Happy Volunteers

Well at least most appear happy! And there are a couple of staff.
Each session of participants has a group phote taken, so while the equipment is setup, we use to get a group picture of our volunteers. I understand this is about as large as our group gets, and we have already said goodbye to four in the picture and we will say goodbye to another six this week, including the only other couple from Ontario.
We had a very interesting speaker at Rotary this week. Kalaupapa is the colony on the Hawaiian island of Molakai where patients with Hansen's disease (Leprosy) were taken early last century. The number of patients is dwindling (now under 20) and with it the risk of the knowledge of Kalaupapa. Our speaker's brother who passed in 2008 and his wife met and lived for more than 50 years in Kalaupapa. The speaker has taken it upon himself to share the story of Kalaupapa to keep its story alive. He shared a brief summary of its history and significance and that of the people who became victims of society's treatment of those with Hansen's disease among the Hawaiian people. He then told the sad story of Paul's diagnosis of having Hansen's disease at age 14, his being taken from his family on Kauai (another Hawaiian island), banished to Kalaupapa. He then told of his sister-in-law's diagnosis at age 11 on Maui where her family lived, and her banishment there as well. It was a very moving presentation.
We went out to breakfast this morning, a favourite Saturday morning pastime, to a restaurant that overlooks the ocean. Marlene thought we might get a whale sighting or two. Well, a mother whale and her calf put on a show quite close to shore. It was like she was training the calf to do jumps. While it was easy to watch, we didn't get any pictures, but it was very enjoyable with lots of "oohs & aahs".