Incidental Lives

Ailing mom's Christmas generosity humbles son

By chance, were you at Ala Moana Center on Christmas Eve 2009? If so, I wonder: Did you see my mother? She would have been bent over a walker, scraping along in her white Velcro-top sneakers a few feet at a time.

A beloved lei of offspring keeps growing around her

When Maria Victoria "Nena" Li Won was told that she had been selected as one of six outstanding Sacred Hearts Academy alumni to be honored at the school's annual scholarship gala, she was truly mystified.

Stories stream from a mind overflowing with memories

When Gloria Valera opens her mouth, it's a good bet the first words to roll off her tongue will be, "I have a story ..." What follows is always worth listening to.

Students get challenges, teacher reaps satisfaction

Is there a subtle way to say that you studied classical piano at age 3 and spent your teen years giving solo performances at Westminster Cathedral or St. George's Chapel Windsor Castle (for Queen Elizabeth!) — y'know, without inviting a hellacious two-fisted melvin?

Language is no barrier for Korean star Kim's fans

He said he was surprised and humbled to have a fan club in Hawaii.

Picking up trash, treating felons civilly make up life of a gentleman

Soiled Pampers don't just fly out of passing cars by themselves. Ditto the beer bottles that turn into heel-slicing shards once they hit the shoulder of the road.

Perseverance pays off nicely for Waipahu fisherman

Henry Okahara, a lifelong fisherman and collector of great fishing stories, thought he might have yet another contribution to the annals of The Ones That Got Away.

Kaneohe couple shares home with collection of cuddly buddies

You assign real names only to things you intend to keep. So, for now at least, the puppy’s unofficial name is Puppy.

Garbage collector is savior to many who have lost wallets

The saying goes that all lost things are in the angels’ keeping. Still, Sandra Laney didn’t hold out much hope of ever seeing her ID and credit cards again after her wallet was stolen June 1 at Koko Marina.

For Buddhist parole officer, changing lives is a sure thing

Some things a person just knows. Like when Jo desMarets was in the third grade in Columbus, Ohio, working on a Hawaii statehood project and she just knew that sooner or later she was going to live in Hawaii.