A MESSAGE FROM SUSIE
A beautiful lei was given by Hula teacher Te Moana Makolo at Lanakila’s 2025 Thanksgiving Celebration. Like the hundreds of petals that were lovingly sewed together to make this amazing lei, hundreds of Lanakila members, volunteers, friends and family from the community, and staff put their hands and hearts together to create a precious and beautiful place called Lanakila Senior Center. Thank you for your part in caring for this senior center and all the people that it embraces. We wish you happiness, peace and joy this holiday season and always.
Love, The Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center Staff, Volunteers, and Members
“Congratulations to everyone who participated in the Aloha Shoyu Ohana Gateball Tomodachi Challenge It was a match filled with exciting near impossible shots made, lively sparking, near misses, and laughter
Mahalo to Aloha Shoyu for making everyone a winner with their generous donation of Poke Sauce for each player Mahalo to Debbie Ng for soliciting the donation and picking up the donation in Kapolei
We hope to have future challenges among our Hawaii teams Keep on playing Gateball with joy ” – Art Kimura
Sandy Feng
Maria Bonita Lim
Faye Miura
Patricia Pang
Francis Seo
Noriko
Tanigawa
Bruce Waki
Lanakila’s “Shining Stars” had a friendly Gateball Competition on October 29, 2025, at Ala Moana Park! Mahalo to Gateball facilitator Art Kimura for planning this and making it such a fun experience for our Lanakila senior center members and RSVP volunteers.
Celebrating Halloween 2025 with lunch and a costume contest!
Photo Gallery
Veteran’s Day 2025
Thanksgiving Program 2025
Photos by Evan Ching
Photos by Paul Nakatani, AARP Service Committee
Photo by Aldrinana Leung
Cultural Club Reports
OKINAWA NENCHOSHA CLUB UPDATE
By Diana Kawaguchi
MERI KURISUMASU! CHIBARIYO!
(“Merry Christmas,” & “Cheer Up/Keep Going!”)
In Okinawa, Christmas is a highly commercialized event, focusing on festive atmosphere, lights & fun, rather than the Christian religious meaning, except for areas near the U S military bases Christmas Eve has become a highly significant event, as a romantic day, often referred to as a “second Valentine’s Day”. Families & couples eat a Christmas cake, which is typically a light, sponge cake covered with whipped cream & topped with strawberries A bucket of KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) is a Christmas dinner that needs to be ordered in advance!
The Okinawa Nenchosha Club would like to wish all of you, a very Merry Christmas!
October 30th: Invigorating, fun day of exercise from head to toe with Denise Werle. While listening to music, coordinating with the exercises, we got to stretch & tone our bodies, by stretching our necks, arms, legs & toes either sitting or standing. Great way to start our day!
November Events: November 6th: An election of our 2026 ONC officers was held before our Bingo day The following are the newly elected 2026 ONC club officers: “Congratulations”!
President: Phil Uyehara, Vice President: Lynne Howells, Secretary: Gloria Reynon, Treasurer: Diane Kawakami, Assistant Treasurer (2): Janet Ito & Mona Bernado, Auditors (3): Flora Nakasone, Jane Uyehara & Jane Higa Advisor: Jane Higa Bingo followed The happy winners had prizes!
.November 13th: Entertaining morning from Nakama (meaning “Circle of Friends”) Taiko with Keith Nishimura & friends. Frances Wong, the MC advised us, they made their own cowhide taiko drums & the cast iron hardware were hand carried from Tokyo! What a great achievnent, sense of ownership & pride with their taiko! Their first number showed such strength, coordination & rhythm to the beating of their taiko drums It was mesmerizing to watch After their initial performance, they had all our members take part in beating the taiko drums, to be part of their “circle of friends”! The members were so excited on what was being taught to them It was fun to see their faces as they concentrated & were focused on hitting that one area of the taiko drum! They ended their performance by teaching us a bon dance “Ei Ja Nai Ka”, which consisted of picking, shoveling, catching fish, etc. in a circle. It was truly a jubilant, stimulating, entertaining morning!
November 20th: Our morning entertainment by the Pearl City Community Church with MC Roy Inouye was plagued with many technical audio difficulties that they were not able to entertain us properly as they hoped for We had few group singing as they played their ukuleles Ron Oshiro did “Amazing Grace” in sign language A few hula numbers were performed with their IPhone The ladies were able to perform their last hula to the famous Japanese song, “Kawa no Nagare no Yoo Ni” (“Like the flow of the River”) by Misora Hibari. It was a heartwarming, beautifully executed hula! Though many technical issues, they did a great job. After this, the ONC gave members a surprise Turkey Subway sandwich w/pumpkin pie!
Umaribi-kariyushi yaibiin (Happy Birthday) to: Amy Bratt, Elsie Tomei Higa, Hope Hironaga, Carolyn Kimura, Clarice Kimura, Beth Miguel, Masako Oda, Ronald Oshiro, Jean Sugihara, Patrick Young & Carol Zukemura
Cultural Club Updates
JAPANESE
CULTURAL CLUB UPDATE
By Clarice Kumura
Celebrate the Magic of Christmas with Joy and Love
The sound of bells, bright decorations, and cheerful Christmas songs signal the beginning of the holiday magic It is also a time for families to gather, exchange gifts, and eat a special meal together. Santa brings joy to our lives, and children in their innocence, await Santa to bring them gifts. They hang stockings with the hope that Santa will bring them goodies. As adults, we value giving over receiving and thoughtfully plan gifts for loved ones. As the end of the year is upon us, President Mary Sueda and the Officers of JCC sends their warmest wishes to you and your loved ones Have a Joyous Holiday!
December Events: 01 - Orange Express (Wayne Uejo and Friends) 08 -- Birthday/Marion Arakaki (Enka Singing) Last Meeeting
November Recap: On Nov. 3, Troy Villar gave us an education on cybersecurity awareness Some of the problems include, phishing scams, fake e-mails, fake video made by AI and gift card scams Pay by credit card rather than debit. On Nov. 10, the Madoka No Kai Shamisen group played and danced to songs like Sakura, Soran Bushi, Hole Hole Bushi, among others. Ronin Morikawa, an elementary school student, played the Shamisen confidently and with ease. On Nov. 17, the Happy Senior Serenaders, led by Rosie Ramiro, brought Christmas cheer with their ukulele and festive songs.
Omedetou Gozaimasu to: Hope Hironaga; Amy Imaguchi; Clarice Kumura; Janet Miyashiro; Jo-Ann Murata; Ronald Oshiro; Jean Sugihara; Lorraine Tamashiro; and Carol Zukemura. May you all be blessed in abundance!
Hula by members of JCC Ronin Morikawa
Happy Senior Serenaders
Cultural Club Updates
FILIPINO CULTURAL CLUB UPDATE
By Beth Miguel
Foremost, we thank you Lord 4 showing us with they heavenly bountiful blessings.
We, the FCCH officers and members would like to extend our warmest aloha to the different clubs here at Lanakila especially to our respected director, Ms. Susie Oakland. We would like to greet our beloved club adviser Mr. Rudy Ibay who just had a successful energy at Kuakini Hospital, be strong and we are praying for your speedy recovery We miss you at the center kuya
On 11-1-25 we had a party celebrating the “trick-or-treat day” we had a costume contest where we had 3 winners: 1. Ana Rarangol won the most beautiful 2. Fely Baliba won the most scariest 3. Auring Tiburcio won the most original The three of them were given monetary award! We shared everybody’s treats and enjoyed the party!
We are now preparing for some upcoming events like Thanksgiving party and will be celebrating birthdays for October and November on 11/22/25 Hoping for an enjoyable event Sorry I will miss it See you all when I come back! Thanks!
On 11-15-25 we decorated the Activity Room with Xmas oranments under the leadership of Renilda Cordero and Cora Orinion!
We thank our President madam Wilma Ibay in treating us for lunch at Nice Day Restaurant on celebration of Leonie Ramirez’s 71st birthday on 11/8/25!
Last but not least, FCCH welcomes our new members, Tessie Tabias! Mabuhay!
HAWAIIAN CULTURAL CLUB UPDATE
By Sharon Tulba
Aloha and welcome to all our members and new members of Lanakila Senior Center- a place to meet and welcome everyone and enjoy different activities going on at the center instead of staying home, doing nothing just watching TV. Its been awhile since I wrote something to add to our month newsletter It’s always a pleasure when asked to write something about our club. In the last month, we celebrated birthdays for our members as Lobster King restaurant food was good and enjoyed time together. We will be planning other events in the New Year. A Halloween costume contest was held Roland and Jeanette dressed up and was given a gift certificate and was very thankful Lunch was served Veteran’s Day celebration to honor our dedicated Veteran’s who served our country We had a lot of our honored and given a certificate. It’s always an honor to remember our Veterans. Nov. 19th Thanksgiving celebration from 9-11 am. Having Augie T as our emcee and enjoy our delicious Turkey luncheon, along with pumpkin pie, so yummy A day to be thankful for everything we have, not only today but always Finally, our Christmas party will be held at Ala Moana Hotel Grand Ballroom on Dec. 12th to end 2025 and the beginning of a New Year 2026. Wishing everyone lots of love and blessings. Stay safe and healthy Mele Kalikimaka, Hauoli Mahahiki Hou 2026
PORTUGUESE CULTURAL CLUB UPDATE
By Puna Frank
Obrigado to ALL who helped make our club grow in 2025 Come Jan 2026, members will be trotting however, February, to December we will be galloping! So expect audio visuals, hands-on-activities and more Happy Trails type happenings Obrigado and Feliz Navid Anno Novo! Giddy up amigos!
CHINESE CULTURAL CLUB UPDATE
By Dorothy Mau
The 2026 Elected Officers for Chinese Cultural Club are President Dorothy Mau, Vice-President Cindy Choy, Secretary Blossom Mau, Treasurer Edward Lee, Auditor/Advisor Beverly Mau, Sgt. at Arms Chow Fook Choy, Thomas Duvachelle, and Calvin Hara.
As the Water Snake of 2025 slides away, in gallops the Fire Horse of 2026 on February 17th! We’re anticipating an auspicious year for everyone!
Halloween was fun for all at Lanakila Multipurpose Senior Center. There were more members partipating this year in their beautiful, creative , fantastic outfits You were all awesome and we thank you dressing up and making the event so funny with laughter everywhere at our center. To the surprise of Dorothy , Beverly and Blossom Mau dressed as Three Blind Mice, they took first place in the Most Cute Category A big mahalo from Mom Dorothy for the big applause will surely help her reach her 100th birthday!
Thank you for the super special Veterans Day and Thanksgiving programs again by our Lanakila No Ka Oi Center and you’ll see the many many hands that took to make these events possible!
Pick up a copy of the program and you’ll surely see the many many hands it took to make these events possible!
The answers to last month’s riddles by our drummer Byron and Realtor Beverly are “because we have our own drumsticks” and Turn key”. A very blessed , grateful, and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Kay Agena
Juanita Agustin
Virginia Ahuna
Nancy Alvey
Toshimasa Arai
Vernon Au
Emily “Nobuko” Azama
Anthony “Tony” Baldomero Sr.
Amy Bratt
Chong Brown
Robert “Bob” Burdon
Cathy Caberto
Lynn Carey
Sharon Carroll
Sun Ye Chae
Mary Lynn Chan
Tailing Chan
Aida Chapman
Carolyn Ching
Catherine Chinn
Salwyn Chinn
Stanley Choi
LaVina Chow
Susan Choy
Shirley Chu
Margaret Chun
Mary Chun
Philip “Phil” Chun
Soledad “Sally” Corpus Erlinda Dongon
Noel Eto
Richard Frey
Clifford Gakiya
Kazuyo Gillespie
Francis Goh
Carol Goto
Helen Goya
June Hafer
James Haioka
Lili Hallett
Carol Hamasaki
Barrymore “Barry” Hanakahi
Bradley Hara
Warren Hasegawa
Robert “Bob” Haus
Carol Hayashida
Norman Henry
Ruth Heu
Leonore Higa
Tomie “Elsie” Higa
Ken Hirate
Hope Hironaga
Evelyn Ho
Julie Ho
Paul Hoe
Holly Honbo
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Lyn Hurlbutt
George I
Maelin Ibara
Wilhelmina “Wilma” Ibay
Amy Imaguchi
Geri Imai
Susan Imai
Henry Isara
James “Jimmy” Iwamura
Eileen Iwanaka
Lisa Jama
Sally Joyce
Dawn Kadota
Tisha Kalua
Mildred “Millie” Kamei
Muriel Kashiwa
Mohammad Keshavarzi
Carol Kihano
Young Hwa Kim
Carolyn Kimura
Carol Kishimoto
Reagan Kiyuna
Janice Kujubu
Clarice Kumura
Edward Kuoha Jr.
Weiling Landers
Bradley Lau
Bessie Lee
Helen Lee
Yong Sun Lee
Young Soo Lee
Paul Lin
Ferdinand “Frawn” Madriaga
Temoana Makolo
Jesus Manuel
Ana Marshall
Myong Cha Martin
Melvin Masaki
Verna McLean
Beth Miguel
Lauren Mineshima
Cynthia Miyashiro
Janet Miyashiro
Grace Morikawa
Ellen Murai
Stephen Murashige
Jo-Ann Murata
Lynn Nakada
Charlene Nakagawa
Roy Nakasato
Jeanne Nakasone
Elaine Nakayama
Kelly Nam
Gary Namba
Gail Ninomoto
Hyon-Ok Kim Nishida
HAPPY BIRTHDAY (continued)
Jean Nishida
Masako Oda
Fujiko Okita
Alban Oshiro
Doris Oshiro
Ronald Oshiro
Patricia Pang Be Phan
Eric Pilger
Abigail “Abby” Ping
Erlene Pool
Katherine Sakai
Karen Sakihama
Estelita Sarmiento
Verna Schubert
Raymond Seid
Kate Shigetani
Claire Shirota
Hal Shito
Yoshiko Sickels
Susan Sing
Lenora Stone
Francine Suan
Randolph “Randy” Sugai
Jean Sugihara
Cynthia Sugiki
Pamela Sunwoo
Filipinas “Fely” Tabula
Ella Tagawa
Gail Tamashiro
Lorraine Tamashiro
Patsy Tamashiro
Jean Tamekazu
Clarence Tanaka
William Tate
Donna Tokuda
Janet Tokuda
Hideko Tokugawa
Chiyoko Tomori
Kiet Luong Truong
Jason Tsubaki
Ruby Uehara
Yuriko Vaughn
Isabel Volpone
Neena Wahi
Sharene Williams-Fine
Judine Wing
Paula Yamamoto
Linda Yara
Hyang-Suk “Sue” Yashima
Raymond Yee
Denise Yess
Jeannette Yoshimori
Marjorie Yoshioka
Helena Young
Patrick Young
Richard Young
Carol Zukemura
PIKAKE ($1000+)
Thank you so much for your generosity!
OHI‘A A LEHUA ($500)
Fujita, Henry & Beverly
IMAG Foundation
KAHILI
GINGER ($250+)
Katahira Family
HIBISCUS ($100+)
ATRC
Duvauchelle, Thomas
Fukunaga, Gail
Hironaga, Lance & Hope
Lai, Steve
Mikami, Beatrice
Nanbu, Patsy
Nomura, Alva & Sharon
Tada, Jane
BIRD OF PARADISE ($50+)
Ige, Vivian
Oshiro, Nobuko
Sugiki, Cynthia
Toyama, Amy
ANTHURIUM ($49 & under)
CCC
Kagami, Nancy
Loo, Tom
Makishima, Donna
Miyashiro, Raymond
Yamasaki, Glenn
IN-KIND DONATION
Batula, Joan Bratt, Amy
Burrows, Carol
Ching, Peter
Ching, Adele
Cordenas, Rachel
Duvauchelle, Thomas
Gakiya, Nancy
Hong, Mae
Jenson, Lisa Kondo, Violet Lee, Marge
Maida-Giangarra, Susan
Muraoka, Lorna
Nakamoto, Lynne
Nakamoto, Mary
Nakamura, Joyce
Nishimura, Rhonda Orinion, Cora
Oshiro, Nobu
Sakumoto, Atsuko
Sasahara, Barbara Sherrod, Cassandra
Shigetani, Kate
Taguchi, Taryn
Tobara, Ron Tominaga, Sunny Tong, Vicky
Tsutsumi, Alice
Wong, Irene Woo, Pat
December 2025
Class & Club Schedule
**Majority of our classes will begin their holiday break. Please check with your class instructor.
*Most classes and clubs are an hour long, unless noted otherwise below.
Day Time Class
Monday
Tuesday
Facilitator
Location
8:30 AM Picking Ukulele Nishiyama, Young Sewing Room
8:30 AM – 10:30 AM Victor’s Kapakahi Group Tangonan Library Annex
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Japanese Cultural Club Sueda Lanai
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Hula Makolo Dance Room
12:00 PM Ping Pong Ream Lanai
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM Cribbage Tom Patio
8:00 – 11:00 AM Mah Jong Sugihara Library Room
9:00 AM Hawaiian Cultural Club (1st & 3rd Tues. of the month) Manuel Activity Room
9:15 AM – 12:00 PM Pickleball Lardizabal, Tsubaki Lanakila Gym
9:30 AM Music Lovers Group Espeleta Library Annex
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM Hula Makolo Dance Room
10:00 AM & 11:00 AM Beginner’s iPhone Class* Kawasaki Patio
10:00 AM Sahm Bo Dahn Higuchi Lanai
11:15 AM Beginning Hula Makolo Dance Room
Wednesday TBA (day & time varies) Gardening Group* Nakamura TBA
8:00 AM Tai Chi* Koike ONLINE
8:30 AM – 9:45 AM Fit & Flexible Mayeshiro Dance Room
9:30 AM Portuguese Cultural Club (2nd & 4th Wed. of the month) Frank Activity Room
9:45 AM – 12:00 PM Sewing by Nakasone Nakasone, Ito Craft Room
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Korean Dance Cultural Club Hasegawa Dance Room
10:30 AM Happy Senior Serenaders Ojiri, Ramiro Sewing Room
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Shigin Tokugawa Library Room
10:45 AM Yoga Fujii Lanai
12:00 PM Crafts by Janet* Miyashiro Sewing Room
12:15 PM – 1:45 PM Chinese Traditional Dance Feng, Hou Dance Room
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM Conv. Mandarin Language Xu, Hou Dance Room
Thursday TBA (day & time varies) Composting Wormies Group* Uyehara TBA
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Okinawa Nenchosha Club Higa Lanai
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Taisho Koto Takeuchi Library Room
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Hanafuda Samori Dance Room
9:15 AM – 12:00 PM Pickleball Hino, Lau Lanakila Gym
December 2025
Class & Club Schedule
Day Time Class Facilitator Location
10:30 AM Japanese Calligraphy Usami Craft Room
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Cribbage Lardizabal Patio
11:00 AM Okinawan Dance Kawaguchi Lanai
11:30 AM – 2:30 PM Digital Technology* Lanakila Pacific Sewing Room
12:00 PM – 2:30 PM Brian’s Karaoke Class (2nd & 4th Thurs. of the month) Suzuki Library Annex, Go Room
Friday
8:00 AM Tai Chi* Koike ONLINE
9:00 AM African American Cultural Club (2nd & 4th Fri. of the month) Gray Activity Room
9:00 AM Fusion Gittelman ONLINE
9:00 AM – 2:30 PM Enka Arakaki Sewing Room
9:30 AM Chinese Cultural Club (1st & 3rd Fridays of the month) Mau Activity Room
9:30 AM- 12:00 PM Tap Dance Feagins, Ferreira Dance Room
10:30 AM Sing For Your Life Richmond Lib Annex, Go Room
11:00 AM American Sign Language Shimizu ONLINE
12:00 PM – 2:30 PM Ping Pong Ream Lanai
Saturday 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM Filipino Cultural Club Ibay Activity Room
*Special registration- see staff for more info. Do not fill out a registration form.
"Hardworking First Hawaiian Bank employees volunteered their time on Saturday, November 15, 2025, and painted and cleaned the backside of the senior center, the closets across the big kitchen, the patio area, and Ewa side of the senior center A big mahalo for their loving efforts!"
Classes subject to change
Lanh Nguyen took photos of the CHAMP (Cancer Health Awareness and Mindfulness Program) presentation with Punahou Students Jessica Lee and Julian on Saturday, 11/22/25
Here are photos of the Community Service Project today with Gay4Good volunteers who prepared Christmas presents for the Lanakila Christmas Party
December 2025
Beading Class (10:00 am)
Ti Leaf Deribbing (10:30 am) Haircuts (12:30 pm) Travel Club Meeting (1:00 pm)
Ti Leaf Deribbing (10:30 am)
Honolulu Hale Holiday Display (10:30 am) Haircuts (12:30 pm)
Ti Leaf Deribbing (10:30 am) Honolulu Hale Holiday Display (10:30 am)
(12:30 pm)
Beading Workshop (10:00 am)
Grief & Loss (11:00 am)
iPad Training at Ala Moana (12:30 pm)
Strength Training w/ Televeda (8:00 am) BINGO (9:00 am)
Honolulu Hale Holiday Display (10:30 am)
Honolulu City Lights (4:00 pm)
Don Donki (10:30 am)
Lanakila Men and Women Shed (8:00 am)
Queen Emma Summer Palace (10:00 am)
Painting (12:30 pm) Gateball (4:00 pm)
Honolulu Hale Holiday Display (10:30 a.m.)
Orange Xpress (12:00 pm) Gateball (4:00 pm)
City Lights (4:00 pm)
Coffee, Tea and Talk Story (8:30 am)
UHM Center of Aging Table (8:30 am)
Painting (12:30 pm)
CMP Meeting (2:00 pm)
Honolulu City Lights (4:00 pm)
Importance of Exercise - Cancer (9:00 am)
Don Don Donki (10:30 am)
Mini Piano Concert (11:00 am)
Mac Class on Zoom (12:00 pm) Painting (12:30 pm)
Honolulu Orchid Society (9:30 am) Cybersecurity (10:00 am)
am)
Brunch (9:00 am) Voices of Aloha (11:00 am)
but Goodies (12:00 pm)
Susie Chun Oakland Program Director suzanne.oakland@catholiccharitieshawaii.org
Riva Torno Program Specialist riva.torno@catholiccharitieshawaii.org
Iris Hiramoto Membership Specialist ihiramoto@catholiccharitieshawaii.org
Elizabeth “Cookie” Irvine Program Support Assistant elizabeth.irvine@catholiccharitieshawaii.org
Lodi Tapawan Custodian
Cyan Lau, LSW Case Manager/Social Worker cyan.lau@catholiccharitieshawaii.org
Lourdes Adame, LSW Case Manager/Social Worker lourdes.adame@catholiccharitieshawaii.org
