During his brief visit on O'ahu tomorrow, President Bush will honor a 78-year-old Nu'uanu woman who has spent 15 years volunteering to help seniors like herself stay active and happy.

Caroline Tom, a retired state of Hawai'i employee, teaches line dancing — and helps in any other way she can — as many as four days a week at Lanakila Multi-purpose Senior Center and Palama Settlement.

She said she was shocked when she learned of the presidential recognition last weekend. "It's out of this world," Tom said, laughing. "Once in a lifetime. It's unbelievable. I've got chicken skin."

Bush will fly into Hickam Air Force Base tomorrow about 11 a.m. and is expected to leave by 2:30 p.m. In addition to honoring Tom, the president has scheduled two closed-door events with troops.

Bush was previously scheduled to make two brief stops in Honolulu — one on Labor Day on the way to an economic summit in Australia, and a second tomorrow. Instead, Bush made an unannounced trip to Iraq on Labor Day, then made his way to Australia for the economic summit.

News of the award for Tom was made public yesterday.

Tom, who jumped into volunteering when she retired, has received several awards for her service. This year alone, she has been recognized by Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Gov. Linda Lingle.

Vincent De Bina, recreative division director for Palama Settlement, said Tom is well-liked by the seniors who are students in her line-dancing class or friends she has offered a helping hand. "She's very warm and receptive and compassionate," De Bina said yesterday. "Her impact for the seniors is tremendous."

In addition to teaching line dancing, Tom helps out at the Lanakila seniors center doing office work or distributing food to the needy.

"I am a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none," Tom joked.

She added that she continues to volunteer because it gives her a good feeling.

"I enjoy it," she said. "It's just so good to help around."

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.