HFD And Many More To The Rescue
Wednesday - June 16, 2010
| Share
Del.icio.usDear Pamela,
I was driving home to Kaneohe from swimming at Waimea Falls with my two elementary-age boys when my car started making some weird noises. The closest mechanic was back at Pupukea, but he was not open because it was Sunday.
My husband was off island at the time, so I called my dad on the Mainland. He was giving me instructions over the cell phone, but people started coming over to me to offer help. Within 30 minutes, six different lovely people offered assistance. In fact, the first two people were two young women. Knowing nothing about cars myself, I was so impressed how much these young women knew - go, sisters!
I had people offer to jump-start my car, give us a lift, check the fluids, look under the hood - everything!
Finally a very nice man named “Tex,” who is the captain of the fire station at Pupukea, I believe, diagnosed the problem and helped me out.
Our family is fairly new to Oahu as we moved from the Mainland almost two years ago. This was the first time I’d broken down, and given that I was the only adult in the car, it was scary at first. But I felt the aloha spirit so strongly that day. I send APPLAUSE to all the people who stopped to help me, and to Tex for all his help, and to his patient wife who waited while he helped me out! Mahalo nui loa!
Kristen DeMarco
Kaneohe
Dear Kristen,
Tex Bruffey, captain at HFD’s Waialua Fire Station, remembers the incident. “No big thing,” he says. “It’s just something most firefighters will do.” Capt. Terry Seelig is not surprised Tex stopped while off duty to help someone in trouble. “He is a very thoughtful individual and is a real gentleman,” says Seelig.
Aloha Pamela,
I was trying to locate a diagnostic imaging building, located “somewhere near Ala Moana shopping center, easy to find,” said the person talking to me from that particular location. To make a long story short, the trip was a disaster, ending with me losing my car somewhere in the parking lot. I had on high heels that day, which I now respect cannot be worn while walking around lost for nearly two hours.
I saw what looked like a small security station. All I know is I couldn’t have taken one more step without taking off my shoes. The super-friendly crew took my car alarm and rode around in the direction I believed my car was parked (it actually ended up being in the opposite direction). A mall security man on a bicycle and one in a golf cart, and at least another man or two on walkie-talkies got this extremely frazzled woman back into her car. Just when you start to doubt that angels exist, a few step forward to remind us.
I am late in thanking those mall security angels, who we see all the time and may never quite understand their services. They are a huge part of the aloha spirit. They did more than locate my car, they renewed my spirit in the kindness of strangers category.
Janet Vincenti
Diamond Head
Dear Janet,
“It’s what we do,” says Ala Moana director of security Mike Cho. “Our responsibilities cover so much more than security. We take pride in our customer service.”
Dear Pamela,
When our niece “Cricket” was released from the hospital, the first thing she wanted was her favorite hamburger steak at Asahi Grill. No sooner had our lunch arrived when she said she wasn’t feeling well. She passed out from shortness of breath and low blood count. I’d like to thank the manager and staff of Asahi Grill for their support. Also, Leah Moore and her son called 911, and the other patrons were so helpful. After we got Cricket settled in the ambulance, I came back to the restaurant and asked the manager if I could pay our bill and the bill of the Moores. He said, “No, no, we’ll take care of that. You take care of your niece.” We can’t thank them all enough. There are so many beautiful people in this world and these are just a few. God bless you always.
Herb Cuban
Waimanalo
Dear Herb,
“She just fainted and we called 911 right away,” says Asahi Grill manager Victoria Sayno. “Manager Bob Miyashiro and I were there when it happened. We didn’t want her uncle to worry about anything, so we told him not to worry about the bill. We’re glad to hear that Cricket is home recuperating.”
(If you know someone who deserves some Applause, send your letters to Pamela Young, MidWeek Applause, KITV, 801 S. King St., Honolulu, HI, 96813 or e-mail pyoung@kitv.com. Include your name, phone number and, if possible, the phone number of your “applaudee” so we can contact him or her.)
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS Comments (0) |
Most Recent Comment(s):
