The Agency on Elderly Affairs will host the Older Americans Award Ceremony on May 15 at the Outrigger Kaua‘i Beach Resort and Spa in Līhu‘e. The event will start at 9 a.m. and is open to the public at no charge. Tickets for the luncheon at 11 a.m. following the ceremony can be purchased by contacting Agency on Elderly Affairs, according to the County of Kauai.
The theme for this year's celebration is "Flip the Script on Aging." A report from the Kauai government explains that the effort is focused on challenging stereotypes and misconceptions about aging, emphasizing the potential for purpose and discovery in later years. The initiative seeks to create a more inclusive community that values and respects its senior population, as reported by the County of Kauai.
A group of older adults, including Adeline Sasaki, Alice Baptista, Carol Saiki, Chad Pharis, Charlene Dorsey, Eugene Punzal, Gary Smith, Marga Goosen, Michael Brenner, and Wilma Chandler, will be honored this year. One male and one female from the group will be chosen to represent Kaua‘i at the State Recognition Ceremony on June 13 in O‘ahu. This is part of Older Americans Month, which has been observed since 1963 and is led by the federal Administration for Community Living. Older Americans Month recognizes the contributions of older Americans and supports older adults in communities. As stated by the County of Kauai, this observance is "a time to honor the contributions of older Americans, highlight aging-related trends, and reaffirm our commitment to supporting older adults in our communities."
