Letters: Going beyond 10

Regarding “10 Spots Beyond the Luau” by Beverly Beyette [Oct. 10]: I thoroughly enjoyed my recent trip to Kauai, and one of the highlights was a quick stop in Old Hanapepe. It is charming and laid-back, and it really gives you a feel for what towns in Kauai must have been like 50 or 60 years ago.

Although I didn’t have a chance to visit every gallery in town, I did stop by Kauai Fine Arts, which offers lovely antique prints and Hawaiian quilts at reasonable prices.

The Hanapepe Café & Bakery has a nice lunch menu and incredibly delicious pastries. Indulge, as I did, in the chocolate and coconut cream pie with a drizzle of chocolate sauce on the top.

Laurie Dominic

Santa Monica

Why were these places in “10 Adventures for a 10-Year-Old” by Christopher Reynolds [Oct. 10] classified that way? I am a 59-year-old woman who enjoys and has visited most of these places — the Grand Canyon, Morro Bay, Yellowstone National Park, Griffith Observatory and the San Diego Zoo — and they happen to be favorites of mine. Please don’t limit them to children. In fact, I appreciated them more as an adult than I did as a child (especially Yellowstone). I guess I am just a 10-year-old!

Gloria Bando

Culver City

I think the only way to protect yourself against post-trip rental car damage charges is to ask for a final bill upon return of the rental [“10 Frustrations You’d Best Avoid” by Catharine Hamm, Oct. 10]. When you do this, it forces the company to inspect the car and assess any damage. It takes a few more minutes, but it is worth the peace of mind.

Jack Klinghoffer

Los Angeles

Southwest: An airline with a heart

Airlines have been criticized lately for their added fees, poor service and concern with the bottom line rather than fliers’ needs. In the last week, I have had cause to reevaluate this view, at least for Southwest.

My niece and her husband took a Southwest flight from San Francisco to San Diego to attend a friend’s wedding, leaving their 21/2 -year-old son in his grandmother’s care. When they landed, they got a message that their son had died inexplicably in his sleep. They immediately flew back to San Francisco via Southwest.

Within the week, Southwest had not only refunded the entire cost of their trip but had also sent a plant to the grieving parents in condolence. My family is grateful for Southwest’s humane and compassionate treatment of our relatives. We hope that other travelers will patronize this airline that has a heart.

Joan Spangler

Fullerton

Bravo to Dutch Medford and his metal detector

We were at Poipu Beach in Kauai when I waded into a rough ocean. I had trouble getting back to shore and had to body surf. This was not my intention, as I am 75 years old.

An hour later, I noticed that my gold wedding band had disappeared. It was not turned in to the beach hut, but they gave me the phone number of Dutch Medford, who retrieves items on a reward basis — no success, no charge. Dutch met us at 7 the following morning with a metal detector. He was knocked over by the first wave, and I doubted he could succeed. He told us to return to our condo and if he was victorious, he would call. To my amazement, he found the ring, identified by the 1896 inscription. He and his wife have been pursuing this hobby for many years and have been financially successful. dutchmedford@hawaiiantel.net.

Marion Levy

Los Angeles