TheBuzz Erika Engle

New consumer magazine is aimed at Hawaii seniors

The company will debut a new magazine next month, geared not toward specific industries or professions, as are most of its other titles, but for Hawaii's maturing population.

Generations Hawaii, aimed at readers 50 and older, will project energy and optimism, Hebenstreit said.

Kamaaina members of the magazine's audience may well have been in Hebenstreit's television audience when he hosted "The Kini Popo Show" on KGMB in the 1950s.

"To those who remember the early days, welcome back. The fun is about to begin again," he wrote in a letter to readers for the magazine's first issue.

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi, who writes "Hawaii's Backyard" for the Sunday Honolulu Star-Bulletin, and who is an award-winning freelance travel writer, has been named editor of the new magazine.

"Cheryl's mission, her dream for this magazine, is to make it a resource where people will find the answers to these questions that everybody has," he said. "Aging is inevitable ... and a lot of people are reluctant to ask for advice or help."

The magazine title's tagline is "The good life after 50."

"That's exactly what we hope to accomplish with this publication -- you can still be active and enjoy life to the fullest," Tsutsumi said.

Veteran promoter and radio personality Tom Moffatt will be pictured on the cover of the first issue. He has recently published a book, "Showman of the Pacific," with Jerry Hopkins.

The magazine has the expected excerpt and pictures, "but we went a step beyond that and did our own interview with Tom ... a little bit about his life away from being a DJ and a promoter ... a little bit of insight into 'Uncle Tom' at home, away from the mike," Tsutsumi said.

Another article explores volunteerism through interviews with Jim Nabors, Carole Kai, Leslie Wilcox, John Fink and former state insurance commissioner Linda Chu Takayama, Hawaii Foodbank's chairwoman.

Oahu waterman Nappy Napoleon will be the first person profiled in "Pursuits," a feature that will focus on a senior "who is excelling in a sport, or art, or some kind of other passion," Tsutsumi said.

Most of the other regular features, such as "Money Matters," "To Your Health" and "On the Homefront" will be written by revolving slates of columnists. "Bits and Bytes" will be written by Super Geeks owner James Kerr, while "Bookshelf," written in partnership with Borders Books & Music, is about best-selling books.

"Live and Learn" will be a wrap-up of classes of interest to seniors, from art to exercise and health education.

Trade plans an initial press run of 20,000 copies, to be available free at more than 80 locations on Oahu, including public libraries, city parks and recreation centers, retirement communities and several Longs Drug Stores.

Free distribution will be limited to Oahu, but subscriptions are available for $20 for six annual issues by calling Trade Publishing at 848-0711.

Generations Hawaii is due for release Feb. 9, Hebenstreit said, "and of course, Trade Publishing, after 52 years of experience at missing deadlines (laughs) ... doesn't make any guarantees."

The magazine's Web site is due to be available when the magazine hits the street.