road, you don’t want your provider passing the buck.

Be sure to hire a full-service, licensed solar company. Look for the state’s C-60 Solar Power Systems Contractor license. This ensures your provider has passed rigorous testing and has the necessary experience with solar, roof work, hookups and permitting to do a top-notch job.

Alternate Energy
803 Ahua St., Honolulu, HI 96819
808-842-5853 | www.AlternateEnergyHawaii.com
Look around. Gleaming new solar panels are going up on roofs all over Hawai‘i. It’s no wonder — with our exorbitant electricity rates, year-round sun and substantial tax credits, installing a PV system in Hawai‘i makes so much sense, especially if you’re on a fixed income. Homeowners who educate themselves before investing will enjoy reliable…
UH Press Presents: IF IT SWINGS, IT’S MUSIC: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF HAWAI’I’S GABE BALTAZAR, JR.

Hawai‘i’s legendary jazz musician Gabe Baltazar, Jr. has thrilled audiences since the late 1940s with his powerful and passionate playing. In his memoir, If It Swings, It’s Music, Gabe takes readers along the long road to becoming one of the very few Asian Americans who has achieved worldwide acclaim as a jazz artist.

Born in Hilo and raised in Kalihi-Palama, Gabe (Gabriel Ruiz Hiroshi Baltazar Jr.) was encouraged by his father, an accomplished musician, to take up the clarinet and saxophone. As a teenager during World War II, Gabe performed with the Royal Hawaiian Band but spent his weekends playing in swing bands. After establishing himself in the West Coast jazz scene, in 1960 he rose to prominence as lead alto saxophonist of the famed Stan Kenton Orchestra. The group recorded more than a dozen albums and won two Grammy Awards.

From 1964 to 1969, Gabe recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody, Oliver Nelson. He was also a regular in the Los Angeles recording studios, and he filmed with Pat Boone, Phyllis Diller and Glen Campbell. In 1969, Gabe returned to Hawai‘i to work as assistant director for the City and County of Honolulu’s Royal Hawaiian Band, a post he held until 1985. He brought jazz to the public schools and went on to become Hawai‘i’s premier jazz artists. Now 84, he mainly performs informal gigs with friends and family.

Gabe’s memorable encounters with the greatest names in jazz is fond record of days past. (University of Hawai‘i Press, paperback, $24.99)

Hawai‘i’s legendary jazz musician Gabe Baltazar, Jr. has thrilled audiences since the late 1940s with his powerful and passionate playing. In his memoir, If It Swings, It’s Music, Gabe takes readers along the long road to becoming one of the very few Asian Americans who has achieved worldwide acclaim as a jazz artist. Born in…
Downsize & Declutter the Easy Way
Most of us who have lived in the same home for decades have collected a good amount of personal treasures. And before you know it, you’re shocked by all the things you own. Some people may call these things clutter or trash, but to the owner these things could be a lifetime of memories. The difficulty comes when we have to think about downsizing or decluttering because it’s a safety concern (trip hazard), or we need more open space for a walker or wheelchair or move to a smaller home. Many say that they have “so much stuff” that it’s “just overwhelming.” Sometimes people even become trapped by their own personal belongings and can’t seem to break the “cycle.”

Over the past three years, Senior Move Managers has helped more than 300 clients downsize and declutter their homes.

The most frequently asked questions include:

Where do I start?

How do I get rid of all my things?

I really hate to throw everything away, where should all my things go?

Are there places that I can donate or sell my valuable items?

I may need it later, so should I store it or do something else with it?

If you’re like most people, starting the process can be the most challenging step. However, once the ball starts rolling, people can see the progress and experience what success actually feels like. Sorting through belongings (and emotions) becomes easier, and the feeling of accomplishment changes attitudes toward the clutter. This is a sign that the homeowner is on his/her way to some significant changes in life.

Here are some decluttering tips:

Schedule a time to start and set mini goals so that you can see progress over time.

S.O.R.T. your things into four categories: Sell, Offer, Retain and Toss. Everything in your home can fit into one of these four “piles.”

Begin with high-traffic areas to increase safety, since safety is the first concern.

Limit the number of new items coming into your residence. Even if an item is on sale, hold off on buying it and bringing it into your home. It will come on sale again when you really need it.

When you SORT through your items, ask yourself the following questions:

Do I really need it?

When was the last time I used it?

When will I use it again?

How often do I use it?

These questions will help you think about each item and figure out which SORT pile it belongs in. They will also help you detach from your belongings.

There are many small steps that lead to success. The most important step is to ask for help. Going through belongs is a big job — emotionally and physically. Items can be large, heavy and dangerous. When you decide to downsize or declutter, make sure you have some helping hands.

For information, call Dan Ihara, Senior Move Managers
808-256-7873 | www.smmhawaii.com

Before

After
Most of us who have lived in the same home for decades have collected a good amount of personal treasures. And before you know it, you’re shocked by all the things you own. Some people may call these things clutter or trash, but to the owner these things could be a lifetime of memories. The…
Creating Ageless Kitchens

As we grow older, the need to renovate our home to meet evolving needs grows … but so can the headache from all of the labor involved.

Your home should represent who you are and your lifestyle. It should be a space that has great energy and is a source of pride. And, sometimes simple, strategic changes can make your house a home for life. Enhancing your home, especially the most frequently used room — the kitchen — doesn’t have to involve major work to make a major difference.

As we age, everything around us seems to get taller, heavier and out of reach. Some seniors seem to “shrink” and probably have the most problems in the kitchen where they aren’t able to reach high shelves. Sore joints can prevent them from stooping down and pulling things out from low drawers. A quick and effective fix to these types of physical limitations could include installing cabinet systems that allow kupuna to pull down and push up cabinets. Even small changes such as installing single-level flooring and layered lighting can make a world of difference. And with convenience and safety in mind, the placement of appliances should always be reviewed. For example, simply lowering a microwave oven to a reachable surface can prevent spills and burns.

Besides being the place to prepare meals, the kitchen is often the place where friends and family congregate. As such, it can benefit the most from a design update from which people of all ages can benefit and appreciate.

Ventus Design
www.ventusdesignhonolulu.com
808-396-5477 | rlewis@ventusdesignhnl.com

As we grow older, the need to renovate our home to meet evolving needs grows … but so can the headache from all of the labor involved. Your home should represent who you are and your lifestyle. It should be a space that has great energy and is a source of pride. And, sometimes simple,…
For Once in My Life!

If you are a Tony Bennett fan, there are few things better in middle age than listening to a medley of his hits, which has to include “I Left My Heart in San Francisco!”

He recently performed at the Neal Blaisdell concert hall and his performance was spectacular. At the young age of 87, he belted out the first song he recorded in 1932, and next Charlie Chaplin’s, “Smile.” He followed with a medley of his favorite hits that caused the crowd to clap and cheer and ended with a 10-minute standing ovation.

Bennett performed for about 90 minutes. A duet with his daughter was a real crowd pleaser. He danced and twirled, didn’t miss a note, word or beat. He talked a bit about an upcoming new album with Lady Gaga and told the crowd to please go out and buy it because he needs the money. He laughed and blew kisses to crowd and told his adoring fans how much he loved them.

As he sang a favorite, “For Once In My Life,” I changed the lyrics to match my Medicare-centric mindset.

This is the tune I was hearing;

For once in my life, I have Medicare Advantage,

Something I’ve needed so long,

For once unafraid, I can go where life leads me

And I know my Medicare plan will keep me strong.

For once I can say this is my Medicare, you can’t take it.

As long as I keep up my Part B payments, I can make it.

For once in my life,

I have everything in the world that I need.

___________________________

Martha Khlopin hosts the popular weekly radio program “Medicare Moment with Martha — The World of Medicare” sponsored by AlohaCare. It airs on KHNR-690AM on Saturdays from 11–11:30 a.m. and on KGU-99.5FM on Sundays from 10–10:30 a.m. For info, call (808) 973-0754, mkhlopin@alohacare.org.

If you are a Tony Bennett fan, there are few things better in middle age than listening to a medley of his hits, which has to include “I Left My Heart in San Francisco!” He recently performed at the Neal Blaisdell concert hall and his performance was spectacular. At the young age of 87, he…
You’re the Caregiver, but Who Will Take Care of You?

The pool of family and friends to care for Hawai‘i baby boomers as they age into their 80s will be less than half as deep as it is today, according to a new report from AARP. The report predicts the ratio of potential family caregivers to elders needing care will plummet from today’s six caregivers for each person over the age of 80 to fewer than three caregivers per elderly person in 2030.

The Aging of the Baby Boom and the Growing Care Gap from the AARP Public Policy Institute also anticipates that the dearth of family caregivers projected for 2030 to 2050 will intensify the emotional, physical and financial costs borne by future caregiving family members and friends.

“About half of older Hawai‘i residents believe they will be able to rely on their families to meet their needs when they need long-term care,” says AARP Hawaii State President Gerry Silva. “But this confidence is likely to erode when it collides with the dramatically shrinking availability of family caregivers in the future.”

As the number of Hawai‘I residents over the age of 80 increases in the next 20 years, the number of people in the primary caregiving years will remain flat, the report states. Meanwhile, in 2050, there will be nearly three times as many people age 80 and older in Hawai‘i as there are today. As a result, by 2050, the caregiver support ratio which was 6.1 in 2010 when boomers were in their peak caregiving years, is projected to drop to 2.1 percent when the boomers will have reached their 80s. According to the report, in just 13 years, as the baby boomers age into their 80s, the decline in caregiver support will shift from a slow decline to a free fall.

The new caregiver report calculates the availability of caregivers by dividing the number of people in the most common caregiving age range (those ages 45-64) by the number of older people most at risk of needing long-term services and\ supports (those ages 80+). The former group reflects the demographics of today’s average caregivers, the latter is the population likely to have some kind of disability and need help with daily activities.

The complete report, The Aging of the Baby Boom and the Growing Care Gap: A Look at Future Declines in the Availability of Family Caregivers, can be found at www.tinyurl.com/aarp-caregiving.

AARP is a membership organization for people age 50 and older with 148,000 members in Hawai‘i. We champion access to affordable, quality health care for all generations, provide the tools needed to save for retirement, and serve as a reliable information source on issues critical to older Americans.

Contact AARP Hawai’i for more information.
State Office: 808-545-6024
Toll-Free: 866-295-7282
aarp.org/hi
facebook.com/AARPHawaii
twitter.com/AARPHawaii

The pool of family and friends to care for Hawai‘i baby boomers as they age into their 80s will be less than half as deep as it is today, according to a new report from AARP. The report predicts the ratio of potential family caregivers to elders needing care will plummet from today’s six caregivers…
My Take on Things: Find Your Local Senior Club

Moanalua Senior Citizens’ Club, board members and advisor. Lt.– Rt.: Roy Takara, Jane Uehara, Betsy Miyahira, Alice Toyota, June Minakami, Jeannette Nishikawa, Jenna Mow (Advisor), Daniel Levay, Sherry Goya (Generations Magazine), and Herbert Chang.

Like many of the City & County’s Parks and Recreation senior programs, the Moanalua Senior Citizens’ Club did not meet in June, July and August while the City’s Summer Fun programs took over their locations. When I delivered Generations Magazine’s August/September issue on Monday, September 9th, I heard one of the seniors say that it was just like the “first day back to school.”

The Moanalua Senior Citizens’ Club was organized on February 2, 1981 with 16 members. Today, the club is 154 strong, has an active board, meets every Monday at the Moanalua Recreation Center, from 9 a.m. to Noon, and has two bowling leagues. Its board members and committee chairs are quite organized and impressive, with reports, speakers, entertainment or excursions scheduled each Monday. The club also has fundraisers throughout the year.

The City & County of Honolulu has more than 35 senior clubs, representing about 3,500 participants in East, West, Leeward and Windward 55 years and older. For more information, call (808) 763-3003 or visit www.honolulu.gov/parks/programs/senior.

Like many of the City & County’s Parks and Recreation senior programs, the Moanalua Senior Citizens’ Club did not meet in June, July and August while the City’s Summer Fun programs took over their locations. When I delivered Generations Magazine’s August/September issue on Monday, September 9th, I heard one of the seniors say that it…
Following Your Passion is Worth the Risk

As an entertainer, I have always had a great love for the arts and my professional life reflects that as well. But painting was the farthest thought in my head. I did, however, secretly admire painters from afar. I would study their paintings and read their back stories. I would feel a strong sense of connection when I read about how they lived their lives and their philosophies and dreams.

So that familiar feeling, that tug at my gut came around again and hit me real hard on Tuesday Sept. 11, 2001 (9/11). I had felt it before but never really confronted it or allowed it to well up in my soul, as it did that day.

We often think to ourselves, Oh yeah, I’ll investigate that emotion and see what comes of it, but for now I’m just too busy to do anything about it. So, I put it off yet another time. Those burning embers deep in my na‘au, trying to surface once again, were pushed down and lay dormant.

We are funny us human beings. We are always looking for a sign it seems … something that will tell us what to do with our lives. Pursuing our own dreams means we have to alter our present course, walk the path less traveled and risk failure and embarrassment.

I believe that signs are being showed to us all the time! Some are laid out in front of us and yet we still don’t see them. These extraordinary higher vibrations that we all have felt in our lifetimes wait for us to acknowledge their splitsecond appearance in our lives.

I’m talking about passion!

And so, in your life, if that passion came knocking at your door today, what would you do? Well, I can tell you what I did. I finally answered the door.

I can tell you that all the fears that accompanied the passion were realized. It was hard making that abrupt turn. Oh, but the gifts it brings, the feeling of soaring high above the Ko‘olau. A freedom and separation from a physical reality that turns into spirituality! Now it is a higher reality, now it is the divine. Faith, hope, love and passion!

Finally, I said to myself, I’m going to paint today. I’m going to listen to that nudge, that rumbling in my gut and see how far I can take it.

From that moment forward, my life would change in a very profound way.

Since September 11, 2001, I have painted every day.

This is what I would like to impart to you … a little bit of my mana‘o: You, too, can seize the moment! Make the move to pursue that secret you’ve been pushing down and hiding for so long. The time is now … grip your shauts! I guess what I am saying here is, It’s never too late to find that passion!

Join in a conversation with Frank B. Shaner on Facebook and experience his art onlin at .

As an entertainer, I have always had a great love for the arts and my professional life reflects that as well. But painting was the farthest thought in my head. I did, however, secretly admire painters from afar. I would study their paintings and read their back stories. I would feel a strong sense of…
Demanding Good Government

Forty years ago, the Watergate scandal outraged Americans and diminished the public’s trust in government. Demonstrations were held nationwide demanding that a more honest, open government be held accountable to the public, thussparring the good government movement.

“Good government” is used to describe the ideal corruption-free government that is transparent, responsive to the public rather than private interests, robust with citizen participation, and where public officials are held accountable for their actions.

Common Cause Hawaii has been a leading ‘good government’ voice advocating for improved process-related measures that affect our democracy. For the last 40, it has advocated for campaign finance reform, voting modernization, and stronger transparency and ethics in the Legislature. It considers process-related issues and improvements as universal issues that impact all of our social and economic policies.

Today, one good government issue provokes the public with as much force as Watergate did: the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Citizens United, which opened the floodgates of special interest money from corporations, unions and wealthy individuals into “Super PACs” (political action committees that do not coordinate their efforts with candidates) seeking to influence our elections.

As a result of Citizens United, Mainland corporate spending on national campaigns ran into the billions in 2012. Locally, the 2012 elections data reflected that 16 Super PACs spent $4,801,069.06 on Hawai’i campaigns. The 315 Hawai’i candidates who ran for State and County offices spent $13,404,231.01. The 16 Super PACs managed to spend 26 percent of the entire pool of money spent on Hawai’i elections. According to the Campaign Spending Commission, Hawai’i also attracted a significant amount of “outside” money from Mainland donors: 24 of the 61 registered non-candidate committees received 100 percent of their funding from outside sources.

Citizens United reminded Americans how fragile our democracy is, and the strides we must take to strengthen it.

Communities across the country are advancing resolutions through their city councils and state legislatures that declare support for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, challenge corporate power, and eliminate unlimited campaign spending.

As part of our effort to limit special interest money’s influence in politics, in 2012, Common Cause Hawaii introduced two state legislative resolutions (HCR 5 and HR 5) and one Honolulu County resolution (Resolution 12-207), all of which passed. In the 2013 legislative session, Common Cause Hawaii successfully advocated for HB1147 (now Act 112), which would require Super PACs to list their top three donors in political ads.

Our work extends beyond legislative activities. We are currently coaching high school students on key good government issues: money in politics, transparency and ethics. Additionally, we are planning a series of workshops to involve mobileapplication (apps) developers in creating apps to share Campaign Spending data in attractive and convenient ways.

With the prevalence of social media, a new wave of citizens are in tune with how special interest money influences public policy, and can quickly raise awareness to questionable issues and actions. Through our advocacy and outreach, we develop new activist leaders and equip them to make informed decisions and participate meaningfully in the law-making and electoral process.

Together, we can present a unified voice demanding higher standards for government ethics and transparency, and firmly say: money has no place in politics.

Forty years ago, the Watergate scandal outraged Americans and diminished the public’s trust in government. Demonstrations were held nationwide demanding that a more honest, open government be held accountable to the public, thussparring the good government movement. “Good government” is used to describe the ideal corruption-free government that is transparent, responsive to the public rather…
Don’t Miss a Beat with Online News

A couple years ago, University of Hawai‘i journalism professor Bev Keever had her students undertake a very basic reporting exercise: request misconduct reports filed with the Legislature by Hawai‘i’s four county police agencies.

It turned out to be anything but simple. But Keever, a former Vietnam War correspondent, finally obtained what turned out to be vague summaries, sorely lacking in detail, and only for the Honolulu Police Department dating back to 2000.

By the time Keever got the records, her class of blossoming reporters was long gone. So she brought the three-inch stack of photocopies to Honolulu Civil Beat, a relatively new arrival on the media scene here.

Keever’s groundwork became a five-part investigative series in Civil Beat. “In the Name of the Law” explored the public policy decisions that have kept police disciplinary records off limits to the public in Hawai‘i since the mid-1990s, when an earlier crop of UH journalism students fought — and won — a Supreme Court victory opening misconduct files. Their victory was short-lived; the police union convinced political allies in the Legislature to exempt police records from disclosure.

I’ll let you read all about the politically charged situation that spanned three governors and many legislative sessions. You can find it at www.civilbeat.com under Special Reports.

But the project that took more than six months to pull together illustrates just who we are. Started by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his business partner, Randy Ching, in May 2010, Civil Beat is the only independent news organization in Hawai‘i dedicated to public affairs journalism. We don’t cover sports, entertainment or lifestyle features unless they involve some aspect of public policy. Taxpayer money is always a big issue for us, as is raising questions of possible wrongdoing or lack or government transparency.

We’ve provided in-depth coverage of controversial issues, from the Honolulu rail project to the debate over genetically engineered crops. Earlier this year, another multi-part special report examined the history of the Ala Wai Canal, its flawed design and environmental problems — and its murky future.

We believe a vibrant news organization is vital to democracy and we can make a difference in the lives of people and public policy through solid, smart, watchdog journalism. In fact, legislators and other elected officials circulate our stories and quote from our coverage.

One of our main goals is to foster civil discussions through our website, a virtual “civic square” where people can gather to understand, debate and discover the issues. We welcome community voices and invite you join us online.

And we’ve won a slew of journalism awards for our work, including being named the Best News Site in Hawai’i for three years in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists.

In September, we teamed up with The Huffington Post to launch HuffPost Hawaii, which brings news to Hawai’i while sharing our local issues with a global community. Visit us at www.huffingtonpost.com/Hawaii or email hawaiiblogs@huffingtonpost.com.

A couple years ago, University of Hawai‘i journalism professor Bev Keever had her students undertake a very basic reporting exercise: request misconduct reports filed with the Legislature by Hawai‘i’s four county police agencies. It turned out to be anything but simple. But Keever, a former Vietnam War correspondent, finally obtained what turned out to be…
What’s So Good About Growing Older?

Dr. Lucy Miller and William Neil Rapozo, Sr. of Kauai County

John McGuire and Betty Chieko Goya of Honolulu County

As part of Older Americans Month in May, the Hawai’I State Executive Office on Aging and the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs joined the Area Agencies on Aging and Gov. Abercrombie in recognizing eight outstanding senior citizen volunteers from each of the four counties. The 2013 honorees are: Dr. Lucy Miller and William Neil Rapozo, Sr. Of Kauai County; Betty Chieko Goya and John McGuire of Honolulu County; and Diane Logsdon and Richard Endsley of Maui County; Shirley Ito and Peter Hoffmann of Hawai’i County. These outstanding kupuna represent the thousands of seniors who contribute to the wellness and quality of life of their communities.

Every year, eight kupuna — one male and one female from each county — are selected as Older American volunteer honorees for the exemplary work they do to aid and support their individual communities. Each of the honorees personifies the contributions Older Americans continue to make well into retirement as productive, active, and influential members of society. This year the honorees were recognized by the Governor in Older American Month events in each county.

“We celebrate Older Americans Month each year to recognize the vitality of older adults and their outstanding contributions to our communities,” Gov. Abercrombie said. “Each of the 2013 Older Americans Month Award honorees from across our state embodies this year’s national Older Americans Month theme, ‘Unleash the Power of Age!’ Kupuna are taking on new roles in retirement. The people of Hawai’i appreciate and thank them for their continuing service.”

Richard Endsley and Diane Logsdon of Maui County

Peter Hoffmann and Shirley Ito of Hawai’i County

As part of Older Americans Month in May, the Hawai’I State Executive Office on Aging and the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs joined the Area Agencies on Aging and Gov. Abercrombie in recognizing eight outstanding senior citizen volunteers from each of the four counties. The 2013 honorees are: Dr. Lucy Miller and William Neil…
My Take on Things: What’s All the Racket?

Two and a half hours, and three sets later, a group of “50 plus” women enjoy beautiful weather at Wentworth Tennis Courts in Pearl Harbor. The youngest is 52 and the oldest will turn 80 in August. All appreciate a challenging game of tennis as you can hear laughter, applause, “good shot” and “great get” from two courts of women’s doubles. Some of us have had meniscus, knee and shoulder surgery, but that doesn’t stop us from playing our hearts out.

These “young-at-heart” women play two or three times a week. They start their first set by drawing playing cards and the two matching cards are partners. Luckily, I drew the same card as my sister, a “junior” player at age 56 and a retired teacher. More sets are played as ladies change partners and opponents.

Lee Bassett, the “senior” player learned to play tennis in 8th grade in New York; and after raising her children, got back into it at age 35. She says, “I’ve got the old-ladies shot down!”— just after she hit a lovely drop shot winner. Luckily she was my partner!

All these women have played in leagues and loved the sport for countless years. No one goes out to break a record…or themselves. There are never losers…only winners and runner-ups having a fun time together. And that’s the point: fun.

So nowadays, no matter how old you are or what your body feels like, that shouldn’t stop you from doing what you love. You just simply need to adjust and do it…for fun!

R2: Connie, Sharon, Helen and Lee, R1: Sherry, Ellen, Cathy and

Two and a half hours, and three sets later, a group of “50 plus” women enjoy beautiful weather at Wentworth Tennis Courts in Pearl Harbor. The youngest is 52 and the oldest will turn 80 in August. All appreciate a challenging game of tennis as you can hear laughter, applause, “good shot” and “great get”…