Eden Tree Decorated in Honor of Milestone 1

When Hale Makua Kahului and Wailuku became Eden Registered Homes in 2009, each received an Eden Tree plaque. The Luana Sponsor Team was excited to receive the honor, and when we reached Eden Alternative Milestone 1 they decided to decorate the Eden Tree to make it unique for Hale Makua.

Residents and care partners closest to them were asked for ideas to decorate the tree. They decided to make small ceramic leaves to glue to the branches of the tree, and will select a flower to represent each of the 10 Eden Alternative Principles to surround the Tree. The photo above shows a resident painting ceramic leaves for the tree.

This is an example of Eden Principle 4: “An Elder-centered community creates opportunity to give as well as receive care. This is the antidote to helplessness.” and Principle 8: “An Elder-centered community honors its Elders by de-emphasizing top-down bureaucratic authority, seeking instead to place the maximum possible decision-making authority into the hands of the Elders or into the hands of those closest to them.”