A Brief Encounter On Makani Kai Air
Dear Pamela,
I would like to give applause to Makani Kai Air and that special pilot who was kind to my grandson Laikona. He went to Makani Kai Air to fly to Molokai in only his briefs, barefoot, with his Boogie board.
The pilot, God bless him, gave him a T-shirt to wear. All the employees and pilots have been so kind and outstanding. Thank you always to that special pilot who helped Laikona. God bless you and protect you always.
Elizabeth Nuuanu
Maunaloa
Dear Elizabeth,
Makani Kai owner Richard Schuman IDs your special pilot as Robert “Mac” Smith. The staff remembers this incident well because of the special circumstances.
“This passenger was dropped off by a relative, basically in his underwear and a towel,” says Schuman. “He told the reservation clerk he had a dispute with a female friend and she took all his clothes. Mac ended up giving him a new Makani Kai Air T-shirt that had Kalaupapa on the back so he could be more comfortable while traveling. No one had a pair of pants that would fit this gentleman. If you remember the old days, you could wait, walk with your loved one — even your dog — right to the plane to Molokai. We can do that here at Makani Kai Air.”
Dear Pamela,
Much mahalo to MidWeek for this column. My greatest gratitude goes out to the care-giver who takes care of my mom and has done so for the past five-plus years.
Her name is Cristina Basilio. She does such an outstanding job, with great passion and care for all her clients. I’m so blessed to have her as my mom’s caregiver. Mom is 94 and I truly believe it’s because of Cristina’s care that she is still with us.
It’s like a mother/daughter relationship. My whole heart thanks you, Cristina. May God bless you and your family.
David Wilson
Ewa Beach
Dear David,
Cristina Basilio says your letter makes her want to cry. “I really do feel like she is my mother,” she says. “She calls me her hanai daughter. I have three adults I am caring for now, and I am truly blessed to be a part of their lives. They are family to me. Giving service is what I am meant to do. Someday I will be old, and I hope there will be someone to be an angel to me.”
Aloha Pamela,
I owe a big thank you to my neighbor Sheila Tatsuno for finding my dog that had slipped out of the fence. One side of our property is along the marina in Hawaii Kai and I always worry she will fall in. This is the second time she escaped and I am so thankful Sheila and her family came out to help me when they heard me calling to her. I use a walker and cannot always keep up with her. Mahalo to the Tatsunos!
Marion Barut
Hawaii Kai
Dear Marion,
Sheila Tatsuno gives all the credit to her son Kainoa. “He was the one who heard Mrs. Barut. It was no problem. Bitsy was actually in our yard because she likes our sand play lot. We passed her over the fence and promised to tell Mrs. Barut the next time she visited.”
If you know someone who deserves some Applause, send your letters to Pamela Young, MidWeek Applause, KITV, 801 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813. Include your name, phone number and, if possible, the phone number of your “applaudee” so we can contact him or her. pyoung@kitv.com
