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March 29, 2018
Updated March 29, 2018 12:05am CRAIG T. KOJIMA / 2016 ‘Olelo put on a full-court press in its campaign to block Spectrum’s plan. Along the way, it won backing from all corners of the state. “Thanks to all of them, our local community-access media has been safeguarded for the next 18 years,” Sanford Inouye, president and CEO of ‘Olelo, said in a statement. There will be no “channel-slamming” of ‘Olelo Community Media after all. The Cable Television Division of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs issued a decision and order keeping ‘Olelo’s community-access channels in their current locations until 2036, it was announced Wednesday. The DCCA’s March 23 order came following negotiations with Charter Communications, parent company of Spectrum, which signed off on an agreement to maintain the current channel numbers. “After extensive discussions, we are pleased to come to an agreement that protects and preserves public access channels for Hawaii and its residents,” DCCA Director Catherine P. Awakuni Colón said in a news release. Spectrum previously had said it was moving ‘Olelo’s community-access channels to higher-numbered channels as part of its effort to upgrade its system to all digital. But ‘Olelo fought back against what has been called “channel-slamming” in a community campaign that described the new channels as difficult to find and jettisoned to “digital Siberia.” ‘Olelo and its supporters argued that the move would impose significant hardship on local community producers and viewers. The nonprofit even went to Oahu Circuit Court on March 12 before obtaining a temporary restraining order March 19 to prevent the channel change, which was set to start Tuesday. ‘Olelo put on a full-court press in its campaign to block Spectrum’s plan. Along the way, it won backing from all corners of the state, including Hawaii’s Congressional delegation, state legislators, the Honolulu City Council, all four county mayors, neighborhood boards, local program producers and hundreds in the community. “Thanks to all of them, our local community-access media has been safeguarded for the next 18 years,” Sanford Inouye, president and CEO of ‘Olelo, said in a statement. The community-access programs will continue on channels 49, 53, 54 and 55 on Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom, as well as in high definition on 1049 and 1053 on Telcom. Spectrum started the all-digital network upgrade on Oahu on Tuesday, the company said, and the process will continue for several months, with Maui, Kauai and Hawaii island upgrading throughout the summer. Spectrum says the upgrade will offer better picture quality, 70 more high-definition channels, additional content and new features. “All-digital sets the stage for even faster internet speeds and further innovation for our Spectrum customers in Hawaii,” company spokesman Dennis Johnson said in an email. Much of the upgrade, including the digital transformation, was mandated when the DCCA approved the transfer of Oceanic Time Warner Cable LLC’s six cable franchises to Charter Communications two years ago. But the proposed movement of the public-access channels went too far, the DCCA suggested in its Decision and Order No. 372. The written and oral comments received by DCCA from the public, the legislators and various government officials all strongly opposed the relocation of the channels, the document said. In issuing the order, the DCCA director considered, among other things, the issues and costs involved in having to rebrand for the new channels, and the costs and impacts of the potential litigation, the order said.   DENNIS ODA / [email protected] Tai Chi instructor, Lucille Lo Chun, pictured leading a class at Kilauea District Park on March 1 Strength of spirit Lucille Lo Chun seeks to make tai chi a part of life every day
“At first glance, tai chi doesn’t seem very active, but it is: You’re active on a higher level because your mind must be alert. Moving slowly is difficult; it requires suppleness, endurance, muscle strength and intense concentration.” Cloud Hands, Grasp Bird’s Tail, Serpent in the Grass, Embracing the Tiger, Part Wild Horse’s Mane — those are the lyrical names of tai chi movements that Lucille Lo Chun performs with fluid, deliberate grace. “Tai chi is often called meditation in motion because it’s seen as a slow, gentle dance,” said the 72-year-old Chun, who has been teaching the exercise for 11 years. “It developed in China centuries ago as a martial art. At first glance, tai chi doesn’t seem very active, but it is: You’re active on a higher level because your mind must be alert. Moving slowly is difficult; it requires suppleness, endurance, muscle strength and intense concentration.” Chun and her husband, Dr. Kenneal Chun, 73, a retired physician, began delving into tai chi in 1997. Their son, Dr. Leslie Chun (vice president, medical staff services/chief quality officer at The Queen’s Medical Center), had completed a four-month stint as a guest lecturer at Kunming Medical University in China’s Yunnan Province that year. While there, he discovered tai chi, and when he returned home he encouraged his parents to try it. Lucille Lo Chun and Kenneal Chun had heard of tai chi but had never seen it being practiced. Interest piqued after listening to their son’s experiences and watching his routines. They tried unsuccessfully to find classes on Oahu at that time. So, Kenneal Chun began watching videos and reading books, periodicals and online articles to learn the basics as he continued his busy medical practice. He had taken kung fu lessons in his youth and saw similarities between that and tai chi. When Lucille Lo Chun retired from teaching elementary school in 2002, she enrolled in a class at Kapaolono Community Park in Kaimuki that was taught by tai chi master Wu Licheng. Kenneal Chun joined her for weekly private lessons with him for five years. When Wu retired in 2007, he asked Lucille Lo Chun to take over as the instructor for his Department of Parks and Recreation classes and she was honored. The Chuns launched their website, everydaytaichi.org, two years later. “The name EveryDay Tai Chi is meaningful,” she said. “We teach tai chi to everyday people who want to be at their optimum health and fitness. We ourselves are everyday people who would like to help as many people as we can enjoy the benefits of tai chi. And we believe that tai chi should be practiced every day; it should be a way of life.” Today, they teach more than 100 students of all ethnicities and walks of life. Most are seniors; a few are in their mid 90s. Some are visitors who came across their website. And they have a dedicated following of students around the world (including Iran, Greece, Sri Lanka, Sweden and Malaysia) who are learning tai chi via their online videos. Lucille Lo Chun is the primary instructor. Kenneal Chun is in charge of videotaping the classes, but he also teaches a segment in which he talks about how the art form employs movements for self-defense without weapons. Being able to achieve correct posture and body alignment to maintain balance is one of the key elements of performing tai chi well. It offers numerous health benefits: It can boost energy; build strength and flexibility; and improve circulation, balance, coordination and agility. It is a low-impact exercise that is easy on joints and muscles. Some studies have shown it can lower cholesterol and blood pressure. No equipment is required, maneuvers can be adapted to any fitness level and they can be done indoors or outdoors, solo or with a group. There are also many mental and spiritual rewards. “Tai chi has given Ken and me a sense of peace, calm and relaxation,” Lucille Lo Chun said. “It has helped us to clear our minds, do things methodically and release negative thoughts and feelings. It has sharpened our awareness about people and our surroundings. It has helped us to live in the present.” Chun has given tai chi presentations to church, college, community, corporate and senior citizen groups. “I have a hard time saying no to people who ask me to speak to their organization,” she said. “I made teaching tai chi my mission because it strengthens body, mind and spirit; it contributes to total well-being. I know of no other exercise that is as powerful as tai chi.” EveryDay Tai Chi Opportunites to try tai chi: >> On April 28, Lucille Lo Chun and her students will present a free hour-long session at Kahala Mall in celebration of World Tai Chi Day. It will begin at 9:30 a.m. >> Chun teaches classes Tuesdays and Thursday mornings at Kilauea District Park, 4109 Kilauea Avenue in Kaimuki. Fee is $20 for 10 one-hour classes. Call the park at 733-7355 to register. >> Chun leads free one-hour tai chi 9 a.m. Mondays at Ainakoa Neighborhood Park, 1331 Ainakoa Avenue and 9 a.m. Fridays at Kilauea District Park. >> Olelo Community Media broadcasts videos of Chun’s classes throughout the week. Click here for details. You can also watch EveryDay Tai Chi videos on YouTube.  Click on the play arrow above to see Andrew's video project at Osaka's Clock Tower and Pokemon Center.
 Scoot airlines is the way to go!  Tai Chi at the Pokemon Center   Lunch at Din Tai Fung  Fun in our Airbnb, sleeping on tatami mats  Trying to catch a giant jellyfish at the aquarium!  Touring Todai-Ji Temple, Great Buddha Hall In awe of the giant buddha after a revved up walk with the deer!  Ken taught us all about the importance of the moat that surrounds the Osaka Castle.  A view from the bridge of Osaka train station  Visiting wild life at a famous shopping mall  Two Grandpas, Gungie and Ah Gong, babysit Colin  Baby Colin's first encounter with pokemon stuffed animals.  Our train passes took us all over Osaka as Andrew became an expert in understanding not only the routes of the subway, but he did all the ticket purchases for us!  The platform on the Osaka castle grounds was just perfect for a "single whip" tai chi pose!  What would our spring break vacation be without the cherry blossoms just beginning to bloom!  Even with our economical Scoot airline flight, we could still shop and make smart purchases!!   Two brothers love playing on Popo and Gungie's bed on the tatami mat.  A high light is enjoying home cooked meals of local dishes by none other than Gungie, who like other big time chefs selected local fish, meats and veggies just like all chefs do at Kuromon market.  Yes, what would a trip be like without a few tai chi poses for keeping our memory alive.   Mahalo to Susan for her expertise in doing more than what a travel agent and a tour guide can do! She personalized her daily itinerary for all of us between the ages of 8 months to 73 years old, for all 7 of us. We packed it all in with 12 hour day trips that were all well thought of by Susan with the help of Les who kept us safe, happy, satisfied and our personal banker.    A big thank you to Ah Ma for her endless support in every way... and to Ah Gong for double checking on google map. They both helped with understanding the subway routes as well as with translating Japanese.   everydaytaichi lucy's students COMBINE class performance FINALE at Kilauea park Honolulu Hawaii3/16/2018 All everydaytaichi lucy's students from level 1, 2 and 3 perform Yang style tai chi at Kilauea District Park.
 Yang 10 Tai Chi by lucy's level 1 everydaytaichi students... Yang 24 Tai Chi by lucy's level 2 everydaytaichi students...  Pickled cauliflower, vine ripe tomatoes, garlic stir fry malibar spinach, yellow sweet potato, with finely chopped ginger, and turmeric go perfectly well with pan fried olive oil brown rice.
5 of the best exercises you can ever do if you’re not an athlete or serious exerciser — and want to work out for your health or to fit in your clothes better — the gym scene can be intimidating. Just having to walk by treadmills, stationary bikes, and weight machines can be enough to make you head straight back home to the couch. Yet some of the best physical activities for your body don’t require the gym or that you get fit enough to run a marathon. These “workouts” can do wonders for your health. They’ll help keep your weight under control, improve your balance and range of motion, strengthen your bones, protect your joints, prevent bladder control problems, and even ward off memory loss. Get your copy of Starting to Exercise What can improve your mood, boost your ability to fend off infection, and lower your risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon cancer? The answer is regular exercise. It may seem too good to be true, but it's not. Hundreds of studies demonstrate that exercise helps you feel better and live longer. This report answers many important questions about physical activity. It will also help guide you through starting and maintaining an exercise program that suits your abilities and lifestyle. No matter your age or fitness level, these activities can help you get in shape and lower your risk for disease:
For additional information on this and other questions about getting started on a healthy exercise program, buy the Special Health Report, Starting to Exercise from Harvard Medical School.  Lucy's morning in the kitchen after her early walk in neighborhood and stretching exercise outside on the patio.
Just completed a dish that I dreamed up in the wee hours of a special day... on our grandson's birthday, pi day. Happy 15th Birthday, Aaron!! Now blogging since kitchen dishes are washed, in time for baby Colin to come for lunch! |
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