“I’m Just a Happy Person, That’s All”
Superager Stella Shimabukuro is a living example of the happiness of being.
Our Kūpuna: Stella Shimabukuro | Edward Kuba | John Waihe‘e
Stella Shimabukuro | 100 Years Old
She swims, throws dinner parties and can parallel park. At 100, Stella Shimabukuro lives how we want to live—at any age. What is it about her? What lessons does she have for people who want to be like Stella?
It turns out that Shimabukuro’s is a wisdom of being. It’s a lesson you learn by watching. At Mānana Neighborhood Park’s swimming pool in Pearl City, where she exercises three times a week, life blooms around her. She talks to newcomers to put them at ease. She jokes with regulars and keeps a busy schedule of lunches. In July, instructors threw her a 100th birthday party. Something about Shimabukuro makes people want to be in her orbit.
Today, after her swim, she unbuttons her Dodgers jersey to show me her T-shirt. “This Girl Loves Shohei Ohtani,” it reads. It takes a lot to get Shimabukuro to reflect on her life. She doesn’t dwell on the past; she doesn’t fear the future. No fewer than three pool-goers stop by to tell me about her parallel parking. Always her question is, “And how are you?” Here’s her story.
As told to Mari Taketa:
Ohtani is my secret boyfriend. We approve of his wife. That keeps me busy, watching every game the Dodgers play. Today the baseball starts at 4 o’clock. Yesterday it was 7:30 a.m. I made sure I got up early. Saturday it was 1 o’clock. I arrange my schedule and get everything done, and once it’s game time, it’s all Ohtani.
If not baseball, Korean dramas—I watch every night and the repeat in the daytime. And I love to read books, but no time! I have to make time—maybe half-hour at 11 p.m., read a little chapter, then go to sleep.
I never feel that I’m old. I don’t have pains, nothing. Maybe I should use a cane. But I don’t feel that I’m old and cannot do things. I do all my housework, I vacuum, I do a little yardwork and a little shopping. My niece, Sylvia, buys things for me. Every Saturday, we have lunch together.
I go to the pool three times a week. When I go in the water, they’re all 30 years younger, but I forget that I’m old. We talk to each other the same way. The only thing is I don’t have my hearing aid in the water. But the ladies, they keep me very young.
They always said because of me, they all open up and they’re all friendly. Even with our different ages, we have fun. We have get-togethers and potlucks. If it’s someone’s birthday, Christmas, holidays, we go out.
I have no medicine in my medicine cabinet. My husband and I never had any headaches or problems. Never. Maybe because my husband was strict. No bacon, no french fries, no hot dogs. He was health-conscious, so that’s how we lived.
When he was alive, we had friends that came for wine dinners. We still get together now and then. I open my house and get everything ready for my party. The other couples will bring appetizers, salad, dessert. Always my chicken wings is my main dish. I just put salt and pepper and garlic and then I broil them.
And I love to go to Vegas. It’s relaxing. They know me there, and everybody is so good, you know? Gale [Ogawa, a pool regular and friend of 30 years] wanted to take me to the Dodgers game, but it’s too much. Too many people. Climbing up all the stairs. TV is better. When I go to Vegas and Dodgers are playing, I go to the sport room and watch. I can see him better, clearer.
I’m always relaxed and never worry about things. I do whatever I have to do today. I do everything I have to do and never worry about other people. I’m just a happy person, that’s all. Keep yourself happy.
