An exciting day was had by a crowd of 340 family members and well-wishers as the Hawaii County Office of Aging honored 20 nominees at its annual Outstanding Older Americans Award Luncheon May 2 at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. The crowd cheered as Shirley Ito of Hilo and Peter “Pete” Hoffmann of Waikoloa were named the 2013 Outstanding Older Americans for Hawaii County.
An exciting day was had by a crowd of 340 family members and well-wishers as the Hawaii County Office of Aging honored 20 nominees at its annual Outstanding Older Americans Award Luncheon May 2 at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. The crowd cheered as Shirley Ito of Hilo and Peter “Pete” Hoffmann of Waikoloa were named the 2013 Outstanding Older Americans for Hawaii County.
In addition to the Outstanding Male and Female Older American awards, the following special awards were presented: the Community Service Award to Marian “Miriam” R. Reyes of Kapaau, Edwin R. Castillo of Honokaa and Rogelio Roy Soto of Honokaa; the Senior Activities Award to Mabel A. Kaipo of Naalehu and Robert G. Gomes Sr. of Pahala; the Personal Achievement Award to Mei Ling Green of Pahoa, Helen C.O. Young of Hilo and Alfonso S. Mitchell of Kapaau; the Golden Years Award to Helen C.O. Young of Hilo and George Cabral of Ookala, 91 and 83 years young, respectively; the Partners in Eldercare Partnership Award to Chris Ridley, who was recognized” for giving her heart and soul to promoting awareness, understanding, and much-needed training and counseling for hundreds of caregivers having to deal with the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease.”
This was the Office of Aging’s 45th celebration of Hawaii County’s Outstanding Older Americans Awards. The national theme, “Unleash the Power of Age,” celebrates older Americans all around the nation.