DEPARTMENT:

Hanauma Bay lures senior volunteer

Alan Takemoto retired in 2000 after 36 years with FISC Pearl Harbor.

He found he was bored at home and had extra free time, so decided to give volunteering a try. He chose Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve because of its close proximity to his East Honolulu home.
“I didn’t want to have to fight traffic,” he says.

Alan Takemoto talks with visitors from Australia and the Czech Republic during one of his volunteer sessions at Hanauma Bay. Photo by Steven Fox

After 16 hours of training, Takemoto was ready to be an Interpretive Guided volunteer at Hanauma. He started there in 2005 and now works once a week for four hours. He alternates between the gift shop and presenting the short video that all first-time visitors must see before venturing out into the waters of Hanauma Bay.

What he likes best about the experience is “meeting people from all different countries.”

The most frequent question he gets asked by visitors to the preserve is “where can we rent snorkel equipment?”

And, before reporting for volunteer duty, Takemoto stops for a cup of coffee at Starbucks in Hawaii Kai Towne Center. It’s a daily ritual for him and his wife Rita.

Takemoto was born and raised in Honolulu. He and his wife have a 28-year-old son.

Volunteer opportunities

Department of Human Services

www.hawaii.gov/dhs
Foster Grandparent Program
2201 Waimano Home Road, Pearl City 96782
This is a part-time volunteer program that enrolls eligible low-income seniors statewide to assist children with special needs. To be a foster grandparent, an individual must be at least 60 years old, physically able to work 20 hours per week and also meet income and other program requirement. To become a foster grandparent or for more information about this program, call the Foster Grandparent Program office on Oahu at 453-6357
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

Formerly with Helping Hands; for information call Norma Koenig at 586-5190.

Started in 1971, RSVP is a federal program whose mission is “to provide adults aged 55 and older with a meaningful volunteer experience while they make a contribution to their community.” RSVP has a variety of volunteer opportunities, matching individuals’ personal interests, skills and availability with more than 40 non-profit organizations and public service agencies statewide.

Senior Companion Program

600 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite 305, Honolulu 96813
This is a part-time volunteer program that enrolls eligible low-income seniors statewide to provide in-home companionship and limited personal care to frail elders and respite to caregivers. To be a Senior Companion, an individual must be at least 60 years, physically able to work 20 hours per week, and also meet income and other program requirements. To receive Senior Companion Services, an individual or family must meet program related requirements.  To become a companion, apply for services, or for more information about this program, call the Senior Companion Program office on Oahu at 586-5192.

Hanauma Bay Education Program

Volunteers at the nature preserve in East Honolulu staff the visitor center and an information kiosk on the beach, lead educational programs and tours, and provide clerical, grounds keeping and maintenance support for both the education program and park staff. They answer questions about the marine life in the bay, provide information abut protecting Hawaii’s marine environment and interact with visitors from all over the world.

Volunteers range in age from high school students (minimum age is 14) to retirees. Positions filled by volunteers are interpretive guide and school program docent, with gardener, clerical assistant, maintenance support and special event support coming soon. Training is provided three times a year and requires four four-hour sessions for interpretive guide, school program docent and special event support.

In addition, interpretive guides must complete one four-hour shadow shift with an experienced volunteer to see first hand what the position entails. Interpretive guides must work a minimum of one four-hour shift per week, rotating among three volunteer stations during each shift. These are the information desk in the visitor center, a small theater where a short orientation film is shown to all visitors and a beach information kiosk.

The program docent must commit to four tours or programs per month, ranging from short walking natural history tours for the general public to more formal classroom presentations for school groups.

For more information or to fill out a volunteer application, visit the HBEP Web site, www.soest.hawaii.edu/seagrant/education/HBEP/vol.htm.

Meals on Wheels

There are two sites on Oahu.
Hawaii Meals on Wheels, www.hmow.org
2728 Huapala St # 209, Honolulu; phone: 988-6747
Lanakila Meals on Wheels, www.lanakilahawaii.org
1809 Bachelot St, Honolulu; phone: 531-0555

Volunteers needed

The Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific is looking for volunteers to staff its gift shop. Accommodating schedules are available. For more information, call Tina at REHAB Hospital Human Resources, 531-3511.

Organizations with volunteer opportunities for seniors that would like to be included in this listing should send information to Senior Volunteers Generations Hawaii, c/o Trade Publishing, 287 Mokauea St., Honolulu 96819 or to dianne@tradepublishing.com.

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