Aloha Keeps You Young
The City and County of Honolulu honors six young-at-heart seniors for their untiring dedication to community service. Cartoon character Maxine says it best: “Don’t let aging get you down. It’s too hard to get back up.” Senior moments can be the best time of one’s life, if you believe Honolulu’s Forever Young award winners. Each demonstrates the premise that life is richer when one is fully and actively engaged in it. Representing a total of 420 years of life experience and wisdom, we meet the six winners of this year’s Forever Young awards at the fountain of youth to learn their secrets
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The City and County of Honolulu honors six young-at-heart seniors for their untiring dedication to community service
Cartoon character Maxine says it best: “Don’t let aging get you down. It’s too hard to get back up.”
Senior moments can be the best time of one’s life, if you believe Honolulu’s Forever Young award winners. Each demonstrates the premise that life is richer when one is fully and actively engaged in it.
Representing a total of 420 years of life experience and wisdom, we meet the six winners of this year’s Forever Young awards at the fountain of youth to learn their secrets. (Actually, it was the Louise Dillingham Fountain in Waikiki, but who’s checking?)
They are:
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Andrew Friedlander, 70, principal broker, Colliers Monroe Friedlander
Danny Kaleikini, 72, entertainer-businessman
Walter Kirimitsu, 68, president, Saint Louis School
Sister Alicia Lau, 65, CEO, Oahu Care Facility
Lawrence Okinaga, 68, law partner, Carlsmith Ball
Oswald Stender, 77, trustee, Office of Hawaiian Affairs
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From the moment they arrive, there is lively chatter and instant camaraderie among the honorees. It’s obvious that community-spirited souls have a knack for igniting rapport and networking.
As sightseeing trams filled with tourists drive by, Kaleikini springs into his ambassador of aloha role, waving and hollering, “A-lo-ha! Have fun! Thanks for bringing money into our economy!”
Ever the showman, it’s hard to believe he’s an elder statesman of the group at age 72. His show-biz persona, energetic nature and entrepreneurial endurance have kept him a timeless treasure in our community.
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We realize that “timeless” quality applies to each awardee of the City and County of Honolulu’s second annual Forever Young selection. The five gentlemen and one lady will be honored at a luncheon Sept. 23 at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.
The program honors these seniors for their accomplishments in career success, community service, mentoring and healthy aging. As Mayor Mufi Hannemann puts it, “they exemplify successful living.”
The city’s campaign aims to change the perception of retirement and aging.
“These individuals are constantly looking for the next challenge, opportunity or adventure. They continue to work because of their passion and desire for self-fulfillment rather than economic necessity,” the mayor says.
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Truly, they are inspiring role models. National trends indicate that productivity among seniors is a natural extension of longer life expectancy.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, people in the U.S. live longer and healthier lives than before. Average life expectancy rose from 47.3 in 1900 to 76.9 in 2000.
AARP reports that 79 percent of baby boomers don’t plan to stop working at age 65. The latest cover of AARP Magazine shows rock ‘n’ roller Bruce Springsteen, clad in jeans and a black button-down and wielding his signature Telecaster guitar, next to the headline “The Boss Turns 60.”
And if you’re into counting, Beatle Paul McCartney is 67. And still rocking. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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Well, you get the idea.
The city’s message is that life goes on beyond 65. As long as one is willing and able, productivity need not be halted or put on furlough at the standard retirement age.
As a matter of fact, Business Week hails the coming of a new economic force known as baby boomer entrepreneurship or entre-boomers.
It notes the “combination of economic volatility as well as the growing number of baby boomers with time, energy and money in their hands has redefined the starting age for new startups and has led to a surge in senior citizen entrepreneurs.
“The U.S. might be on the cusp of an entrepreneurship boom - not in spite of an aging population, but because of it,” it suggests.
Supporting factors include the shifting age distribution, continued decline of lifetime employment, experience and tacit knowledge older employees carry with them, and the effects of the 2008-2009 recession on established sectors of the economy.
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In Honolulu, one out of every five individuals is over the age of 60. How does the city hope to address the growing potential need for long-term care services?
One way is to lower demand, the city administration replies.
The 2009 Forever Young awardees do not view age 65 as a time to retire or slow down. Instead, they excel in their careers, are leaders in community service and live active lifestyles.
How does youth spring eternal in their fountain of life?
Here’s what they told us: Andy Friedlander: “I never considered stopping work at all. I love what I do and the people I work with. My partner, Don Monroe, is 20 years older than me, and he’s still working. I love challenges and mentoring young people to get them to the next level. If people are still active and mentally alert, they bring tremendous insight. It’s a shame not to take advantage of that.” Danny Kaleikini: “I thank akua (God) for the breath of life every day. Stay alive by keeping alive. Once you ho`o pilikia (cause trouble), then you will have problems. Aloha keeps you young. My advice to young people is to malama (take care of) our seniors ... respect them. They are the pioneers of what makes us unique in the world.”
Walter Kirimitsu: “Seniors are an untapped resource. They offer talent that can help existing businesses, schools and other organizations. At Saint Louis, we have a rich resource of alumni that we value for what they can offer well beyond their student term with us. Some return to vol-
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