Last year, my dear friend Pablo and Lanikai Juice owner, told me with a sparkle in his eyes about a senior community center in Kakaako that was going to take place on the historic stone Kaka’ako Pumping Station on Ala Moana Blvd. Today this beautiful building is the home of Na Kūpuna Makamae (“The Beloved Seniors”) center. This place aims to take care, empower, educate, enlighten and entertain our seniors, their families and the local community.
Pablo wanted to be involved with this beautiful initiative, so I was delighted to partner with Lanikai Juice once again (for the past 2 years we have been working on the free Run Clubs for the community), to promote health and wellness in our community but now focus on our beloved seniors. We came up with a “Wellness & Walk Club”. The class start with a gentle stretch and warm up exercises, then we go for a nice relaxing walk around Kakaako Park, and we close the class chatting about healthy nutrition and lifestyle choices. I am offering the class every Tuesday from 9:30am to 10:30am, and it’s free for every senior in the community.
The center is also offering yoga, hula and ukulele classes for everyone in the community (na kūpuna makamae).
Na Kūpuna Makamae center is a precious investment in a healthier future for all of us, since hopefully one day we will all be kūpunas, just as healthy as the centenarians Okinawans.
Interesting statistics:
In 2013, more than 15 percent of the Hawaii state’s population was older then 65. That’s predicted to increase to 20 percent by 2030.
Tell your lovely seniors and families to visit the Na Kupuna Makamae center to take one of the classes, to chat, to socialize, to laugh, to dance, or just to stop by to see this beautiful historic building that is now a place to enlighten the kūpunas in our community.
Na Kūpuna Makamae
Located at: 653 Ala Moana Blvd
Wellness & Walk Class: Every Tuesday at 9:30am
We hope to see you there!
mariane