Peaceful retreat

Cool island breezes and the warmth of the sun are reason enough to hang out on the patio at Malu­hia Adult Day Health Center in Alewa Heights. But senior citizens who visit the center have another reason: a small garden, transformed from a patch of concrete, that offers a reprieve from the institutional surroundings.

Richard Takara, an 83-year-old Hono­lulu resident, spent hours gardening at home before suffering a stroke in 2008. Family members have taken over his yard duties, but Takara, now in a wheelchair, continues to enjoy his pastime at Malu­hia, toting along his own gardening tools to tend to the plants there.

Known at the center as the "bonsai master," he trims and prunes the plants on a regular basis. He’s retired now but grew up helping out in his family-owned restaurant and later worked as a customer service representative at Duty Free Shoppers.

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Takara’s interest in gardening led to the creation of the 10-by-12-foot garden almost four years ago. The garden, located right outside the front door, features easy-to-reach shelves filled with various plants, including desert rose, cactus, aloe and ferns, a fountain and outdoor chairs. A grant from Central Pacific Bank funded the shelving, chairs and large pots. The fountain, plants, seeds and garden decor such as pinwheels and windsocks also were provided through donations.

Maluhia Adult Day Health Center, part of the state’s Hawaii Health Systems Corp., provides a safe and stimulating environment for elderly participants during the day so they can continue to live in their own communities. Most come every day, Monday to Saturday.

"One of the major components of our program is to assist the elders to be able to do hobbies that they enjoyed previously or help them learn about new ones," said program manager Jeri Taka­miya.

The garden continues to evolve and change, serving as a form of physical therapy for those with mobility issues, according to Taka­miya. (Challenges do arise when trying to maintain the area. "We have lots of folks with dementia, so sometimes the plants are overwatered," she said.)

With limited sun on the patio, plants have to be chosen wisely. "It’s been fun figuring out what will grow," Taka­miya said.

Group gardening activities with as many as 40 participants are conducted so each person can plant a seedling to take home.

Lillian Tamashiro, an 83-year-old retired bartender, enjoys watering the plants in the garden. She suffered a stroke in January 2010 and visits the center on a daily basis. "At home I have an orange tree, lychee, sweet potato, eggplant, pumpkin and lots of veggies," she said.

She can’t tend to her vegetable garden as she did in the past, so working with the plants at Malu­hia brings her joy.

Antonio "Tony" Bacani, 70, claims to have a "black thumb." The retiree, who worked at Schuman Carriage in sales and management, is a regular visitor to the garden and finds the surroundings peaceful.

"I don’t work in the garden, but I like to visit with friends when they come by," he said. "The water fountain is so relaxing."

Bacani, who had a stroke in September 2011, contributes bounty from his home garden, bringing mangoes to be used as prizes at weekly bingo games.

"Everyone fights over the mangoes," he said.

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To donate plants and garden supplies to Maluhia Adult Day Health Center, call Amy at 832-6130.