Each month, VASH comes to the aid of visitors who are the victims of a crime, or who become ill, or pass away during their stay in Hawaii. The following are excerpts of correspondence from grateful family members. In certain cases, the last names of the visitors have been omitted to protect their privacy.
 

"On behalf of the staff at Hui Malama Ola Na Oiwi, we extend a sincere mahalo and aloha for the care packages offered to our staff last month when they were met with unforeseen circumstances of having their personal belongings stolen from their rental van while they were in Honolulu for a two-day, health related training. The care packages were much appreciated by our staff but most importantly the aloha spirit you extended will always be remembered.

Again, mahalo a nui loa for your generosity."

       Kaloa R.N. Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Hui Malama Ola Na Oiwi (island of Hawaii)

"I want to thank you [Petra] so much for helping my son-in-law, David P. to survive and return home to his family. We thank The Lord Jesus Christ for people like you and ministries such as Aloha Society of Hawaii. God Bless You! I don't know what would have happened to him without your help.

Please thank the woman at the airline/airport who gave me your telephone number. You all saved a life!"

                                                       Lydia X. (Hull, Massachusetts)

“Please forgive the delay in writing this letter. We have been adjusting to life without our beloved Grandma Alice and only now feel that we can appropriately express our gratitude to you. As you may recall, my mother passed away at the Halekulani on May 27th. We had planned this vacation as it had been over fify years since she had been to Hawaii and she had wanted to see it again. Little did we realize she would choose to pass on in such a favored place.

While we intuitively knew that your help was immeasurably important, it was only until later that the full impact of your assistance would become known. The paper work that we filled out at the time of her passing would speed up the process of her being returned to us in the manner that she and the family wanted. Moreover, your help with paperwork that we hadn't even considered has proven essential in helping the family to eventually recover.

Your sensitivity and gentleness are noteworthy. We did not know what to expect at our meeting. However, your kindness, compassion, professionalism and even gifts for the children did much to help us emotionally during such a difficult time. While it may be awhile before we can comfortably return to Hawaii, we do, in fact, plan to return to remember my mother as well as to build new memories. Your efforts will make our future return possible."

“Please accept our heartfelt thanks for the assistance to my mother and I provided by yourself and Robert (Bob) Gentry upon the death of my father in Honolulu on the 20th April 2007. The speed with which you acted, the heartfelt responses that you gave, the willingness to do anything to help us in such a terrible time and particularly the time spent in organizing a service for my father at the Sheraton Hotel, is somethng we will always remember.

Indeed, the responses from the local Hawaiians when they found out about my father's death in Hawaii were very poignant because of their obvious sincerity - may I say this was greatly appreciated by us. As "Bob" said, he lives in Honolulu for a reason and that has to do with the very great people we found there.

The service provided by the ALOHA SOCIETY is unique and I must say a "treasure" that whilst I don't want many people to have to use it - is a service, that is so good, and valuable that it must not be lost.

Please find enclosed a small token of our thanks and in particular could you please let me know the contact details of the Kiwi "Samoan" guitarist as we would like to send him something as well."

 George B. (East Doncaster Victoria, Australia)
 

“It was a great pleasure to talk to you [Bryan] in Honolulu after my rental car and many personal items were stolen. On behalf of my friend Jonelle, who was with me in the car, and myself, I would like to thank you and others who work with the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, for everything that was done on our behalf.

As I mentioned, Jonelle lost almost everything she was traveling with. I was able to use the ABC voucher you gave me to buy some food that she could take on her flight home. We made good use of the other items too, and we greatly appreciate that you were able to spend a little time talking with me in the hotel.

Hawaii is a lovely place, and because of people like you, visitors who face misfortune are far more likely to maintain a balanced view of their experiences."

“This letter is to thank you for the extraordinary kindness and aloha spirit our family was shown from October 7 to October 12, 2007. We were perfect strangers placed in a tragic situation on your beautiful island, and the outpouring of concern, assistance, and friendship from the representatives of the Aloha Society was remarkable.

My mother (Carol H.) and stepfather (Richard P.) were in Hawaii for 5 weeks. Two days before they were to fly back home to CT., they went to their favorite beach for the last time. This beach was recommended to them because it had gentler surf and was frequented by families with young children. My stepfather was healthy and an experienced ocean swimmer, but unfortunately had a swimming accident. He was rescued by the lifeguards from the ocean, resuscitated, taken to Castle Medical Center, and then transferred to Queens Medical Center due to the severity of injuries. My mother was frantic when she called me in Princeton, NJ, from Castle Medical Center. Rob Lloyd was the minister at the Castle Medical Center that evening, and was a great comfort to my mother and myself as I made arrangements to fly to Honolulu as soon as possible. He notified your organization about our situation and called me to assure me that I would be met at the airport and transported to Queens Medical Center upon my arrival October 8. As I walked off the airplane in a daze of concern and anxiety, I was greeted by two people from your organization, Dell Manini, and a young gentleman, which I unfortunately forgot his name. They greeted me graciously, calmly and were so kind and reassuring to me, a perfect stranger. They drove me to Queens Medical Center and escorted me directly to the ICU so I could be with my mother. Dell provided unfaltering assistance to our family, but most importantly she provided friendship and comfort. After working all day she untiringly would check in with us throughout the day and late into the evening to ensure we were taken care of physically and emotionally. She stayed with us when she sensed we needed the comfort of her company. My stepfather was removed from the ventilator October 11, 2007, and slipped away peacefully surrounded by family.

There are no words to express our gratitude to the Aloha Society. Dell truly reflects the values of the Aloha Society, kindness, selflessness, and friendship."

“I would like to thank Irene for the phone call last night. It certainly was unexpected and very thoughtful and eased the pain of a very unfortunate incident - but it is people like your organization who make life a lot easier and helps us not feel alone in getting things sorted out.

This evening we received a gift parcel to help us on our way. We are grateful for that and once again thanks again for your warm and loving thoughts, this is our second trip to your islands and find the warmth and hospitality overwhelming. Hope to come back again shortly."

“Aloha and Mahalo for everything. You did so much for us. Without your help I probably would not have been able to get my drivers license, which you know is needed for everything. Mahalo for calling Enterprise, the employees in Maui were wonderful and upgraded us to a convertible and gave us a tank of gas! Also, thank you for all the wonderful gifts. We were overwhelmed by them all. We shared them with those that attended our wedding and were impacted by our loss.

I apologize for not writing sooner but once we returned home our lives continued to be hectic. It was only last week that we bought new wedding bands and a diamond engagement ring.

Everything that you did was extremely helpful and made our wedding and honeymoon more enjoyable. Not a day goes by that we do not think about our loss, but then we think about all that were so kind to us."

“Dear Governor Lingle,

My 17-year old son was visiting Kauai with friends on vacation in June 2006 when an awful accident happened to him. On June 17th, he nearly drowned at a swimming hole with a waterfall/rope swing near Princeville. He was airlifted that night to Honolulu to Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center for treatment. He remained in the hospital for two weeks, the first of which was in the Critical Care Unit. My husband and I immediately flew out from Colorado to be with our son. The uncertainty and the medical complications were very hard on my family. We were alone without family and friends in a strange place.

I am writing in part to express our great appreciation for the excellent care that our son received (and we received) at Kaiser Moanalua Hospital. We were very impressed by the caring, compassion, and competence shown by all the doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other staff who took care of our son. I have also written notes of appreciation to the managers at Kaiser Moanalua Hospital.

We also want to greatly commend the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii. We met Jessica Lani Rich, the President of the Society, in the early days of my son's stay in the hospital. She was a wonderful support person and helped us through an awful time, especially after my husband had to return home to Colorado to care for our younger son. Every day she and her husband were in contact with us. By arranging for a discount rate at a local hotel (our thanks to the Best Western Plaza), Jessica helped alleviate financial stresses, and she and her husband went out of their way to also help alleviate our emotional stresses in dealing with our son's hospitalization. They were a great help and the only reason I could get through this difficult time. My son Tucker and I have resumed our life with our family in Colorado, but we will never forget how Jessica and her husband looked after us and helped us in our time of need. I hope that Jessica Lani Rich can be acknowledged for her great contributions towards the goodwill of tourists to the islands and her humanitarian contributions for helping those in need. She and her staff on a daily basis help alleviate the suffering of people who are dealing with death or loss.

While in Honolulu we also received tremendous support from the First Presbyterian Church. Pastors Chang and Sim were also of great help to us in getting through our son's hospitalization. I visited their wonderful church and was impressed by their outreach to a stranger.

Thanks to all of these people, we found Hawaii to be a wonderful and enchanting place to visit, and expect to return one day under better circumstances."

“I wanted to thank you [Jessica] for everything that you did for our family. What a wonderful service you and the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii provide. It takes a special person to do the type of work that you do. Dealing with people under normal circumstances can often be trying. But dealing with them while they are undergoing a stressful situation requires someone with exceptional people skills.

My mother, sisters and I were grateful for the speed at which you moved us through the entire process. Most people I talked to in Sacramento were surprised to learn how quickly we were able to return home with my father's ashes.

Thank you so much for the nice Hawaiian gift bag that you gave me. That was a nice surprise. I shared the sweets with the people at work. It is a Chinese custom, when there's a death and people are sad. You provide them with candy or sweets to make them happy again.

Thank you again for your kindness. It wa a pleasure meeting you. Maybe one day we will meet again under happier circumstances."

“As we enter this new year, this new beginning, I want to thank you [Jessica and Rick] for your aloha - for all of the love & compassion & care you extended to me and to my entire family. We traveled a delicate and meaningful path in Honolulu and you both helped this Pacific Northwesterner with open hearts and generous spirits.

I wish you both - a New Year filled with contentment, love and showers of joy - you truly deserve all of the very best.

You certainly went above & beyond for [our family]. We look forward to seeing you again (perhaps later this year.)"

“I think of you often - even daily. Your kindness and empathy during our recent tragedy has had a profound effect on our lives. My mom enjoyed a short stay on your beautiful island but she called it "Paradise" and was awed by its beauty and spirit. My brothers like to say she died in paradise but she broke my hert to do it.

You will never appreciate what your kindness and friendship has done for my brothers & I. You said my mom brought us to Hawaii for a reason - to grieve together and enjoy the Island. The three days we spent together has had a profound change in all our lives and you were the force that my mom used from beyond to get us together and change our hearts. You will always have my gratitude. I hope to see you again - but know I will keep in touch.

I wish you had known my mother. She had a soft calmness, inner beauty and peace that held her dear to many people. Her deep Christian faith and honesty and humor kept her grounded. I will always miss her! She was my mom, my friend and my confidant.

Thank you, Jessica for being there for me. It was the most difficult time of my life. I'm trying to take a lesson from the hula dancer."

"I want to thank you so much for the gift you gave me while my husband was in Straub Hospital in Honolulu. It's a lonely feeling to be so far from home, family and friends, and your gesture lifted my spirits! Everything in the gift bag was enjoyed. I was also visited by Hilkka at the hospital. We had a nice conversation over a cup of coffee. It was nice to have that break from sitting by my husband's bed, with such a delightful person!"

                                              Clare & Eric K. (Auckland, New Zealand)

"I wanted to drop you [Jessica] a note to let you know how much we appreciate all of your help and assistance during our stay in Hawaii after the incident with our wallets and other items being stolen. Your society is serving a wonderful service in Hawaii and you are a true asset to the community. I am returning unused items you provided us and would also like to make a donation to the society and your great work. Thank you again and may God bless you all.

                                                    Jeff B. & Daniel G. (Sachse, Texas)