Category: February – March 2017

  • Priority No. 1: The Welfare of Our Seniors

    Kokua Council, one of the oldest senior citizen advocacy groups in Hawai‘i, plays an important role in a complex web of community organizations. Kokua’s main focus is on the informational, advocacy and educational needs of seniors. Kokua complements and supplements the agendas and actions of national and local agencies, and coalitions such as AARP, HGEA…

  • Meals at the Kupuna Wellness Centers

    The Kupuna Wellness Centers provide free lifestyle and wellness programs for older adults (60 years and over) operated by Lanakila Meals on Wheels. The centers provide a wide range of activities to support the physical fitness, cognition and emotional well-being of its participants. Activities include fitness classes, nutritional education, crafts, guest speakers and outings. The…

  • Memorializing Can Lift the Burden of Regret

    Many families in Hawai‘i now choose cremation and scattering their loved one’s ashes into nature. Scattering can be a profoundly moving experience, but it’s also a decision that should be considered very carefully — because once it’s done, it can’t be undone. Without a plan in place, families may experience heartbreaks. Often, in times of…

  • Get the Inside Sports Scoop

    The Honolulu Quarterback Club (HQC), one of the nation’s oldest sports clubs, began in 1947 and is still going strong. There, you can hear little-known and personal stories from past and present sports greats. “You won’t find these sports stories on the front page of the newspapers,” said one long-time, regular attendee. From the early…

  • Paintings, Prints & Drawings of Hawai‘i

    Hot off the press, Paintings, Prints and Drawings of Hawai‘i from the Sam and Mary Cooke Collection presents for the first time the private collection of Mary and the late Sam Cooke. Published by the Ma¯noa Heritage Center, this lavishly illustrated volume by David W. Forbes traces the history of Hawai‘i as seen through the…

  • Crossing Bridges: A Photography Exhibit

    From ProjectFocus Hawai‘i and the Wahiawa Community Based Development Organization (WCBDO) comes a visual storytelling, from both ends of life — as partners — Crossing Bridges. On a sunny Saturday morning, students from Leilehua High School, Wahiawa Middle School, Island Pacific Academy and George Washington University sat down with 24 of Wahiawa’s most cherished ku¯…

  • Can We Afford to Retire in Paradise?

    There’s no escaping the fact that people in Hawai‘i pay the price of living in paradise. The cost of living is about 60 percent higher than in most states, while wages are among the lowest when adjusted for Hawai‘i’s high cost of living. Housing is particularly expensive. The Honolulu Board of Realtors reported that the…

  • New Senior Center Focuses on Active Aging

    Nā Kūpuna Makamae Center opened its doors on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2016, after 12 months of restoration of the 116-year-old pump station in Kaka‘ako on Ala Moana Boulevard. Over 100 invitees were welcomed by Pacific Gateway Center Executive Director Dr. Tin Myaing Thein (right photo), who manages the new senior center. Kahu Wendell Silva began…

  • ‘Rocks in a Box’ & Other Crimes

    Over the years, we’ve covered the devastating effects of fake lotteries that have resulted in Hawai‘i seniors losing millions of dollars (even their homes); the distressed relative scam (more commonly referred to as the “Grandma Scam”); sweetheart swindles/sham marriages; and the actions of adult children and caregivers who have stolen not only the life savings…

  • Capturing the Heart of an Estate Plan

    The usual response I receive when I ask, “What brings you here?” during an initial meeting with clients, is, “To avoid probate and minimize taxes.” Avoiding probate and taxes are good goals, and easy to resolve. The much more difficult — and much more meaningful work — is all relational. When we delve further into…