Category: Living Life

Book Review: 65 Things to Do When You Retire

When you think of retirement, you may dream of spending carefree days traveling with friends or loved ones. If you’re at that stage of life, 65 Things to Do When You Retire: Travel can help you steer toward a fulfilling and enjoyable retirement, whether you are looking for physical adventure, a spiritual journey, or to go sightseeing in far-flung places.

In this book, more than 65 writers and travel experts reveal their own personal adventures and offer practical advice about how retirees can have the time of their lives, whether traveling with a group, with a spouse or partner, or on their own. Their fun and informative essays describe glorious getaways, the best places for retirees to visit — and relocate — and how to plan for a “great escape” without breaking the bank.

The contributors cover such fascinating trends as:

• Taking a “golden gap year”— a new twist on the common practice of high school grads taking a year off to travel before college, only this time it’s the boomers who are taking a year to explore the world before settling into their retirement.

• Going “glamping”— This fusion of glamour and camping is for those travelers who love the outdoors but want to travel in comfort.

• Living nomadically — Lynne Martin caused a stir when The Wall Street Journal published her article about how she and her husband sold their home, put their valued possessions in storage, and set off to see the world as “senior gypsies.” Her account was immensely popular with WSJ’s readers, obviously touching a chord with many who dreamed of doing the very same thing.

65 Things To Do When You Retire: Travel is a 5.5” x 8.5”, 400-page, soft cover book, and retails for $16.95. It’s available in bookstores and at www.sellerspublishing.com. Or, call Sellers Publishing at 1-800-625-3386.

When you think of retirement, you may dream of spending carefree days traveling with friends or loved ones. If you’re at that stage of life, 65 Things to Do When You Retire: Travel can help you steer toward a fulfilling and enjoyable retirement, whether you are looking for physical adventure, a spiritual journey, or to…
Playing for the Fun of It!

Twenty-four years ago, Herbert Yasuhara, then Halawa Park Director, wanted to find an activity that his senior club members could participate in to keep active and exercise. He said, “You see, most of the seniors back then would come to the park and sit down and play games like Mah Jong and Hanafuda.”

It’s all smiles as teams compete in “Tunnel Vision” in the gym and John Macadangdang of Ko‘olau Senior Hui plays “Peg Ball.”

Keora Blakeley, Karen French, Sumiye Hirata, Grace Kimura and Betsy Miyahira

The Department of Parks and Recreation Annual Senior Classic Games (organized games created for seniors) was held on March 21, 2013 at Halawa District Park with a total of 87 teams entered in four different games. There were 261 participants, not including spectators, enjoying a beautiful spring day. Divisions for the games were: Senior Division (55-69 yrs.) and Master Division (70+ yrs.). The games consisted of Tunnel Vision, Peg Ball, Pin Ball and Nine Gates. The creator of the games, Herbert Yasuhara, retired 20 years ago from the Department of Parks and Recreation. Thanks to Yasuhara’s son, Randy, a Recreation Specialist the games continue on.

Sponsored by Generations Magazine, individual achievement certificates and medals for winners were presented to each division for outstanding performance. For more information and to join in the fun and laughter, contact Recreation Specialist, Garrett Iwai at 768-3030 or by email, giwai1@honolulu.gov.

Twenty-four years ago, Herbert Yasuhara, then Halawa Park Director, wanted to find an activity that his senior club members could participate in to keep active and exercise. He said, “You see, most of the seniors back then would come to the park and sit down and play games like Mah Jong and Hanafuda.” It’s all…
Sports Enthusiasts Club for All Ages

The Honolulu Quarterback Club, one of the nation’s oldest sports clubs, began in 1947 and is still going strong. At lunch time every Monday, you can hear little known and personal stories from past and present sports greats. “You won’t find these sports stories on the front page of the newspapers,” says one long-time regular attendee.

From the early days, the “Chop Suey” of speakers came to share their remarkable stories and accolades from their respective sport. Some from the good ole days were KGU Radio’s Chuck Leahey, reporter Bill Kwon, swimmer Keo Nakama, surfer George Downey, golfers Ted Makalena and Jackie Pung, baseball pioneer and UH famed coach Les Murakami and football greats squirmin Herman Wedemeyer and Rockne Freitas.

Ben Jay, UH Athletic Director and Linda Louie, Quarterback Club Secretary

Some of the recent guest speakers have included UH Athletic Director Ben Jay, UH coaches: Bob Coolen, Dave Shoji, Bob Trapasso, Charlie Wade and other sports guests like Kale Ane (Punahou AD and football coach), Merv Lopes from Chaminade, sports writer Dave Reardon, still active World Weightlifting champion Tommy Kono and Mary-knoll High School basketball coach Kelly Grant.

If you are an avid sports enthusiast, sports nut or just love UH sports, come on down to the Honolulu Quarterback Club for lunch that meets each Monday at Maple Garden on Isenberg St. (11:30 a.m. –1 p.m.). Enjoy a wonderful Chinese luncheon buffet at a reasonable $15. For more information on upcoming speakers, contact Club President Herman Stern at 220-6454 or email HermanHStern@msn.com.

The Honolulu Quarterback Club, one of the nation’s oldest sports clubs, began in 1947 and is still going strong. At lunch time every Monday, you can hear little known and personal stories from past and present sports greats. “You won’t find these sports stories on the front page of the newspapers,” says one long-time regular…
AARP: Entrepreneurship for People Age 50+

April is Encore Entrepreneur Mentor Month and AARP Hawaii, the Filipino Community Center and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are teaming up to help Hawai‘i residents age 50+ interested in starting their own small business or expanding an existing business.

Entrepreneur Mentor Day will be held at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu from 9 –11 a.m. The event features a panel of seasoned entrepreneurs and business experts who will share their experience and offer advice on such topics as writing a business plan, seeking start-up capital and finding helpful resources from the SBA and other organizations. To register, go to aarp.cvent.com/encoreentrepreneur or call toll-free 1-877-926-8300.

Many Hawai‘i residents are rethinking their retirement goals — either for financial reasons or to stay active and engaged in their senior years. Some are testing the entrepreneurial waters to follow through on a business idea they’re passionate about but never acted upon.

“Many new entrepreneurs are saving their best acts for their encore performance,” said AARP Hawai‘i State President Gerry Silva. “They’re using their decades of expertise and their connections to start new businesses and to finally pursue that venture that has been stirring their dreams for all these years. Encore Entrepreneur Mentor Day will link Hawai‘i entrepreneurs with experienced business owners who can help transform these dreams into a reality.”

New research has found that one in four Americans between the ages 44 and 70 are interested in starting their own business or nonprofit venture in the next five to 10 years. Nearly half of these aspiring entrepreneurs have reported a desire to start a business with a positive social impact.

Encore Entrepreneur Mentor Day is part of a larger national effort by SBA and AARP to counsel more than 100,000 entrepreneurs and small business owners over the age of 50. During the month of April, events will help connect encore entrepreneurs with mentors such as those from SBA’s network of Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and SCORE chapters who can help throughout the life of an entrepreneur’s business.

In addition, AARP has launched a dedicated webpage containing a wealth of advice for new and existing older entrepreneurs with links to a 50+ toolkit that includes free online courses targeted at helping encore entrepreneurs start or grow their business. For this and other resources available for entrepreneurs over the age of 50, visit www.aarp.org/startabusiness or call 1-888-OUR-AARP.

April is Encore Entrepreneur Mentor Month and AARP Hawaii, the Filipino Community Center and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are teaming up to help Hawai‘i residents age 50+ interested in starting their own small business or expanding an existing business. Entrepreneur Mentor Day will be held at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu from…
Shrimp Coleslaw with Southeast Asian Twist

Ingredients

1 head cabbage, shredded
1 head Chinese/Napa cabbage, shredded
2 carrots, grated
1 red onion, peeled, halved and sliced thin
1 cup fresh mint, roughly chopped
1 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
1 cup roasted peanuts, chopped
1 lb. salad shrimp

Dressing

1-1/2 cups unsweetened coconut milk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
Juice of 1 lime, or 3 tablespoons
3 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 cup green onion, sliced thin
salt and fresh ground black pepper

Prepare dressing by combining all dressing ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisking. Refrigerate for about an hour to thicken and let the flavors develop.

In a large bowl, toss all of the ingredients, except shrimp and nuts. Top the salad with shrimp. Add dressing, but a little at a time in order to not saturate your salad greens (depending on the size of your cabbages, the size of the salad will vary). Season with salt and fresh ground pepper then sprinkle the chopped peanuts on top.

Serves: 10-12

Time: 35 minutes active, about 1 hour total to allow for preparation of dressing.

Chef Michi founded ‘Cooking Fresh For You’. Her recipes center on healthy and flavor-packed dishes. Visit www.cookingfreshforyou.com or contact via cookingfreshforyou@gmail.com, 808-286-6484. Also, visit her Cooking FRESH locations: 909 Kapahulu Ave. | Queens POB I – 1329 Lusitana St. |
Queens POB II – 550 S. Beretania St. | Lunch Truck – UH Manoa on East West Rd. by Kennedy Theatre.

Ingredients 1 head cabbage, shredded 1 head Chinese/Napa cabbage, shredded 2 carrots, grated 1 red onion, peeled, halved and sliced thin 1 cup fresh mint, roughly chopped 1 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped 1 cup roasted peanuts, chopped 1 lb. salad shrimp Dressing 1-1/2 cups unsweetened coconut milk 1/2 cup mayonnaise Juice of 1 lime,…
Year of the Snake

Chinese Zodiac relates each Chinese calendar year to an animal based on a 12-year cycle. Those born in 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, and 2013 are Snake people. February 10, 2013 (solar calendar) is the Lunar Year 4711 celebration that welcomes the Year of the Snake, ending on January 30, 2014.

Chinatown is a key area for Chinese New Year festivities from the few weeks leading up to it through the few weeks following it. That is where local Chinese congregate year after year to shop for the necessary new year items for their home and to soak in the festive atmosphere.

One can expect to see the performance of the Chinese lion (not a dragon) at many of the new year celebrations. In Hawai‘i, the southern or Cantonese lion, mascot of the Chinese martial arts organizations, is performed by two people: one in the head and the other person in the tail. The lion is a costume made of paper-mache and cloth. Its body is approximately 6’ to 12’ in length.

People born in the year of the Snake, are deemed to have characteristics of being wise, charming, studious, aloof and reserved. Elegant and soft spoken, they enjoy recreational activities and good company. They are romantic and deep thinkers and are considered lucky with money and business ventures. Although refined, they can be very jealous. And at their own pace, they anxiously seek what they want.

www.hawaiiliondanceassociation.com
(808) 306-4584 | hlda808@gmail.com

Chinese Zodiac relates each Chinese calendar year to an animal based on a 12-year cycle. Those born in 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, and 2013 are Snake people. February 10, 2013 (solar calendar) is the Lunar Year 4711 celebration that welcomes the Year of the Snake, ending on January 30, 2014.…
Michi’s Waldorf Salad
Salad:

1 head romaine lettuce

1 bunch local watercress (3c chopped)

2 fuji apples/ripe pears

3/4c walnuts

4oz. crumbled feta or gorgonzola cheese

1/2c dried cranberries

Parmesan cheese (preferably block, not the prepared kind)

2T maple syrup (any pancake syrup works fine)

1T brown sugar

Pepper to taste

Pam/non-stick spray

Dressing:

1/4c balsamic vinegar

1/2c prepared Ranch dressing

To prepare “candied” walnuts, in a small bowl combine walnuts and maple syrup, toss in brown sugar to coat. Using a non-stick pan, spray with Pam and lightly toast walnuts over medium heat. Remove from heat and cool on a sheet
of waxed paper.

Combine two dressings and mix well, set aside. Hint: It’s important to toss your salad dressing into the salad just prior to serving to avoid soggy greens! Go light on the dressing, you can always add more.

Cut romaine into bite size pieces, chop watercress into 1” pieces and toss together in a large salad bowl. Slice apple/pear into bite size pieces (1/8” thick). Add feta/gorgonzola, candied walnuts and cranberries, then gently toss dressing into the salad. Season with fresh ground pepper and sprinkle generously with parmesan cheese (for an attractive presentation, use a vegetable peeler to scrape wide curls of parmesan and place on top of tossed salad).

Chef Michi founded ‘Cooking Fresh For You’. Her recipes center on healthy and flavor-packed dishes. Visit www.cookingfreshforyou.com or contact Michi at cookingfreshforyou@gmail.com or 808-286-6484. See her NEW concession take-out at Queen’s Physician’s Office Bldg.
Salad: 1 head romaine lettuce 1 bunch local watercress (3c chopped) 2 fuji apples/ripe pears 3/4c walnuts 4oz. crumbled feta or gorgonzola cheese 1/2c dried cranberries Parmesan cheese (preferably block, not the prepared kind) 2T maple syrup (any pancake syrup works fine) 1T brown sugar Pepper to taste Pam/non-stick spray Dressing: 1/4c balsamic vinegar 1/2c prepared Ranch…

UH Baseball & Softball Home Games

UH Baseball Home Games (2013)

UH Baseball Home Games played at LMBS

Date	Time	Opponent (@ LMBS)
Feb 9	1:00pm	Alumni Game
Feb 15-18	varies*	Oregon
Feb 22-25	varies*	Rice
Feb 28 – Mar 4	— on the road	@ LV* —
Mar 7-11	varies*	Gonzaga
Mar 20-24	varies*	Wichita State
Mar 28-31	varies*	UC Santa Barbara
Apr 5-14	— on the road	@ CA* —
Apr 19-21	varies*	CS Northridge
Apr 26-28	varies*	CS Fullerton
May 3-12	— on the road	@ CA* —
May 17-19	varies*	UC Davis
May 23-25	— on the road	@ CA* —
May 30 – Jun 2	tba*	NCAA Regional
Jun 7-9	tba*	NCAA Super Regional
Jun 14-24	tba*	College World Series (NE)

UH Softball Home Games (2013)

UH Softball Home Games played at RWSS

Date	Time	Opponent (@ RWSS)
Feb 27	6:00 pm	Memphis
Feb 14-17	— on the road*
Mar 1-3	n/a*	HI Invitational Tournament
Mar 7-10	n/a *	Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament
Mar 11	6:00 pm	Syracuse
Mar 12	6:00 pm	East Carolina
Mar 13-16	n/a*	HI Spring Fling Tournament
Mar 23-24	— on the road
Mar 29	6:00 pm	UC Davis
Mar 30	2:00 pm	UC Davis (DH)
Apr 5	6:00 pm	UC Riverside
Apr 6	2:00 pm	UC Riverside (DH)
Apr 13-20	— on the road
Apr 26	6:00 pm	Long Beach State
Apr 27	2:00 pm	Long Beach State (DH)
May 3	6:00 pm	UC Santa Barbara
May 4	2:00 pm	UC Santa Barbara (DH)
May 10-11	— on the road*
May 17-19	tba*	NCAA Regionals
May 24-25	tba*	NCAA Super Regionals
May 30 – Jun 5	tba*	NCAA Wmn College WS (OK)

*For schedule and ticket details, visit www.hawaiiathletics.com or call 808-944-2697

*For schedule and ticket details, visit www.hawaiiathletics.com or call 808-944-2697

Hawai’i Family Caregiver Coalition

What is the Hawai‘i Family Caregiver Coalition? How did they get started? Why are they here? Good questions!

The Hawai‘i Family Caregiver Coalition, or HFCC, is a group of organizations, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private businesses concerned with the needs of unpaid family caregivers. Friends and neighbors are often caregivers, in addition to family members. Most people don’t realize that on any given day in Hawai‘i, about 169,000 adults are caring for frail or impaired adults, and about 247,000 are caregivers at some time during the year. These caregivers provide an astounding 162 million hours of unpaid service during the year! The estimated dollar value of this service is $1.990 Billion per year.1 This potentially saves a tremendous amount of money for insurance companies, family members, and the state, which might otherwise have to pay for care through the Medicaid program or other sources.

HFCC started when Hawai‘i was selected in 2004 to participate in a project designed to create coalitions such as theirs at the state and local levels. This project was funded by the US Administration on Aging and conducted by the AARP Foundation. The Coalition emerged following a two-day training period, in which 27 organizations participated.

Most importantly, why is HFCC here?

HFCC exists because family caregivers often face great challenges, yet they are not represented by supporting organizations; and their needs are not known to most policymakers or by the community. HFCC’s member organizations support caregivers and their families either through providing direct services or by other means. They have joined together in order to achieve two goals: first, to identify gaps in service and advocate for service expansion which will need caregiver needs; and, second, to promote education to caregivers, professionals in the field of aging, policymakers, and the public regarding caregiver needs.

What does HFCC do?

Here are a few examples: During Family Caregiver Day at the Capitol, advocates and caregivers visit legislative offices to discuss legislative priorities and have family members share their personal experiences with caregiving. They also distribute copies of their annual Aging and Disabilities Issues report to lawmakers, senior organizations and the public. The Coalition’s Educational Symposiums offers members valuable information and a chance to learn new skills. The Speakers Bureau and educational materials are available at no charge.

Organizations interested in joining HFCC can contact Anthony Lenzer via email Tlenzer@hawaii.rr.com or call 808-261-2095. Mailing address is P.O. Box 3088, Honolulu, HI 96802.

(1) Lynn Feinberg, Susan C. Reinhard, Ari Houser, and Rita Choula. Valuing the Invaluable: 2011 Update The Growing Contributions and Costs of Family Caregiving. Washington, DC: AARP Public Policy Institute

What is the Hawai‘i Family Caregiver Coalition? How did they get started? Why are they here? Good questions! The Hawai‘i Family Caregiver Coalition, or HFCC, is a group of organizations, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private businesses concerned with the needs of unpaid family caregivers. Friends and neighbors are often caregivers, in addition to…
Building Senior Resilience
Most of us in Hawai‘i understand that the island chain we call home is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis. And we’ve definitely all heard how wise we’d be to plan ahead and prepare for these types of emergencies and natural disasters. The good news for you and your family is that now you’ve got a capable partner who is willing and eager to help you when you’re ready to take on this necessary and difficult challenge.

The National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC) offers many workshops to community members free of charge. One of our latest courses targets a broad cross section of seniors, senior caregivers, family members, friends, home health providers, and medical personnel to help them better understand the actions that might be required of them during a natural disaster. Seniors are frequently the most vulnerable population during a natural disaster because they often require additional support or have special needs. This 4-hour hands-on workshop focuses specifically on planning and preparedness actions that caregivers of seniors can take to help ensure the continued health, safety, and security of the senior(s) in their care.

Natural disasters can happen with little or no warning, but that doesn’t mean that we are completely powerless to protect ourselves or that we must depend entirely on emergency management personnel to rescue us. Did you know that individuals, families and businesses in Hawai‘i should expect to be on their own for at least 7 days after a disaster? The goal of this workshop is to empower you and help minimize risks and ultimately to reduce the impact of the natural disaster on the people you love and care for.

Here’s a list of some of the topics we explore in this course:

Identifying types of hazards and their potentials to cause fatalities, injuries, property damage, infrastructure damage, damage to the environment, interruption of business, or other types of harm or loss (FEMA, 1997)

Preparing caregivers in advance to reduce vulnerabilities of seniors in emergencies

Assessing and managing constraints and vulnerabilities of older persons such as mobility issues, medical conditions, disabilities, social and economic constraints

Developing a plan of action (e.g. evacuation, sheltering, feeding, transportation, accommodating persons with disabilities, ongoing and emergency care, etc.)

Organizing an extended support system

Amassing critical equipment, resources, food and water provisions

Building resilience and attending to the overall well-being of seniors during and
after disaster

Resilience is key in dealing with any of life’s difficulties, especially in natural disasters. It means being able to rebound or recover so that you can get on with your life. For seniors, knowing that there is a specific emergency plan in place will encourage confidence and peace of mind. For caregivers, being trained and prepared to deal with natural disasters will help to reduce anxieties about their caregiving duties and
responsibilities so that they can perform them with confidence.

We hope to see you at this workshop and encourage you to contact us by phone or visit online for more information, as well as for more training opportunities and resources that we offer.

Natural Disaster Preparedness Training Center
p: 808-956-0600 | f: 808-536-9110 | ndptc.hawaii.edu
Most of us in Hawai‘i understand that the island chain we call home is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis. And we’ve definitely all heard how wise we’d be to plan ahead and prepare for these types of emergencies and natural disasters. The good news for you and your family is that now you’ve…
Baked Furikake “Fried” Chicken
Perfect holiday party dish

Ingredients:

4 lbs. assorted chicken pieces with bone & skin

1-1/2 cups low fat buttermilk

1 tsp. paprika, plus one more teaspoon

2 tsp. seasoning salt (Lawry’s, if possible)

1/2 tsp. black pepper

3 cups panko crumbs

1/4 cup furikake

Cooking spray

Directions:

In a wide shallow bowl or square baking dish, combine the buttermilk, paprika, seasoning salt and pepper. Trim off any extra fat from the chicken, then put into the dish with the buttermilk mixture, gently tossing to coat all sides of the chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and put into the refrigerator for about 1/2 hour, longer if you have time.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the panko, furikake and a teaspoon of paprika in a bowl and toss to combine. One by one, shake excess liquid from the chicken and immediately dredge in the panko. Place onto a baking sheet coated with cooking spray and repeat until all chicken is breaded. Spray all exposed sides of the chicken with cooking spray, then bake in the oven for
30-40 minutes. Serves: 4-6. Time: 60 minutes

Chef Michi founded ‘Cooking Fresh For You’. Her recipes center on healthy and flavor-packed dishes. Visit www.cookingfreshforyou.com or contact Michi at cookingfreshforyou@gmail.com or 808-286-6484. See her NEW concession take-out at Queen’s Physician’s Office Bldg.
Perfect holiday party dish Ingredients: 4 lbs. assorted chicken pieces with bone & skin 1-1/2 cups low fat buttermilk 1 tsp. paprika, plus one more teaspoon 2 tsp. seasoning salt (Lawry’s, if possible) 1/2 tsp. black pepper 3 cups panko crumbs 1/4 cup furikake Cooking spray Directions: In a wide shallow bowl or square baking…
For Our Love of the Game

In the months of September and October, thousands of local people go to the 9th island, Las Vegas, to try their luck in the casinos. But each year more and more baby boomer men go there to test their skills in winning the softball title and a championship ring.

For the last several years, the Family Stones softball team from Honolulu, of which I am a player and member, has tried their luck at just that — being the champions of the Las Vegas Senior Softball Championships. Due to the increased popularity of senior softball, in this year the Las Vegas Senior Softball Championships. Due to the increased popularity of senior softball, in this year the Las Vegas Senior Softball Association (LVSSA) teamed up with the Senior Softball-USA (SSUSA) to hold the first annual Senior Softball World Championships. This year’s historic event created the largest tournament in the history of senior softball: combining over 450 teams in seven age brackets with nearly 5,000 players nationwide and Guam. The future of senior softball is growing for these baby boomers and older, from all over the world, and hopefully, you will see teams soon from Asia, Australia and South America.

This year’s Family Stones’ 50-year-old team entered the largest division in the tournament of 49 teams from 17 states. In the previous week, the 55 and 60 age groups played for the world championship and there were 4 teams from Hawai‘i that entered. However, they didn’t fare too well, winning only two games and losing 20.

When our 50’s team heard this news, we knew we were in for a battle of our softball careers, since we had four players over the age of 55 and three players in their 60’s. Over a three-day period to win the title in this double elimination tournament, we would have to win eight games in a row; and if we lost a game, we may have to play up to 14 games.

On the first two days of the tournament, our Stones’ team played well, winning six games and were only one of two teams undefeated while going into the final day of the tournament. In each game we were going up against bigger players, and definitely experienced and better too. Being the smaller team, it was a battle and a fight to win each game. Team captains Rudy Cagulada and Johnny Arroyo, Jr. reminded us to play as a team and keep our heads up if we make mistakes or don’t get a hit. They also reminded us that we were playing for two men who founded Family Stones some 40 years ago, Ben Naki and Bully Mactagone.

Entering the final day as one of only two undefeated teams, we faced a tough New Mexico team. We knew if we lost, we would have to play this same team again since this was a double elimination tournament.

From the first inning, our team fell behind as New Mexico went out to a huge lead, 8-1. Whether it was physical fatigue from playing seven games in three days or just nervousness, our team did not play well; and it looked like we were going to lose. By the final inning, things didn’t start out so good with the first two Stones’ batters getting out on two hard hits by Felix Mediola and Isaac Hatori. At this point, if you are a baseball fan or a Vegas gambler, you wouldn’t be betting on the losing team. Being down by four runs, two outs and no one on base, it seemed like it would take a miracle, at best, along with the baseball-God blessing the Stones’ team. “Fat chance,” said the New Mexico team, already planning to play us again for their world championship title.

Then, the Family Stones’ men suddenly woke up and hit two back-to-back singles and big Tom McCarthy hit a towering home run to centerfield to bring us within a run to tie and two runs to win the championship and title. The next two hitters and I came up with hits to set the stage with the bases loaded. Up next to bat, Joey Rodrigues comes up and singles to left field to bring in the tying and winning run with a furious slide at home plate by Fabian Loo. The whole field of Stones’ men and fans erupted as they finally won the title and World Championship! Players jumped up and down like we won the Little League World Series, hugging each other, and yes, some crying, including myself, saying, “We finally did it for Ben!”

Congratulations to our entire Family Stones’ team and fans for working and playing towards our goal for the championship and the ring. Kudos also go out to MVP Craig Ayala and all tournament players, Tom McCarthy, Johnny Arroy, Jr, Joey Rodrigues and Cris Ray. Yours truly won honorable mention from the Family Stones’ team.

On a final note at this year’s tournament, Hawai‘i should be proud as one of our own, Danny Ayala of Hilo was inducted into the Senior Softball Hall of Fame. As well as, a winner of several championship rings himself, is the father of Family Stones’ MVP shortstop, Craig Ayala. Danny was at each of his son’s games and I can still hear him yelling to me as I was ready to bat, “Take the first pitch!” I thank you Danny for all your inspirational and positive messages to all of us on the team. We finally did it for Ben…and for our love of the game.

In the months of September and October, thousands of local people go to the 9th island, Las Vegas, to try their luck in the casinos. But each year more and more baby boomer men go there to test their skills in winning the softball title and a championship ring. For the last several years, the…