‘I cherish it’: Student, senior pen pals unite after months of writing

News admin May 20, 2026 0 Comments

‘I cherish it’: Student, senior pen pals unite after months of writing

ALIAMANU (HawaiiNewsNow) – After corresponding by email for more than four months, several Aliamanu Middle School students and their kupuna pen pals met face-to-face for the first time Tuesday.

The school held a luncheon for its inaugural group of pen pals through the city’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Pen Pal Project.

In January, seventh and eighth grade English Language Learner (ELL) students started exchanging emails with senior volunteers.

During Tuesday’s lunch, participants tried to guess the identities of their pen pals using clues from their letters.

For some kupuna, the experience gave them a new perspective.

“This program has really connected the generation gap. From the children, we learn so much,” said senior volunteer Carol Tashima. “I learned what Minecraft was. I didn’t know that was a computer game.”

City officials said the Pen Pal Project was created in part to reduce social isolation among older adults, and encourage communication, empathy, and cultural understanding among students.

“I think to be able to be with, or be a friend of, a child at this age, to me is kind of special,” said senior volunteer Hazel Sumile. “At this age, they are becoming themselves. They’re really expressing who they are, what they want to do with their lives.”

RSVP has been partnering with schools on the Pen Pal Project for the past six years.

“This is, I think, one of the best journeys of my life,” Tashima said. “As a grandparent, working with children is the most important thing, so with this program, I cherish it.”