Island memories of Sept. 11

Families and friends honor the loved ones lost and the people left behind

On the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, families of the victims with ties to Hawaii are remembering their loved ones with the strength of their families, trying to heal personal wounds reopened by public memories.

"Sometimes I wonder about the survivors from Pearl Harbor and how they went through this," said Henry Lee, the father of Lissa Jean Collins, who lost her husband, Michael Collins, in the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

"It's been over 60 years and the process of healing is a long process, and they're still trying to heal. I think this is going to be the same situation."

Lissa Jean Collins, a 1977 Leilehua graduate, returned home to New Jersey yesterday from Barcelona, Spain.

Collins' mother, Rose Lee, and Collins' brother plan to attend memorial services between New York and New Jersey tomorrow.

"Remembrance of him is still around and she just can't get away from all of this stuff," Henry Lee said. "Every year she turns on the TV (around this time and) ... they show the building burning."

"She's doing much better," her mother said, but the healing process continues.

"It's been extra tough for her," said Henry Lee. "They had such a nice romantic relationship. He proposed to her on the Empire State Building."

Jack Miller, father of Laurie Laychak-Chareq, who lost her husband, David Laychak, in the Pentagon attack, said: "She is trying to move on. Time takes care of a lot."

David worked as a civilian Army budget analyst at the Pentagon and had two children with Laurie, a graduate of Hawaii Baptist Academy in 1980.

A year ago, Laurie Laychak-Chareq married a widower and moved into a new house in Manassas, Va.

Miller believes his daughter will attend a memorial ceremony in Prince William County near the Pentagon tomorrow. Laychak-Chareq has attended the service every year.

"She grieved pretty heavily for about two and a half years," Miller said. "It's kind of a different ball game now that she's married, and they're in their new house."

But his daughter believes that America must not forget the attacks and must win the global war on terror. "Time changes things, but it's important for our country not to forget," Miller said.

About 100 Kaiser High School students plan to remember Maile Hale, a 1993 Kaiser graduate and valedictorian, during a private student-run service tomorrow. Hale's parents, Rob and CarolAnn Hale, are expected to attend the private memorial.

"Maile, to those who knew her very well, she really brought light into other peoples' lives and that's why they (the students) said, 'Let's do this,'" said Rinda Fernandes, Kaiser's student council advisor.

Students planned the service and will deliver a biography of Maile Hale, recount the historical events of 9/11, and offer gifts and lei to a memorial site of Hale on the school campus. The principal will perform "White Sandy Beach," for Hale's love of Hawaii and its beaches.

"They all are approaching this program with solemnity, respect and also appreciation," Fernandes said. "They feel for everyone who was affected, as well as their family and their friends."

At the Ala Moana Beach park, a plaque near Magic Island remembers Christine Snyder, who was aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed near Pittsburgh.

Snyder was an arborist and project manager of landscape and planting for local environmental organization the Outdoor Circle. She fought to preserve historical trees on Oahu. A bench and milo tree also honor Snyder near Magic Island.

The "Lei of Green," a project that planted more than 75 trees around Magic Island, was completed in memory of Snyder, said Bob Loy, director of environmental programs at the Outdoor Circle.

Losses touch Hawaii families

Benilda Domingo, 27, an immigrant from Laoag City in the Philippines, cleaned offices at the World Trade Center. Her parents lived in Hawaii with their eldest son, and her children stayed here with them after they immigrated, according to the New York Times.

Michael Collins, 38, a manager for eSpeed, was the husband of Lissa Jean Collins, a 1977 graduate of Leilehua High School. Collins had hoped to move to Hawaii one day.

Georgine Corrigan, 56, a collectibles dealer from Hawaii Kai, was on United Airlines Flight 93 from Newark, N.J., when it crashed in Pennsylvania.

Maile Hale, 26, a 1993 Kaiser High School graduate, and vice president of Boston Investor Services, was attending a conference at the Windows on the World restaurant in the North Tower.

Heather Ho, 32, a 1987 Punahou graduate, was an award-winning pastry chef at Windows on the World restaurant on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center, where she was working when the planes struck.

Richard Keane, 54, worked for Marsh & McLennan in Hartford, Conn., as an insurance executive. He died in the Trade Center. His sister Charlotte Keane was a nurse at Kuakini Medical Center.

David Laychak, 40, was a budget analyst for the Army and worked at the Pentagon. Laychak's wife, Laurie, was a 1980 graduate of the Hawaii Baptist Academy.

Rich Y.C. Lee, 38, a 1986 Punahou graduate, was vice president of eSpeed. He was working in the company office in the World Trade Center when the towers collapsed.

Patricia Pitchford, 39, was an executive assistant at Marsh & McLennan. Her office was in the World Trade Center. She was a 1979 graduate of Our Redeemer Lutheran High School.

Christine Snyder, 32, an arborist from Kailua, was also aboard United 93. Snyder was a project manager for the Outdoor Circle.