Posted at 4:22 p.m., Monday, December 3, 2001

Sept. 11 victims' families, rescuers arrive in Hawai'i

By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer

About 600 New Yorkers, many of them widows and children of rescue workers lost in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center Sept. 11, arrived in Honolulu today.

They will spend a free week of rest and recreation in the Islands, courtesy of the people of Hawai'i with support from Hawaiian Airlines and 13 Waikiki hotels.

"It just feels good to be away from everything," said New York Fire Department Battalion Chief Joe Pfeifer, who lost his brother, a lieutenant in Engine 33, in the collapse of the twin towers.

"We have been dealing with this since 9/11 and it's been constant," said Pfeifer as he and the other 300 on the first flight stepped off the plane at about 2:30 p.m.

"It feels good to be away from that and to be in warm weather--it's such a big change for us."

Pfeifer, who is a chief with the First Battalion located near Ground Zero in Manhattan, said he and his wife and two children are trying to take their loss and recovery "one step at a time."

Meanwhile, "my kids tell me we are doing a lot of boogie boarding while we are here. As long as we are on the sand or in warm water, it'll be okay with me," Pfeifer said.

The visitors were selected by New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani after Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano extended the "sharing aloha" invitation while in New York City Nov. 7.

Cayetano said it was fitting that Hawai'i, known in many past wars as a place for rest and recreation for America's heroes and their families, offer the same to families of the first victims of the war on terrorism.

Two flights in DC-10 aircraft donated by Hawaiian Airlines were greeted by Hickam Air Force Base firefighters in fire trucks spraying red white and blue water streams over the jets when they taxiied up to the International Airport terminal.

The visitors include families of personnel of the New York police, fire, emergency services and port authority departments.

Flights were scheduled to arrive separately at 2:30 and 5 p.m., and the guests were whisked to the Hilton Hawaiian Village for a welcome reception under the palm trees and stars on the shores of Waikiki.

Cayetano, in China this week on a trade and tourism promotional trip, said in a prepared statement that "this visit is a gift that represents the true aloha spirit of our people, and is made possible by the generosity of many local businesses.

"We hope that this visit will rejuvenate their spirits," Cayetano said.

Cayetano noted that the visit came while Hawaii and the rest of the nation was pausing this week to honor the sacrifices of other heroes at Pearl Harbor 60 years ago.

Lt. Gov Mazie Hirono, standing in for Cayetano at the reception, welcomed the visitors and read a proclamation expressing Hawaii's aloha and declaring Dec. 3-10 "Sharing Aloha Week."

The proclamation noted that rescue crews had worked countless hours since the attack that cost an estimated 5,000 lives in New York, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon.

"Right after Sept. 11, many people in Hawai'i asked the state to consider offering free vacations to rescue workers and their families," Hirono said. "We are delighted they took us up on our offer."

The jets were flown by Hawaiian Airlines' crews donating their time, and the visitors were given free accommodations at Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Outrigger, Aston, Pacific Beach, Beachcomber, Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton, Princess Kaiulani and Parc hotels in Waikiki.

Except for the welcome reception, and a farewell luau Dec. 9 at Paradise Cove, the visitors "can relax and enjoy themselves as any other visitor to Hawaii," Gail Ann Chew of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau said.

Transportation to the group events and several optional activities have been offered those visitors who want to participate, and a number of visitor attractions and local companies are offering free gifts or services at discounted rates.

Officials said there have also been many offers from community groups and individuals wanting to present home-made gifts, volunteer their time and provide other support.

Another 600 from New York and from Washington, D.C., will be offered similar vacations during the year 2002, Chew said.