Never too old for social media

It’s quite the accomplishment for a seventh-grader to teach a 92-year-old how to take a selfie and text, or for a senior citizen to teach a tech-savvy eighth grader how to play solitaire on a computer.

Those teaching moments are occurring through a partnership between the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii Windward Clubhouse and the Kailua Senior Citizens Club. The boys and girls are paired with kupuna who want to learn how to use their phones and computers.

Susie Thain, a Kailua Seniors Club member, figured there was an untapped resource in the youngsters next door. And she was right. The seniors are learning about security updates, maps and GPS. The kids are empowered by sharing their skills. It’s a sweet equation. Seniors plus youngsters equals knowledge and fun.

An answer to Cancer Center’s prayer

Believers will tell you that God can work miracles. But the deity’s name was on the check, which is usually not part of the scenario.

However it happened, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center has got to be grateful for the $100,000 anonymous contribution to the cash-strapped research institute. The gift was meant for finding a cure, with a special emphasis on breast cancer research. Likely there is a personal interest behind the donation — almost everyone is touched by cancer in some way — but that doesn’t diminish the generosity. Usually the center goes to the Legislature, or to corporate benefactors, with requests for resources — but divine intervention works, too.