I stood at the entrance of the Polynesian Cultural Center watching people from all over the world, make their way onto the grounds. Families, couples, school groups, people both young and old. Americans, Europeans, Japanese, Chinese, people from all kinds of ethnic backgrounds and cultures, all filing past me, excited to begin their Polynesian adventure.
My eyes were drawn to an older woman towards the back of the crowd. She was tall and slender and had white hair. She was slightly hunched over using one of those walkers to slowly shuffle her way through the crowd and into the entrance of the Center. She had a beautiful smile and countenance and I couldn’t help but smile back as she walked past me.
“What a nice lady!”, I thought to myself, as I watched her slowly walk, all alone, towards the island villages inside the Polynesian Cultural Center.
My eyes scanned back to the crowd but my mind focused on the list of all the things I had to do that day at the office.
Just then, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Mr. John Brown had risen from his electric scooter to ask me a question. He wanted to know where he could rent a scooter and how much it would cost. Since both he and his wife, Anna, already had electric scooters, I was confused.
He seemed to understand the unspoken question on my face. He explained:
“These scooters belong to my wife and I. But we saw that lady there”, he said, gesturing toward the lone grandmother I had just been watching, “She’s struggling to get around on that walker and we’d like to rent a scooter for her if it’s possible.”
I was embarrassed that I hadn’t even thought of that as I watched her pass me. I looked over at her with new eyes. She was still nearby because she was moving so slowly. What was I doing? How did I not see her need just a few seconds ago? I had allowed complacency to prevent me from seeing someone’s obvious need even as it passed right in front of my eyes.
The scooter rentals are owned and operated by a vendor — not the PCC. So I couldn’t offer it to her for free. Mr. & Mrs. Brown said they would pay the $55 rental fee. I asked if she was a friend of theirs, and Mr. Brown said:
“No, but I can see she’s struggling and needs some help. God has been so good to us. We’d like to do this for her.”
I was so moved by their charity for a total stranger. I told them that I was inspired by their thoughtfulness and kindness. If they’d let me, I wanted to pay for the scooter myself and tell the woman it came from them. They hesitated but I insisted.
Mr. Brown approached the woman with the walker and offered her the scooter. Her already pleasant, smiling face beamed even brighter:
“You know? I’m finding it harder and harder to get around these days”, she told Mr. & Mrs. Brown. “Thank the Lord for your kindness. What a blessing this is for me today.”
She slowly got onto her new rental ride and rode off, happy as can be.
For reminding me to always be attentive to the needs of others, Mr. & Mrs. Brown were upgraded to the VIP tour with Ms. Ranitea Teihoarii as their tour guide, with reserved front row seats in all the Islands.
How grateful I am for lessons taught me daily — even by complete strangers. I find that more often than not, these strangers teach by their actions instead of with mere words. Thank you to the Browns for demonstrating to me, the TRUE meaning of ALOHA.
