Visit HIN’s website at: www.hawaiiintergenerationalnetwork.org.
Charles “Chuck” Larson, M.Ed. Background: Founder and Executive Director – Seagull Schools (Retired).
Chuck is President of the Board of Directors of the Hawaiʻi Intergenerational Network (HIN), and served in this capacity from 2006 until present. In his position of Executive Director of Seagull Schools he developed the State of Hawaii’s first licensed Infant Care project in 1975. He also was responsible for the design and construction of four childcare centers and supervising 180 employees. He raised the needed funds totaling $13 million for the centers’ land acquisition and construction costs.
Other Background and Education• Born 10/08/1942 in Compton CA• Graduated from Franklin Pierce H.S 1960• B.A. in Primary Education from Pacific Lutheran Univ. in 1966• Taught Primary Special Education 1966 – 1967 Clover Park School System• Completed M.Ed in teaching exceptional children, Western Washington University 1968• Taught Special Education grades K-6 at Kapaʻa Elementary School• Toddler Program Coordinator at PCC 1968• Preschool Teacher at Family Services Center in Honolulu 1969• Founded Seagull Schools and served as Executive Director 1971 – 2018
Awards and Community Work• Awarded “Community Champion for Wellness” 2018• Served on State committee for Early Education 2008 – 2011• Winner of KOA award for Entrepreneur of the year-Excellence in Education 2002• Served on Honolulu County “Commission on the Status of Women 1987
Mae Mendelson, Ph.D. Background: Chaminade University of Honolulu, AARP Board Member.
Mae is the Vice President of the Board of Directors of HIN. She is the former Director and Professor in Residence of the Intergenerational Center at Chaminade University and President, Travel&Learn, LLC, an intergenerational study tour company. She has been an adjunct professor of Social Welfare Policy at Hawaiʻi Pacific University (HPU) and the University of Hawai’i School of Social Work. She is an active volunteer for the Honolulu Museum of Art (HOMA) and Shangri-la, the Doris Duke museum of Islamic Art.
Her previous volunteer activities include serving on the National Board of AARP, Chair of the national AARP Foundation, and President, AARP-Hawai’i, (2004-2012). In 2004, she received a Resolution and Commendation from the House of Representatives, State of Hawaiʻi for contributions to international affairs, culture, education and trade on behalf of Hawaiʻi. She received Social Worker of the Year Award in Gerontology, NASW, 2007.
Laurie Baron. Background: Co-Founder and Director, Nohea Gallery
Laurie serves as a Director and Treasurer of HIN’s Board of Directors. Laurie was born and raised in Honolulu. She co-founded and has directed Nohea Gallery since 1990, currently responsible for all buying, marketing, advertising and public relations, including writing and coordinating photography.
Laurie’s responsibilities include staff orientation, training and development, writing materials and building systems to run 1-4 stores.
She handles oversight of the design and maintenance of Nohea Gallery’s website in Wordpress and training of colleagues to assist with photography and product posts; is the only buyer for Nohea since 1990, maintaining a database of 200+ active vendors and is responsible for communication and support as well as maintaining relationships and accounts with 2400+ artists over 30 years of operation. In collaboration with the team she plans and executes exhibitions and store design.
She was with the The Artist Guild, 1980-1987, Following Sea, 1987-1989, and served as an Intern at University of Hawaiʻi, Manoa with Marion Kelly, Ph.D., Anthropology Dept, Kawainui Marsh project, 1980-1981.
Activities and hobbies include dancing with Halau Hula Kaʻaluʻehukai in Kailua, swimming, gardening, painting, developing a community-based renewable energy and sustainability education project, and participating in ASL community classes.
Prior community service: Hawaiʻi Peoples’ Fund grantmaking committee for 3 full terms of 2 years, the maximum.
Awards: The State of Hawaiʻi, Hawai’i Visitors Bureau “Keep It Hawaiʻi” award
Education• B.A., University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa 2010, Speech. This is now the Department of Communicology. Communicology is the social science of human communication.• Certificate in Peace Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi Spark Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, 2009, with a focus on mediation and facilitation.• University of California, Berkeley 1978-1980 with most classes in the Energy and Resources Group.
Matthew Kaplan, Ph.D. Background: Matthew Kaplan, Ph.D. Professor, Intergenerational Programs and Aging, Dept. of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education, ThePennsylvania State University (PSU).
Matt serves as a Director on HIN’s Board of Directors. His areas of professional expertise include: • Developing & evaluating intergenerational initiatives in diversesettings.• Training Extension educators and other professionals inintergenerational programming.• Establishing intergenerational strategies for civic engagement and environmental design.
His responsibilities at The PSU:• Provide statewide leadership for program initiatives related to intergenerational engagement and aging, in conjunction with extension agents and other public groups.• Develop and support nonformal education programs that strengthen intergenerational relationships and competencies in children, youth/4-H’ers, and families across the life span.• Promote initiatives that yield healthy aging outcomes, improved family care of aging and disabled persons, positive family dynamics, and improved intergenerational relationships in civic settings.
The focus of Matt’s research and extension/outreach activities is on intergenerational strategies for supporting children, youth, older adults, families, and communities. His intergenerational work fits into four broad thematic areas: 1. Intergenerational strategies designed for specific settings and target groups (includes early childhood care/education centers, adult care facilities, and retirement communities). 2. Intergenerational strategies to promote community planning and civic engagement (includes focus on natural as well as the built environment). 3. Strategies for improving intergenerational communication within families (includes work with families that own and operate small farms, families with grandparents and other relatives raising children, and families experiencing conflict around issues related to food selection and eating practices). 4. Principles and processes for developing effective intergenerational programs, practices, and policies (emphasis on common themes that apply across settings and national and cultural contexts).
Education• Ph.D., Environmental Psychology, City University of New York Graduate Center• M.A., Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York• B.A., Psychology, State University of New York at Stony Brook
Suzanne Chun Oakland. Background: Program Coordinator, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi Lanakila Multi Purpose Senior Center, Retired Hawaiʻi State Senator.
Susie serves as a Director on HIN’s Board of Directors. She is the Program Coordinator of Lanakila Multipurpose Senior Center, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, and is a member and trustee of numerous non-profit boards, working groups, caucuses, task forces, and committees.
She received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology/Communications from the University of Hawaiʻi in 1983.
She served Hawaiʻi in an elected capacity from 1990 until 2016.• Senator, Hawaiʻi State Senate, 1996-2016• Representative, Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives, 1990-1996
Rev. John Heidel, Ph.D. Background: Punahou School Chaplain (Retired), UCC Minister (Retired).
John serves as a Director on HIN’s Board of Directors. He is a retired United Church of Christ Minister (Hawaiʻi Conference) and Retired Chaplain, Punahou School (1969-2001). John served as President of The Interfaith Alliance Hawaiʻi (TIAH) 2004-2012.
He is a member, Christ Church, Uniting Disciples and Presbyterians in Kailua; Co-Founder of Hawaiʻi People’s Fund (1968); Founder, Religious Leaders for Assisted Dying (2002); Co-Founder, The Interfaith Alliance Hawaiʻi (2002) and Co-Founder, Family Promise of Hawaiʻi (2003).
Christy Nishita, Ph.D. Background: Gerontologist and Researcher, University of Hawaiʻi (UH) at Mānoa Center on Aging.
Christy serves as a Director and Secretary on HIN’s Board of Directors.
Christy Nishita, Ph.D. is a Gerontologist at the University of Hawaiʻi Center on Aging. She received her Ph.D. in Gerontology from the University of Southern California. Her focus is on improving community-based long-term care, with publications on aging in place, nursing home transitions, intergenerational programming, and health promotion. She is the consultant for the Mayor’s Age-Friendly Honolulu Initiative, fostering community intergenerational partnerships and conducting the evaluation. Dr. Nishita is also Principal Investigator for Hawaii’s Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative, a grant from the Federal Administration for Community Living. She is also Co-Coordinator for the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, From the Field section as well as member of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education’s Intergenerational Learning and Research Committee.
Phillip Melton. Background: Adventist Health Castle, Hunt Companies, Inc., YMCA
Phillip serves as a Director and Treasurer on HIN’s Board of Directors. Currently employed at Adventist Health Castle in the accounting/billing department. Experience as a military housing Resident Services Specialist with Hunt Companies, Inc. Previously served as the YMCA Membership Coordinator in Kailua. Educational background: BA-Recreation Administration.