We're taking this holiday to allow readers a chance to express their mahalos to a host of good Samaritans:
To Mr. S.C. Tony Soller, customer operations manager for GTE Hawaiian Tel. I could hardly speak due to recent surgery and was on my way to a doctor's appointment when my car stopped on the H-2. I was walking on the freeway when Mr. Soller beeped his horn, slowly came to a stop behind me and drove me to the gas station. Mahalo also to Dr. Cyril Goshima for his tremendous generosity and constant help. -- Ka'ili Oatua-Tangaroa
To James Kung and Damien Lee, who helped me replace a blown tire on Moanalua Road, top of Red Hill, in the midst of evening traffic on Holy Thursday. They worked for over an hour in the wind and rain. Also, to police Officer Kevin Ching, who made sure drivers were careful when passing my vehicle. -- Donna
To the two nice ladies who cared for me when I became sick while watching a baseball game at Kaimuki High School in April. Also to the other people and the security guard who notified my son. -- Lady in Blue
To Pepsi Cola Hawaii employees Guy Wages, Paul Aki and Tyrone Jackson, who helped me with a flat tire on a rainy day on School Street near Gulick Avenue. Also to an unidentified lady who stopped to help. -- M.N.
To Warren Hayama of the state Office of Consumer Protection. With all of the bashing of state employees, I wanted to say mahalo for his efficient, professional and humble help. He reminded me of the "Up With People" slogan of the sixties that perhaps should be resurrected in light of today's attitude of looking for the negatives in life. -- John Kim
To Tripler Medical Center. On April 18, I got very ill, with symptoms connected to a heart attack. My husband took me to Tripler's emergency room. If I had been a queen, I couldn't have been treated better, from the good doctors to the X-ray technician to the person who took my blood pressure. I am 75, but all my tests showed no problems and I was sent home much better. They make life worth living. -- Vera Coleman
To off-duty police officer Rico Inouye who politely assisted me when my Toyota died on the H-2 freeway. -- B.N.
To Fran Kaneshiro who works at the Hickam gym snack bar. She saw a 68-year-old man who had just gotten out of the hospital eating when he suddenly felt limp and cold. She got medical help, but all the time, she held his hand, made him feel comfortable and showed true aloha. -- R.H.
To police Officer Beatty and Officer Walls for helping this hopeless woman change a flat tire on a busy H-1 freeway near the Vineyard Boulevard exit on April 30. -- K. Nakamura
To the nurses at St. Francis Medical Center, especially nursing supervisor Anita Acdal-Morales. I was hired last spring by Hughes Aircraft in Los Angeles so couldn't spend more time with my grandfather, who was dying of cancer. I planned to fly home the week before Christmas, but got a call on Dec. 15 telling me to come home immediately. The airline said it would cost an extra $800 to change my reservations, unless I got a doctor's note. It was midnight and I had to have the note before 8 a.m. Anita faxed one immediately. But the fax didn't go through and, at 3 a.m., she faxed it once more. I was able to catch the first flight to Hawaii. My grandfather passed away four days before Christmas, but I was able to spend his last precious days with him. The nurses at St. Francis made the pain bearable for our family. -- Rose
To all the guys who helped push our car to the side of the Village Park entrance when our engine died and caused a traffic jam on April 30. -- GT, CT and DL
