Ethel Yonemitsu recently celebrated her 100th birthday at Pomaikai Senior Center, 929 Ululani St., where she has been an active member for 30 years, participating in Japanese dancing, line dancing, playing hanafuda and ukulele, which she learned to play at
Ethel Yonemitsu recently celebrated her 100th birthday at Pomaikai Senior Center, 929 Ululani St., where she has been an active member for 30 years, participating in Japanese dancing, line dancing, playing hanafuda and ukulele, which she learned to play at age 84.
Until the age of 92, she opened the center daily, setting up the coffee, tea, condiments, etc. She has been a member of R.S.V.P. for 30 years, volunteering at the Hilo Medical Center, folding laundry every Monday until she was 98.
Presently, she is still active playing hanafuda cards daily and in the Center’s Performing Ukulele group, which does 12 shows a year at four of the care centers. She has won the seniors Golden Award, and is a treasure and inspiration to all those who know her.
Mayor Billy Kenoi, Roann Okamura, EAD Director, and George Yoshida, filming for “Seniors in Paradise,” were also on hand to celebrate. She was presented with a certificate from the mayor, and a congratulatory letter from President Barack Obama.
