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Standing, from left: Dr. Arnulfo B. Diaz, Larry D. Carter, Vivian Aiona, Ah Vin "Jacob" Zane and Charles Clark; seated, from left: June Kaaihue, Janice S. Bond, Sarah K. Togashi and Michiko Motooka
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Vivian Aiona, wife of Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, Jr., read the state proclamation for Older Americans Month (May) and presented commendations to the eight honorees.
Selected from a pool of hundreds of nominees, two volunteers (one male, one female) were chosen from each county for his or her exemplary contributions.
"They are role models who give us hope and inspiration to continue the tradition and aloha spirit of community service," says Noemi Pendleton, director of the Executive Office on Aging.
Here is a quick snapshot of each outstanding volunteer’s contributions to the community.
Sarah Togashi, 73, Hawaii
Known as Aunty Kuulei, Togashi is always ready to volunteer with fundraising activities - providing transportation, making refreshments, and donating her baked goods and countless lei. As president of the Keaau Nutrition Center, Togashi’s encouragement and positive attitude have created a spirit of camaraderie among members of the senior club and nutrition program participants. She has arranged numerous excursions and often helps other seniors with their personal errands and grocery shopping without giving it a second thought.
Ah Vin "Jacob" Zane, 77, Hawaii
Zane is currently the president of the Kohala Senior Club, having served as vice president and sergeant-at-arms in the past. He participates in the senior choir, and twice a month they go to the Kohala Hospital to share their music with the patients. Zane set up a food basket at the senior center for food donations and delivers them himself to the food bank at Sacred Heart Church. He started the Senior Bowling Club and is a member of the Kohala Senior Softball Team. His friends say, "Jacob loves people, and all who know him love him."
Michiko Motooka, 80, Honolulu
Motooka has been a Project Dana volunteer for more than 20 years assisting frail elders who suffer from loneliness, helplessness and need understanding, patience and compassionate care. She uses her musical talents to teach and lead the Happy Strummers, a ukulele group that performs at various senior events. Motooka also volunteers at the Moiliili Hongwanji preschool and the Maunalani Nursing Home. Her nominator says, "Michiko is kind, compassionate, selfless and so giving."
Charles Clark, 81, Honolulu
Clark makes presentations to senior groups, retiree associations, civic organizations and college classes to inform people how to detect Medicare and Medicaid fraud, abuse, errors, and how to protect themselves from becoming victimized. He also is the founder and national president of Radiated Veterans of America. He founded the organization to address the financial and physical needs of senior veterans who suffer the effects of exposure to radiation. His nominator says, "Charles has made profound contributions to the quality of life for seniors and others."
Janice S. Bond, 67, Kauai
A retired teacher, Bond’s volunteer work has included helping with the Visitor Aloha Society, American Cancer Society, Arthritis Association; promotion of reading with the first lady’s Read for 2002, United We Read and Read to Me programs; and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Bond has been a foster parent for 30 children since 1980 and was recently selected Kauai Retired Teacher Association Volunteer of the Year.
Dr. Arnulfo B. Diaz, 66, Kauai
A retired physician, Dr. Diaz volunteers his time to many organizations, including the Kauai Filipino Community Council, Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce, the Wilcox Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, Kauai Pangasinan Association, Miss Kauai Filipina Pageant, Immaculate Conception Filipino Catholic Club, Kauai Heart Association and the Hawaii Heart Association. In 2007, he was recognized with a Hawaii Centennial Celebration Distinguished Service Award and received a Certificate of Congressional Congratulations as a 2006 Filipino Centennial Awardee.
 June Kaaihue, 71, Maui
Since the age of 60, Kaaihue has been an officer or a member of numerous boards, community organizations and clubs on Maui. In addition to the many organizations she’s involved with, Kaaihue began serving on the Mayor’s Task Force on Health this year. At the age of 68, she assumed the responsibility of rearing and supporting two young grandchildren while at the same time undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. As her retirement pay did not stretch far enough, Kaaihue also began two new part-time occupations — as a roving musician and ukulele instructor. Through it all, she never missed a day’s work.
Larry D. Carter, 71, Maui
For the past two years, Carter has served as the chair of the Maui Geriatric Mental Health Hui and has worked half-time with a University of Hawaii research project to better the state mental health services for kupuna who suffer from mental illness. His work in this position helps to improve community partnerships to increase the quality of care for Maui’s mentally ill geriatric population. He also is currently enjoying a new venture, Maui AgeWave, whose mission is to strengthen connected care in Hawaii through innovative technologies, which will allow more seniors to age in place.
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