Hawaii SHIP is federally funded and administered by the Hawaii State Department of Health to serve Medicare beneficiaries, their families, caregivers, and soon-to-be retirees.
This program provides free health insurance information, education, counseling, and referral for people with Medicare. Volunteers are trained and certified to assist members and their families with questions about Medicare benefits including Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Part D – the prescription drug benefit, Medigap, and Medicare Savings Program.
Learn more at the Hawaii SHIP website
Contact a certified counselor
Oahu: 808 586-7299
Neighbor Islands: 1 888 875-9229
TTY: 1 866 810-4379
Richie, Heidi and Hideko Kunichika at Heidi’s UPT graduation | Kunichika Family photograph – used with permission
Ritchie “Kuni” Kunichika, passed away on December 13, 2008. He was 74 years old. Kuni’s survivors were his wife, Hideko, daughters Tracey Kunichika and Heidi Mosteller, three grandchildren; brothers, Paul and Thomas. His services were private, with ashes later scattered at sea from his fishing boat named the Musubi.
Kuni was born on May 6, 1934 in Lahaina, Maui. After a move to Honolulu, he graduated from McKinley High School in 1952.
During his undergraduate time at the University of Hawaii, Mānoa, he was named to the University’s All-Time Men’s Swimming and Diving Lettermen in 1953. Kuni left after two years and was commissioned in the Hawaii Air National Guard.
During his career, he flew F-86s, F-102s, F-4s, C-7s, C-130s, and F-15s with the 199th Fighter Squadron. Kuni’s last assignment with the Hawaii Air National Guard was as 154th Group Deputy Commander for Operations. In 1989, Colonel Kunichika retired from his technician position at age 55.
The next day, he became a M-Day Warrant Officer in the Hawaii Army National Guard. He flew the HIARNG’s C-26 out of the then-Wheeler AFB, near his home in Wahiawa. He retired from the Guard in 1994 at age 60.
In civilian life, he became the pilot for First Hawaiian Bank’s corporate jet. He spent the next few years flying the bank’s executives to locations worldwide.
Those who served with Kuni know we lost a superb pilot ten years ago but more importantly, a true officer and a gentleman.
But there’s more to the story…
Richie’s brother Paul Kunichika served in the United States Air Force from 1952 until he retired in 1979. Paul was stationed at then-Hickam AFB from 1959 to 1963. On Sunday, April 24, 1960, Paul and Kuni were involved in a midair collision during a training mission. Part of the newspaper report stated:
Two brothers collided in jet planes 35,000 feet above Hawaii Saturday, both escaped injury and landed their planes safely. Lt. Richie K. Kunichika of the Hawaii National Guard piloted an F-86. Air Force Capt. Paul M. Kunichika of Hickam AFB flew a T-33 jet trainer, simulating an intruder in an Air Guard defense exercise. The T-33’s vertical stabilizer and the afterburner section of the F-86 were damaged slightly.
One of Paul’s sons, Keith Kunichika was commissioned in the Hawaii Air National Guard in 1977. Keith served in the Hawaii Air National Guard in the maintenance complex and later as the budget officer and controller. An AGR, he retired in 2003. He then entered Federal civil service, serving with the Air Force Audit Agency. Keith later moved to the Marine Audit Service and retired in 2010.
One of Richie’s daughters Heidi Mosteller was commissioned in the Hawaii Air National Guard in 1993. She successfully completed undergraduate pilot training (UPT), becoming the HIANG’s first female pilot. Heidi served with the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, flying the KC-135R Stratotanker, later served in several key staff positions.
Special thanks to Heidi for graciously contributing information for this article and sharing the photograph.
From the What is My IP Address website
Here are a few things you might want to think about before you put your PC in the hands of anyone, friend or foe. We’re just going to mention the topics: You’ll be able to find more information—and in many cases, special programs that are available to assist you—with a little online research.
Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) has announced the release dates for 2018 tax documents. Once again, it is time to look at your W-2 and wonder where all the money went. Oh, and you also can use it to file your taxes.
Retiree News photograph | click to enlarge
This undated photograph shows Carol Orr when she working in Finance. During her career, Carol worked in maintenance, finance, military personnel, communications. She currently works in civilian personnel at the Human Resources Office. Carol was promoted to Chief Master Sergeant in 2017.
Iconic singer Aretha Franklin had it all: respect, talent, fame and fortune, but what she didn’t have was a prepared estate. Reports indicate that the Queen of Soul didn’t have a will or trust set up before her death from cancer in August. Now her fortune might be in limbo for her survivors.
An estate consists of all property owned by you at the time of your death, according to Findlaw.com:
+ Real estate
+ Bank accounts
+ Stocks and other securities
+ Life insurance policies
+ Personal property such as automobiles, jewelry and artwork
Dealing with finances before a death is an unpleasant topic that people prefer to avoid, but it is important to address it.
From the Everyday Health website
Dawn Mureddu was using a new piece of equipment at the gym near her home in Johnston, Rhode Island, when she felt a weird pain in the back of her head. “I never had anything like that before,” she recalls. But she was working with a new trainer, so she kept going. Then suddenly, she had to dash to the bathroom to vomit.
Somehow, she managed to finish her hour-long session. Back home, she went upstairs to shower and started seeing double. The pain in her head, the vomiting, and the double vision were all warning signs described by the American Stroke Association of a brain aneurysm that had ruptured.
This photograph show three Hawaiian Air National Guard generals – Joseph Kim, Stanley “Ossum” Osserman, and Edwin “Skip” Vincent. This photograph was taken on January 29, 2010, just prior to the start of General Vincent’s retirement ceremony at the Missing Man Formation in front of the Hickam Officers’ Club.
From the Huffington Post website
Are you waking up after perspiring in the middle of the night? Finding your sheets or pajamas soaked in the morning? Don’t sweat it. You’re not the only one.
“Night sweats are a common symptom that we see a lot in the primary care setting,” said Lindy Chavez, a family medicine nurse practitioner at Dignity Health Medical Group in Camarillo, California.
Untreated, excessive sweating can be frustrating. But experts say that there are some underlying causes of sweating excessively in the night, many of which can be dealt with.
Here are a few reasons why you may be sweating at night, plus what you can do about them.
From the Military Times website
US Air Force photograph
Nearly two months after Hurricane Michael devastated Tyndall Air Force Base in Northern Florida, the Air Force on Friday said it wants to rebuild the installation — so it can station three squadrons of F-35 fighters there.
But the change in plans, if approved, would mean operational F-22 Raptors from the 95th Fighter Squadron would not return to Tyndall.
Hawaii Air National Guard photograph | click to enlarge
Airmen from the Hawai’i Air National Guard’s (HIANG) 154th Logistic Readiness Squadron (LRS), volunteered at The Salvation Army Angel Tree located in Pearlridge Mall (Uptown), on December 3, 2018. The logistics airmen volunteered from 9:00 am to 6:00 PM working in shifts, covering 9 hours on Monday.
The Angel Tree program runs every holiday season to provide underprivileged children and seniors with gifts for Christmas. Last year, The Salvation Army provided over 20,000 gifts to keiki and kupuna. With the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree, you can brighten up the holidays for someone in need in your community.
LRS personnel supporting this volunteer event were:
* First Shift
SSgt Troy Egloria (POL) petroleum, oil & lubricant ground refueler
TSgt Andrew Acosta (POL)
TSgt Jeremiah Kamikawa (POL)
SSgt Jasmin May-Taparra, customer service liaison
MSgt George Demesillo, training manager & unit deployment manager
* Second Shift
TSgt Rodolfo Fabro, (POL)
SrA Christopher Dela Cruz, (POL)
MSgt Ashley Mooney, supply customer service NCOIC
SMSgt Cindy Jackson, operation compliance NCO
Ms. Jennifer Smith, Lockheed Martin LRS Representative
* Third shift
MSgt Brandon Mooney, logistics planner
SMSgt Margaret Soon, (POL) superintendent
Sgt Pataray Dillan, (POL)
SrA Kathryn Bayudan, customer service liaison
For more information about the Salvation Army Angel Tree program, visit: http://hawaii.salvationarmy.org/hawaii/angeltree. The Salvation Army Angel Tree program accepts gifts and donations for children, adults and families in need.
With onboard activities, nearly unlimited amounts of food, and gorgeous ports, cruising is a very popular and convenient choice for seniors. Whether it’s checking an adventure off a bucket list or relaxing on a deck chair, below are some of the best choices for retirees.
Learn more
From the Consumer Reports website
A few simple steps can increase your savings, protect you from fraud, and help you prosper.
Wallace Haruichi Takasane, 80, of Honolulu, Hawaii passed away on November 20, 2018. He was born in Honolulu, and was the first of four children to Jiro and Kikue Takasane. Wallace graduated from Kaimuki High School.
He then joined and proudly served in the United States Air Force from December 1956 to February 1961 and attained the rank of Master Sergeant. Wallace retired in 1994 from the Hawaii Air National Guard after serving 32 years as an aircraft mechanic.
He lived in Honolulu with his wife, Georgia Takasane. Wallace enjoyed fishing, bowling, and golf. He will be deeply missed and his memory will be forever cherished.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Diamond Head Mortuary on December 13, 2018. Visitation will be 5:30 pm with services to begin at 6:30 pm. Inurnment private.
