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Generosity Perpetuates
Generosity
“Generosity” is a word I use often to characterize what
I’ve observed at the Center this past year, while serving as its
interim executive director.
At almost every turn at the Center a generous act is
offered for the benefit of our neighbors, guests and colleagues who
live, visit and work here in Waikiki. With a sense of
purpose our volunteers come to the Center; they welcome others to
join in a game of mah jong or bridge; offer instruction in a new
language, a Yoga pose or how to capture shadow in watercolor. The auditorium is a joyful
movement of hula and soulful voices of ukulele. The acts of kindness our
volunteers share fill a void in the lives of many people, evokes joy
and vitality, inspires learning something new and creates new and
lasting friendships.
This past August the Center hosted its annual Na Mea
Makamae O Waikiki gala honoring organizations and individuals that
make substantial contributions that positively impact our
community. The civic
leaders, our board members and our event volunteers – amidst a full
slate of professional and personal obligations – offer their
generosity to the task of raising funds to support the operation of
the Center.
For me generosity offered at the
Center is exemplified by a modest volunteer, Mahealani Tam, who was the
mastermind and artistic creator of our haku lei centerpieces at our
annual fundraising gala dinner.
Mahealani
envisioned a haku lei, inspired by her connection with the Center
and the contributions to our community by this year’s honorees and
our volunteers. She
walked the forests above Honoka`a and her familiar places on Big
Island and gathered the soft and delicate palapalai fern, liko,
`a`ali`i and pukiawe.
To
Mahealani the palapalai represents the Center and
the force of the people who contribute tirelessly to its
success. Se gathered liko - the green and red buds of the
lehua tree - to represent our children and the importance of health,
education and a nurturing lifestyle that helps them grow into
positive members of the community. Mahealani chose the
'a'ali'i - a shrub with papery like flower clusters of light
greenish pink to maroon tones and known for their strength and
perseverance in striving in harsh weather conditions, especially
strong winds. She used `a`li`i to represent the
seniors and families with children for the strength and perseverance
they need to ensure a better quality of life.
And Diane picked pukiawe with its long
stalks and tiny hard whitish leaves and flowers to represent the
purity of heart and compassion of the people who donate, volunteer
and offer goodness to our
community.
Eddie and Myrna Kamae and the Hawaiian
Legacy Foundation – one of this year’s honorees – accepted their
award at the Na Mea event and made a point of recognizing the
special gift of the haku lei, naming the `a`ali`i flower by
name. “You do not find
`a`ali`i anywhere – someone made a special effort to find this
beautiful flower”, said Myrna.
This was a touching moment of the evening,
one generous act inspiring another and perpetuating a continuous stream of
generous acts of kindness right in the heart of Waikiki, at the
Waikiki Community Center. Day after day after day. (Return to
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Na Mea Makamae O Waikiki
Event A Wonderful Success!
This year’s Na Mea benefit at the Sheraton
Waikiki Ballroom celebrated the longstanding and impactful
contributions of organizations/individuals to our community and the
Waikiki Community Center. We thank this year’s Kahiau Award honorees
– The Hawai`i Tourism Authority, The Hyatt Regency
Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa & Eddie and Myrna Kamae and the
Hawaiian Legacy Foundation – and the 600 citizens and leaders who turned out to raise
operational support benefitting programs and services offered by the
Waikiki Community Center.
We especially thank the following civic leaders,
board members and volunteers for their tireless contributions in
making this benefit a resounding success, raising $130,000: Na Mea
Event Chair Vicky Cayetano; Table Sales
Co-Chairs Vicky Cayetano
& Salah Ihsan; Live Auction Chair Teri Matsukawa; Master of
Ceremony Senator Brickwood
Galuteria; Leadership Circle Committee: Barbara Campbell, Eric
Hamaguchi, Jason Ito, Salah Ihsan, Bonnie Kiyabu, Paul Kosasa,
Ann Kutaka, Gabe Lee, David Lewin, Annaliese McLean, Bob Taylor,
Susan Todani, Noel Trainor, Greg Valen, and Steve Williams.
Music and Entertainment Tihati’s Productions and Mel
Murata & the Keiki Palaka Band; Stage Manager Gary Manago; Volunteer
Chair Hanalei Aipoalani;
Floral Designs Mahealani
(Diane) Tam.
Event Volunteers Aulani Ahmad, Angie Aipoalani,
Hanalei Aipoalani, Merrie Aipoalani, Angela Angel, Shelby Asinsin,
Kelly Asinsin, Elizabeth Auselbrook, Israel Avilla, Carolyn Ballou,
Tiffany Chang, Lee Ann Chinen, Lawrence Coyaso, Dawne DePonte,
Kristi Fujikawa, Stacey Fukuda, Nate Gyotoku, Stephanie Hayashi,
Lori Honda, Sarah Hong, Denise Inos, Anya Ishida, Jean Ito, Deron
Kamisato, Natalie Kaululaau, Merv Kawainui, U`ilani Keli`ikoa, Beth
Lee-Tamanaha, Gary Manago, Naomi Masuda, Pat Masuda, Tanya Masunaga,
Gary Matsuda, Tiffany Mitani, Jon Murai, Diana Nakamura, Darren
Nako, Meredith Nicols, Jeff Okamura, Darren Ota, Jamie Perry, Enelita
Saniatan, Wayne Shimbara, Bill Shiroma, Chris Shitagi, Arlene Stone,
Jenn Sur, Diane Tam, Aileen Tamur, Vivian Tsuji, Marie Uehara, Sandy Gibo-Umoto, Kristine
Wada, Brian Watase, Joyce Willis, Staci Yoshihara; Lurline & Kawena Kawainui,
Waikiki Community Center Staff and Denice Keli`ikoa. CFRE. (Return to
top)
WCC WISH LIST
·
Signage/banners
for our entry way.
·
New
bulletin board.
·
Seeking
a Newsletter Sponsor to cover cost of printing WCC member newsletter
at $ 250 a month.
·
Canned
goods – tuna, soups, Spam, corned beef, etc.
·
Paper
plates, forks.
·
Quart
and gallon size Ziplocs
·
White,
blue, red exterior paint, brushes and solvent remover.
·
Letter
size, white bond paper.
ORGANIZING YOUR IMPORTANT
DOCUMENTS & RECORDS
Barbara Cook, M.A. Gerontologist, Senior
Program Coordinator, WCC
Wednesday, November 16, 10-11:30 a.m.,
Chapel
$2/$4
Are you able to find what you are looking
for when you need it?
Organizing your important documents and updating your records
is one of the best ways to get a true picture of your finances. Using a special organizer
tool created for this purpose, participants will follow specific
steps to gather, organize and update their many personal
documents. The tips you
learn here will help you for the rest of your
life!
In this presentation you
will:
- Learn a simple step-by-step method for
organizing and finding
your important records.
- Find out which documents to keep and for
how long.
- Understand why certain documents must be
updated and when.
- Learn how to start the “family
conversation” about the things that are important to
you.
- Receive a free copy of “Getting It
Together Before You Go – How to Organize Your Life, Estate and
Personal Wishes”.
Barbara
Cook DC, MA has been working with Hawaii’s families and seniors
since 1981. She earned
a Master’s Degree in Gerontology in 1995 and was inspired to write
“Getting It Together Before You Go” after a friend with a terminal
illness asked her to help.
She has been providing these workshops for over 10
years. Register today
by calling WCC office at (808) 923 1802. Deadline to register is
Tuesday, November 15.
Only $2 for WCC members and $4 for guests/non members.
(Return to
top)
INVITING CANOE
PADDLERS TO JOIN DUKE KAHANAMOKU
CHALLENGE
a benefit for Waikiki
Community Center
Sunday, February 12,
2012 at Hilton Hawaiian Village Duke Kahanamoku Beach &
Lagoon
Inviting all canoe paddlers (experienced and beginners)
to form a team of twelve and register for the 2012 Annual Duke
Kahanamoku Challenge scheduled Sunday, February 12, 2012 at the
Hilton Hawaiian Village Duke Beach! Join us for a day of fun –
canoe paddling, Hawaiian Makahiki games, Stand Up Paddling
Competition, Craft Fair, entertainment and more. Call 923 1802 for more
information and team packet.
UNDERSTANDING
HOSPICE
Lisa Cockrell, Hospice of
Hawaii
Tuesday, November 29, 10-11:30 a.m.,
Chapel.
Free!
Hospice is a philosophy of care that
accepts death as the final stage of life and the goal is to help
patients live their last days as alert and pain-free as
possible. The hospice
team of trained and committed
professionals strive to include family members in care protocol and
end-of-life-decision-making to provide a positive and meaningful
life journey that emphasizes
comfort & dignity.
When is Hospice care appropriate and is it covered by
Medicare?
If you are interested in learning more,
please come to this free presentation. Registration deadline is
11/28 – contact Waikiki Community Center office at (808) 923 1802.
(Return to
top)
A Return to Monthly
Newsletter
We took on more than we could when we
aspired to shift from a monthly newsletter to a quarterly one. We
thought that by shifting to a quarterly newsletter we could achieve
efficiency in our operation and shift our focus toward reaching out
to new participants but the task proved to be more complicated than
we anticipated.
Our staff and volunteers invest a
disproportionate amount of time and energy producing monthly
newsletters. We overlooked how many changes in our program schedule
occur each month, how challenging it would be to plan too far in
advance, how much time our other programs/services command of our
time and energy and how critical the newsletter was to our existing
members/users. So we
are returning to a monthly newsletter starting January 1 until we
can fully roll out our quarterly version. Thank you for bearing with
us. Michael Lee, Interim Executive
Director
CARDIO CIRCUIT
MIXER NEW
CLASS!
Mondays 8:30-9:30 a.m. #202E and
Wednesdays 5:45-6:45 p.m. in the
Chapel
Beth Blatt - Exercise Power Hour – New
Class!
Finally, an exercise hour that puts it all
together! Stretching,
aerobics, elements of kickboxing and free weights are included and
did we mention abs? A
power hour for sure . . join us! Cardio Circuit Mixer with
Beth Blatt every Monday (8:30-9:30 a.m.) and Wednesdays (5:45-6:45
p.m.) Cost $3 for WCC
members and $5 for guests and non members. Bring workout shoes and
socks, a yoga mat or large towel, free weights if you have them and
lots of bottled water!
See you there, bring a friend! (Return to
top)
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER
FUN CLASSES!
- AARP Safe Driving – Nov. 2, 9am-1pm,
Chapel.
1st Wednesday, every other month.
- Hawaiian Language and Culture
w/Palakiko, Fridays 11:30-12:30pm. Continues till
1/20.
- Hula w/Nalani – Mondays 9am and
Wednesdays 9:30 and 11:30 am
- Hula w/Ali`i Manu – Tuesdays &
Thursdays 9:15 am, Fridays @ 7pm
- Art Mondays at 10am, Painting every
Wednesday @ 10am
- Yoga classes by different instructors
every day – Monday through Friday, see page
3
- ‘Ukulele Fridays, 9-11 a.m.; Salsa
Wednesday at 6:30 pm and Line Dancing Tuesday @ 9:30
am
Click
here for full schedule for
November
EVENING YOGA AT
WAIKIKI COMMUNITY CENTER!
REFRESHING, RESTORATIVE YOGA
W/FRANKLIN
Mondays and Thursdays 6-7:15 p.m., Chapel
$3/$5
Have you ever wanted to take a Yoga class
but were too busy during the day? Twice weekly volunteer
“Franklin” offers an evening Yoga class. “After a long day, says
Franklin, “look forward to a time to stretch, breathe and unwind
from your cares.” Bring
an exercise mat, large towel, yoga or similar strap and WATER! Yoga
is an ancient, precise science of healing that allows anyone who
partakes in this practice to gain greater balance, health, strength,
and tranquility in their lives. Join us to improve your
health.
Also, check out free Yoga workshop every
3rd Sunday of the month in room 202E, 4-5:30 p.m. (Return to
top)
COOKIES AND
CAROLS
Friday, December 2, 9:30-11:30 a.m., WCC
Auditorium, free!
Join us for a fun gathering in the WCC
Auditorium from 9:30-11:30 a.m. for cookies, carols and Christmas
cheer! The Hawaiian
‘Ukulele class will be strumming Christmas Carols and holiday
related songs so we can sing along. Sample yummy cookies, coffee
and iced tea and enjoy the holiday cheer!
Help decorate, chat with friends and show
your thanks by bringing a can of food for our Emergency Food
Bank. Invite your
friends and join us in this free Waikiki Community Center holiday
celebration.
In Memorium – Gerri Lee, Founder,
Waikiki Community Center
We cannot begin to appreciate the meaning
of the Waikiki Community Center without understanding or
appreciating the leadership, social conviction and Aloha of its founding director, Geraldine (Gerri) Y. Lee. Gerri served as the Center’s
executive director from 1978-2000 and during that time lay the
foundation of success of our current suite of programs and
services.
Gerri passed away on September 27, 2011
after a 4-year bout with cancer. She is survived by her
beloved husband, Harold W. F. Lee; two children, Jonathan Lee and
Deborah Lee Lau and 5 grandchildren; her mother, Grace Yap; sister
Georgina Yap, brother Eugene Yap and 2 nephews.
We are grateful for Gerri’s full life and
for her vision and tireless advocacy on behalf of people in our
Waikiki community, especially those less fortunate. Her legacy is a
stronger, healthier and vibrant community. (Return to
top)
New Member Coffee Hour!
Join Lillian Chace for
Orientation to Waikiki Community Center!
First
Friday of each month at
10:00AM.
Meet at
the Welcome Desk across the main office. Please register
at the office.
CHRISTMAS WREATH
MAKING
With Ellen
Katoda
Monday, December 5, 9:30-11:30
a.m.
Get into the holiday spirit as you make a
natural material wreath using greenery and other natural materials
you can find locally.
You will be proud of your original
creation!
All materials will be provided. You are encouraged to bring
items that will add a personal touch to your wreath – dried pods,
pine cones, dried flowers to accent your
wreath.
Bring:
Flower clippers and a needle nosed plier. Register by 11/28, limited to 7
students.
Reflections on a Year of
Transition at the Waikiki Community
Center
33 Years of Serving The Diverse Needs of Our
Community
By W. Michael Lee, WCC Interim Executive
Director
In this year of transition, aided by fresh
eyes, we have taken a fresh look at the Center’s current programs
and services and explored other opportunities that may enable it to
serve other compelling needs of our
community.
It is worth reminding ourselves and
celebrating that, for 33 years, the Waikiki Community Center
has fulfilled a compelling mission to care for the people of Waikiki
through quality programs and services.
Waikiki is a community of great
diversity. Its 22,000
residents, 20,000 employees, and 40,000 visitors are a mix of wealth
and low-incomes, senior citizens and young families, homeless and
transients and visitors.
The Center serves over 21,000 people through 170,000
person-hours of programs.
The Center’s addresses these varied needs
directly through its own programs and services and through
partnerships with other non-profit organizations co-located on
campus, among them: Waikiki Health Center is a non-profit, federally-qualified community health
center offering medical and social services to everyone, regardless
of ability to pay; University of Hawai`i Sea Grant College
Program is one of a 32 national
university-based programs supporting integrated research, outreach
and education that address marine and coastal issues of public
concern; Waikiki Beach
Chaplaincy is an independent, interdenominational, evangelistic
Christian ministry operating in Waikiki; Hope Chapel Waikiki exists
to help people fulfill the great commandment and the great
commission through worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and
evangelism; Coalition for a
Drug-Free Hawai`i provides innovative programs and services that
help keep Hawai`i children and families healthy, strong, and
resilient against drug and alcohol abuse; United Self-Help is a
nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote mental health
through education and mutual support.
Philanthropic and Project
Support for the Center
We’re pleased to report receipt and
commitments of $714,000 in project and operational support for the
Waikiki Community Center thus far in fiscal year 2011, from
foundations, government and corporations. Harris Foundation: $12,000
in support of preschool operations; Friends of Hawai`i
Charities: $5,000 for preschool tuition assistance; State of Hawai`i: $150,000
in Rainy Day Funds in support of senior programs; Soroptimist International of
Waikiki: $4,500 for new dishwasher/sanitizer at the preschool;
City and County of Honolulu
(Community Development Block Grant – HUD): $506,300 for
electrical capacity upgrade; Hawai`i Community
Foundation: $30,000 for executive transition; NFL Charities: $6,000 for
preschool playground improvements. (Return to
top)
Thank you to our generous
donors!
Waikiki
Community Center Schedule of
Operations
for APEC week through Veteran’s Day, November
7-11
With the APEC summit scheduled November
7-11 this communiqué serves to outline hours of operation at the
Waikiki Community Center.
The Center is cancelling all regularly
scheduled adult programs/activities for November 7-11 and will
resume them in full, beginning Monday, November 14. We reached this decision
after learning from a few class instructors that they will cancel
their sessions this week to avoid subjecting themselves and their
participants to the congested traffic conditions anticipated.
This closure does not apply to the Center’s pre
school or to the Center’s contracted tenants. Please contact the following directly for their
operating schedules for the week of November 7-11:
Waikiki Health Center, Waikiki Beach
Chaplaincy, Hope Chapel Waikiki, United Self Help and Coalition for
a Drug Free Hawai`I and UH Sea Grant College Program, Ali`i Manu O Kai, Kick
Boxing with Andre Washington, Japanese Karate Association, Tae Kwon
Do, Just For Today (AA), Kahala Breakfast Group (AA), Kaiser Step
and Tradition (AA), King’s Cathedral & Chapel, New Freedom (AA),
Ohua Street Group (AA), Tikvat Yisrael, Okinawan Karate, Waikiki
Men’s Stag (AA), Worship Service on
Sunday
November 7, Monday through November 9,
Wednesday
Pre School -
Open, 6:30 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. (Extended day program through 6:00
p.m.)
Administrative Office – Closed
November 10, Thursday
Pre School -
Open, 6:30 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. (Extended day program through 6:00
p.m.)
Administrative Office – Closed – Administrative
Furlough
November 11, Friday
HOLIDAY
– Pre School and Waikiki Community Center closed in observance of
Veteran’s Day
For
information about traffic and road closures during the week of the
APEC Summit, please use this link: http://www1.honolulu.gov/mayor/apec.htm (Return to
top)
Upcoming Events – Check it out!
NOVEMBER
Nov.
2 (Wed.) Bridge
(Sorry, no beginners), 1:30-4 p.m. Room #203A,
new!
Nov.
2 (Wed.) AARP Safe Driving,
9am-1pm, Chapel, pay instructor
direct.
Nov.
4 (Fri.) A Day in the Country Kahuku Farms,
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (sold out)
Nov.
4 (Fri.) New Member Coffee Hour/Orientation,
Welcome Desk. 10
a.m.
Nov
7-9 WCC Classes cancelled due to APEC. Preschool & tenants
open.
Nov.
9 (Wed.) Lunch Bunch to The Old Spaghetti Factory,
11:30 a.m., 1050 Ala Moana Blvd @ Ward Warehouse, call WCC at
923-1802
Nov. 11 (Fri.) WCC Closed for Veteran’s
Day Holiday
Nov.
16 (Wed.) Organize Your Important Documents
10-11:30 a.m.; $2/$4, Chapel.
Register by 11/15.
Nov. 25 (Fri.) WCC Closed for Thanksgiving
Holiday
Nov.
29 (Tue.) Understanding Hospice, 10-11:30
a.m., free. Chapel
Nov.
30 (Wed.) McBingo Fun!
1
p.m., WCC Aud.
Free.
DECEMBER
Dec.
2 (Fri.) Cookies & Carols,
9:30-11:30 a.m. WCC
Auditorium, free!
Dec.
5 (Mon.) Wreath Making w/Ellen Katoda. 9:30-11:30 a.m., $10/$15
Lanai
Dec.
12 (Mon.) Christmas Trolley,
6:30-8:30 p.m., Meet at WCC $10, limited to 28 guests. Purchase early, usually
sells out.
Dec.
23 (Fri.). WCC open
8 a.m. – noon only
Dec. 26 (Mon.) WCC Closed. Mele
Kalikimaka!
Dec.
30 (Fri.) WCC open
8 a.m. – noon only
JANUARY & FEBRUARY
Jan. 2 (Mon.) WCC Closed – Hauoli Makahiki
Hou!
Feb.
12 (Sun.) Duke Kahanamoku Challenge at Hilton Hawaiian Village,
8am-2
p.m. Admission
free! Form a team of 12
and join the fun! $600
per team (Return to
top)
Contact us:
Waikiki Community
Center
310 Paoakalani Avenue, Honolulu, HI
96815
Phone: (808) 923 1802
Fax: (808) 922 2099
Email: info@waikikicommunitycenter.org |
