

Its all about mahalo on this Thanksgiving Day
Happy Thanksgiving! As is the tradition, today's column is devoted to mahalo items.
Mahalo
To Alice and Jacky, two very kind people at the HandiVan Pass Office at the Public Transit Division. They helped my brother get the pass he needs to ride to his radiation treatments at Queen's Hospital and treated us with great compassion while helping to expedite the application work. -- Marlene Wood and Ainahau Young
To the driver of bus No. 6, which picked me up around 3:15 p.m. Oct. 11 next to Daiei near Ala Moana Center. I'm 65, a Japanese who is studying English at UH. When I got on the bus, I heard the driver saying, "Good afternoon" and "thank you" to all passengers, each one. His words made me feel happy. When I got off, he said, "Watch your feet," very tenderly. I said to him, "Thank you," from the bottom of my heart. I respect him not only as a very thoughtful and excellent driver, but also as a human being. -- Kanji Nagata
To the unknown family in the Komo Mai area of Pearl City who helped a lost elderly woman the morning of Oct. 13. She was visiting from Malaysia, does not speak English and became confused and frightened. Your call to HPD brought her home to a much relieved family. Also, a big thank you to the two officers who delivered her to us. -- JFD and family
To Mr. and Mrs. Hirazumi and their daughter for picking me up on the H-1 Freeway, between Waipio and Mililani at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 16, when my parents' car broke down. They went out of their way to take me to Mililani to pick up my other car.
To a young Polynesian man who pushed my Chrysler New Yorker to another street when it overheated on Oct. 18 as I was driving on Date Street. He was my guardian angel that day. -- N.N. of Wahiawa
To the city employee in a white truck on Kahala Avenue on Oct. 25. I got lost and was headed toward Waikiki when I flagged him down. He patiently gave me directions and had me follow him partway. Thanks to him, I got to the wedding reception on time. -- Retired city employee
To the unidentified off-duty firefighter who helped extinguish a fire at the Enchanted Lake Safeway Store on Oct. 25. Mahalo also to the employees who helped people remain calm and evacuated them, and to the community for its continued support. -- Manager Mervin Lam and staff
To the man who was nice enough to return my money, which I dropped at Toys 'R Us on Sunday, Oct. 26. -- A sixth-grader
To Dennis Kawamura of the Koganji Temple in Manoa for helping me start my car when it died on Oahu Avenue on Nov. 2. He jump-started my car and would not accept any payment. -- K. Kam
To the kind lady who found my purse at Hickam Bowling Center on Nov. 1. People like you perpetuate the aloha spirit.
To TheBus. Visitors and loyal UH football fans appreciate the extra bus service that picks up patrons on Kamehameha Highway and returns them to downtown and Waikiki. -- T.H. Nakamura
To the person who found and returned my drivers license to my home on Puu Poni Street in Pearl City. Your kindness will not be forgotten. -- K.S.
To the many volunteers who help clean up the Manoa Stream and the Ala Wai Canal. -- Howard Shiroma
To the man in a white van who pushed my Toyota to a side road when it got stalled on Nov. 5 as I was about to turn onto Waimano Home Road. Mahalo also to the sweet lady living at the corner who offered me a ride home; to Mr. Teshima and all his friends for the laughs and for pushing my car closer to the curb. They are proof that aloha thrives in Pearl City. -- The Mendozas
To the person who found my wallet and turned it in to the airline ticket counter at Honolulu Airport. Everything was intact. -- Katherine Wellington