Seniors citizens from West and Central Oahu took part in the 2012 Aloha No Na Kupuna Workshop on Friday at the Newtown Recreation Center in Aiea. HPD Officers and staff from the District 3 Pearl City Community Policing Team coordinated the event which has seen its attendance significantly increase from previous years.
“This year there’s a bigger turnout,” said Officer Anthony Bonilla from the District 3 Pearl City Community Policing Team. “We were able to reach out with the help of MyPearlCity.com and other venues to reach out to our Kupuna. Everybody seems to be enjoying themselves and we look forward to more events in the future."
The purpose of Aloha No Na Kupuna:
Aloha No Na Kupuna promotes senior safety and celebrates the spirit of giving in the lives of seniors who have been affected by or are at risk of abuse, neglect, or financial hardship. The program is designed to bring together valuable resources from throughout the community and provide our senior citizens safety and crime prevention information. Aloha No Na Kupuna reflects the generous spirit of all those who contribute to this event as well as the gentle, caring spirit of those we serve and protect with Aloha. (Content provided by the Honolulu Police Department's Community web site section).
http://www.honolulupd.org/community/kupuna.htm
As our elderly population grows, and their needs increase with regards to safety and care, organizers of the event felt the need to reach further into the community to invite more seniors to the event who may not be aware of the available services and information that the Aloha No Na Kupuna Workshop provides.
"For this year's event we actually reached out to some of the senior care homes and invited them also because a lot of times they don’t know about these events," Bonilla said. "They are kind of tucked away in their home environment. We actually went to their facilities and invited them over. We also stayed within our District which is from Kunia Road to about Red Hill. That includes Waipahu, Waikele area all the way down to Aiea and Halawa."
Friday's program and guest speaker line up flowed smoothly with Officer Bonilla opening the event with a welcome and introductions followed by Honolulu Police Chief Louis M. Kealoha presenting his Chief's message to the seniors.
Senior attendees also got the opportunity to limber up with Yoga Exercise by Ms. Natalie Sewa. Guest speakers provided information from the Honolulu Fire Department on Fire Safety, Walk Wise Hawaii on Pedestrian Safety, Identity Theft by HPD Officer Alan Sangpan, Elderly Abuse discussed by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Scott Spallina and HPD Major Raymond Anchetta.
Seniors also had the opportunity to have their photos taken and applied to their new Kupuna ID Cards that also contained the senior's personal information. The cards are designed to keep the senior's safe in the event of an emergency.
Friday's event was made possible with the support of the following Aloha No Na Kupuna Participating Partners:
Target, HPD, 7-11 stores, Sam’s Club, HFD, Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, The Queen’s Medical Center, AARP, Project Dana, Hawaii Pacific Health, Walk Wise Hawaii, Alzheimer’s Association, The Mobile Notary, Hale Ho’omalu Adult Care, ESH Training LLC, St. Francis Hospice, Senior Move Managers and NECA.
*Aloha No Na Kupuna is funded in a part by a grant from Target.
Informational Booths Included:
AARP – Elderly Community Services
Alzheimer’s Association – Alzheimer Disease
ESH Training LLC – AED Education
Farmers Insurance Hawaii – Safety Information
HFD – Fire Safety & Blood Pressure Checks
HPD & Newtown Estates NSW – Crime & Safety Tips
Hawaii Pacific Health – Glucose Testing
Prosecutor’s Office – Elderly Abuse
Queen’s Heart – Blood Pressure Checks & “Ask The Pharmacist”
Queen’s Women’s Health – Breast Health Information
Project Dana – Fall Protection & Elder Support
Senior Move Managers – De-clutter & Organize For Seniors
St.Francis Healthcare System – Hospice Information
The Mobile Notary – Free Notary Services (At Community Events)
Walk Wise Hawaii – Pedestrian Safety
Hale Ho’omalu – Adult Care Services
To learn about the Aloha No Na Kupuna program log on to:
http://www.honolulupd.org/community/kupuna.htm
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Lance Rae from Walk Wise Hawaii pictured speaking to attendees on Pedestrian Safety.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
HPD Officer Chester Alagao from the District 3 Pearl City Community Policing Team helped seniors sign up for their Kupuna ID Cards.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
HPD Officer Anthony Bonilla from the District 3 Pearl City Community Policing Team. Great Job!