‘Being of service’
This is in response to Allen Russell (Your Views, June 2).
Mr. Russell, you ask for help in recapturing your elusive aloha. One quote that helped me the past 30-plus years was from Dr. Albert Schweitzer, a famous French/German polymath (such as Ben Franklin). His quote: “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: The only ones among you who will be really happy are those of you who have sought and found how to be of service to others.”
Maybe finding aloha is not the end quest, but the journey which never ends. Along the journey, we find ourselves in aloha helping others.
Mr. Russell’s 26 “I’s” but no “we’s” might shed some light on why you lost your aloha. When truly being of service to others, we are not looking for something thrown back to us.
You mention that most people you have met have done nothing insofar as volunteering, etc. Again, maybe you just haven’t looked in the right places yet.
Another saying from Dr. Schweitzer: “Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you are or will be successful.”
Aloha is not only in Hawaii. I saw it living 10 years in China.
Downtown Hilo coffee shops are where you can find me these days. Please share your thoughts with me someday.
John Garrison
Hilo
Pitchforks and PGV
This is regarding “Tempers flare at PGV meeting” (Tribune-Herald, June 5).
Wow. Puna remakes the Frankenstein movie with Mike Kaleikini as the monster and Ashley Kierkiewicz as the Bride.
The townspeople as extras will be issued pitchforks and assemble outside the gate of Puna Geothermal Venture the moment funding is approved for this historic film. (I didn’t say shooting the film because that would be too inflammatory!)
Activate Puna should be fun this next time around. Come on over to participate.
Toby S. Hazel
Hilo
Kona’s homeless
I’m 72 years old, and I’ve been coming to the Hawaiian Island for 60 years. My son lives and works in Kona, along with other friends of mine.
I have experienced the homeless people, and I do have compassion, but watching a homeless woman standing next to me peeing on my feet and up my legs was the last of many disgusting incidents. From needles on the beach, to the smell and trash, it’s become where I don’t feel safe to walk anywhere downtown or on the pier!
If the island expects tourists, it needs to be cleaned up and beautiful. There is a lot of vacant land in the Captain Cook area out of town. Make a place there for homeless and provide for them there. It would be cheaper than losing tourists and their money, and more humane.
Kona needs a refreshing and better sidewalks. This is not a Third World country!
Sally Badeau
Wisconsin
