Da' Hawai`i Seniors Club

Who  |  What  |  Where  |  When  |  How  |  Background

Who:

Club Founders:

Da' Hawai`i Seniors Club was founded in April, 1998, by a group of friends -- all  former Hawai`i residents who now live in Southern California -- and headed by two Big Islanders, Bennie Cabalona, originally from Mountain View and Fely Fagaragan, originally from Pahala.

They saw a need to bring together former islanders living in their immediate community, as well as those from surrounding areas.  They did something about it.  

These days, mahalo to their foresight, initiative and leadership, they created a friendly, social setting that rekindles, revives and keeps The Spirit of Aloha burning brightly. 

Da' Hawai`i Seniors Club's Board of Officers, 2008:

>> Da' Hawai`i Seniors Club's Board of Officers, 2007

Da' Hawai`i Seniors Club Membership:

The membership is mainly composed of expatriates who left Hawai`i and transplanted themselves in the suburbs of Southern California.  The reasons for leaving our native land and taking up residence on the Mainland are myriad; for most, economic.   

>> Honolulu Star-Bulletin's "Brain Drain" Series

Let it be known that while they may live over 2000 miles away from their archipelago homeland of Hawai`i, they have never renounced their homeland.  Still imbued with Hawai`i's mana, their hearts and souls remain steadfast in their allegiance to Hawai`i.  

The following are Hawai`i high schools represented by the membership of  Da' Hawai`i Seniors Club:

The non-Hawai`i reader might ask, "What about college?"  Nevah mind, college.  In Hawai`i, it is FAR more important and informative to ask, "What high school you grad?"  

Followed by: "What year you grad?" 

Hawai`i people are inclusive and Da' Hawai`i Seniors Club membership includes those who are Hawaiian-at-heart or -by-marriage-or-close-association.  There's a fair number from California, and a few as with roots as far away as Washington, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

There are several members from islands that lie beyond our fair islands, including Okinawa, Japan and the Philippines.  There are two adventuresome souls who are from Germany and South Africa!

About 115 of the members are from Cerritos; 110, from the surrounding areas.

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What:

This is a non-profit social club.  

Da' Hawaii Seniors Club provides a venue where new and old residents formerly from Hawai`i can meet bi-monthly.  Its members gather to enjoy one another's company, as well as Hawai`i's food, "talk story," crafts, mele (song) and hula (dance), while creating fellowship, a sense of `ohana (family) and lives filled with le`ale`a (fun-loving joy), love, laughter and The Aloha Spirit."

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Where:

Cerritos Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park
12340 South Street
Cerritos, CA 90703

Directions: From the 605 Freeway, exit South Street and travel east for about a mile. Pass Norwalk Boulevard. Make a right turn on Ely Avenue. The Center parking lot is located on the left side.

>> Yahoo Map to Pat Nixon Park

(562) 916-8550

Photo courtesy of The City of Cerritos
>> Photo Gallery of CSC
>> More CSC information

Hours of operation:
Mon, Wed, & Fri: 7:30 am - 4:30 pm
Tues & Thurs: 7:30 am - 9:00 pm

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When:

Bi-monthly meetings:

2nd Thursday, 1:30 - 4:30 pm
4th Tuesday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm

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How to Become a Member:

Following the guidelines of the AARP in establishing its criterion for senior citizen status, members must be 50 years and older.  

In typical Hawai`i style, word gets around.  Da' Hawai`i Seniors Club is flourishing.  It is so popular, these days, that its present membership fills the meeting room to full capacity, and new members are added only as openings arise. 

Those interested should ask to have their names put on a waiting list.  Residents of Cerritos are given first preference, as is fair.

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Background on Cerritos and the Cerritos Senior Center:

About twenty years or more ago, a number of former islanders moved into a bucolic Southern California suburb with the lofty name of The City of Cerritos.  

Back then it was hardly a city. 

Instead, located in the middle of what was known as Dairy Valley, home to 100,000 cows on more than 400 dairies, it was "wa-a-a-y out there in the boonies," just far away enough to feel like country, yet close enough to commute to the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and Long Beach. 

Cerritos was known for its "cow-pie smells so stinky that passers-by would pinch their noses and hold their breaths" as they drove by on the freeway on the way to Disneyland or Knott's Berry Farm in adjacent Orange County. 

For years, while raising their families in tracts wedged between cow pastures,  these Cerritians paid -- and still pay -- city taxes. 

In time, the cows moved out to the hills of Chino.  And so did the smells.  And property values soared.

What a difference 20 years makes!

These days, The City of Cerritos has grown into its name, evolving into a robust and thriving master-planned suburb known for its green, open spaces.  (Its planners set a goal of preserving an acre of parkland for every 100 residents)

Cerritos is, however, far more than just another city.  Thanks to enlightened city leadership, its faithful citizenry are being repaid in full with blessings unforeseen, as Cerritos matured into a caring community that is uniquely sensitive the needs of its elders and committed to lifelong enrichment.

"The city has a reserve of $150 million, which generates interest payments of $11.5 million dollars a year.  They are putting some of these extra funds to build an addition to the (present) senior center. As a tax-paying resident for almost 20 years, I'm happy to see my tax dollars are going to good use.  I approve! " ~ Cerritos taxpayer

 

The Cerritos Library 2002
The titanium-clad, most state-of-the-art library in the world

Not only blessed with the beautiful and innovative Cerritos Library and internationally-acclaimed Cerritos Performing Arts Center, its citizenry has been gifted with a world-class Cerritos Senior Center with the mostest, just for us seniors.

Sensitive to the needs -- and growing political clout -- of its vigorous senior population, age 50 and older, The City of Cerritos created a focal point for its community involvement in 1994.  For the members of Da' Hawai`i Seniors Club, the most spirited and lively senior club, bar none, the invitingly attractive senior center is now home away from their island home.  

It is a gathering place where its members can practice the Hawaiian values of our youth:  `ohana, kôkua, mâlama, hânai, `olu`olu and "no make kâpulu.".  These values are not translatable into English, as they mean far more than their English counterparts.  They need to be lived, if they are to be preserved.

The members of Da' Hawai`i Seniors Club now live these values together, ensuring their preservation for the generations to come. Toting their `ukulele, guitars, they greet each other with Aloha with smiles from their hearts, ready to sing, hula, "talk story." and share their tasty potluck dishes.

Even if Da' Hawai`i Seniors Club members are an ocean away from their homeland, when these keiki o `ka `âina (children of the land) hui (get together),  they are home once more in the islands with their hearts, minds, and spirits.

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 © 2002, AD