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Dr. Lucy Miller and William Neil Rapozo, Sr. of Kauai County

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John McGuire and Betty Chieko Goya of Honolulu County

Generations Magazine - What’s So Good About Growing Older? - Image 03As part of Older Americans Month in May, the Hawai’I State Executive Office on Aging and the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs joined the Area Agencies on Aging and Gov. Abercrombie in recognizing eight outstanding senior citizen volunteers from each of the four counties. The 2013 honorees are: Dr. Lucy Miller and William Neil Rapozo, Sr. Of Kauai County; Betty Chieko Goya and John McGuire of Honolulu County; and Diane Logsdon and Richard Endsley of Maui County; Shirley Ito and Peter Hoffmann of Hawai’i County. These outstanding kupuna represent the thousands of seniors who contribute to the wellness and quality of life of their communities.

Every year, eight kupuna — one male and one female from each county — are selected as Older American volunteer honorees for the exemplary work they do to aid and support their individual communities. Each of the honorees personifies the contributions Older Americans continue to make well into retirement as productive, active, and influential members of society. This year the honorees were recognized by the Governor in Older American Month events in each county.

“We celebrate Older Americans Month each year to recognize the vitality of older adults and their outstanding contributions to our communities,” Gov. Abercrombie said. “Each of the 2013 Older Americans Month Award honorees from across our state embodies this year’s national Older Americans Month theme, ‘Unleash the Power of Age!’ Kupuna are taking on new roles in retirement. The people of Hawai’i appreciate and thank them for their continuing service.”

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Richard Endsley and Diane Logsdon of Maui County

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Peter Hoffmann and Shirley Ito of Hawai’i County