Educator, caregiver, poet and award-winning author of 11 books Frances Kakugawa will speak at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at the Aging and Disability Resource Center in Hilo.
Educator, caregiver, poet and award-winning author of 11 books Frances Kakugawa will speak at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at the Aging and Disability Resource Center in Hilo.
Kakugawa will take the audience on her personal journey, through poetry and actual experiences, about how she rose above the daily tasks of caregiving and found meaning and dignity in caring for her mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease.
Hear her read some poignant poems about her experiences and how journaling and poetry became part of her tools in helping her transform from a scared caregiver into a capable and passionate caregiver.
She will share lessons learned, and the choices confronting caregivers to either succumb to the realities of caregiving or to live with “that small light of our own humanity by offering our loved ones, the dignity in living the last years of their lives.”
Three of her children’s books received Best Children’s Book of the Year awards. Her most recent book, “Kapoho: Memoir of a Modern Pompeii,” received the Northern California Publishers/Authors Best Non-Fiction Award. Three of her books are on aging and caregiving.
She was recognized in “Living Legacy, Outstanding Women of the 20th Century in Hawaii” and received the Hawaii-Pacific Gerontology Society Award for her work with the elderly.
Those interested in attending should call Chris Ridley at 443-7360 to reserve a seat.