Ka Lama Kukui spreads Christmas cheer to kūpuna

by Vina Cristobal, UH Med Now journalist
Photos provided by Ka Lama Kukui

In celebration of the holidays, the students of the Ka Lama Kukui Interest Group, along with volunteers from the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM)  and University of Hawai’i Mānoa Social Work Organization, spent a Saturday morning with the kūpuna (elderly) of Lunalilo Home.

The group visited the Lunalilo residents on Saturday, November 28, during Thanksgiving weekend. Students spent time dancing and singing with the kūpuna, and played a few rounds of BINGO and trivia as well. They also distributed gifts and Christmas cards to the residents, which were donated by JABSOM students, faculty and staff.

After the event, Ka Lama Kukui posted a mahalo message to its Facebook page:

“Ka Lama Kukui Interest Group would like to extend our deepest mahalo nui loa to those who gave to our donation drive for Lunalilo Home. We collected many craft materials for the kūpuna of the home.

A special mahalo also goes out to the student and faculty volunteers of JABSOM and the UHM Social Work Organization for taking part of their morning to spend quality time with the residents. The kūpuna’s faces were filled with smiles and excitement as we sang, danced, and played trivia and BINGO.

In addition, the residents were very happy to receive the Christmas cards that you decorated in your JMP (JABSOM Mentorship Program) pods. Great work!

Lastly, thank you to the Lunalilo Home for welcoming us for this special project. We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Season’s Greetings!”

Mahalo to the Ka Lama Kukui Interest Group for sending us photos and for spreading joy to the Lunalilo Home kūpuna!