Posts
 |
| James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer and amongst other things lived in a tent outdoors for 7 years. Rosen currently resides on the tropical island of Kaua'i with his best friend and spiritual adviser Ivanka-Obama Da Dog! |
Blog #1966~Kimo's world's #213
The Angel at the Kapaa Bus stop
Humans like to be recognized. Ask anybody in the practice of psychology, most of us want our 15 minutes of fame? Many people whom have been part of society and have never received any form of notoriety will make
Many of us get our 15 minute fix from our family, work, social life or even writing letters to the editor as one person I know pretty well. ;-)
This brings us to the story of the lady whom has resided for the last 11 months at the bus stop fronting the Kapaa neighborhood center. I have always smiled and waved to her over the last year. The other day for the first time I personally met the woman I call "The Angel at the Kapaa bus stop!" Her name is "ElAina. "Aina" is land in Hawaiian and "El" means in God, strength and power in Hebrew.
 |
| Ivanka Obama and her new friend El-Aina. You can see her feet are very swollen. |
ElAina is studying for her Doctorate in theology. She is camping at the Kapaa neighborhood center bus stop and being obedient to the Lord because he has told her to remain in one spot although she has gout, swollen feet and legs 4-5 times the normal size, however remains obedient to Jesus Christ her Lord and savior and will not leave the bus stop.
She says all medical tests are negative and is currently on no medications even though she can barley walk. She gets by on her monthly SSI disability stipend.
She was originally camping at Kealia beach but got robbed of all her possessions including her ID. The bus stop gives her a feeling of safety and security. We did not get into detail but ElAina used to run Marathons. She was born and raised in Fairfax Virginia and is a US Army veteran who served 3 years active duty on Oahu at Scoffield barracks. She has one son whom currently resides on the mainland.
Many in the community come by and offer help in housing and medical care and she denies them. She will accept offerings of food and favors of running errands to buy her a plate lunch and fetch her some water to take a sponge bath behind her umbrella and plastic shower curtain done very discretely.
Many believe she should not be occupying this public bench at the bus stop? This special spot is her love, people recognize her, people come by to pray with her--in fact she loves when people pray with her because every time someone prays with her her legs feel worse and she feels eventually this will make it possible for her to get a new pair of legs.
 |
| El-Aina always enjoys when cars honk and wave at her. Please stop by and talk story, she will make your day that much better! |
I asked my psychologist friend what can be done? He said, if she was arrested she would probably only be back at the bus stop after time served and if you write her a ticket, how is she going to pay? She is not interested in moving and there are not any laws/ordinances that prevent her from being there."
The sad truth he said, the only way she will ever get help is when she passes out on that bench and somebody calls 911 and she goes to the emergency room, from there the ball might get rolling?
 |
| Right after I met El-Aina , the most awesome sunset appeared on my way home.... |
She also answers any questions you may have about time and schedules of the bus, she has the routes memorized.
I am hoping soon one of our community members working in the field of mental health and human services will figure this out in a way ElAina will agree to get the help she so desperately needs before it's too late.
In the mean time, wave to her when you drive by, and if your walking by stop and talk story, she will make your day that much better.
She really is the Angel at bus stop. Oh, and one more thing, thank you for your service, ElAina
Hana Hou, (Encore)
P.S.
For those who missed my Facebook post last week about my Costco experience;
OMG ! I am Freaking out right now !!!
I went to Costco today as is my norm on Monday.So, I'm waiting in line and I dropped a $20 bill. The lady in front of me picked it up. I thanked her and told her that it was mine and she said, "The things found on earth are kept by the collector," and WALKS AWAY!!!!!!!
I looked at the person behind me standing in line, who looked just as shocked as me!!!!! I said, "Woah, Do I look like an ATM? Give me back my $20!" She had the nerve to walk away. I quickly followed this lady into the parking lot. She was clearly walking at a fast pace to get away from me. When she got to her car she put the bags on the ground to open the trunk. I was PISSED!!!! And BAM! I decided that her "finders keepers" rule just presented the perfect opportunity for revenge, so I grabbed her grocery bags, smirked, and then said "The things found on earth are kept by the collector!" and ran to catch my bus which ironically just happened to be pulling up and got in. That lady started yelling!!! The bus driver asked if every thing was Ok? I said fine brah! I was nervous and mad but had a sense of satisfaction all at the same time. I can't say I've ever done anything like that in my life!! But check this out.... So I get situated in my seat on the bus and open the bags and what did I find?
10- lbs. of shrimp
7- rib eye steaks
7- porterhouse steaks
3- Fully cooked Rotisserie chickens the size of turkeys
And 3 cans of coffee
WOW! Not bad for $20 dollars! TALK ABOUT A COME UP....
In all seriousness though... I WISH!! Enjoy life, laugh lots & you can smack me later! BYE BYE... This has been edited from an original from my friend,Kuuleinani Napuanani Kaninau ;-)
The comments from the post appear below;
