Firefighter To The Rescue On H-1

Dear Pamela,

APPLAUSE to the Good Samaritan, off-duty fire-fighter George, who stopped to help me. My gas pump broke in the middle lane of the freeway and I was able to coast to the side at the King Street entrance. I had no cell phone, and was standing on the freeway pantomiming dialing for help on a phone when he stopped and made sure AAA was on its way. He also bawled me out for standing so close to the freeway and set me back in my car. AAA towed my car to a service station and made sure I got home safely. I am so grateful to all who helped, and for those of you driving on the freeway, please note that a sudden drop in speed in the car in front of you just might possibly mean there is car trouble ahead.

Sharon Botsai
Wailupe

Dear Sharon,

Mahalo for the tip to other drivers. Capt. Andy Lum of the Honolulu Police Department has more suggestions for drivers who find themselves in your situation.

“It is always best to, when able, operate a vehicle off any lanes of traffic onto a shoulder area of the roadway,” he says. “If that is not possible, place hazard lights on and as safely as possible remove yourself from any lanes of traffic to a place of safety off of the roadway.

“Generally, police will be notified by other drivers of a stall on the roadway, or a passing officer will stop to assist. Remain off the roadway, face oncoming traffic, and be prepared to react should a situation present itself.”

Dear Pamela,

My husband spent a month in the Aloha Rehab Center in Kaneohe and was very well-cared for, despite not being the most lovable patient! Particularly patient and helpful were Colene, the attendant, and Shannon Avalle, the nurse on the second floor. They took great care of him, and deserve appreciation and recognition. Also, thanks to case worker Dana Pang.

Priscilla Gaison
Kaneohe

Dear Priscilla,

“That’s what we do,” says Aloha Nursing and Rehab Centre director of human resources Kellie Pearce. “We serve our senior citizens, and it’s nice to know families are pleased with our services. Her letter made my day!”

Dear Pamela,

My mother is 85 and travels on the bus everywhere. After getting off the bus at Mililani Town Center, she realized she had left her bag and purse on the bus, but the bus had already left. After she asked a kind stranger to call me, I went to pick her up and noted she seemed in a daze. Her left hand made aimless motions, her mental status was vague and she was drooling. After taking her to ER, we learned she had suffered a ministroke.

All of Mom’s IDs, credit cards, etc., plus her hearing aid and tax papers were in the bag. TheBus personnel were very kind, they contacted that bus driver, but he couldn’t locate it. We left our contact information, and sure enough we got a call from TheBus Pearl City dispatcher that No. 52 bus driver Steven Oda turned in the bags after seeing some people going through them. He remembered my mom reporting her bags being left on the bus, and turned them in.

Mahalo to Steven Oda and all TheBus personnel who were so kind and expressed real concern for my mom. After spending a week at Straub, the first thing she wanted to do was to thank all TheBus personnel, especially Steven Oda. They are all angels.

Diane Yanabu
Mililani

Dear Diane,

TheBus thanks you and Masako for informing the company of Steven Oda’s thoughtful actions. He was commended by his superintendent shortly after receiving your kind letter.