LIHU‘E — The wet weather cooperated with the Lihu‘e Seniors who offered Winter Fun students an intergenerational event, Tuesday at the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center. Frecky Okada, garbed in a Rudolph outfit of the season, broke the ice with her antics
LIHU‘E — The wet weather cooperated with the Lihu‘e Seniors who offered Winter Fun students an intergenerational event, Tuesday at the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center.
Frecky Okada, garbed in a Rudolph outfit of the season, broke the ice with her antics on the stage and following that by mingling with not only members of the Lihu‘e Senior Center, but overflowing into the sea of about 80 Winter Fun students.
“This is not just for seniors,” said Marilyn Matsumoto, president of the Lihu‘e Senior Center. “Get up and mingle with the young people. Help them with their Bingo cards.”
Melanie Okamoto of the county’s Parks and Recreation Dept. said there are 80 registered students in the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center site, one of three being hosted by the county for Winter Break.
Another 45 students are registered at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center where the students will be working with drumming, Wednesday, tying in with one of the exercise classes.
Kilauea Neighborhood Center rounds out the offering with 25 students registered.
“This is good,” Okamoto said. “The Lihu‘e‘ Seniors Steering Committee thought of this intergenerational event and even went shopping for prizes for this.”
The 90-minute event was filled with fun and merriment as Hidemi Matsumoto did not have a shortage of volunteers while performing her routine, garbed in the attire of a Japanese street performer.
“The students are even going to learn how to play Bingo,” Okamoto said. “And following that, the seniors are hosting them to a hot dog lunch. The seniors did everything.”
More than 50 members of the Lihu‘e Senior Center turned out to join the intergenerational event with the young students.
Aaron Uyeda of the Parks and Recreation Dept. said in addition to the students enrolled in the program which ends Dec. 30, there are seven students home from college who are employed by the county to serve as aides for the three sites.
Lance Delos Reyes, a former Kaua‘i Pop Warner Football League scholar-athlete, is home for the Winter Break, and according to Uyeda, is volunteering his time with the Winter Break to fulfill one of his school obligations.
“This program affords some of the Kaua‘i college kids some employment while they enjoy their families home from school,” Uyeda said.
Okamoto said, while the program is not new, Kapa‘a hosting a similar intergenerational event centering around bon dance during Summer Fun, the Lihu‘e Seniors wanted to do something to give back to the community.
“It’s such a joyful event,” Okamoto said.
