Category: Living Life

A Year of Exhalation
This is your new year resolution: exhale. You’ve collected things through the years and you’re beginning to realize … there’s no room to breath — you see “clutter”. You know you need to declutter, but you just don’t know where to start.

You can start by exhaling.

Then begin with the least personal space, such as the least used room or closet. And ask yourself these questions. Do you really need it? When was the last time you’ve used it? When will you use it again? Is it replaceable? Does it fit comfortably in your home?

Next, use these 4 simple steps to conquering your clutter:

Create a goal: set a timeline in small steps.

S.O.R.T. your items in 4 piles: items to sell, offer, retain, and toss; then remove the items you’re not keeping off the property—literally.

Create a floor plan to maximize the space in your home.

Get organized by putting everything away in its “home” (its own place).

As you’ve asked yourself those questions while working through the 4 steps, you begin to process your emotions and feelings about those items. This will help you detach yourself from those things. As you declutter, you’ll find that once you get started and made progress, you’ll gain the confidence that you can actually finish it; and it will then become easier and faster.

Senior Move Managers and De-clutter Hawaii is Hawai‘i’s decluttering specialists. For information, free consultation or to learn more solutions to common decluttering issues, call 808-221-8345 or email at cynthia@smmhawaii.com. Also visit online to www.declutterhawaii.com or www.smmhawaii.com.
This is your new year resolution: exhale. You’ve collected things through the years and you’re beginning to realize … there’s no room to breath — you see “clutter”. You know you need to declutter, but you just don’t know where to start. You can start by exhaling. Then begin with the least personal space, such as the least used…
“Name the Show” and Win!
‘Olelo Community Media is honored to serve the diverse people, groups and communities of O’ahu, Hawai’i. Citizens don’t often have a voice in commercial media, so Public, Education and Governmental (PEG) Access provides them with an added source of information and opinion, a forum to discuss issues, and a means of sharing first-hand stories about O’ahu’s rich community life, to island residents and the world.

So, the City and County of Honolulu Elderly Affairs Division is excited to announce an upcoming television program that will be aired on an ‘Olelo Media television channel by the New Year, 2013. This program is intended for our island kupuna, and will showcase a mix of current events, personal interviews, recreation, sports, services, demonstrations, inter-generational opportunities, tips, etc. The program will serve as a means of obtaining information, as well as, provide entertainment and potential life lessons to our entire audience no matter their age. Best of all, the program’s segments will be produced by seniors from our very own community! It will give them the chance to share their mana‘o (knowledge), give back to their community, explore and utilize new technology. Our ku¯puna has so much to offer, and we intend on tapping into that wealth of knowledge.

So, we have this amazing vision and structure to our program, but NO name! We decided on extending the opportunity to a select population of 55 and better, to give their suggestions for the title of this new show. The winner of this contest will receive a Longs Drugs $50 gift certificate and recognition on the television program.

The following are the details to be considered when naming the show:

Must be original

Must be four words or less

Must encompass the essence of the program

Rules to enter the contest:

Must be 55 years old and better

Must be a resident of O‘ahu

Only one entry per person

All entries must be received by Dec. 31, 2012.

Click here to download the entry form
‘Olelo Community Media is honored to serve the diverse people, groups and communities of O’ahu, Hawai’i. Citizens don’t often have a voice in commercial media, so Public, Education and Governmental (PEG) Access provides them with an added source of information and opinion, a forum to discuss issues, and a means of sharing first-hand stories about…
Movie Premiere: Alliance Française Turns Fifty

Guess who else turned 50?

French in Hawaii: Alliance Française Turns Fifty
a new 54-minute documentary by Marc Delorme

Premier
Sunday, November 25 | 4 pm – 5 pm | KHON2

Honorary French Consul Patricia Lee awards Masao Tamura with the medal of the Legion of Honor.

GM: Tell us about Alliance Française.

MD: Well, if you are not familiar with the institution, you could easy mistaken it for a political action committee or something along those lines. But, in fact, Alliance Franç aise is strictly a cultural organization. It was founded in Paris in 1883 by French art and science philanthropists, such as Jules Verne French and Louis Pasteur. The alliance wanted to encourage the propagation of the French language and culture and to foster friendly relations between France and the rest of the world. Now, it has a worldwide network and our Hawai‘i chapter celebrated its 50th year during 2011-2012. The chapter sponsors French classes, conversations groups, and cultural events such as the French Film Festival at the Honolulu Museum of Art.

GM: Why focus on this organization?

MD: First, I wanted to acknowledge a cultural association,which has survived 50 years in the Islands. But, it was also an opportunity to identify a small French-speaking community within Hawai‘i’s rich diversity.

GM: What should we expect to see?

MD: I documented some of the activities of Alliance Franç aise and interviewed six local French-speakers, including the violinist Iggy Jang, Tahitian artis Jeanne Moua Larsen, astronomer Christian Veillet, French-speaking former Miss Hawai‘i Malika Dudley and her mother Kamila, Chef Mavro and Honorary French Consul Patricia Lee.

GM: Do you speak French?

MD: Yes, I am a native French speaker, along with approximately 1,000 Tahitians and 2,000 natives from the French Mainland who live in Hawai‘i.

GM: Any surprises?

MD: For me, I was pleasantly surprised when some of the interviewees really opened up in front of the camera, people like Chef Mavro and Malika Dudley.

That is always very gratifying for a filmmaker. For you, the surprise is that this documentary is 90 percent in French with English subtitles.

Guess who else turned 50? French in Hawaii: Alliance Française Turns Fifty a new 54-minute documentary by Marc Delorme Premier Sunday, November 25 | 4 pm – 5 pm | KHON2 GM: Tell us about Alliance Française. MD: Well, if you are not familiar with the institution, you could easy mistaken it for a political action…
Book Review: A Guide to Getting Affairs in Order

How to prepare for the worst case scenario.

Grief does not discriminate. No matter who you are, losing a loved one can be an overwhelming life experience. Imagine dealing with looking for important documents and organizing burial wishes while dealing with the loss. Many people don’t realize the need for getting affairs in order before they or a loved one dies. Being prepared protects families and loved ones, and alleviates stress for everyone involved.

A few years ago, Karen O’Neil, a certified wellness counselor, flew to the Mainland to her children’s aid to help cope with the passing of their father — her ex-husband. Not only did the family grieve together, but they had to work together to get all of his affairs in order. His passing was just four weeks after the terminal diagnosis of several months, and they barely got everything tended to.

Now as an author, publisher and speaker, Karen has developed the workbook, A Guide to Getting Affairs in Order. The workbook helps families have peace of mind by guiding them to communicate and to avoid an unfortunate situation during grievance. Her intent is to take the scary and uncomfortable out of the conversations people need to have so they may begin to understand the importance of organizing documents and letting their last wishes be known. There is some solace knowing someone is doing everything exactly as it was wanted.

To order a copy of the workbook, visit www.gettingaffairsinorder.com or contact Karen at (808) 782-3879.

How to prepare for the worst case scenario. Grief does not discriminate. No matter who you are, losing a loved one can be an overwhelming life experience. Imagine dealing with looking for important documents and organizing burial wishes while dealing with the loss. Many people don’t realize the need for getting affairs in order before…
Travel: Cool Cruising . . . Family Style

Family vacations are essentially quality time. It can take a lot of planning, especially if you want to visit multiple destinations on one trip. To minimize planning time and maximize quality time, choose a cruise vacation.

Cruises are all-inclusive: cooking, cleaning, serving. There’s no need to plan moving from place to place, or scheduling daily activities — where to eat or sleep — the cruise ship and crew does it all for you. It’s truly time for rest and relaxation with family and friends, like the Tan family who loves to cruise.

The only decisions you need to make are where to cruise and which shore excursions to enjoy — those are fun to decide as a family.

The Tan family on their Alaskan cruise.

For example, families love cruising the coast of Alaska — the great frontier. It offers gorgeous sceneries, spectacular mountain scapes and glaciers the size of a small state and lots of opportunities for family fun. The Inside Passage is also unforgettable, with everything from misty rainforests to craggy fjords. Many itineraries include a visit to Skagway, a town born in the excitement of the gold rush of 1898. While in port, families can visit a gold rush camp, hike on a glacier or take a wildlife-watching tour.

To explore more options for cruises, from shore excursions to discounts that will build lasting memories for your family, talk with Cruise Holidays Hawaii, your personal cruise experts. Call 808-596-7447 or visit www.chhawaii.com.

Family vacations are essentially quality time. It can take a lot of planning, especially if you want to visit multiple destinations on one trip. To minimize planning time and maximize quality time, choose a cruise vacation. Cruises are all-inclusive: cooking, cleaning, serving. There’s no need to plan moving from place to place, or scheduling daily…
Splish-Splash!
Exercises performed in water is truly magical. The liquid density in the pool increases the amount of workout that you would have compared with the equivalent exercise on land without the fear of falling or damaging fragile joints. It allows you to move in ways you never thought you were capable of. Many forms of land exercise are now being adapted to the pool.

Benefits of water exercise:

Increases flexibility and balance .

Increases muscular and bone strength.

Water’s buoyancy means less strain on knees, ankles and hips.

Improves cardiac fitness levels.

Burns calories by engaging the large muscle groups.

Relaxes the entire body.

Increases levels of serotonin resulting in overall feeling of wellness.

Types of water exercises:

Swimming — A complete whole-body and cardiovascular workout with interval training.

Water Aerobics — Whether in shallow or deep water, major muscle groups & full body movements are engaged.

Walking — Love to walk? Take it to the pool or ocean and double the output.

Aqua Zumba — A modified version of Zumba using water resistance to intensify the moves.

Ai Chi — Similar to Tai Chi. It combines deep breathing and slow/large movements.

Kick Boxing — Taking this sport from the gym to the pool using adapted punches and kicks.

Aquatic exercise is fun, challenging and gentle to your body. You receive in turn a healthier, stronger, younger and happier you.

Find out locations closest to you through the city parks and seniors club listings: 973-7258.

Joett and aqua participants at Franciscan Vista’s swimming pool.
Exercises performed in water is truly magical. The liquid density in the pool increases the amount of workout that you would have compared with the equivalent exercise on land without the fear of falling or damaging fragile joints. It allows you to move in ways you never thought you were capable of. Many forms of land exercise are now…
The Right Questions About PV Systems

There are two types of Solar Energy Systems that will significantly lower your energy bill. Solar hot water systems can provide 20% to 30% of your energy needs and photovoltaic (PV) systems can provide up to 100%. There are many issues regarding a solar system for your home which you need to understand prior to purchasing a system:

1. Does the installation include roofing industry details for roof penetrations? Many installers are voiding roof warranties by using substandard roof penetration detailing causing leaks.

2. Does the system installation come with a maintenance program? Your investment needs to be maintained and your PV system needs attention to prevent module failures.

3. Do you have a copy of the warranty prior to purchasing, so you can read the limitations? Warranties are sales tools used by companies to convey the false idea that something is guaranteed when it is not.

4. Does quality matter to you? Better quality modules will cost more but last longer and produce more power over the long haul. Many contractors buy the cheapest modules and then try to convince you they are equal.

5. How long has the manufacturer been in business making modules? Solar manufacturers are losing money due to Chinese manufacturers flooding the market with low cost products. It’s been predicted that only about 10 companies will be in this business after the smoke clears, so find out how long they have made modules and are they likely to be in solar business after the dust clears.

Pacific Islands Construction believes that an informed buyer makes the best decisions. Contact them at 841-7756 or check their website at www.pacificislandsconstruction.com.

There are two types of Solar Energy Systems that will significantly lower your energy bill. Solar hot water systems can provide 20% to 30% of your energy needs and photovoltaic (PV) systems can provide up to 100%. There are many issues regarding a solar system for your home which you need to understand prior to…
Think Green . . . Smoothie
The most important thing for our health is to get enough fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. It provides antioxidants, micronutrients, and phytochemicals to protect us from disease such as cancer and heart disease. These nutrients help us continue to function on a cellular level, keep our immune system strong and add a lot of fiber that’s needed in a healthful diet. The requirement is 5–7 servings of fruits and vegetables and 25–30 grams of fiber daily. Leafy greens like kale, collard, Swiss chard and spinach are the most nutrient-dense of all foods. Yet most people find it challenging to get this into their diets.

The easiest way I have found to get these nutrients on a daily basis is through green smoothies. Mixing the fruits and vegetables together in a Vita-Mix makes for a delicious drink, and a great way to start your day.

Ingredients

1 apple

1 banana

5 frozen strawberries

1 handful kale

1 handful spinach

1 handful mint

1 scoop ground flaxseed

1 scoop wheat germ

1 cup water or coconut water

Ice

Directions

Blend all together in a blender till all the ice is crushed and vegetables and fruits are chopped to milkshake consistency. See this video for a demo . Enjoy!
The most important thing for our health is to get enough fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. It provides antioxidants, micronutrients, and phytochemicals to protect us from disease such as cancer and heart disease. These nutrients help us continue to function on a cellular level, keep our immune system strong and add a lot…
Talk It Out at the Mediation Center

Mediation and family conferencing help families talk through difficult issues and create plans to support their Kupuna.

“I’m so frustrated. I’m spending more and more time trying to help my mom and dad, and now I feel like I’m neglecting my own family. Of course my brother and sister are absolutely no help at all. I’m so angry at them. And my parents don’t even seem to understand that I’m trying to help them. They keep telling me they can take care of themselves. They can’t!”

Comments like these are becoming all too familiar as family members struggle to support the needs of their aging parents while trying to juggle their own personal responsibilities. Emotions run high, patience grows thin and family relationships are torn apart, at times, permanently. Each family member has their own life, home, work and immediate family issues to contend with on a daily basis. When an elder family member suddenly needs support, families often react without considering all of the implications of their actions on individual family members, including the elder person.

Mediation and family conferences are processes designed to help families talk through issues and sort through emotions to create well thought out plans to support elder family members. With the assistance of an impartial third person, a mediator or facilitator, every family member has an opportunity to express their needs, perspectives, fears and concerns, before decisions are made. For example, the interest of the elder person to remain independent can be factored in with the children’s concerns about the elder family member’s safety. The importance of having every family member take an active role in developing the plan as well as implementing the plan to care for the needs of the elder member, are also addressed.

Facilitators and mediators are trained listeners who ask powerful questions that help families look at each situation from a broader perspective and gather information and resources to make thoughtful decisions and plans that support the elder family member. By talking through sensitive issues and creating family plans in mediation and family conferences, families strengthen communication, preserve their relationships and maintain the dignity of the elder family member.

The next time you hear “my siblings just aren’t helping me to support mom and dad,” suggest mediation or family conferencing. It’s a cost effective approach to helping families have powerful conversations and prevent potential conflicts
from escalating.

Tracey S. Wiltgen is the Executive Director of the Mediation Center of the Pacific, a not-for-profit corporation that assists more than 5,000 people annually.

The Mediation Center of the Pacific, Inc.
245 N. Kukui Street, Suite 206, Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: 521-6767 Fax: 538-1454 www.mediatehawaii.org

Mediation and family conferencing help families talk through difficult issues and create plans to support their Kupuna. “I’m so frustrated. I’m spending more and more time trying to help my mom and dad, and now I feel like I’m neglecting my own family. Of course my brother and sister are absolutely no help at all.…
Now & Then: A Way of Harmony

In 1957, brothers Al and Clayton Naluai attended Glendale Junior College in California where they befriended two other Native Hawaiians, Bernie Ching and Pat Sylva. They started to compile Hawaiian tunes together for the choir director and came up with a signature harmonizing style. They did concerts up and down the West Coast. While singing in a backyard luau, a friend tape recorded them for fun. One thing led to another and they were discovered by Hi Fi Records. The group was named “The Surfers,” and they cut their first album, “The Surfers on the Rocks.” It became a local best seller.

The quartet embarked on a sensational career that took them through the next 26 years!

At age 43, Clayton learned that his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer. Up to that point, his life had been defined by show biz, but it was time to do something else. In 1980, he left the business and turned his focus toward family.

Over the years Clayton had studied Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido under the late Master Koichi Tohei. The master taught the principles of unifying mind and body and its application to daily life.

Fifty years later, Clayton is a 6th Dan Black Belt and a founder of Lokahi Ki Society, where he serves as its senior advisor. He has dedicated his life to creating programs for people to experience the power they naturally have through unification of mind and body.

Clayton is particularly passionate about keeping seniors active. So, I asked Clayton is it ever too late for a senior to consider training through Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido’s mind and body unification? He replied, “It’s never too late.”

I have been attending Clayton’s classes for the past two years. The exercises have greatly improved my physical flexibility, balance, strength and fluidity. It helps me stay in a calm and focused state of mind. Practicing the same state of mind outside of the dojo I can now deal with life’s challenges one at a time — more calmly, more clearly, more focused. Most importantly, it has improved my outlook on life, diet, exercise and hope for mankind. I’ve dropped 25 pounds, lowered my blood pressure and put off my diabetes.

You may also experience many benefits through practicing, studying and experiencing this form of Aikido. For more info, contact Lokahi Ki Society:

phone(s): 808-372-7724, 489-5255, 258-6814
email: lokahiki@me.com
www.lokahiki.com/Lokahi_Ki_Society/Welcome.html

In 1957, brothers Al and Clayton Naluai attended Glendale Junior College in California where they befriended two other Native Hawaiians, Bernie Ching and Pat Sylva. They started to compile Hawaiian tunes together for the choir director and came up with a signature harmonizing style. They did concerts up and down the West Coast. While singing in…
AARP Hawaii: Driving to Fight Senior Hunger

AARP Hawai‘i has launched an initiative to raise awareness and help non-profits meet the growing demand for food among Hawai‘i’s frail elderly population. The initiative, part of the national AARP Foundation Drive to End Hunger, supports the efforts of Lanakila Meals on Wheels and Hawai‘i Meals on Wheels — organizations that provide home-delivered meals to seniors unable to cook or shop for themselves.

Drive to End Hunger focuses on a specific challenge the two organizations face in meeting the growing demand for services for Hawai‘i’s aging population: the shortage of volunteer drivers. Drivers are a critical link to the elder community, not only because of the meals they deliver but also due to the contact they have with many seniors who are otherwise isolated.

Without volunteer drivers, Hawai‘i’s Meals on Wheels organizations can’t keep up with the growing demand for their services. “We have a wait list of 400 residents who’ve requested meal service that we’re not able to provide at current volunteer staffing and funding levels,” said Lanakila Meals on Wheels Director Lyn Moku. Hawai‘i Meals on Wheels Executive Director Claire Shimabukuro faces a similar predicament. “We would like to deliver more meals to seniors in need, but our ability to increase the number of existing routes is tied to the number of available drivers,” she said.

Victoria Howarth and Les Miller

Both Hawai‘i Meals on Wheels and Lanakila Meals on Wheels host monthly orientation sessions where individuals can ask questions and get a feel for what it takes to volunteer. In general, volunteer drivers need to be patient, reliable and friendly. They should have a car with valid insurance and safety sticker and be available for up to three hours, every other week. According to research commissioned by AARP Foundation in 2011, Hawai‘i ranked 25th in the country in the number of adults age 50 and older who were food insecure (6.68 percent of older residents affected). Food insecurity is also associated with numerous negative health outcomes among the elderly — including poorer health and higher probability of being hospitalized.

Drive to End Hunger is part of a nation-wide AARP Foundation assault on the hunger problem among Americans 50+. We’re taking steps to feed those who are hungry now, while developing long-term, sustainable answers that address the root causes of hunger among those 50+.

For more information & volunteer, call:

LANAKILA MEALS ON WHEELS
531-0555 | www.lanakilapacific.org

HAWAI‘I MEALS ON WHEELS
988-6747 | www.hmow.org

aarp.org/hi | facebook.com/AARPHawaii | twitter.com/AARPHawaii

AARP Hawai‘i has launched an initiative to raise awareness and help non-profits meet the growing demand for food among Hawai‘i’s frail elderly population. The initiative, part of the national AARP Foundation Drive to End Hunger, supports the efforts of Lanakila Meals on Wheels and Hawai‘i Meals on Wheels — organizations that provide home-delivered meals to seniors unable…
Retirement: Start Again
When one thing ends, another begins.

There is something about retirement – the word retirement, the thought of retirement, the actual process of retirement – that brings mixed emotions. For some folks the word retirement causes excitement, for others terror. And, there are those who vacillate from one to the other. We retirees experience all of these emotions at one time or another. I know … I’m 75 years old, and have been retired for 32 years.

So what is the primary cause of terror? Fear! Fear of the unknown. Most of us are not prepared for retirement and being unprepared affects every area of our lives: spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally, relationally and financially.

The literal definition of retirement alone is frightening.

The act of retiring. (That’s not so bad.)

Removal from service. (Now we go into denial. ‘I’m alright. That’s not going to happen for many more years.’)

Withdrawal into privacy or seclusion. (Now things begin to get heavy.) Removal, withdrawal, seclusion.

In this light, can you think of anything positive about retirement?

To top it off, our society and government doesn’t paint a pretty picture of retirement. The federal government predicts that the average person will be dead, busted or broke by the age of 65. And common statements such as ‘a person gets weaker as he or she gets older’ and ‘older people don’t contribute; they drain our resources’ don’t seem harmful when we’re younger, but as we get closer to retirement age, they begin to chisel away at our mental well being. Our self-esteem begins to waiver. Our self-image begins to slide downward. We begin to lose our sense of dignity and hope, our sense of being alive. Whether we are financially well off or not, it doesn’t matter. We fade off into seclusion mentally and physically, a place where self-destruction begins … “the beginning of the end.”

Bleak as the picture may seem for us retirees, there is hope. We can create for ourselves a new beginning.

All we need to do is draw a line in the sand and take the following four steps:

Declare: I’m a child of God, created for greatness and have something significant yet to do. This signifies purpose.

Dream: Imagine for a moment that you are living your final 24 hours. How would you approach the next few hours?

Decide: To act as if it is your last day.

Association: Hang out with like-minded people. People with common dreams, common goals, going in the same direction, supporting one another in a new beginning.

The key to a new beginning? Begin! Begin now!
When one thing ends, another begins. There is something about retirement – the word retirement, the thought of retirement, the actual process of retirement – that brings mixed emotions. For some folks the word retirement causes excitement, for others terror. And, there are those who vacillate from one to the other. We retirees experience all…

Category: Living Life

Guess who else turned 50?

How to prepare for the worst case scenario.

Benefits of water exercise:

Types of water exercises:

Ingredients

Directions

When one thing ends, another begins.