The Gift Of Air In Waimanalo
Wednesday - November 23, 2005
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Del.icio.usDear Pamela,
I was in Waimanalo when I noticed my SUV’s right front tire was flat. I was told “there’s no air in Waimanalo.” It’s true! The closest station with air is in Kailua. A really nice man came along and helped me by changing my tire and putting on the spare, which called for getting it out from under the back of the SUV. After all that, my spare was also flat. Stan came out of Waimanalo Feed with a portable compressor, blew up the spare and helped get me on my way again! The really nice man who changed the tire was Derek Castillo of Waimanalo. My appreciation to both these men.
Debbie Aldrich
Haleiwa
Dear Debbie,
“It really wasn’t a big deal,” says Stan Kodama, the humble owner of Waimanalo Feed. “She was in the parking lot and another guy was helping her change the tire, but her spare was flat, too. We have an air tank right here, so we helped. Not a big thing.”
Dear Pamela,
With auto mechanics sometimes ranking in trust between politicians and used car salesmen, it’s probably about time to give APPLAUSE to a mechanic who deserves recognition.
When my old car was losing cooling fluid like crazy, I took it to Priam’s Automotive Service and Repair in Pauoa to get it checked out. Turns out it had a cracked engine block. Satisfied with the diagnosis, I was more than ready to pay $80 or $90, the standard rate for labor costs. It turned out to be a lot less. Basically for the price of a good plate lunch I was on my way. Priam based the cost on the half gallon of antifreeze he put in while pressure testing the system.
I can state from experience that the job will be done correctly and honestly. If you’re looking for someone who will look the other way while doing a safety check, forget it, Priam is not your man. He was testing for the legal limit on window tinting before the police were. Like I said, an honest man and a good mechanic.
Steve Madison
Makiki
Dear Steve,
“It’s just the way they do business,” says Sean Stewart of his parents, Priam and Sharon Stewart. “My dad has the tendency to be honest with customers, to give his opinions, even if it means losing business. He won’t do a repair on a car that won’t last much longer. It’s not worth it for the customer, so he’ll be honest about it.”
(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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