Recovered wallet
On the 21st of September, I lost my wallet somewhere between the American Savings Bank parking lot and inside the bank, I assumed, when I got home from the bank, and couldn’t find my wallet. So many negative scenarios crossed my mind as I drove back down to the bank.
As soon as I stepped inside, Pulichan, a personal banker I earlier discussed some business with, was with some other bank employees, waving her hand saying, “We found your wallet!”
I dropped my head with relief and thanksgiving, it was found.
I wanted to hug them all, but COVID protocol deprived me of expressing it fully.
I want to say from my heart: “Mahalo nui loa é aloha ke AKUA” to each and every one of those “angels” that are there to serve us all. I might add, this is the ASB Branch on the crossroads of Palani and Kuakini, downtown.
Dennis Lawson
Kalaoa
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Welcome them to our community
This is my 18th year volunteering in my kayak to guide Ironman triathletes during their practice swims and on race day(s). Through those years, the race has grown — and grown. With its growth have come issues and controversies. I am not immune to the discomfort that this year’s two race days present to local residents and those with businesses that are impacted. But I would like to remind the readers of WHT that the athletes who are arriving on our island are fulfilling a dream that most of them have devoted years to achieving. I would hope that we, as a community, won’t hold them responsible for the decisions of a large corporation.
This morning, in the bay, I met numerous swimmers, and every one was gracious, thrilled to be here, and grateful for the assistance they were receiving. These folks have waited three years to compete in Kona. And it takes a lot of volunteer hours to bring their hopes and dreams to fruition. I know there aren’t enough volunteers this year for the enormous increase in competitors.
It’s possible that the race has outgrown our ability to host it. But that is not the fault of the athletes. Let’s welcome them to our community with the aloha we are famous for. If there are a few “stinkers” among them, don’t judge them all by the rudeness of a few.
As the song says, I kekahi i kekahi, e aloha e!
Jamie Pardau
Kailua-Kona
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Too loud
“You are an Ironman. You are an Ironman. You are an Ironman.” Hundreds if not thousands of times starting in the afternoon, ending late at night. Now not just one day, but two days. Heard several miles up the hill, extremely clearly. Maybe, try turning your monster speakers toward the pier.
Oh, I know, I should not be kicking the cash cow, after all, the wonderful Ironman folks just “donated” $250,000 to the county to pay for police overtime. I thought that when hundreds of hours are required of law enforcement, for the benefit of a private entity, that payment for the OT would be considered just that — a payment for services provided. Not a “donation.” Sounds like some twisting by a slick talking Ironman salesperson.
“You are an Ironman. You are an Ironman. You are an Ironman.” Yuck.
R. Brogan
Kailua-Kona
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Donation? No a payment for services rendered
To call the $240K that the Ironman organization “gave” to the county as a donation is just putting lipstick on a pig. What they did was pay their bill. And who would’ve been on the hook for the money if Ironman hadn’t been so “ generous,” the taxpayers? Ironman is a for-profit organization that should be billed for everything they consume here and that includes emergency services personnel. This actually sounds like the county and Ironman colluded so that Ironman could reap tax benefits by rigging up a charitable donation when Ironman should of just gotten a receipt for services rendered.
Warren Hahlbeck
Waikoloa
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