Category: Articles

Assistive Technology on Loan

Have you ever wanted to try a new technology without having to buy it? If so, you may be interested in the AT Depot/Equipment Loan Program — it is one of five programs offered by Assistive Technology Resource Centers (ARTC) of Hawai‘i. The center is a 501c (3) non-profit organization that receives federal funds to provide assistive technology. Last year, the center celebrated 20 years of service in the Islands.

The assistive technology devices are designed for individuals with learning, mobility, hearing and vision challenges. Examples of devices that can borrowed include telephone amplifiers, hearing amplifiers, hand-held magnifiers, iPads, intel readers, pocket pro talkers, smart pens and more.

The program allows you to take the assistive devices home to explore and use on your own terms. If you need help with the technology, the ATRC offers training and demonstrations. Once you give the device a test run, you simply return it to the ARTC. If you choose to purchase the device, ARTC can help you locate a vendor. Funding information and options are also available so you can get the technology you want and need.

The latest mobility aid in the ARTC’s depot is the iGlasses. Designed for the blind and visually impaired, the iGlasses is a perfect complement to a walking cane or guide dog. It is a head-mounted device that uses ultrasonic sensors to detect objects as far as 10 feet away. Gentle vibrations on the lenses alert the wearer of objects, and the vibrations increase as objects become closer. It is definitely something to “see”!

Assistive Technology Resource Centers
www.atrc.org | 532-7115 | 1-800-645-3007

Have you ever wanted to try a new technology without having to buy it? If so, you may be interested in the AT Depot/Equipment Loan Program — it is one of five programs offered by Assistive Technology Resource Centers (ARTC) of Hawai‘i. The center is a 501c (3) non-profit organization that receives federal funds to provide assistive…
The Third Guarantee: Change
An often-heard quote about lifetime guarantees is the one about death and taxes. I would suggest that there is a third guarantee — that life changes. Nothing stays the same. So, once you’ve completed your estate plan, you’ll want to review it every so often to address life’s changes. What could a review with your estate planner do for you?

First, reviewing your plan will force you to locate it. Often, after we prepare an estate plan, we put it in a very safe place. And, sometimes, we forget where that very safe place is. Take your plan out every once in a while, dust it off, review it and remind key people of its location.

Second, a review can ensure that you’ve properly funded your trusts. Check your beneficiary designations for life insurance and retirement accounts, and make sure that other assets are properly titled in the trust. This not only helps you avoid probate, it also ensures that the correct beneficiaries receive the distributions. All too often, we find that life insurance or retirement accounts do not have beneficiaries listed, or that the beneficiary was not changed due to life changes. For example, a client’s wife recently passed away. Prior to her getting married, she had named her mother as beneficiary of a life insurance policy. She had every intention for the proceeds to go to her husband and their child. However, she did not change the beneficiary to note this change.

Third, because relationships are fragile and change, reviewing your estate plan allows you to examine your relationship with the people you’ve named as guardian, agent under powers of attorney and trustee. Make sure that they are still the one’s that you want to make decisions for you during any period of incapacity or to follow out your instructions upon your death.

Fourth, you can see how your beneficiaries are doing. For example, you can explore questions such as:

Are my children now adults and not in need of guardianship?

How are my young adult children doing? Do they need more time to mature before they handle a significant amount of money?

Have some of my beneficiaries gotten into trouble with drugs, the law or misspending of money?

Have marriages, new births, divorce, death or other circumstances changed relationships?

These questions can help you determine whether you want to change the time and manner of distributions.

Fifth, you can meet with a lawyer to get an update on any law changes, tax or otherwise. It’s an opportunity to discuss any changes in the community standards and policies as they relate to estate planning. For example, during the past couple of years, many financial institutions have established policies where they will not accept powers of attorney older than 2 or 3 years old. A couple of financial institutions have established policies that they simply will not accept powers of attorney.

So much like with your physician, dentist, automobile mechanic and financial advisor, you will want to get an estate planning check-up and tune-up every now and then.

Stephen B. Yim, Attorney at Law | 2054 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 524-0251 | stephenyimestateplanning.com
An often-heard quote about lifetime guarantees is the one about death and taxes. I would suggest that there is a third guarantee — that life changes. Nothing stays the same. So, once you’ve completed your estate plan, you’ll want to review it every so often to address life’s changes. What could a review with your estate planner…
Coaching and Teaching

On the cover of this magazine, you will see former UH baseball coach Les Murakami. Over the years, he’s made a tremendous difference in the lives of young men. He has a stadium named after him, afterall.

My dad was also a coach. I still hear from people 50 years later who tell me what an impact he had on their lives. And very little of his influence had anything to do with athletic endeavors. He was a coach, but first and foremost, he was a teacher. He taught us [yes, he was my coach, too] about discipline, hard work, teamwork and pride. But most of all, he taught us how to be men. Coaches and teachers have a more profound impact on their young charges than they may realize. As a coach, you are tired when you get home. And you may wonder if any of your lessons reached the youngsters. Believe me, they do.

Coach Murakami has the wonderful opportunity to recognize that fact. But to all of you who touch the lives of young people, as teachers, coaches and mentors, I ask you to think about it every day.

There is no more important task in our lives than teaching the lessons we have learned. It can be as simple as looking both ways before crossing the street, or as complex as the relationship between men and women. As you know, that can be complex!

To coach Murakami, my deepest congratulations and heartfelt, Hurrah! To my dad and all the other coaches, a loud, Hurrah!

I got to be a coach once. It was a long time ago. One of my young basketball players now helps my mother through knee rehabilitation. You just never know. Keep on coaching.

On the cover of this magazine, you will see former UH baseball coach Les Murakami. Over the years, he’s made a tremendous difference in the lives of young men. He has a stadium named after him, afterall. My dad was also a coach. I still hear from people 50 years later who tell me what…
Do You Take Your Vision for Granted?
By age 65, one-third of all Americans have a vision-impairing eye disease. However, poor sight doesn’t have to be a part of aging. By detecting and treating eye disease early through annual eye exams, seniors can preserve their sight.

In the U.S. there are four common eye diseases: glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts. As with any other health issue, it is better to catch these problems early, as there are often no warning signs.

During a comprehensive annual eye health check, your eye care professional will:

check eye pressure, as high eye pressure can be a risk factor for glaucoma

dilate your eyes to get a clear view of your retina and check for macular degeneration

evaluate the blood vessels of the retina to check for diabetic retinopathy

check for cataracts with a variety of tests

Cataracts rarely pose any real health concern for the eye. They can, however, interfere with your vision and affect quality of life. Traditional cataract implants only allow focus at one distance. Newer technologies include cataract implants such as the Crystalens that mimic a younger eye’s natural ability to focus at near and far.

Also, several advancements in dry eye treatment, including a tear osmolarity analyzer, have recently been released.

Dr. John Olkowski and Dr. Jon Etter of EyeSight Hawaii say that annual eye exams are a must for seniors, especially for diabetics who should have annual dilated eye exams to evaluate the retina closely. Both doctors are ophthalmologists with specialty in cornea and cataract surgery. EyeSight Hawaii’s office is current with the latest technologies and procedures, and prides itself in catering to senior patients.

EyeSight Hawaii, 650 Iwilei Road, Ste. 210. | 808-735-1935 or visit eyesighthawaii.com
By age 65, one-third of all Americans have a vision-impairing eye disease. However, poor sight doesn’t have to be a part of aging. By detecting and treating eye disease early through annual eye exams, seniors can preserve their sight. In the U.S. there are four common eye diseases: glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts.…
Lookout: Contractor Scams

Recently, across the Islands, senior citizens have become the target of “contractor” scams, where scammers perform home improvement and repairs that ultimately cheat or rip off consumers. Senior citizens are often the target of these scams primarily because they are more likely to be home during the day, have some form of steady income or a savings in place. And, many seniors tend to have a trusting nature and find it difficult to tell door-to-door solicitors ‘no.’

The most common type of contracting scam is the pavement scam, where scammers go door-to-door offering to pave driveways for homeowners. Other types of contracting scams include plumbing, roofing, remodeling and yard service projects. Usually these scammers will find something “wrong” with your house and will “repair” it with inferior quality and materials.

Warning signs that generally indicate a scam:

Selling door-to-door: True contractors will rarely sell their services door-to-door.

Left over from another job: Contractors know their material and most of the time there is no left over.

The quick decision: Take the time to think about it, never hire someone on the spot, and always get at least two estimates from different contractors.

No Contract: Get it all in writing. Write up a contract specifying the amount of work to be done and the total price.

Cash Only and Upfront Fees: The majority of contractors will accept forms of payment other than cash. Beware of those who demand full payment before the job is even started.

For any job, get a written estimate, compare prices and check references, licensing and insurance.

If you’re having problems with a contractor or if you feel that you have been scammed, please call the BBB. The BBB can offer help and get the word out to others in the community.

For more information on how to hire contractors, please visit www.hawaii.bbb.org.

Better Business Bureau of Hawai‘i1132 Bishop Street #615, Honolulu, HI 96813-2813
Phone & Phone Hours:808-536-6956 (O‘ahu) | 877-222-6551(Neighbor Islands) | 808-628-3970 (Fax) 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, Mon. – Thurs., 9:00 am – Noon, Friday
File Complaint: www.bbb.org/file-a-complaint/

Recently, across the Islands, senior citizens have become the target of “contractor” scams, where scammers perform home improvement and repairs that ultimately cheat or rip off consumers. Senior citizens are often the target of these scams primarily because they are more likely to be home during the day, have some form of steady income or…
Who’s on First?

The humor behind the classic comedy routine, Who’s on first?, comes from the fact that the speakers are using identical terms to mean different things. Yet they both pretend not to recognize the problem. The language of estate planning can raise problems for the uninitiated, and the problems may not be funny at all. The vocabulary of estate planning is very precise, and a seemingly innocuous slip of the tongue can make a world of difference.

A good example is the term “estate.” What does it mean? Does it mean land, as in “real estate,” or what passes by way of my Will, as in “probate estate,” or does it mean what is subjected to “estate tax” after I am gone? It can mean a wide variety of things, depending on the context and the adjectives that surround it.

Because the word “estate” is central to estate planning, here is a brief glossary of the most common uses of the term.

An “estate” can be land, or just an interest in land. An example of an interest in land is a life estate. A life estate gives the owner the right to use the land for the life tenant’s lifetime, but then the estate terminates and the land goes to the remaindermen (a person who inherits or is entitled to inherit property upon the termination of the former estate owner).

Probate estate is whatever you own at death that will pass by way of your Last Will and Testament. It might include such things as land, bank accounts, cars and jewelry.

But wait! How come an estate tax return covers not only a person’s probate estate, but also things that have nothing to do with the persaon’s probate estate — like life insurance policies, retirement accounts, jointly-owned assets and trust assets? That is because your estate for estate tax purposes includes just about everything you own or control at the moment of your death. However, with the right estate planning, you can have a lot of control over assets that are not included in your estate for estate tax purposes.

For example, assets (sometimes called a trust estate) that you own and control as the trustee of a trust may or may not be part of your taxable estate, just depending on the words in the trust agreement that say what you can do with the trust estate. Choosing the right words is critical.

You can see how proper estate planning requires careful attention to detail and precise use of language. Helpful legal information at www.hawaiilaw.tv. You also can find elder care information by clicking here.

SCOTT MAKUAKANE, Attorney at Law of Est8Planning Counsel LLLC, specializing in estate planning and trust law.
Honolulu: (808) 587-8227 | Maui: (808) 891-8881 | Email: maku@est8planning.com
www.est8planning.com

The humor behind the classic comedy routine, Who’s on first?, comes from the fact that the speakers are using identical terms to mean different things. Yet they both pretend not to recognize the problem. The language of estate planning can raise problems for the uninitiated, and the problems may not be funny at all. The…
Hitting a Home Run with Medicare
Seeing Coach Murakami on the cover made me think about how much Medicare and baseball have in common. Practice and being prepared for the big game is one way to hit a home run. It’s the same idea with Medicare.

Innings (In Medicare they are called Enrollment Periods)

Initial Enrollment Period is when you are first eligible for Medicare Part A and/or Part B either due to turning 65 years old; certain disabilities or 24 months after receiving Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI). The seven-month initial enrollment period begins three months before your date of eligibility and three months after the month you are eligible. There could be penalties if you delay enrollment.

General Enrollment Period is every year from January 1 – March 31. If you miss your initial enrollment period and there is a premium assigned to that benefit, you can enroll during this inning, but your coverage will not start until July 1. If you qualify and are eligible for premium free Medicare Part A, you can enroll at any time (in that benefit only).

Special Enrollment Periods (SEP) occurs when you have qualified health coverage or special circumstances to delay enrolling in Medicare. Special circumstances could be if a person is covered by a qualified ACTIVE employer group health plan. The best time to see if you might qualify for a SEP is before you are eligible so that you aren’t assessed a penalty for not enrolling. Note: COBRA is not an “active” group health plan.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Open Enrollment Period (OEP) Medigap has a 6-month period that starts the first month you are eligible AND enrolled in Medicare Part B. This is when you can take advantage of plans sold in Hawai‘i regardless of your health status. Once your Medigap OEP, begins it cannot be changed.

Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) for Medicare Advantage Plans and Drug plans is annually from October 15 – Dececember 7. It is the opportunity to change, add or drop Medicare health and drug plans.

Coaches of Medicare:

Social Security Administration (SSA) “entitles” individuals for Medicare. In most cases Medicare premiums are deducted from an individual’s benefit. SSA is also in charge of qualifying individuals for help paying for Medicare’s prescription drug program. SSA also determines enrollment periods and penalties for Medicare Part B. Call your local office at 1-800-772-1213 to make an individualized appointment.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency that the Medicare program. Medicare is just one program (very large) under CMS. For more CMS information, visit www.cms.gov/history.

State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) are a CMS grant and the goal is to provide Medicare beneficiaries with information and assistance with benefits. Hawai‘i’s SHIP is the Sage PLUS Program and we are volunteer-based and in the Executive Office on Aging.

Other Team Members That Affect Your Medicare

The following players may affect your Medicare coverage and who pays first.

Retirement medical coverage through former employment

Military or Veterans benefits

State assistance due to limited income and assets

Active employer group health coverage through yourself or a spouse

Game Strategies Start studying Medicare about four months before you are eligible. Become a SHIP Volunteer and learn about Medicare, help your community and stay active. For more information about Medicare call the Hawai‘i SHIP/Sage PLUS Program at 586-7299 or e-mail help@hawaiiship.org.

Enjoy the Seventh Inning Stretch!
Seeing Coach Murakami on the cover made me think about how much Medicare and baseball have in common. Practice and being prepared for the big game is one way to hit a home run. It’s the same idea with Medicare. Innings (In Medicare they are called Enrollment Periods) Initial Enrollment Period is when you are…
It’s Never Too Late . . . To Grow Young

Joan Packer did not start working out until age 77. She had been a smoker for 20 years and never exercised. When she first came in she couldn’t walk upstairs without holding on to the railing. Now at 90, she does the elliptical for 30 minutes without holding on to anything. Her goal was to lose weight and regain her health so she could stay independent.

Poor balance and lack of strength are big issues as we age. Resistance exercise is a must to preserve muscle mass and body function. It’s also important to get enough protein, fruits and vegetables.

Joan admits it was challenging at the beginning. “I could barely do a bicep curl with 2 lbs., now I use 15 lbs. Seeing Diane twice a week has changed my life. My strength and balance are much better and I have never been more flexible. My sciatica pain has also disappeared.”

When Joan went to visit her daughter in Seattle, they went for a hike up Mt. Rainier. To her surprise she went up the path and left her daughter trailing behind.

Joan’s last bone density exam showed she has the bones of someone in her thirties. She takes no medications, has no aches or pains, and still drives her car. Joan says she is in better shape now than 30 years ago. All from proper diet and exercise.

Joan is a role model for all my clients, including 87-year-old Victor who works hard to keep up with her. Whenever I introduce a new movement, the first thing everyone asks is: “Does Joan do this?” She sets the bar for all of us.

As a trainer, I’m constantly researching new movement patterns and approaches to connect the mind to the body. The more movements you learn, the more synapses you develop, and the sharper your mind stays.

Working with seniors has changed the way I think about aging. Joan is living proof that it is never too late to grow young again, in mind, body and spirit!

Diane Cadinha is a certified fitness trainer and lifestyle coach. She has been in the fitness industry for more than 25 years. She works out of two studios, in Mililani and Honolulu. Contact her at shapingup@hawaii.rr.com or call 221-3905.

Joan Packer did not start working out until age 77. She had been a smoker for 20 years and never exercised. When she first came in she couldn’t walk upstairs without holding on to the railing. Now at 90, she does the elliptical for 30 minutes without holding on to anything. Her goal was to…
Your Mind & Body – Protect Your Athletes from Dementia
Watching your kids or grandchildren play hard in a team sport can be a lot of fun. It’s great to be involved and to be a source of encouragement. It’s equally important to keep them safe while playing high-contact sports and to know when they should take a break.

A study commissioned by the National Football League (NFL) found that former players ages 30 to 49 are diagnosed with memory-related disorders at a rate of 19 times the national average. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive neurological disorder found in people who have suffered some kind of brain trauma. Dementia pugilistica is the progressive end-stage of the chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This is a type of dementia that may affect amateur or professional athletes who suffer concussions. In the past, it was commonly known as “punch drunk syndrome.”

Symptoms include:

Vary, depending on which part of the brain was damaged from the head injury

Problems with memory

Unsteady gait

Speech problems

Behavior and personality changes

Poor concentration

Why does this occur?

The cause of the brain injury is the cumulative effect of repetitive sub-concussive blows. Although the syndrome is not well understood, it’s believed that repetitive blows to the head can cause loss of neurons or brain cells, scarring of brain tissue, protein build up in the brain, damage to the cerebellum, damage to the blood vessels in the brain, senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.

How is dementia pugilistica diagnosed?

Memory and neuropsychological testing performed in the physician’s office will clinically diagnose dementia pugilistica. A CT scan test may show bone fractures as well as the presence of hemorrhage, hematomas, contusions, brain tissue swelling or tumors. A MRI test helps to detect subtle changes in brain tissue.

Can athletes prevent this?

Parents and grandparents play an important role in encouraging children to use protective gear when playing contact sports. A Grade 1 concussion is always treated with rest and continued observation. The athlete should not return to play until he/she receives a medical clearance. And athletes should follow the coach’s advice for rest periods.

Athletes who return to play too soon after a concussion are at risk for second-impact syndrome, an often-fatal swelling of the brain caused by a second blow before the first is healed. Take collisions on the field seriously and seek medical attention.

Dr. Ritabelle Fernandes, MD, MPH, FACP is Clinical Associate Professor at the Geriatric Medicine Department of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai‘i. She is board certified in Geriatric medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Internal Medicine and Home Care. She is a practicing physician at the Kokua Kalihi Valley and Kalihi-Palama Health Center.
Watching your kids or grandchildren play hard in a team sport can be a lot of fun. It’s great to be involved and to be a source of encouragement. It’s equally important to keep them safe while playing high-contact sports and to know when they should take a break. A study commissioned by the National…
New Law for Life

We all have choices to make in our lives, and if we are thoughtful about the opportunities and problems we face, some of our choices can be uplifting for our families and communities. The same can be said about our local institutions

Organ Transplant Legislation

Recently the Hawai‘i legislation was passed to allow organ transplantation in Hawai‘i. The new law paves the way for Queens Medical Center to open an organ transplant center in Honolulu. This choice is truly uplifting.

The new law ensures that Hawai‘i patients and their families can get the care they need to fight kidney disease without the expense and hassle of getting on another state’s transplant list or scheduling Mainland medical trips.

Gov. Abercrombie spoke of the legacy of local transplant care in Hawai‘i and the vision of early health care pioneers. In the tradition of caring for our ‘ohana, the Governor said, “This was a collaborative effort in which the Legislature, community members and health providers understood that lives were at stake. I’m grateful that we are able to make a positive difference.”

National Kidney Foundation of Hawai‘i

The NKFH is pleased to have advocated on behalf of kidney patients for an organ transplant center in Hawai‘i. It is estimated that 156,000 people in Hawai‘i have kidney disease, with another 100,000 at risk of incurring the disease. Some of these people will one day need a kidney transplant.

To emphasize the importance of local organ transplantation, the NKFH invited a few kidney patients who are waiting for transplants to attend the legislative sessions and signing ceremony. Their stories reveal just how important the transplant center is for Hawai‘i’s residents.

Patient Story

Kidney patient, Fernando, attended the signing ceremony. He was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) following a bout with pneumonia. He’s been on dialysis for nearly four years and has been on the transplant list for two years. He says that the disease has impacted his family because he has to stay away from the grandchildren when they get colds, out of concern that he will get sick and have pneumonia, which could lead to kidney related complications. Fernando walks regularly, follows a diet suitable for CKD patients, and has a good attitude about his dialysis treatments. With a twinkle in his eye, Fernando says that he considers the dialysis sessions as a “part-time job” that pays him with good health.

We at the NKFH are grateful for the work done by our elected leaders, the inspiration of dedicated kidney patients, and the faithful help of friends and supporters who make the “uplifting choice” to help us accomplish of our mission. Mahalo.

National Kidney Foundation of Hawai‘i
589-5976 | www.kidneyhawaii.org

We all have choices to make in our lives, and if we are thoughtful about the opportunities and problems we face, some of our choices can be uplifting for our families and communities. The same can be said about our local institutions Organ Transplant Legislation Recently the Hawai‘i legislation was passed to allow organ transplantation…
Message from the Editor – April / May 2012

I’d like to welcome our new readers and the many new website visitors. Generations Magazine has been updating and tinkering with its website to better serve you with resources and important events that may be of interest to you and your family. Go to www.generations808.com to view all our past issues and resource guides, current events, support group meetings and regular columns such as Social Security, AARP Hawaii and Dr. Ritabelle.

This issue’s cover story features famed UH baseball coach Les Murakami. We talk about his early days on Kaua‘i and how he became the first full-time head baseball coach for UH, plus his recovery nearly 12 years after his massive stroke.

His doctors call him the “miracle man” because at 75 he works out nearly every day and goes to therapy to improve his speech and mobility. Thank you Coach and Mrs. Murakami for sharing your story with our readers. You are the best. Keep it up, Coach.

Some other wonderful stories in this issue include the Sakura House, a unique adult day center focusing on Japanese speaking clients, a health and fitness article about 90-year-old superwomen Joannie and ATRC, one of the most resourceful agencies catering to the physically challenged.

Lastly, don’t forget our 6th annual Aging in Place Workshop, May 26th, at the Ala Moana Hotel

Live Well,

Percy Ihara, Publisher & Editor

I’d like to welcome our new readers and the many new website visitors. Generations Magazine has been updating and tinkering with its website to better serve you with resources and important events that may be of interest to you and your family. Go to www.generations808.com to view all our past issues and resource guides, current events, support group…
Call for Seniors at Elementary School

FELLOWS staff (L–R): Ruth Yonamine, Ruth Hamada, Harriet Rechnitz, Esther Yokoyama

The FELLOWS (Fellowship, Education, Lifelong Learning Opportunities With Seniors) Program at Wai‘alae School was launched in the 1998-1999 school year and was based on a senior-center-within-a-school model. A demonstration project of the Hawai‘i Intergenerational Network, the program aimed to bring adult volunteers (age 55 or older) into Wai‘alae School to support the students’ academic and social growth, while providing a social setting for the volunteers.

Nearly 15 years later, the FELLOWS Program is an active and important part of Wai‘alae School. There are about 20 volunteers whose experiences as FELLOWS range from a few weeks to more than 13 years. They are in the classroom, in the library and at schoolwide activities, such as our recent Fun Fair.

Here are a few comments from Wai‘alae School teachers and their FELLOWS.

This relationship is beneficial for all of us. I rely on volunteers to support my literacy program, the children enjoy their company and I know Grandma Esther and Miss Ginny walk away from C-3 with a happy heart. We have developed a close relationship and I look forward to seeing both of them every week!

~Mrs. Gracie, Teacher

Having FELLOWS in my classroom is very important to the students and me. They provide emotional support, like having a grandparent to talk to.

~Mrs. Wakata, Teacher

I’ve always marveled at how the volunteers spend so much unhurried time with the students. I’m always in a rush, trying to reach each child and teach every piece of the curriculum. The volunteers have no such constraints and I love how that immediately puts the students at ease.

~Mrs. Ching, Teacher

When I saw an article about FELLOWS in the paper, I found the idea of working with students very appealing, something where I could contribute. So now, in my eleventh year of volunteering, I am a much happier and more fulfilled retiree.

~Barney, volunteer since 2001

It feels good to be useful. Added benefits are lots of hugs.

~Harriet, volunteer since 2000

The most rewarding experience I’ve had with this program are the unsolicited hugs I receive from students at the end of each day!

~Maedene, volunteer since 2003

Let’s just say that it’s the leg hugs that are the most important. Nobody else in my life gives me leg hugs.

~Jeanne, volunteer since 2002

Off campus, when you hear a “little voice” calling your name just to say ‘hi’ and perhaps introduce you to their parents — it’s very rewarding.

~Jackie, volunteer since 2005

The FELLOWS Program allows me to give back to the students and help the teachers. I can share with the school some of my working skills.

~Bob, volunteer since 2008

For more information, please email melanie@waialae.edu or call 733-4880, extension 236.

The FELLOWS (Fellowship, Education, Lifelong Learning Opportunities With Seniors) Program at Wai‘alae School was launched in the 1998-1999 school year and was based on a senior-center-within-a-school model. A demonstration project of the Hawai‘i Intergenerational Network, the program aimed to bring adult volunteers (age 55 or older) into Wai‘alae School to support the students’ academic and…