Since the creation of the Senior Classic Games in 1980 by Herbert Yasuhara, the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) senior clubs have held games in March at the Halawa District Park. The clubs practiced to compete in peg ball, lawn pin ball, nine gates and tunnel vision games. They have two age divisions: 69 and under, and the Masters Division, which is 70 and over. The Masters Division team entries, with approximately 200 to 275 participants, have doubled in the past few years. In addition to exercise, this event enables island-wide social interaction among seniors.
In 2012, Generations Magazine became a major sponsor of the event by purchasing medals for the winners. The competition is pretty brisk between the 32 senior clubs that come from all parts of O‘ahu. The winners really love getting their medals in front of the whole crowd of participants.
To join a senior club, individuals age 55-plus can go down to their local Honolulu City and County District Park or community park and inquire with the director.
CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU, DEPT. OF PARKS & REC.
1000 Ulu‘ōhi‘a St., Ste. 309, Kapolei, HI 96707
808-768-3030 | ssantiago@honolulu.gov
honolulu.gov/parks/program/senior-citizen-program
This year there were over 270 participants (not including spectators) and a total of 88 teams from 20 senior clubs entered in 4 different games: Tunnel Vision, Peg Ball, Pin Ball and Nine Gates, with age divisions: Seniors 55 – 69 and Masters 70+. There were over 40 staff members from the Department of Parks and Recreation helped with management and execution, even the Honorable Mayor Kirk Caldwell stopped by to play a few games with the seniors.
Twenty-four years ago, Herbert Yasuhara, then Halawa Park Director, wanted to find an activity that his senior club members could participate in to keep active and exercise. He said, “You see, most of the seniors back then would come to the park and sit down and play games like Mah Jong and Hanafuda.”