DR THOMAS: This morning I'm sitting down with one of Hawaii's Living Treasures, Rose Nakamura. She's also the first recipient of the Rosalynn Carter Caregiving Award. And, for a number of years has been a volunteer Executive Director of Project Dana. Morning, Rose.

ROSE: Good morning. Aloha.

DR. THOMAS: Aloha. Thank you very much. Well, I'm really very curious about Project Dana, and what you're up to and why this organization continues to flourish and do so much good in Hawaii. Can you tell me a little bit about the story?

ROSE: Well, I think the universal principle of dana is a very important mission of our project. Selfless giving, providing compassion and care to especially those who are lonely, isolated and shut-ins…but it doesn't matter, oftentimes, say…people, when there's pain and suffering, everyone goes through loneliness. Everyone goes through helplessness.

DR. THOMAS: So what you do is that you bring together volunteers and people who are experiencing suffering, and you bring them together.

ROSE: Yes.

DR. THOMAS: And then, that changes people's lives.

ROSE: Yeah. It's really little things that we focus on. It's providing the social support, and working with other community agencies involved in um…

DR. THOMAS: So you're not doctors and nurses. You concentrate on the little things that make life worth living.

ROSE: That's right. That's right. I think that is the most important factor in providing daily living, and providing friendship and quality of life. I think everyday living is very important.

DR. THOMAS: It is very important. You know, I'm a doctor and when I look at the research on this question, I find that loneliness can cause real medical problems, can cause a large amount of suffering. And you're in there doing your part to take away loneliness.

ROSE: Yes. Also, I think that the project is a faith-based, and everyone that volunteers probably are attracted to the whole effort of selfless giving - giving and receiving. I think this whole effort of volunteers giving, and then more than anything, learning from, you know that experience.

DR. THOMAS: Yeah. Thanks so much. And you're always ready to hear from people who would like to volunteer, and how to get involved and you're always happy to hear from people who need help?

ROSE: Right. That's right.

DR. THOMAS: And you bring them together with Project Dana.

ROSE: There's never enough volunteers. Never enough volunteers.

DR. THOMAS: Listen. People who are watching the program need to hear that. There's never enough volunteers. Well, thanks so much for coming to talk to me. And I just want to say that I think Project Dana is one of the things that makes Hawaii beautiful. Just think about it, a group of people who are committed to lovingkindness in everyday life, and bringing together volunteers and elders to make life better.

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