Plenty Of Help In Cell Phone’s Return

Dear Pamela,

While working at the Ala Moana Building, I dropped and lost my cell phone. Frantically, I went up and down the elevators at least eight times to the 16th and 17th floors looking for it. I even called Ala Moana’s security department to see if anyone turned it in, to no avail. I finally called my phone to see if someone would pick up the line. After about six tries, a person finally picked up. He said he found it on the sidewalk on the ground floor and was in a rush to catch a bus to his home in Waikiki, he didn’t even think of dropping it off to security. I never thought I’d ever see my phone again, much less that it had been breached. I called my phone carrier to see if there was any activity after I lost it and they told me there wasn’t, which was good.

I just wanted to thank “Lee,” who found my phone at Ala Moana and turned it in. He never did tell me his last name, but he helped me renew the fact that there are truly honest people left in the world who understand the real meaning of aloha, and to HPD Officer Kupuhea at the substation for tracking me down through my wife (the last person I called on my phone before I lost it). I also wanted to send a big “thank you” to my co-worker Andy I. for being my lifeline while my phone was gone.

Alan Cabacungan
Mililani

Dear Alan,

Ala Moana Center security is also very grateful to Lee. “We get laptops, cameras, phones — whatever — turned in,” says ALC security dispatcher Tiare Maafale. “These are high-value items that obviously mean a lot to the people who lost them. Whether they are turned in to maintenance or housekeeping, they end up here. If it’s a phone, we call the last number dialed and try to track down the owner. For iPhones, which are very high value, we hold for a day, then turn them over to HPD unless the owner is located right away. We are always so appreciative to the honest people who turn these items in.”

Dear Pamela,

As I started my volunteer work at Kaiser hospital’s information desk, a gentleman came and commented that he noticed how diligently I was doing my work and told me he’d like to give me a blessing. He asked me to open my hand (I thought he was going to give me a low-five slap) then plunked a shiny Eisenhower silver dollar into my palm and walked away into the elevator.

I wanted him to know that he gave me a “sparkle” that lasted the whole day!

Rhoda Hirokawa
Pearl City

Aloha Rhoda,

“We are very thankful to have kind, dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers at Kaiser Permanente’s Moanalua Medical Center,” says Cindy Ajimine, manager of KP Volunteer Services. “We are even more grateful to have such kind and thoughtful patients who appreciate them.”

Aloha Pamela,

My grandson’s ukulele was stolen from a bench at school. I’ve been praying it would be returned, but no such luck. I hope the person who took it realizes it broke a little boy’s heart. He now uses an uke borrowed from the school.

Anne Leong
Kaneohe

Dear Anne,

A thunderous round of APPLAUSE goes to Kristen and Joe Souza of Kanile’a Ukulele. Their “Islander by Kanile’a Program” just donated some ukuleles to the Tutu and Me foster children group. They would like to do something for your grandson. “This is one way we give back,” says Joe. “We sponsor free demos, get the local musicians to give free public lessons — all to get an ukulele network going. Some children have special needs and we want to address those needs.” Call them at 234-2868.

pyoung@kitv.com