Letters for Tuesday, December 30, 2008

• Thank you for helping

• Cost of medical care an emergency

• Hawai‘i’s people are heroes

Thank you for helping

Thank you to the wonderful and caring residents of Kaua‘i who stopped to help my daughter outside of Costco a couple of weeks ago.

Her 2-year-old son, Aidan Cooper had a seizure and experienced convulsions in the parking lot. Having never experienced this sort of trauma, 911 was called and a person with medical experience came out of Costco to render aid to my grandson Aidan.

This good Samaritan stayed with my daughter advising her what to do, and keeping her calm until emergency personnel responded. I know you were trained to respond to this type of emergency, but I sincerely want to say thank you.

You took the time and effort to keep my daughter calm until help arrived. Thank you and mahalo to everyone whose actions and good intentions kept Aidan safe.

I know a young mother who will always be grateful for your help. Thank you so much.

• Robin Taylor, Forest Grove, Ore.

Cost of medical care an emergency

I was in Kaua‘i in September for a conference and while there obtained a head-to-toe rash. I went to the emergency room, which only had two people waiting at the time; it was in the evening.

I had to wait about three hours and was finally told that the doctor “thinks” I had an allergic reaction. They gave me some medication and sent me on my way.

Later I received a bill for $1,000 from Hawaii Pacific Health. I am not foolish and knew I would pay a lot more than normal by going to the emergency room, but I was expecting closer to $500.

I think most people would agree that $1,000 for the services provided is absolutely ridiculous. I have spoken to Nellie Bautista who is with “quality improvement,” twice asking her for a reduction in this bill. She told me she would call back but I have not heard from her.

I have also written the attorney general, spoken to consumer affairs, and left a message with the Hawai‘i Medical Association.

It has been suggested that my bill was so high because I was a tourist and they can get away with it. Well, there are many beautiful places to go in the world, many of them much less expensive to stay at. I do not have to come back to Hawai‘i if this is the kind of treatment I can expect.

Of course I want to come back because it is an incredible place and the locals are great. Lord forbid you should get sick there.

• Patrick Fogarty, Alexandria, Va.

Hawai‘i’s people are heroes

It’s often at the end of the year that we find ourselves reading articles in entertainment magazines and newspapers that talk about the biggest winners and losers or those who made the greatest difference in the passing year.

But I think that as we look forward to 2009, we would be remiss if we did not say that the biggest winners and difference makers of this year were the people of Hawai‘i.

Despite a tough economy, despite wallet pinching gas prices, despite the horrors of domestic violence and even raging storms, the people of Hawai‘i overcame and showed incredible resourcefulness, courage, and most of all, kokua to one another.

I for one am thankful for all of the people of Hawai‘i and their aloha, people like my best friend Sarah who told me in the midst of one of my darkest moments this year that we are all here for each other and that though the world may change, the most important things — friendship and family — stand firm forever.  

This year, every single one of us is a hero, and this year, I think all of us are worthy of a pat on the back and a job well done.

What did it mean to live in Hawai‘i in 2008? We learned ‘ohana values through tribulation: everyone is ‘ohana, and everyone has value. We stood for love.

For that, mahalo nui loa Hawai‘i, and may you find great joy and success in 2009.

• Danny de Gracia II, Waipahu