On Aug. 9, 1969, a surgical team headed by Dr. Livingston Wong performed the first kidney transplant at St. Francis Hospital. Since then, more than 2,300 lives in Hawai‘i have been saved and transformed by organ transplants. To celebrate this remarkable milestone and the man whose vision drove it forward, St. Francis Healthcare System hosted a special event on Aug. 7 at its Liliha Campus.
Guests from The Queen’s Medical Center, The Queen’s Transplant Center, Legacy of Life Hawai‘i and the National Kidney Foundation of Hawai‘i honored Dr. Wong for his service and vision. The event was also a homecoming for many who had worked with Dr. Wong and those whose lives he had helped to heal and save.
Following Dr. Wong’s first transplant surgery, St. Francis Medical Center opened its kidney transplant program, which served as Hawai‘i’s only transplant center for 40 years. Through the years, the transplant program expanded to include kidney, liver, pancreas and heart transplantation. In 1978, Dr. Wong headed a team of physicians and technicians who performed the first bonemarrow transplant in Hawai‘i. Dr. Wong later established Hawai‘i’s emergency management system and is credited with raising the level of the statewide system to become one of the best programs in the nation.
Dr. Wong with members from Surgical Associates Inc: (L–R, 1st row) Livingston M.F. Wong, MD, FASC; Dr. Alan Cheung, MD, FASC; (2nd row) Lyle Wong, director of administration (Livingston’s son); Linda L. Wong, MD (Livingston’s daughter who performed the first liver transplant in Hawai‘i); and Whitney Limm, MD.
Dr. Alan Cheung, director of the Queen’s Transplant Center, a transplant surgeon and close associate and friend of Dr. Wong, spoke to the more than 250 guests at the event. “Livi recognized the suffering and needs of patients with end-stage renal failure and quickly mastered the vascular access surgeries that were lifelines for these patients,” Dr. Cheung said. “He wanted to serve the needs of the people…”
Become a donor by registering at Legacy of Life Hawai‘i or at your local DMV.
On Aug. 9, 1969, a surgical team headed by Dr. Livingston Wong performed the first kidney transplant at St. Francis Hospital. Since then, more than 2,300 lives in Hawai‘i have been saved and transformed by organ transplants. To celebrate this remarkable milestone and the man whose vision drove it forward, St. Francis Healthcare System hosted…
Starting with the 2020 primaries, all statewide elections in Hawai‘i will be conducted by mail, pursuant to Act 136, Session Laws of Hawai‘i 2019 (HB1248, CD1). This will be a big change for some Hawai‘i voters, especially those who are not accustomed to voting by absentee ballot. For those who vote by absentee ballot, the all vote-by-mail system is nothing new.
However, for Hawai‘i voters who are used to standing in lines at polling places with family, friends and neighbors on Election Day to cast their vote, get ready to fill out your ballots in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Vote-By-Mail requires that a ballot package be mailed to registered voters approximately three weeks before Election Day — either primary or general. Each ballot package shall include a ballot, a secrecy envelope, a business reply return envelope and voting instructions.
Registered voters will complete the ballots, insert them in the secrecy envelopes so that the completed ballots will be kept private and then place the secrecy envelopes with ballots in the business reply envelopes. Registered voters are required to sign the return the envelopes or the ballots will not be counted.
All ballots must be received by the Clerk’s Office by 7pm on Election Day. Do not mail your completed ballots the day of the election, because they will not be received in time and your ballots will not be counted. Mail your completed ballots to the Clerk’s Office at least three days before Election Day. The voter’s signature on the return envelope will be verified against the signature on file in your voter registration record.
If a mistake is made on the ballot, do not try to correct the ballot, which may result in a spoiled ballot. Instead, contact the County Clerk’s Office for a replacement ballot.
Additionally, once the ballot is received, the County Clerk’s Office may contact you to remedy any problems with the ballot. This may require visiting a Voter Service Center (VSC). The City and County of Honolulu has designated at least two VSCs — Honolulu Hale (530 S. King St.) and Kapolei Hale (1000 Uluohia St. in Kapolei). Note that the VSCs will replace traditional Election Day polling places.
VSCs will be open 10 business days (weekdays only) prior to and through each Election Day. At the VSCs, people may register to vote, including same-day voter registration, vote in-person, hand-deliver their ballots in-person or correct their ballots if they are summoned to do so.
Other jurisdictions that have implemented Vote- By-Mail (Colorado, Oregon and Washington) have some of the highest voter turnout rates in the nation, a median 15% higher turnout rate during the 2018 primaries than the remaining polling place states. Hawai‘i’s Vote-By-Mail will increase our voter engagement by giving our voters more ways and days to participate in our democratic process and reduce costs of operating traditional polling places. Common Cause Hawai‘i looks forward to more people voting in Hawai‘i!
Starting with the 2020 primaries, all statewide elections in Hawai‘i will be conducted by mail. This will be a big change for some Hawai‘i voters, especially those who are not accustomed to voting by absentee ballot. For those who vote by absentee ballot, the all vote-by-mail system is nothing new.
Anona and Joseph “Nappy” Napoleon love the sea. Their kuleana is to respect and care for the sea by practicing and perpetuating cultural traditions of their ancestors who lived on and near the ocean. We call them “watermen.” Kō ā moana may be men or women, surfers, fishermen, paddlers, sailors or divers. They know the power and majesty of the sea in every season and type of weather. They trust their ancestral skills and honed talents, and mentor the next generation to carry them on. It’s clear that that they are more comfortable and happier on the water than on land. With kō ā moana at the helm, dark swells become waterslides, rough seas promise exciting adventures and being alone on the open ocean brings calm and freedom.
“The ocean brought us together,” says Anona as she smiles at Nappy. “And it keeps us together, too.” For the last 55 years, the Napoleons raised five sons by the sea and taught many mo‘opuna the ways of the sea. Their love affair with each other and the ocean honors the family traditions of the Nāone ‘ohana of O‘ahu, and the Napoleon ‘ohana of Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i Island and O‘ahu. Their steadfastness ushers in new generations of kō ā moana, people of the ocean.
Joseph “Nappy” Napoleon, Champion Paddler and Steersman.
The Man Behind the Woman
Joseph “Nappy” Napoleon, Champion Paddler and Steersman. Hawaiian Waterman Hall of Fame Inductee, 2010.
On Sunday, Oct. 13, Uncle “Nappy” Napoleon, Hawai‘i’s revered champion paddler, will don a green shirt to compete in his 62nd world paddling championship — the Moloka‘i Hoe. This race across the Ka‘iwi Channel starts at Hale o Lono Harbor on Moloka‘i’s west shore. After some five hours and 41 miles of paddling across the shallow Penguin Banks and then braving the “washing machine” of the deep churning Ka‘iwi Channel, paddlers make land at Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Waikīkī. Of the seven most dangerous channels in the world, Ka‘iwi outranks the English Channel for rough seas.
Nappy first paddled across this channel in 1957, and in 1958, he won the inaugural Moloka‘i Hoe official competition. Among his five additional wins was the 1966 event, when 40-knot winds and 20-foot swells in the channel savaged the race. Only six of 12 canoes finished. One crew lost their canoe. Nappy’s team prevailed, despite capsizing three times and losing the outrigger. Beating out all the international competition for wins in ’61, ’69, ’72 and ’73 was much easier than in ’66.
Although Nappy is a renowned expert steersman, he is a competitive paddler first — often helping his team paddle hard to make landfall.
“In the early days, I used to steer the canoe on a high line and surf down to Waikīkī. But nowadays, I pick lines depending on conditions,” says Nappy.
In 2001 and again in 2003, his “60s” team won their division. In the sixth seat, he is moving all the time — adjusting the trajectory of his canoe with every push of the currents, helping paddle up a bump or cutting a diagonal to the next swell. He is the king of riding swells — what the Napoleon ‘ohana calls “connecting the bumps.” This skill builds on a deep knowledge of the sea under all conditions and a “feel” for how the canoe responds to the most delicate tension on the steering paddle. Sometimes Nappy zigzags between swells coming from two directions. Other times, he’s surfing downwind. If you watch Nappy’s canoe turn around a regatta pilon, don’t blink — or you’ll miss it. If turning on a dime were easy, all the canoes would do it that way.
“Way back, Ben Finney came to me and asked me to help him figure out a paddling strategy for pulling Hōkūle‘a through the doldrums,” says Nappy. (The doldrums is a band of flat ocean near the equator where winds cease. Sailboats can get becalmed for days and weeks.)
Photo by Michael A Tongg
Nappy was not convinced that paddling a huge sailboat would work. Eventually, Hōkūle‘a carried a portable outboard motor with a long shaft to drive through the calms.
“I met Mau Pialug when he came here from Micronesia, but I decided not to go to Tahiti with Hōkūle‘a anyway because Herb Kane wanted full-blooded Hawaiian crew members. I stuck to paddling and racing.”
Two years ago was the first time Nappy Napoleon was racing Moloka‘i Hoe without his wife at his side. Team Napoleon’s channel beacon and anchor was at home, recovering from a stroke. Now Nappy’s life is much more than racing or coaching at Ānuenue Canoe Club. He is part of a family caregiving team supporting the love of his life.
The Woman Behind the Man: Anona Nāone Napoleon, PhD, Mākaha Surf Queen, Champion Paddler, Surfing Coach. Hawaiian Waterman Hall of Fame Inductee, 2014
The Woman Behind the Man
Anona Nāone Napoleon, PhD, Mākaha Surf Queen, Champion Paddler, Surfing Coach. Hawaiian Waterman Hall of Fame Inductee, 2014
Anona Nāone came from a Kaimukī surfing and kayaking family and was one of the only girls surfing big waves at Waimea Bay in the late ’50s. She taught surfing and was sponsored to try out for the 1960 and 1964 Olympic kayaking teams. Tragedy struck in 1960, when she suffered a severe diving accident that left her temporarily paralyzed for nearly a year. Nevertheless, she recovered fully to compete in and win the 1961 International Mākaha Surfing Contest, claiming the coveted Mākaha Surf Queen title.
Anona was not only beautiful but also a brilliant student at Star of the Sea Catholic School. She went on to the University of Hawai‘i and returned to teach at Star of the Sea — the place that inspired her to follow a vocation in education.
A teaching career did not keep this woman of the ocean from pursuing competitive water sports. Anona eagerly joined ‘Onipa‘a, one of two women’s crews to first paddle across the Ka‘iwi Channel. For 20 years, women were not allowed to complete in paddle races across Ka‘iwi. But in 1975, the men of Waikīkī Surf Club agreed to coach a team of seasoned female athletes from Outrigger, Lanikai and Kailua canoe clubs for their first open ocean voyage. The Healani Canoe Club put up a second canoe and both teams completed the crossing.
When the first women’s world championship of paddling, Nā Wāhine o Ke Kai, was first held in 1979, Anona’s canoe crossed the Ka‘iwi with the best time. Her crews also won in ’87, ’88 and ’89. In 1998, Anona Napoleon came in first at the International Polynesian Canoe World Sprint Championships in Fiji.
Part of being a woman of the ocean is perpetuating the Hawaiian nohona — the Hawaiian ways of doing things. In 2003, Anona took on a new challenge to apply Hawaiian values and methods to her teaching profession.
Anona went back to college and earned her doctorate in education. Her thesis focused on developing culturally responsive primary education curricula based on the Hawaiian method of conflict resolution — ho‘oponopono. Like the successful culturally focused social and healthcare services explored by Mary Kawena Pūku‘i in the book Nānā I Ke Kumu, Anona’s work created objectives and lesson plans that would engage students using traditional Hawaiian learning styles and mentoring methods.
Waikīkī Beach Boy and the Mākaha Queen
Nappy was born in Kealakekua on Hawai‘i Island, where, as a small boy, he remembers paddling everywhere and racing canoe with his cousin. The family moved to Kapahulu, O‘ahu, and he remembers Waikīkī Beach when he was 10 years old. Nobody under 16 could race, but when the canoes were short a man, Nappy would be allowed to jump in on a training run. He was a natural who pulled hard and never got tired.
“I was lolo, you know. Not so good at schoolwork and only made it through the seventh grade,” Nappy says. “I was a hard worker, though, and a strong paddler — racing canoes with my cousin when I was little. I went to Ala Wai Trade School, paddled with Outrigger Canoe Club and worked at Waikīkī beach giving canoe rides to tourists for 75 cents, and surf lessons for four dollars an hour. Now, the lessons are expensive! I knew all the guys at Beach Boys concession: Sam ‘Steamboat’ Mokuahi, ‘Rabbit’ Kekai, ‘Chick’ Daniels, the Kahanamokus — I carried Duke’s board. After he retired, he came to the beach to talk story and I listened. I remember how much fun it was to cut the waves in ‘Ka Moi,’ his big koa canoe. It weighed more than 600 pounds.
“I had a lot of friends, but I didn’t like parties — didn’t go out much. I was friends with Anona’s brothers, who worked for Aloha Airlines, and went with them to dive Pāpi‘i, Kaunakakai-side, Moloka‘i. They all looked after Anona and I did, too. I was another big brother to her. One day in 1959, I got up the courage to tell her that I didn’t want to be her big brother anymore.”
Nappy and Anona’s wedding in 1965
It worked. Nappy and Anona dated for six years, during which time she trained for the Olympics. Being a Beach Boy didn’t lend itself to raising a family, so Nappy landed a job making cement tiles. “I told ’em I can work hard. Just show me what to do.” Eventually, that job led to a career in construction.
The Sea Brings Us Together
Anona and Nappy wed in 1965. They were a handsome couple, brought together by their love of the sea. “Kō ā Moana,” those of the ocean, raise their kids by the sea, showing them how to respect the power and beauty of the sea in every kind of weather. A year later, Joseph (Joey) was born; two years later, twins Aaron and Darryn. Later on, David and Jonah. The Napoleon family spent every weekend and summer at the beach, morning ’til night. The kamali‘i came to trust their ability to ride the waves, currents and winds. They also learned to mālama the treasures of beach and reef.
Getting to know their island was part of the mentoring. Sometimes Nappy and Anona took the boys out of school so the family could surf a famous spot together. That is how seriously Anona and Nappy felt about passing on the knowledge of their kūpuna — water sports, surfing, paddling, swimming and always having fun as a family.
The Napoleon family (clockwise, L–R) Joseph “Nappy,” Anona, David, Jonah, Joey, Darryn and Aaron. The Napoleon boys grew up at the beach — every weekend, every summer. Besides fun and exercise, they came to know the ocean in every season, every kind of weather. Nappy and Anona mentored them in the skills and traditions of their ancestors — conservation, stewardship and confidence in their abilities to paddle, surf, fish, gather and look out for one another at all times.
Today, Napoleon mo‘opuna number 15 and great-grandchildren, 24. Grandson Riggs is a 20-year-old stand-up paddler who remembers being out in Grandpa’s canoe when he was 8 years old, with Nappy behind him, telling what to do. Nappy calls Riggs and his dad, Aaron, “naturals” because they instinctively knew how to do well in races. In 2012, when Riggs was 12, he rode his stand-up paddleboard across the Ka‘iwi solo in seven hours — the record for the youngest person to make that crossing.
“My boys and mo‘opuna are ocean people,” says Nappy. “One time, Anona and I took the boys by Publics reef break near the zoo and waves were pretty good. I went out with them, and when I looked back, those kids were doing 360s and surfing right into the wall! When I came out, Anona said, ‘I thought you were watching the boys?’ I told her, ‘Hey — no need. They know what they’re doing.’”
Preservation is not “knowing about” traditions but practicing them. Nappy and Anona also modeled their devotion to each other, deep respect for one another’s talents and the happiness that comes when a family sticks together. These were lessons well-learned; the boys are raising their own families, and 39 Napoleon mo‘opuna will carry on the legacy to be humble, share aloha and go after your passion. “You know, our boys helped build this house. Nappy taught them construction skills, too, and they could figure out the plan — even when the installers were stumped,” says Anona.
Since her stroke in 2018, Anona has been rehabbing at home in Pālolo Valley. Some days are easier than others, but the Napoleon family is also paddling this canoe with her. For 55 years, Nappy has said that he is “a lucky guy” and that he owes all his success to his wife. They love being together, and with Nappy at her side, Anona is safe and confident, surrounded by the love of her family. Anona requires care every day, so Christie (son Aaron’s wife’s friend’s sister) provides home care on weekdays. Nappy covers nights. Every weekend, a homecare agency comes in to help.
This summer, Nappy was able to teach a summer paddling program three mornings a week for 35 ‘Iolani School students at Ānuenue Canoe Club headquarters. After a couple of hours, he’s back with Anona doing chores or enjoying the shade under the mango tree in the yard.
“His mom was disabled,” says Anona. “He cooked and took care of the house for her. And before we got married, he helped me when I was laid up.”
Her sweet, melodic voice doesn’t match her resume — world-class athlete, PhD teacher, mother and grandmother. With the grace and dignity of her ancestors, Anona shares aloha, smiles and lets the love of her life do the talking.
“I hope I did not talk too much about paddling,” says Nappy. “You know I love to paddle, but my life is really about my wife.”
In one of life’s huli, Anona is the center of attention again. Her accomplishments raised the bar for women in water sports, while she was preparing thousands of Star of the Sea students for high schools and college and bringing up five sons.
At her induction into the Hawaiian Waterman Hall of Fame, Anona said, “The reason I stand before you tonight is because of the men in my life, including my husband, Nappy… Thank you for 50 wonderful years.”
From the nurturing of her family to the protection of her brothers and the unconditional support of her husband, the men in her life recognized her talents. With the encouragement of her academic peers and the love, respect and trust of her sons and their families, Anona is still the graceful, humble and smiling beacon. Her family takes this opportunity to fuss over her, paying back and forward the blessing of her deep and unfailing aloha.
The man behind the woman, who has for years said, “All I am comes through my wife,” applies his tireless energy to caring for her now. “It’s not a big deal,” says Nappy. “I love to do it and I have lots of help. We still love being together; we still happy.”
A Lesson from Paddling
Remarkably, aging in place requires some of the same skills as paddling. Caregiver training is minimal, and you just have to jump in and do it. Every day brings new swells, winds and weather. But you must be very good at keeping a steady pace to make headway. As a caregiver, you must follow the pattern of the swells to your advantage, staying just in front of the wave as long as you can. You learn to use its natural energy and less of yours.
At the end of a good ride down a wave comes a lull, where steady paddling is required to move forward to the next crest. Paddling up takes a bit more energy, but by keeping steady and on course, you will soon be off and gliding easily again.
An important Hawaiian point of view that Anona teaches her mo‘opuna and her students helps us in caregiving, too. It’s this: The ocean between us does not separate us, it connects us to each other. In aging, the time between today and our elder years connects all of us. We are all on the same voyage. The line we follow, the path we choose, may alter how long it takes to get there, or how difficult the going may be. Our skills to navigate rough seas and ride the waves can make the journey easier. As we fly our colors in the regatta of our elder years, it’s not about racing to the finish line — it’s about getting there and enjoying the ride with our family and friends.
As Anona Napoleon says, “It’s about aloha. Be humble, show your aloha freely to everyone, and above all, have fun.”
Nappy and Anona founded the Ānuenue Canoe Club in 1983 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village lagoon. For 36 years, Anona, Nappy and son Aaron, also an accomplished waterman, have taught thousands of Honolulu and visitor children to paddle, including kids from A¯nuenue Hawaiian Immersion School. Club members trained for races and regattas year round. Nappy is the head coach, and at 78, he competes with a “70s” Ānuenue crew. Join the healthy fun of paddling, visit www.AnuenueCanoeClub.org.
Anona and Joseph “Nappy” Napoleon love the sea. Their kuleana is to respect and care for the sea by practicing and perpetuating cultural traditions of their ancestors who lived on and near the ocean. We call them “watermen.” Kō ā moana may be men or women, surfers, fishermen, paddlers, sailors or divers.
How often do we get and answer calls from telephone numbers of people who we think we know, only to discover it’s a telemarketer or scammer? Below are some prevention tips that may help.
NEVER pick up a call on the first ring until you confirm the Caller ID is legitimate.
IF the Caller ID is not in your address book and you don’t recognize the number, let it go to voice mail.
IF the Caller ID is in your address book under someone’s name but it doesn’t appear on your phone, chances are the Caller ID that’s listed has been spoofed.
IF you do pick up a call by mistake, hang up immediately. Even if you don’t fall for the scam, scammers can still sell your telephone number
and whatever information they had gotten from your conversation with the scammer.
Use the default phone greeting rather than your own. This will mask your gender and age.
Routinely update your address book with the current numbers of family members, friends, services and other important contacts.
Use GOOGLE to determine if the Caller ID is legitimate. Also include the word “scam” to see if the Caller ID had been linked to scams.
How often do we get and answer calls from telephone numbers of people who we think we know, only to discover it’s a telemarketer or scammer? Here are some prevention tips that may help…
My office has received an increase in calls from parents, siblings or other relatives trying to kick an adult child out of their house. Often, the caller has already requested that the child leave, only to receive an adamant “no” from the unwelcome person. In one instance, a mother was selling the home that she loved to move into a small, one-bedroom apartment, hoping her son would not be allowed to live there.
After a child’s loss of a job or a divorce, naturally, parents want to help, expecting the situation to be temporary, even though they say “stay as long as you want.” The caller may then explain how the child has made no efforts to move out. Why move out of the family home when you can stay there rent-free with meals included?
Why I am being informed of these situations? Because there are often allegations of emotional, physical and financial abuse. The abuse occurs very subtly, frequently creeping up on the senior parent until they find themselves in a situation that seems inescapable. For instance, I have gotten multiple calls from parents who gave spending money to their child, which eventually turned into supporting them entirely. One father almost depleted his savings trying to bail his son out of repeated financial disasters.
How do you divorce yourself from a child?
If the abuse is physical, call 911. No exception. After the police arrest him or her, file for a restraining order. Our office’s Victim Advocate Services (808-768-7400) can help with that or there are instructions online as well. You can still call the police if the abuse is financial. But depending on the circumstances, the arrest may not be immediate. Additionally, a parent can call the Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i (808-536-4302) and request help getting a Writ of Ejectment. This is a legal way of kicking a child out of the house.
Why not just call the police and have the child removed for trespassing?
The police may interpret the relationship the parent and the child have as a landlord/tenant situation. In that case, the parent will have to go through the court system to evict the child from the home. The process may take a month or longer. Whatever avenue the parent decides to pursue, it is not going to be easy. And because of that difficulty, many parents choose to remain in an unhealthy environment instead of living in a stress-free, happy home. The choice is yours.
My office has received an increase in calls from parents, siblings or other relatives trying to kick an adult child out of their house. Often, the caller has already requested that the child leave, only to receive an adamant “no” from the unwelcome person. In one instance, a mother was selling the home that she…
For many years, we have heard our federal and state politicians talk about “unfunded liabilities” of the government.
An unfunded liability is any liability or expense that does not have sufficient savings or investments set aside to pay for it. The party responsible for paying the unfunded liability pays for it out of current income or savings or by borrowing the funds.
The risk of an unfunded liability is two-fold:
1) The payee may not receive payments which they are entitled to
2) The payer may experience financial stress
Although the government must address these issues in the coming years, we often overlook the fact that these issues may also extend into our personal lives.
In our 20s, an unfunded liability might be an unexpected repair that could require using our savings or borrowing from our credit card.
Later in life, unfunded liabilities can be more serious. For some, a health crisis could result in unexpected and unaffordable medical expenses.
While the unfunded liabilities of the government may seem overwhelming, establishing a regular personal savings plan and investing wisely can help alleviate the burden of personal unfunded liabilities. Consulting a financial professional can assist you with evaluating and managing your portfolio to help mitigate your personal exposure.
For many years, we have heard our federal and state politicians talk about “unfunded liabilities” of the government. An unfunded liability is any liability or expense that does not have sufficient savings or investments set aside to pay for it. The party responsible for paying the unfunded liability pays for it out of current income…
With rising health care costs, many Medicare participants use Medicare supplement insurance to help cover expenses that Medicare does not.
However, many still struggle to pay the premiums for their Medicare supplement insurance. Surprisingly, another insurance product — one that can guarantee a monthly income stream — might be the solution. A single premium immediate annuity — or a SPIA — can guarantee a source of income for life in exchange for a lump sum premium payment.
SPIAs are the only product that can guarantee that you won’t outlive your savings and offer financial security for living a long life.
Here’s how it works:
1. Purchase a Medicare supplement policy with help from a licensed insurance agent.
2. Your financial advisor can help you purchase a SPIA with a payout that will cover your Medicare supplement premium and other expenses.
There’s no guarantee you can completely fund the premiums throughout the duration of your SPIA policy. But an SPIA can help keep your Medicare supplement policy in force by providing a guaranteed income.
MUTUAL OF OMAHA, HAWAII DIVISION OFFICE
1600 Kapiolani Blvd., Ste. 1200, Honolulu HI 96814
Garrett Wheeler | 808-942-8133 ext.248 garrett.wheeler@mutualofomaha.com www.mutualofomaha.com Investment advisory products and services are made available through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisory Firm. Member FINRA/SIPC.
With rising health care costs, many Medicare participants use Medicare supplement insurance to help cover expenses that Medicare does not. However, many still struggle to pay the premiums for their Medicare supplement insurance. Surprisingly, another insurance product — one that can guarantee a monthly income stream — might be the solution.
How nice would it be if your child was born with an operating manual? There are many parenting books out there, but none that are specifically made for your child. The obvious reason for this is because the only person who can write an operating manual for a child, is the person who is raising the child.
This idea really hits home for clients who have a minor child or a child with a disability and are concerned about who is going to love and raise him or her if they are no longer here. In this case, the most important estate planning document is the will. The will allows parents to appoint a guardian for their child if they are no longer able or alive to care for them.
However, establishing a will alone is insufficient. It does not tell the guardian about the child or about how to love and raise him or her.
To supplement the will, our nonprofit, the Heartfelt Legacy Foundation, created a memorandum entitled A Heartfelt Operating Manual. We recommend our clients fill out this memorandum to provide guidance to the appointed guardians in respect to specific child-rearing practices, and important choices and wishes regarding their child’s care — it also serves as a tool for parents to use in discussions with their guardian. The will, the memorandum and a conversation will prepare the guardian to provide what you wish — the best care possible.
How nice would it be if your child was born with an operating manual? There are many parenting books out there, but none that are specifically made for your child. The obvious reason for this is because the only person who can write an operating manual for a child, is the person who is raising…
A POLST is a special document in which you say what measures should be used to keep you alive. The acronym stands for — Provider Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment. It’s different from an Advance Directive in that it will be followed by emergency personnel before you reach the hospital, provided that they are aware of its existence.
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are required to do whatever they can to restore and stabilize your heartbeat and breathing and take you to an appropriate facility for treatment. They will not read your Advance Directive and try to figure out how it might apply to your situation. But in some cases, resuscitation procedures are not appropriate or wanted.
A POLST — a medical provider’s order — will be followed by the EMTs. Your Advance Directive will not come into play until you are in the hospital. But depending on what your Advance Directive says, the EMTs may not have followed your wishes by keeping you alive.
Almost every state has a version of the POLST, but it is known by other names. In New York it is called a MOLST and in West Virginia it is called a MOST. Veterans Administration medical centers use the term SAPO, which stands for State Authorized Portable Order. Whatever the alphabet soup used to name the document, it generally works as described above.
In Hawai‘i, it’s recommended that you print your POLST on lime green paper so it will be recognizable immediately. The trick is to have your POLST in a conspicuous place in case you need it. You can post a copy near your bed, or you can carry it with you when you leave the house. Just make sure your loved ones know that you have one and where to find it if an emergency occurs.
Note that the POLST does not have to say “don’t resuscitate me.” It can say the exact opposite if that is your wish. Either way, most people do not need a POLST. However, for someone whose death is imminent and who doesn’t want to risk being kept alive artificially against his or her wishes, a POLST is essential.
SCOTT MAKUAKANE, Counselor at Law Focusing exclusively on estate planning and trust law. www.est8planning.com 808-587-8227 | maku@est8planning.com
A POLST is a special document in which you say what measures should be used to keep you alive. The acronym stands for — Provider Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment. It’s different from an Advance Directive in that it will be followed by emergency personnel before you reach the hospital, provided that they are aware…
Many couples are choosing to start families later in life compared to their parents and grandparents. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the mean age of first-time mothers rose from 25 in 2009 to 26.3 just five years later.* And, increasingly, mothers are waiting to have their first child at age 35 or older. This trend has financial implications. On one hand, parents may be more financially secure and have clear priorities for the future. On the other hand, these parents are closer to retirement, so balancing kids’ expenses with saving can be a juggle.
If your kids choose to have their first child later in life, here are four key dos and don’ts to help them manage their finances with confidence:
DOestablish a solid financial foundation.Their household expenses will likely increase once they’re paying for childcare, additional checkups at the doctor or dentist and other items for their child. With this in mind, they should consider using the discretionary income they have today to shore up their financial position—prioritize paying off student loans, build an emergency fund (three to six months worth of expenses is a good benchmark) and consider paying more toward their mortgage if they own a home.
DOboost savings.Creating a habit early of saving for major goals can help maintain savings momentum while they are focused on adapting to their new addition. They should harness the power of compound interest by contributing to their retirement accounts with each paycheck and setting aside funds for major goals, such as an annual vacation or home remodel.
DON’Tprioritize the child’s college education over retirement.Will they be making tuition payments in their final years of work or in retirement? If this is a possibility, it’s imperative that they create a plan to balance saving for both goals right away. The reality is many couples need to push back their retirement date, figure out how to earn additional income with a different job or cut back their travel plans to pay for their child’s education. While it’s understandable that they will want to provide for their child, keep in mind that health, layoffs or other circumstances outside of their control could change their retirement date. Their child has other options to pay for college — including scholarships, loans and work-study programs — that are not available to them if their retirement savings come up short.
DON’Tforget to update the estate plan.Ensuring they have adequate insurance coverage becomes a bigger priority when they have a child in the picture. If your son or daughter (or spouse) were to sustain an injury or pass away prematurely, they would need to ensure that their disability and life insurance coverage will cover their financial commitments and goals. They should also consider purchasing long-term care insurance to cover potential healthcare expenses in retirement.
It’s exciting to dream and plan for an expanded family. But if your kids want a second opinion on how to juggle their financial priorities, they should meet with a financial advisor.
*Mathews, T.J. and Hamilton, Brady E., “Mean Age of Mothers is on the Rise: United States, 2000-2014,” National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief No. 232, January 2016. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db232.pdf.
Many couples are choosing to start families later in life compared to their parents and grandparents. And, increasingly, mothers are waiting to have their first child at age 35 or older. This trend has financial implications. On one hand, parents may be more financially secure and have clear priorities for the future. On the other…
With so many options available, its hard to know if you chose the right home care provider for your loved one. Here are four essential questions to ask when you’re evaluating your home care partner.
1. Is the care plan being followed?
A care plan is specific to your loved one and any deviations could mean they’re not getting the care they require. Changes should be discussed and approved ahead of time.
2. How reliable are they?
Are caregivers on time? Do they consistently provide a high level of care? Reliability and trust are the foundation for a strong partnership; instability can cause unwarranted stress.
3. How well do they communicate?
A good home care provider communicates with everyone involved in the process. Family members, care managers, caregivers and your loved one should all have an active voice.
4. Do they check up on employees?
It’s important for your care provider to be hands-on in managing their employees.
By ensuring that you’ve partnered with the right care provider, you’ll give yourself and your loved one the peace of mind needed to make home care successful for your family.
With so many options available, its hard to know if you chose the right home care provider for your loved one. Here are four essential questions to ask when you’re evaluating your home care partner…
People living with dementia (PLWD) need guidance, human connection and a sense of independence. In my professional practice, we use the Positive Physical Approach (PPA). This innovative modality developed by Teepa Snow teaches family caregivers more effective ways to understand and communicate with their loved ones and all people with dementia.
Approach from the front. All humans are visually oriented. Approaching a PLWD from the front at approximately six feet away will give them the time they need to adjust to your presence.
Go slow.Starting at six feet or farther away, begin taking steps toward your PLWD one second apart. As we age, our reflexes and mental processing gradually slow down. Taking this into account, a PLWD needs a few more seconds to process what they see, hear, think and feel.
Call out their name. Sometimes a PLWD can be lucid but other times he or she can forget who you are. The best way to make your entrance is to introduce yourself and ask them for their name. Try saying “Hi, I’m Jane and you are?” They may respond with their first name or simply “I’m your mother.” Either way, you are allowing them to tell you who they are in that moment of time.
“Offer” your hand.Notice that I did not say “take their hand.” The goal is to look like a friend instead of a threat. Instead of approaching with a
quick handshake, maintain the connection. We can accomplish this by switching into a hand under-hand position.
Get to the side.It’s important to remember nonverbal cues and body positioning. Avoid a dominant, confrontational stance by repositioning yourself into a supportive stance. This will relieve agitation and provide a sense of comfort for the PLWD.
Get low.Position yourself at or below the PLWD’s eye level. A more submissive position will allow the PLWD to open up and feel at ease in your presence.
These positive approach techniques taught in caregiving workshops help maintain the dignity of the PLWD by enabling loved ones to perform activities with them rather than being perceived as doing things to them.
HAWAII MEMORY FRIENDS LLC
Caregiver Education & Consultation
Mapuana Taamu, Certified PAC Trainer 808-469-5330 | mfriends808@gmail.com Caregiver’s workshop: IT’S ALL IN YOUR APPROACH, scheduled at Pohai Nani (August, September, October), Kapiolani CC (September, October, November). Contact Hawaii Memory Friends for time and details.
People living with dementia need guidance, human connection and a sense of independence. In my professional practice, we use the Positive Physical Approach. This innovative modality developed by Teepa Snow teaches family caregivers more effective ways to understand and communicate with their loved ones and all people with dementia.
On Aug. 9, 1969, a surgical team headed by Dr. Livingston Wong performed the first kidney transplant at St. Francis Hospital. Since then, more than 2,300 lives in Hawai‘i have been saved and transformed by organ transplants. To celebrate this remarkable milestone and the man whose vision drove it forward, St. Francis Healthcare System hosted a special event on Aug. 7 at its Liliha Campus.
