Lost Wallets And Making New Friends
Wednesday - January 09, 2008
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Del.icio.usDear Pamela,
I returned to my office the other day to find a surprising message on my phone. A man called to say he had my wallet. I checked my document folder I carry with me and sure enough, my wallet was not there.
I called the gentleman and identified myself. James Kahana told me his son, James Jr., had found my wallet on the sidewalk of a small shopping center where I had been working earlier that day.
I thanked Mr. Kahana for calling me and offered him a reward, but he refused and told me he’d drop the wallet at the nearest bank branch since he noticed my debit bank card in my wallet.
At the bank, the manager returned my wallet to me. Nothing was missing, including a couple of dollars, all my credit or bank cards, IDs and even some movie passes.
The bank manager suggested I cancel all my cards and have new ones reissued because Internet theft is easy if a thief copied and used all my numbers and security codes printed on my cards. That I did, but I don’t think I have much to worry about.
James Kahana told me he lives with his son in Hauula, and I don’t really know how to meet him face to face, but if I did, I’d shake his hand and thank him for teaching his son the benefits of his honesty. I certainly am grateful for this act of aloha.
John Wray
Punchbowl
Dear John,
James Kahana says he’s taught all his kids that honesty pays. “James Junior just turned 17. He graduates from Kahuku High School next year. This is the second or third time my kids have found a wallet and they know the right thing to do.”
Aloha Pamela,
After a wonderful meal at Kapolei Chinese Restaurant, I somehow managed to drop my wallet in the parking lot and drove back into town without it.
I did not discover my wallet was missing until the next day, and although there was very little money inside, I was so worried that someone had used my cards and a valuable Macy’s gift card that was given to me by my dad.
The next day I called Kapolei Chinese Restaurant to inquire about my lost wallet, and Ken, who answered the phone, gave me a small lecture about how he had been looking for me for two days!
He said someone had found it in the parking lot and turned it in to them.
Also, Ken and the finder were worried because I did not have a lot of cash inside the wallet and thought that it might have been taken before they found it.
I am so thankful to the kind heart who found my wallet and turned it in, and to Kapolei Chinese Restaurant for making such an astounding effort to track me down.
Please send out a great big hug and huge sigh of relief to both, especially since Kapolei Chinese Restaurant has AWESOME food and OUTSTANDING service!!
C. Hamada
Aiea
Dear C,
Ken Chan, one of the owners of Kapolei Chinese Restaurant, thanks you for the praise of their food, but says the wallet-tracking was just part of customer service.
“So small a thing,” he says. “You know, little thing this, everybody should do it. You help someone, sometime somebody help you.”
Dear Pamela,
My APPLAUSE goes out to everyone here on Oahu. I moved here just a month ago to start my life over.
Even before my arrival, I was greeted with much aloha. Everyone I have met has been so nice, helpful and welcoming.
In particular I would like to mention my real estate manager Wendy Alcantra of Team Real Estate, who rented me this nice house, my neighbors Keiko and Rose and their children, Josh on my other side, Linda down the street and all the keiki on our street who make me feel good when they call me “Uncle.”
I’d like to thank Danielle and Heath of Southern Swell restaurant for becoming good friends, letting me hang out and serving some great food to this old bachelor. Also Danielle’s parents, Richard and Ann, who run the market next door to Southern Swell.
I would also like to thank all the guys at 808 Automotive who by far are the nicest, most-honest and best mechanics anywhere!
To everyone that has greeted me with aloha spirit, I want to say Mahalo!
Robert Porec
Ma’ili
Dear Robert,
Wendy Alcantra gives it right back to you. “I already thought he was a great tenant, but this is awesome,” she says. “That makes me feel so good. I wish I had more tenants like him!”
(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.)
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