Besides his dedication to Hawaii SHIP, for which he was honored as the 2024 Oahu Male Older American Awardee, this seemingly shy, humble, and soft-spoken gentleman openly shared his enthusiasm for his many hobbies.
Wayne partakes in the art of FUKIYA a Japanese dart-blowing sport using a steel pipe. He practices with a fellow SHIP volunteer every Tuesday at a Buddhist temple in town. Fellow volunteers are thoroughly impressed with Wayne’s skills at both FUKIYA and Medicare counseling. “He’s good at this skill, because he is as focused at it as he is in counseling Medicare beneficiaries.”
“I appreciated his low-keyed approach to counseling and felt confident that he would be there when I needed his help,” stated another volunteer who joined forces with Wayne to mentor new volunteers. “Wayne goes beyond the call to seek answers to complex questions pertaining to the health of his beneficiaries,” since he is aware that “Medicare isn’t a one-size fits all approach.”
When not serving Hawaii’s Medicare beneficiaries or practicing FUKIYA with his steel pipe, friends may find him on the courts playing pickleball. The physical exercise, sun, and fun has given him a healthy golden glow & trim physique. As much as he enjoys playing pickleball, he regularly tends to his garden, another one of his favorite outdoor activities.
Wayne is warmly appreciated by the beneficiaries he assists, particularly those living in his area who insist that he try their special home-made boiled peanuts.
Besides shouting out Ho’omaika’i, we join the many voices that state it best: “SHIP is so lucky to have Wayne onboard as a lifetime mate!”
Article contributed by a SHIP volunteer, July 2024
