Samaritans bestow
spirit of yuletide
Merry Christmas to all our readers! Here are some examples of how this holiday was made more joyful because of the aloha spirit:
Mahalo
To all the good Samaritans who helped me get home safely on Nov. 22. I was driving on Ala Moana when my car stalled. A young man came to help, refusing any monetary reward. Then, on Nimitz Highway, my car stalled again. Some workers from a Handy repair store stopped, called for a tow truck and moved my car off the main highway. They also refused a reward. Later, some folks from the Ohana Baptist Church offered to move my car to a safer area and offered us a place to wait in their church. Reward again refused. I am a senior citizen so you can imagine what a frightening experience this was. Despite the violence and negative things happening these days, they proved the aloha spirit is still alive. -- J.T.
To security officers at Honolulu Airport, who were very helpful and professional in helping me find a fanny pack left at the security checkpoint. They calmly took the necessary information despite my impatience, located the missing item and got it to me before my plane took off. -- No name
To police Officer Paul Wood, who prevented me from having an accident by signaling me to pull over because of a flat tire on Nov. 9 on the Pali Highway. He then was kind enough to change it for me. I know he didn't have to do this. -- Alison
To a gracious gentleman in a yellow coat. Because of the one-way street, I was so confused trying to get to Straub Hospital. In desperation, I asked the man in the car next to me, "What street do I turn on?" He said, "Follow me and I'll take you." He went way out of his way to show me and I thank him so very much because I was already late picking up a patient. -- No name
To Michael Baron of Paradise Sky Cap for his efficient handling of my elderly parent's luggage and, most of all, for his thoughtful and caring manner, which put my limited-English-speaking mother at ease. He also noticed she had some difficulty walking and secured help for her. He is an asset to Honolulu Airport. -- S.K.
To Christine and Wayne and their family of Mililani for finding, caring for and returning our beloved dog, Miki. During the big thunderstorm on Dec. 1, Miki escaped through our fence. The Hawaiian Humane Society gave us the name and number of a family that had reported finding a little brown dog. Our children were overjoyed to be reunited with Miki. -- Kyle, Muriel, Marissa and Keelan Okazaki
To John Martin, an outrigger canoe maker, who rescued a wild pig from the ocean in Kaaawa early Saturday morning, Dec. 4. The pig was running down the middle of Kamehameha Highway near Crouching Lion when he was spooked by a car, jumped into the ocean and swam out to the reef. John got on his surf ski and tried to corral it and direct it back to shore so it wouldn't drown. But the pig charged him and knocked him into the water. Luckily, the pig got scared back to land, where it was last seen heading into the hills. -- Christine Wilkinson
To a wonderful woman who helped our parents as they fell while getting out of a taxi about noon Dec. 6 at the front of the Queen's Physicians Office Building. She obtained a wheelchair and helped mom, who has rheumatoid arthritis, wheel our father to his doctor's appointment. In the excitement of the moment, mom did not get her name but, we, their daughters, want her to know how much we truly appreciate her kindness, compassion and aloha. -- Carol and Faye
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com
