ByDennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Four generations of thankfulness, clockwise from top left are
Roberta Sunahara, Sumiko Kato, Rhona Brown and Brittany Lauren.
One has to admit, though, that we have a lot to complain about - from high or unfair taxes, to people with shopping carts clogging the aisles at Ross stores to neighbors that mow their lawns at 8 on Saturday mornings.
From TV talk shows to letters to the editor people can always find a reason or two to grumble.
But today is a day for giving thanks, and we asked readers to tell us what they're thankful for in order to deliver one huge non-whine fest to go with your Thanksgiving Day meal.
Thank you to the 156 people who wrote in. Many filled pages, and we regret that we could excerpt only a few lines.
As for us, we're thankful for our readers who make our jobs worthwhile.
God has blessed me by having provided the opportunity for me to have met and to have been joined in five wonderful years of marriage to my dearest husband, Stuart D. Hee.
I'm thankful that he's the type of man who has learned the art of choosing to always see the good in me even when all fault is pointing straight at me due to my sometimes poor choices. A very blessed wife in a sometimes cruel world. - JoAnn Hee
How thankful it is when cuddling for warmth with the spouse of some 30-plus years is still heavenly. - Bea Ganzagan
As a single parent, I thank the Lord for giving me peace and happiness thru my children Paul and Richelle. - Gary Ishizaki
Some children without mommies and daddies never felt love; we must be extra special because we felt unconditional love. - Dani Maetani, 15, and Brandon Maetani, 19
I am thankful for our cat Sox, whose love and innocence always warms my heart. I am thankful for my best friend Peter, who never gives up when things get tough. - Kathleen Kamm
This special acknowledgement of thanks goes out to my mom and dad Hisashi and Chiyoko Kagehiro. If it wasn't for both of their love and financial generosity/support, I would not have been able to still own the house that my step-daughter, my wife and I live in.
Having an older brother for 35 years, I often thought that my mother would always "favor" him when it came to any type of assistance. But, after coming to my "rescue" when I substantially needed it, I will never again "give it a second thought." - Keith T. Kagehiro
I am so blessed and thankful for my wonderful family who has been the backbone in my life. They have taught me values that have shaped me to be the person I am today, and they define the meaning of unconditional love ... the second thing I value in my life is my best friend Ammon, who also has been a strength in my life. He has taught me to believe in myself, and constantly is an example in my life. - Noelani Fonoimoana
I have a lot to be thankful for. On a scale from 1 to 10, I'm tipping the scale closer to "10" every day. I am fortunate to have a wonderful husband, great family, good job, incredible home-based business, and I have a Father (heavenly Father) who loves me unconditionally. What more could a girl want? - Debbie Tamura
There are so many things that everyone should be happy for, but many refuse to see the brighter side of life and focus so easily into the darkness of life. I am so thankful that I have families who are very caring, loving and unconditionally supportive. I have many thanks, but one in particular that I am thankful for is being able to conceive a child. - Mary Gomes
Some people are blessed with fortune and fame. I am blessed with a happy, healthy, loving family ... Most of all I am thankful for a loving, caring, faithful, hardworking, honest and not to mention cute husband. Honey, thank you for a lifetime of love! - Shannon Ganotice
I'm thankful for and feel blessed because at age 62, both my parents are alive and well. Daddy's 83, mama's 82 and both don't look their "youthful" age! - Kaleinani Brown
I am so thankful for my 81-year-old mother who cooks good meals for me and drives me around ... my daughter who studied hard to earn her master's degree at age 32 ... and my 6-year-old granddaughter who is healthy and so much fun to be with. - Roberta Sunahara
As God presented Eve to Adam in the beginning, I thank our God for presenting Julie (my foxy wife) to me 28 years ago. I thank our God for giving Julie and I a wonderful and handsome son, Mel Jr. 26 years ago. He is in training to become a youth pastor. - Melvin Partido Sr.
I'm thankful that I have a mom and dad because they take care of me and I have a home. - Clark Agena
Having friends who can roll with my quirks. I have too many friends, drifting ones and solid ones, that I can't list them all but they should know who they are. And if they don't, then my lack of thankfulness is to blame so ... I'll tell them to read the article. - Kim Fujiwara
My husband Frank, to who I have been married for more than 30 years; our daughter Wendy Krog, her husband Vince and our granddaughters Tiffany and Kira, who reside in Iowa; the wonders of modern aviation and telecommunications which bridge the miles between Hawaii and Iowa. - Sharen A. Serikaku
Family tops my list of thanks, but I'm also thankful for being able to lead a normal life despite this nerve condition that I have. This condition is known as neurofibromatosis, which causes fibrous tumors to grow either above or below the surface of the skin. - Rowena, who would like to hear from others with this condition. Write her at: Mahina, P.O. Box 272, Makaweli, Kauai 96769
I am thankful for my boat and the pizza man. - Cody Chow, kindergartener in Mrs. Akamine's Hongwanji Mission class; thanks also to all his classmates who wrote in.
All Hawai'i should thank God for, and try to get in step, with Ah Quon McElrath (UH Board of Regents) - Keith Haugen
Have a 3 bedroom and 2 bath house on Hawaiian Homelands since 1/78; waiting since 1963; sitting here in Waianae and watching the rain and wind go by. - Marion M. Davis
I am grateful for eating oranges, apples and pears because it (sic) is very nutritious and tasty, and because my sister hates the sound of an apple crunching. - Marsha Ng
Thanks America for give (sic) me the FREEDOM that million and million of people around the world can only dream of. Simply I can not ask for more. God bless America. Thanks Mom & Dad for adopting me with all your love and kindness. I love you very much. - Milano Kagan
I am thankful for my cool, gray Playstation, fizzing good soda, awesome good grades, chewy, good tasting beef jerky. - Michael Fung, 5th grader in Tess Yasui's class at Ma'ema'e Elementary School; and thanks to all Michael's classmates who wrote in.
Thanks for giving us a day with rain, wind, sun, clouds and blue sky too. It is wonderful. - Tiana Keolanani Salcedo
I may not have the body of Cindy Crawford or the brains of Einstein, but I'm thankful that my family and friends are with me the share each day. Because all that other stuff has no meaning unless you learn to enjoy each day for what it is. In short, we need to appreciate all that we have. - Valdeane Uchima
My opportunity to make choices. My opportunity to grow and learn. My health. My eyes that see beauty. My ears that hear beautiful sounds. The feel and texture of many things. The way things grow after a good rain. That I have a heart. That I have a mind. That I have hope. For my country. For other lands and the variety of life. For strangers who help. - Janet Grandy
Breast implants, good attorneys, large settlements, having everything I need to make me happy in life and not wanting for anything. - Lilly Ventura
The enormous capacity we each have to make a positive difference. - Jennifer Chiwa
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my family for the wonderful support they've given me since I've returned to college to fulfill my dream of completing it. - Ana Marie McCue
The sweet smell of a flower, the beauty of the Koolaus and Mt. Kaala and most of all sharing my love with those I care so deeply for, especially my family. - Dana
There was a time when all I could was ...- Rachel Rodrigues, Sacred Hearts Academy (Thanks to the many other Sacred Hearts students who wrote in.)
See the hungry and the homeless,
See the violence and the nameless,
Hear the crying and the shouting,
Feel the hatred and the doubting,
Feel the need to buy excess,
Feel the need to care even less.
Now comes a time when I will ...
See what I have, I have so much
See my family, their love is great,
Hear the laughter, it echoes loud
Feel the love, love will elate,
Feel the need to give away,
Be thankful for the bright, new days.
I am especially thankful I outlived all the friends, relatives, nutritionists, doctors, preachers and do-gooders who predicted I would die young and miserably.
I am very thankful I learned early in life that man was not created to resist temptation but to conquer it.
Remember that when you reach for the pumpkin pie! - Rico Leffanta