In Hawaii, there are many opportunities to hear the word "Kupuna". It means "elderly people, grandfathers/grandmothers, elderly relatives", etc., but it seems that it originally meant an old person who can be respected. Perhaps because that spirit has been passed down, I feel that the elderly in Hawaii are respected and valued very much. Hawaii is famous as the state with the longest life expectancy in the United States, but according to research by an American organization called Ageing in Place, Hawaii is one of the states where the elderly feel least lonely.
The reasons why Hawaii is a state of longevity are the ease of living with a mild climate that is neither too hot nor cold, the healing effect of the rich nature, the low air pollution that is impossible on the mainland, and the population of Asian descent. Many factors are said to be behind this, such as the high percentage of people living in Japan, which has the longest life expectancy in the world, and a healthy diet. However, as there is a theory that ``loneliness is bad for the body,'' it may be that the reason why people do not feel lonely has a great influence.
The other day, I went to a large supermarket in Hawaii and was thinking about what to choose in front of the items I wanted to buy. Then, Kupuna, who was next to me and seemed to be a customer shopping, said, ``This is one type, but there are many types, and this one has a small number, but there are various types. I have it," he explained the product. I thought he was a kind person for talking to me when I was hesitant, so I thanked him, decided on the product, and continued shopping. Then Kupuna, who was in line in front of me, glanced back at me, then suddenly turned back to me and said, "That's a beautiful dress."
Both of you are likely to talk endlessly if I try to continue the conversation. Even if you go shopping for a while, it seems to be the daily life of Hawaiian people to try to have a friendly conversation by calling out to others like this. Such a culture is probably the basis of the survey result that people do not feel lonely in Hawaii.
There are so many good things about Hawaii, and I think one of them is the temperament of the Hawaiian people. People often use expressions such as "laid back, generous and friendly", but that's because the Kupuna with strong communication skills support each other and make Hawaii even more wonderful without making people feel lonely. I was very satisfied with the survey results.
