GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Akamai Living Award winners Nellie Aina, left, Gloria Lopez, Gladys Watanabe and Florence Menor; and Outstanding Senior volunteers Gladys Takamoto and Dr. Norberto Baysa. These volunteers were recognized during the Mayor's Senior Recognition Program presented yesterday by the Honolulu Committee on Aging at the Hawaii Convention Center.
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Mayor’s program honors volunteers
Star-Bulletin staff
Dr. Norberto Baysa and Gladys Takamoto are this year's outstanding volunteers and were honored at the 42nd annual Mayor's Senior Recognition Program yesterday.
Baysa and Takamoto were selected out of 80 nominees who help individuals or assist at organizations that deliver health care, recreational or social services, according to a city news release.
Baysa, 75, is president of the Wahiawa Rainbow Seniors Club, which nominated him for the award. He is on the Wahiawa General Hospital board, and participates in other community groups.
Baysa, an internist, volunteered during a severe physician shortage at the Wahiawa Clinic, and also offers his services to the Aloha Medical Mission, which helps the poor in the Philippines, Indonesia and the Dominican Republic.
Takamoto, 91, was nominated by Councilman Rod Tam and the Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center, where she has volunteered for more than 23 years. She works in the front office, assisting senior callers with their problems, and conducts a quilting class.
Takamoto is also active in the Japanese Cultural Club, and volunteers at St. Francis and Kuakini hospitals.
Four Akamai Living Awards were also bestowed on Nellie Aina, Gloria Lopez, Gladys Watanabe and Florence Menor.
Aina, 72 (nominated by the Waimanalo Senior Program), won the platinum award; Lopez, 71 (nominated by Kokua Kalihi Valley Elderly Services Program), the gold; Watanabe, 76 (nominated by the Aiealani Seniors), the silver; and Menor, 76 (nominated by Lanakila), the bronze.
The recognition program is produced by the Honolulu Committee on Aging and the Elderly Affairs Division of the city Department of Community Services. The Hawaii Medical Service Association and First Hawaiian Bank are principal sponsors.