On a daily basis, what Kaua’i grandparents do for their families may go unnoticed. But at the Grandparent’s Day Celebration at Lydgate Park yesterday, they were put on a pedestal. The 40 or so grandparents were swarmed by grandkids, treated
On a daily basis, what Kaua’i grandparents do for their families may go unnoticed.
But at the Grandparent’s Day Celebration at Lydgate Park yesterday, they were put on a pedestal.
The 40 or so grandparents were swarmed by grandkids, treated to a free lunch and sung to by longtime Kaua’i entertainer Larry Rivera and his family, Lurline Fernandez and Larry Rivera Jr. Mayor Maryanne Kusaka was the scheduled keynote speaker.
The event, sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons and KTOH Hits 99 FM, honored grandparents who got involved in raising their grandchildren, including those from broken homes where parents are absent, according to Joe DeMattos, associate state director of the AARP on O’ahu.
“Grandparents are so important. When grandchildren are shown that much love, they learn how to be secure, engaging and more confident in their environment,” DeMattos said.
On Sunday, the AARP Hawai’i State Office will honor the kupuna (elderly) at Kapiolani Park on O’ahu and in Hilo and Kona on the Big Island and Maui.
While most of the participants gathered around at Lydgate Park pavilion for the festivities, Rosalina Decker of Hanama’ulu showed her 9-year-old granddaughter, Serenity Kalama, how to fly a kite, even though the wind was slack.
“Being with my grandmother means I am not alone,” Kalama said. “She makes my life full.” Decker and her husband, Wesley, routinely go out with their granddaughter on the weekends.
Rusty Akeo, 10, of Wailua Homesteads, said he has learned lessons about life from his grandmother, Irene Cecconi, also of Wailua Homesteads.
“I was going to hit my brother, but my grandmother stepped in and said ‘don’t do that,'” Akeo said. “I learned that violence isn’t necessary.”
Donna Loo said the life of her two young children, Rilen and K.C., is richer because of their interaction with her father-in-law, Dr. Arthur Loo, a longtime Lihu’e optometrist, and his wife, Dorothy.
“Grandparents pass on old-fashion values to the kids, like family being the center of things,” Loo said. “I wish I could recognize him like this (through the party for grandparents) every day,” Loo said.
Marie Capener of Lihu’e and her daughter-in-law Barbara Capener, both grandmothers, said they didn’t necessarily need their grandchildren around to celebrate the event.
Capener, who has 12 great-grandchildren, has been the best possible grandmother to her children, said Barbara Capener, a Kapa’a resident with three grown children and five grandchildren.
Life’s events have bonded them, the women said.
Marie Capener gave her strong spiritual support after her mother died, Barbara Capener said. And Barbara and one of Capener’s son took care of her after heart surgery, Marie added.
Adelino Valentin, 81, of Lihu’e said his four grandchildren couldn’t attend the event, but he attended it to honor them.
“I am just a proud grandparent,” Valentin said. “We should do this event ever year.”
The Kaua’i event, held for the first time, was held in connection with National Grandparents Day, which is celebrated across the nation on the first Sunday after Labor Day.
The national event honors grandparents, gives them a chance to show their love for grandchildren and help children become aware of the contributions of grandparents.
Grandparent’s Day was the brainchild of Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade, a West Virginia housewife who in 1970 began a campaign to set aside that special day.
McQuade, who is married and is the parent of 15 children, 40 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, was primarily motivated to champion the cause of the lonely elderly at care homes.
The first Grandparents Day was proclaimed in McQuade’s home state in 1973. Five years later, Congress passed legislation establishing National Grandparent’s Day. The proclamation was late signed by President Jimmy Carter.
For the Kaua’i event, winners in a letter-writing contest on why they love their grandparents were Kristina Viloria, Durese Durant and Reno Mirra, said Gusippi Palazzolo, district coordinator for the AARP on Kaua’i.
