NUKOLI‘I — Natsuko Daida, who celebrated with other 20-year volunteers at the Kaua‘i RSVP lunch on Thursday at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort, is 100 years old.
“She already came?” said Donna Lynn Loo, the county assistant executive on aging, who was the director of the Kaua‘i Retired Service Volunteer Program when Daida was actively serving. “She was volunteering all the way until the COVID-19 hit us, and today, she snuck in when I wasn’t looking.”
Daida and more than 200 other guests, including the RSVP, took time out of their respective duties to enjoy each others’ fellowship and lunch during the 2022 annual Recognition program at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort.
“How amazing the year 2022 turned out to be,” said Kaua‘i RSVP Director Mary Pigao. “Our hardworking and devoted RSVP workers could no longer sit back and let themselves be idle.”
This is the first time the County of Kaua‘i, the Agency on Elderly Affairs, the Senior AmeriCorps program, and other dignitaries have hosted the in-person gathering following the pandemic when it was limited to drive-thrus at various designated sites with limited, or no contact.
“It is my pleasure to honor our Kaua‘i RSVP volunteers and their tremendous contributions to our island community,” said Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami. “We must not forget the many triumphs of last year. Our RSVP volunteers continue to meet the critical needs of our community in countless ways. During the last 12 months, 232 members contributed more than 19,507 hours of service. This saves our taxpayers just more than $626,000.”
Those sentiments were shared by Gov. Josh Green who added, “The Kauaz‘i RSVP priorities of healthy futures, education, disaster services, and economic opportunity align with my own priorities for our state and I cherish the shared goals and vision.”
Volunteers were grouped into years of service provided with the newest group being five years of service, and the most experienced group having 30 years of service demonstrated by Marie Petro, and the group of Reginald “Reg” Gage and Naoko Ho extending at least 25 years of service apiece.
“If there is one thing our volunteers have in common, it’s their willingness to give from their hearts to help others,” Kawakami said. “This year’s theme is ‘Happy New Year, Volunteers! Welcome back!’ In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, volunteers are coordinating a special project to collect a donation of a new or softly-used children’s or young adults’ books. The donation will replenish the books in Little Libraries at various locations throughout the island.”
The Kaua‘i County Council, in extending its appreciation for the work done by volunteers said in addition to the figures put forward by other dignitaries, the council appreciates the more than 40 RSVP stations that “are a blessing to our communities.”
Pigao said, “The volunteers continue to impact our community with addressing food insecurity by delivering to our island’s kupuna, helping in the soup kitchens, packing and distributing meals with Nourish Kaua‘i, supporting the homeless outreach events, protecting the turtles at Po‘ipu Beach, maintaining of the Makauwahi Cave, helping with the many duties at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, the Wilcox Hospital gift shop and thrift store, the Department of Motor Vehicles, Kaua‘i Hospice, the Grove Farm Museum, Tender, Love &Care Friendly Caller program, and more.”
“We have so much to be thankful for our active RSVP Volunteers,” Pigao said. “We wish each of you a Happy New Year, and welcome back!”
