LIHUE — Cion Manera just celebrated her 86th birthday, May 10.
“Look at her,” said Carol Manera Texeira, her daughter, Friday during the Older American Month Festival at the Kukui Grove Center. “She just had her birthday and she’s as sassy as ever. I told her I would come for 30 minutes between squeezing in my duties at the Kauai Chamber of Commerce.”
Manera was among the Paraluman Dancers, representing the Lihue Senior Center, performing a series of Filipino folk dances under the direction of Alan Villaflor.
“They’ll be appearing at the Grove Farm Museum celebration in August,” said Doris Pena, a Paraluman dancer. “You need to send me photographs so I can send it to my fiance in Afghanistan.”
Coordinated by the county’s Agency on Elderly Affairs, the festival brought together representatives of resources on aging, entertainment, and a nice reason for kupuna to have a day out at the Kukui Grove Center where merchants offered lunch discounts in celebration of Older Americans Month, and free giveaways in the guise of prize drawings liberally sprinkled the food court area.
“Do you realize today is National Public Garden Day?” asked Jessica Clabo of the National Tropical Botanical Garden who was giving away Cannonball Flower trees for adoption. “People can enjoy a self-guided tour of the McBryde Gardens for free — just today.”
Steve Kline, occupational therapist, said the notice came in too late for the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, or the Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital to participate.
“I represent both sides, today,” Kline said. “Next year, we want them to be here.”
He was approached by his neighboring vendor, the Bayada Home Health Services who looked over his pen or pencil adaptive device.
“I love this,” said Chelsie Canha who tried the adaptive pen. “This is not just for elderly. This is awesome. I love this.”
Johnny Yago of the AEA said the agency will celebrate the 25th anniversary of National Senior Health and Fitness Day, May 30 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Moikeha Building rotunda.
Seniors 60 and older on Kauai are staying healthy through the EnhanceFitness physical activity program offered by the County of Kauai Agency on Elderly Affairs in partnership with the Kauai District Health Office, Dr. Arnulfo Diaz, and the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
Other partners include the Kapaa United Church of Christ, Kauai Community College School of Nursing, and Kauai Economic Opportunity. Kauai’s Healthy Aging Project is part of a statewide Healthy Aging Partnership-Empowering Elders initiative along with the State Executive Office on Aging, Department of Health, and the University of Hawaii.
The Healthy Aging partnership is “Working Together for a Strong, Healthy Kauai” and helping Kauai’s older adults make choices for a healthier future.
The group-exercise, evidence-
based program is designed especially for older adults and addresses balance, strength, endurance, and flexibility, and is geared to the level of both active and frail older adults.
The National Senior Health and Fitness Day is always held on the last Wednesday in May, and this year’s 25th anniversary is set for May 30.
“It is so good to see so many opportunities for the older adults,” said Melanie Okamoto, the senior coordinator for the Department of Parks and Recreation. “As long as I’m working here, I’ll continue to push for more things to help our kupuna.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
