For love of good ol’ Hawaii

Thanks for the great articles on old Hawaii [“Still a Draw,” by Catharine Hamm, Oct. 18]. I first went there in 1953 with my parents on the Lurline. Stayed at the Royal many times. I have a few of the Matson menus framed in my house in Avalon on Catalina. Miss the old days. I am planning to go back to Oahu soon; I haven’t been there since 1982. My usual trip is to Maui, but that has changed for the worse.

The world has changed for the better, but I still miss the old days. Maybe I just remember the good things.

Don Lake

Avalon

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Thanks for the memories. My mother’s first trip was in 1932 on the Lurline; I still have her scrapbooks from her time on Oahu. My first trip was in 1963 on the Matsonia. Our sons have always flown. The younger one just returned from spending a week on the Big Island.

I couldn’t possibly know what it was like for my mother to visit Oahu (for several months) in an era of high-class people who stayed at the Halekulani (she was an au pair), and my sons will never know what it was like for me on the Matsonia. And I’ll never truly know about my son’s scuba experiences in and around Kona.

Pam Boehr

Montecito

Off-color choice

I am certain that you receive many, many photo submissions from readers of The Times who would appreciate the honor of having their photos published in the “Your Scene” slot one special Sunday morning [“In Maine, a Cardinal Shows His Colors,” Oct. 18].

Over the years, The Times printed numerous news articles detailing Roger Mahony’s direct participation in enabling the sexual abuse and molestation of children through his powerful position in the Catholic Church and, later, his intentional hindering of investigations that might have led to earlier, more merciful conclusions for the victims.

Just think what small, sweet pleasure you might have brought to one of Mahony’s victims or even the family of one of his victims, if, by chance, you had chosen to honor their photo instead of the perpetrator of so much of their suffering.

What on Earth were you thinking?

Kathy Reims

Beverly Hills

Polite at Air Canada

If you are not sitting down, I recommend it; I am about to compliment an airline.

My wife and I recently flew Air Canada, returning from Halifax, Nova Scotia, connecting in Montreal for a flight to Los Angeles. While waiting in Halifax, I noticed the gate agent handling the check-in for our flight to Montreal. The flight was overbooked, and she handled the entire procedure with professionalism, calmness and an extremely pleasant demeanor. Was that a hint of things to come?

When we landed in Montreal, we rushed to connect to our L.A. flight because we had to go through U.S. Customs in Montreal. When picking up my carry-ons from security scanning, I realized that I had left my camcorder on the flight from Halifax, which was continuing on to Edmonton. I told the gate agent checking in the L.A. flight of my dilemma, apparently in hearing range of the L.A. flight crew also waiting to board the plane. The gate agent picked up the phone, spoke to someone, somewhere. He spoke French, so I don’t know who he spoke to or what he said. He told me they would try to intercept the camera in Edmonton but to make a claim when I got to L.A. OK, this guy cared. Upon boarding the flight, a steward asked how I was, and I said, “Fine, except for my camera.” He said “Oh, yes, you’re the one who left your camera.” He told me to give him the information before I left the flight, and he would see what he could do. Really? This guy cared too?

Upon reaching L.A. a report was made with Luis at Air Canada Lost and Found. He said that since I knew exactly where I had left it and had the boarding pass the odds were good. I very much doubted it. I was to call a number he gave me if I didn’t hear in a week. This was 11 p.m. L.A. time on a Friday. At 6 p.m. the following Sunday, Luis called to say that the camera had been found and I could come and pick it up. He would lock it up for safekeeping. I was astounded, not only because the camera had been found but also because every Air Canada employee that I observed or touched, cared. You can’t teach caring; you have to hire it. Air Canada appears to have done so. Will I go out of my way to fly them again? You bet, but this time I will watch my camera more carefully.

Joe Arnett

Lomita

P.S. It didn’t hurt when landing in L.A. that the steward was giving the “Don’t get up to get your stuff yet, things shift in flight” speech, instead he said “Be careful; shift happens.” A sense of humor also goes a long way.