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Changing Hawaii
FOLKS often ask me why I subscribe to the Star-Bulletin when a free copy is mine for the taking in the newsroom. Three reasons: 1) To continue my family's home-delivery habit that dates back to the '60s. 2) To show loyalty to a paper that needs all the readers it can get. 3) To experience the caliber of our delivery system, first hand. Delivering news-
papers isn’t easyLike thousands of other faithful readers, I relish the joy of returning from the office and finding a folded-up, rubber-banded copy of the Star-Bulletin waiting neatly at my door. Or sometimes in the plants.
Or, every once in a while, not at all.
That's when I call 538-6397 to report my missing paper. I always do this in a nice way because, boy, delivering papers can't be an easy job -- especially not for young people who'd rather be spending every single second being young.
This week, I was reminded just how dedicated most newspaper carriers are, when I got a letter from Lisa Yoshimoto. She's an Aiea Heights mother who homeschools her four kids while her 44-year-old husband, Doug, works at Pearl Harbor.
"People don't realize what it takes to deliver the newspaper," wrote the 43-year-old mom. Her daughters, 15-year-old Jasmine and 12-year-old Sjasti, have been Star-Bulletin and Sunday carriers seven days a week since last May. Jordan, 7, sometimes helps out, while 2-year-old Dani goes along for the ride in the family van.
"The carriers need to memorize their routes," she said. "They must remember where people want their newspapers delivered -- whether it goes in the tube; at the front door, kitchen door or back door; on the left or right side of the garage; through a hole in the wall; or on the top or bottom step.
"There are new subdivisions that have the built-in (newspaper) tubes just below the mailboxes. They aren't as easy to stuff as you think. Plus every house looks exactly alike in the dark on Sunday morning and, sometimes, you can't even see the addresses.
"What I am most disturbed about, however, are the unappreciative customers. About 14 percent tip through their bill payment. Nine percent give gifts like cookies and candy. That leaves 77 percent not doing a thing to show their appreciation. I know that tipping is optional, but even a smile or thank you would make the job a little more pleasant.
"We get our fair share of complaints. But wouldn't you think -- if customers receive the newspaper every day without it getting wet, ripped or missing a section -- that they'd appreciate the service?"
I reread the heart of Lisa Yoshimoto's letter and started to feel guilty: "I realize that it may seem like a no-brainer job. However, my children have grown in character and have learned more than anyone could imagine," she wrote.
"They've learned commitment by setting aside an hour each day, including all holidays, to get the news out to everyone. They've learned diligence by not giving up when they get complaints.
"They've learned sacrifice when they have to skip all the fun, late-night weekends that their friends are enjoying. And they've learned to schedule their days according to their responsibility of delivering the newspaper."
There's one more thing, Mrs. Yoshimoto. They've learned that longtime subscribers like me need to be nudged NOT to dwell on the few times we don't get the paper, and to reward carriers for a job well done -- which is definitely most of the time. Mahalo for the reminder.
Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
dchang@starbulletin.com, or by fax at 523-7863.