Senior
Programs Approximately 25% of Waikiki’s residents are over the age of 62, many of whom live
alone or without family nearby. WCC provides a wide variety
of educational and social activities to help maintain their
physical, cognitive and emotional health and independent lifestyles
to avoid premature aging, isolation and institutionalization. On any day of the week,
you’ll find older adults (and young adults, too) participating in
dance classes (ballroom, line, tap),
wellness classes, yoga, hula, English As A Second Language, foreign
language classes, music, bridge, arts and crafts and outings to
places old and new. We welcome you to Waikiki Community
Center, stop by and visit us!
Click here for
membership information and fee
info.
Malama Seniors in Waikiki –Case
Management Services
For seniors and their caregivers, finding the
right services to assist with challenges, identifying the right
support systems, and contacting and explaining one’s situation can
be very overwhelming!
Sometimes seeking help is like speaking a foreign
language. Let us
help! Waikiki Community
Center is so fortunate to have Jiro Arase, MSW, LSW working
with the Malama Seniors in Waikiki Program. Mr. Arase is
on-site and available for appointments on Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. Call (808)
923-1802 to schedule an appointment for this valuable, free
service.
Other Senior resources, click
here.
Community Services and
Resources
Each Tuesday, a social
worker is at Waikiki Community Center to help you find and
secure appropriate services for senior citizens. The social
worker is available on Tuesdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
in the Lounge, located across from our administrative
office.
 Early
Education Center The Waikiki
Community Center is a
private, nonprofit agency that provides an early childhood
education program during the weekday. Our Early Education
Center provides families with quality education and care in a
safe and nurturing environment by promoting individual growth and
development. meeting the needs of today’s working parents,
especially those who live or work in Waikiki’s 24/7 travel
industry. We promote
individual growth and development and provide a variety of
developmentally appropriate skills that nurture social, emotional,
physical and cognitive
growth.
I AM! I
CAN! Is our
educational philosophy.
Our goal is to prepare young children for lifelong learning
by developing fundamental skills to think creatively, to use all
their senses, to build self confidence, and grow physically,
emotionally, cognitively and socially. These fundamental skills
provide young children with the foundation to become successful
learners in kindergarten.
In 2003, 100% of our children achieved a
majority of early childhood developmental milestones that fostered
their growth, development and school readiness.
WCC’s Early Education Center is licensed by
the State of Hawaii
and enrolls up to 84 children at one time. A scholarship
program is available to qualifying families with
limited income at the beginning of each school year.
The program features several unique services for
Waikiki's diverse working families and to help young children learn
and grow to their fullest potential:
- Preschool Program,
weekdays, from 6:30 am
to 5:30 pm, serving
children ages 2 years old to 5 years old.
- Extended Day is offered
Monday through Friday from 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. for children 2
years old to 5 years old, limited to 16 children.
This program operates year-round, closing only two (2)
weeks a year for facilities maintenance and major
holidays. We're closed for 12 holidays as well as 3 teacher
professional development days.
To enroll in our Early Education
Center, contact Pamela Seelig, Early Education
Director at (808) 923-1802.
Community
Services and Resources
Each Tuesday, a social
worker is at Waikiki Community Center to help you find and
secure appropriate services for senior citizens. The social
worker is available on Tuesdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
in the Lounge, located across from our administrative
office.
Emergency
Food Pantry
Amidst the luxury and wealth of Waikiki, you’ll find many older residents, young families, and
homeless individuals struggling
to make ends meet on a daily basis. Many are in need of food to
sustain themselves. WCC
provides nonperishable food to over 800 individuals and families
each year through its Emergency Food Pantry. The pantry is stocked
through the generosity of neighborhood community groups, schools and
businesses. Referrals
are made to community resources if additional services are
need. The Food Pantry is open Tuesday 1-4 p.m.
Photo ID needed, limited to 6 visits a year. Click
here for food drive highlights.
Thrifty Treasures Thrift Shop to
benefit Waikiki Community Center. Low cost clothing, furniture, and personal goods are
provided to residents on fixed incomes through WCC's Thrift
Shop. Local businesses, hotels, and residents donate their
"gently used" items for recycling through our
shop. Check out the "specials" offered each
month. Thrift Shop Hours are 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.,
Monday to Friday. Closed Thursdays and major holidays, credit
cards accepted.
Volunteer
Opportunities
Volunteerism is at the
heart of Waikiki
Community
Center's operations. Volunteers lead and organize 95% of WCC’s wellness,
education, recreation and social activities offered.
People of diverse backgrounds and all ages, from teens to seniors,
volunteer at WCC. High
school and college students, Rotary Clubs and
other civic groups, Waikiki residents, and many others contribute their valuable
time and talents to WCC’s programs, events and community
activities.
WCC's participants also give back
to the community as volunteers. They entertain at nursing home
and community events. They work in WCC's preschool, read aloud
to children and participate in special community events. They
engage in neighborhood activities, such as neighborhood boards and
crime watch units, to ensure the Waikiki's residents have a voice in
government and that it is a liveable community. They create
loving baby items and donate to mothers-to-be. They've
stitched blankets for our war veterans. Our volunteers also
assist with Sheraton Waikiki Wedding events and Royal Hawaiian
Historical Tours. Seventy-five (75) WCC participants
contribute over 1,000 hours each year in the community. To
learn more about volunteer opportunities and ways to give back,
contact Barbara Cook at (808)
923-1802.
TELEPHONE TREE
We received a clever
idea by our member in hopes of building a safety and
community network. This
new program is to help ensure those of you who live alone will
have friends who are aware of your status and whereabouts. We are organizing a
neighborly check telephone tree. The trees will be in groups
of 4-6 people. Once a
day the lead person will call one person to start the tree, that
person will then continue the tree by calling their assigned person
on their list to confirm they are fine. Please sign up at the office
if you are
interested. | 
