PUHI — Governor Neil Abercrombie made time during his busy Kaua‘i schedule to personally congratulate Nancy Fuller and Dave Walker, Thursday afternoon. Fuller and Walker were named Kaua‘i’s Outstanding Older Americans in early May during the commemoration of May being
PUHI — Governor Neil Abercrombie made time during his busy Kaua‘i schedule to personally congratulate Nancy Fuller and Dave Walker, Thursday afternoon.
Fuller and Walker were named Kaua‘i’s Outstanding Older Americans in early May during the commemoration of May being Older Americans Month, the announcement being made during the 46th Annual Older Americans Award Recognition Ceremony at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort.
As part of the recognition, Fuller and Walker were treated to a state reception on O‘ahu later in the month, but Gov. Abercrombie was unavailable to congratulate the pair. He made up for his absence by personally meeting with the two Kaua‘i Outstanding Older Amerians prior to the start of his first community meeting at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School.
The Older Americans Award in Hawai‘i dates back half a century, states a release from the Governor’s Office.
Each year, Hawai‘i recognizes and honors the accomplishments of kupuna on Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Maui and the Big Island counties, many of whom have made a lifelong commitment to serving their communities.
“Never Too Old to Play,” this year’s Older Americans Month theme, encourages older Americans to get out in their communities, stay engaged, active and involved.
Both of Kaua‘i’s Older Americans are very active in their communities, lending their expertise to held the community become more vibrant.
In Hawai‘i, individuals 65 years and older accounted for 14.7 percent of Hawai‘i’s population, making the state 8th in the nation in terms of the greatest percentage of older Americans.
Gov. Abercrombie, in a first step to strengthen services for seniors, signed into law one of his priority measures in July — Senate Bill 2779 which creates aging and disability resource centers in each county.
The measure appropriates $1.4 million for fiscal year 2012-2013 for the Executive Office on Aging to administer and establish those statewide centers.
These one-stop resource centers will deliver on a promise to help Hawai‘i’s kupuna who face the challenges of aging and restricted mobility.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
