HONOLULU (KHON2) — The holiday season is a time to celebrate and flex talents such as baking or crafting. For some of our kupuna, that’s where community can be found.
Forty-eight years of the Mayor’s Craft and County Fair recently went down in Honolulu with a plethora of fine work on display from Hawaii’s kupuna.
“It’s a fundraiser for the club to do whatever activities they want to do and it’s a nice sharing and fellowship and to show the craftmanship that our seniors can do. Life doesn’t end at retirement so we have fun,” explained Naomi Ahana of Na Kupuna o Koolau.
The Ala Wai Community Center makes pottery and uses the proceeds from its sales to buy equipment. One of the clear benefits is keeping the mind and body active.
“For myself when I create I have to think of what I make and how I’m going to glaze it, so it’s good for the mind and hands. It’s good for everything to connect the synapses,” explained Joyce Bunda from Ala Wai Community Center.
The Honolulu Kupuna Shed works to get kupuna together for social time and give their work value. They do woodworking, laser engraving, refurbishing and fixing bikes.
“Last year we made 20 picnic tables for Jefferson Elementary School. This year we have a potting shed for the Waikiki Senior Center and we’re building some tables and so forth for the Pearl City High School community garden,” Robert Speer, Honolulu Kupuna Shed President explained.
If you or the kupuna you know is interested in getting out and meeting new friends, the city offers 30 senior clubs island-wide, representing hundreds of kupuna who participate in weekly activities.
Ahana added, “The community centers offer all kinds of classes. We have hula, ukulele, guitar, language and crafts. The seniors can find anything to get them out of the house. Then your children don’t have to worry about you because it’s a safe place, it’s a healthy place to be, and everybody takes care of everybody else.”