Editorial
New York's heroes to taste our Island aloha

Gov. Ben Cayetano's office said the idea to give New York recovery workers trips to Hawai'i came from community leaders during strategizing meetings after the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Similar thoughts surfaced in letters to the editor almost immediately after the attacks.

So, we don't know precisely whose idea it was, but it was a brilliant one.

Hawai'i likely will get some nice publicity out of bringing a total of 1,200 fire, police and other recovery workers (and who knows how many family members might tag along?) to Hawai'i in December and through next year. But we sincerely trust the motives for this were entirely altruistic.

And, we hope even more people will get involved in showing our appreciation to the recovery workers, from hula halau and lei sellers to attractions, restaurants and retail stores.

There will be particular opportunities to make our appreciation known. Those who make the trip to Hawai'i in December will be guests at special Pearl Harbor 60th anniversary events on Dec. 7 and will be honored during halftime at the Dec. 8 University of Hawai'i-Brigham Young University football game.

They should, however, be made to feel special wherever they are.

In addition, Cayetano next week will give New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani a check for $125,000 for the New York City Police and Fire Widows and Children's Benefit Fund. The money will come from the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau, which had planned to use the money for a dinner for delegates to the American Society of Travel Agents 2001 Congress meeting next week in New York.

In a time in which we are preoccupied with grim economic news at home, it's nice to see the state continuing to share with others who also are suffering.