Retired special education teacher and senior club leader Karolyn Mossman
and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz were honored as Kupuna Advocates of the Year on
Saturday at the 54th Kupuna Aloha Luncheon, which was attended by nearly
550 kupuna, their supporters, community and state leaders, including Gov.
Josh Green, and candidates for office.
The annual gathering, held at the Grand Wailea, gave Maui kupuna an
opportunity to reacquaint with old friends, dress up for a hotel-style
buffet luncheon and meet candidates for office, while taking home swag and
lucky number prizes.
MEO CEO Debbie Cabebe, who will be retiring at the end of this week,
received a maile lei from Ka`ihi Bissen.
The festive event was sponsored by the Maui County Planning & Coordinating
Council (P&CC), an umbrella organization of representatives from the more
than 45 senior clubs in Maui County, and produced by Maui Economic
Opportunity. MEO buses transported 300 of the attendees from places as far
away as Hana and West Maui.
Green, who attended his first Kupuna Aloha Luncheon as governor, told the
senior-filled ballroom that “to hear your wisdom and to see what challenges
you face have meant a great deal to me.”
He told personal stories that included climbing into a home through a
window to help an elderly man, who had been abandoned by his family, and
the man’s recovery through support, and the pain of watching his father
slip away because of Alzheimer’s.
More than 500 people attended the 54th Kupuna Aloha Luncheon on Saturday at the Grand Wailea.
Other speakers included U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda; Mayor Richard Bissen, who
sang “L.O.V.E.” accompanied by his ukulele; and Maui County Vice Chair Yuki
Lei Sugimura. MEO Executive Director and incoming CEO Maggie Batangan
served as emcee.
The honorees of the luncheon were Mossman and Schatz.
Raised in Kula, Mossman taught for 34 years in the public schools, the
majority at Kalama Intermediate School. She served on the Maui County
Charter Commission in 2001-02 and as a volunteer and leader with the Kula
Community Association and Waipuna Chapel.
Her volunteer work in retirement includes serving as HSTA-Retired District
President and Treasurer of the statewide organization and Treasurer of the
P&CC. She continues to hold annual training sessions for the P&CC on
Robert’s Rules of Order to help kupuna clubs better manage their affairs
and run their meetings.
“All successful organizations require knowledgeable, trustworthy, committed
and passionate leaders who work behind the scenes to keep them on the right
path.” Batangan said. “Karolyn is one of those people, a Kupuna Advocate
with a lifetime resume of Helping People, Changing Lives.”
Maui Economic Opportunity buses transported about 300 seniors from as far
away as Hana and West Maui to the 54th Kupuna Aloha Luncheon.
Schatz, who was unable to attend the event, is fighting in the U.S. Senate
to improve the lives of kupuna by introducing and supporting measures such
as the Safeguarding American Families and Expanding Social Security Act,
which increases average monthly benefits and phases out the payroll tax cap
on higher earners; the SENIOR Act, which requires the Older Americans Act
of 1965 to address the health effects of senior isolation by mandating
screening for loneliness; and expanding Medicare-covered telehealth
services.
“Kupuna are part of his family, his `ohana,” said Batangan. ”We honor
Senator Schatz today as Kupuna Advocate of the Year because he is family
and will continue to fight furiously to protect that family.”
Larry Endrina played Hawaiian music during lunch and several kupuna club
members offered cultural and hip dance numbers.
The display table advertising cost paid by the 30 vendors, the majority
candidates for office, helped reduce the cost for kupuna attendees. The
clubs also held fundraisers, and the Grand Wailea provided the venue and
the buffet at affordable rates.
For more information about kupuna clubs and MEO services, call (808)
249-2990.
The 54th Kupuna Aloha Luncheon hosted 30 vendors, mostly candidates. But others, such as Hawaiian Electric, provided information and services for kupuna.
Kupuna Advocate of the Year Karolyn Mossman (holding certificate) poses for a photo with (from left) MEO Executive Director Maggie Batangan, Gov. Josh Green, U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, Mayor Richard Bissen, Maui County Council Vice Chair Yuki Lei Sugimura and MEO CEO Debbie Cabebe.
ILWU Pensioners Club dancers helped entertain at the 54th Kupuna Aloha Luncheon.
Shown are the candidates for office who participated in the 54th Kupuna
Aloha Luncheon.