America's bloodiest day
State shows patriotism in red, white and blue

By Jennifer Hiller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Struggling to bridge the distance between Hawai'i and Tuesday's terrorist attacks against the country, many residents here did the one thing they knew could connect them to the tragedy: display their patriotism.

Sales of American flags soared as residents searched for a way to express their emotions in the wake of plane crashes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

"It's very simple," said Adrienne Strauss, a Waikiki resident. "I love this country. I'm usually not vocal about it, but I wanted to do something."

On the way to purchase a flag to hang from his lanai, Todd Nelson stopped in surprise at a large hotel that had not moved its American flag to half-staff. After a discussion with the manager, the flag was lowered.

"The flag is really the only symbol we've got," said Nelson, a former sailor. "This is the United States. This is the state that had Pearl Harbor."

Mary Phillips, owner of Flags Flying in Ward Warehouse, was swamped with phone calls and customers all day, selling more American flags than she did for the Fourth of July.

"People are looking for something to do," she said. "They want the American flag. They want to show that this is their country and they are grieving. It's very moving."

Sri McKee, manager of World Flags at Aloha Tower Marketplace, had sold twice as many American flags as usual by mid-afternoon. Particularly popular were the smaller desk flags, which people were purchasing in bulk for their offices.

Supplies quickly ran out when a radio station handed out patriotic ribbons to workers downtown. Others displayed flags on their houses or cars. Some even made their outfits as star-spangled as possible.

"Look, I am an American flag," proclaimed Beverly Akiona of Manoa, who was decked out in red, white and blue clothing yesterday.

She purchased a flag to hang at her house, a windsock for her truck and T-shirts for her grandsons. "I need to fly something," she said. "If I could go over and fight I would."

Betty Sakamoto, a Maui real estate agent, also wore red, white and blue clothing. She intends to keep doing so.

"I thought it was a day we should all pull together. It's a horrible day for the world," Sakamoto said. "This is a small thing, but it's what I could do. We are all in it together."

Kailua resident Robert "Rabbett" Abbett has created a black ribbon digital image for posting on Web sites as a fitting memorial gesture. It's inscribed with the date of the terrorist attacks that claimed lives in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

Abbett invites everyone to copy the image — at hotspotshawaii.com/irhimagery2/91101.gif — and post it on their own Web sites.

Ira Rohter, associate professor of political science at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, said that as residents react to the terrorist acts, the displays and levels of patriotism may vary between generations. Older people may rally, but younger people could remain skeptical about military action, he said.

"Wearing a ribbon — I don't know what that symbolizes. I think people have lost their vulnerability," Rohter said. "They realized there is a war going on in the outside world. We are no longer sheltered and as Americans we are going to have to react to that. We've been dragged into the 21st century."

Staff writer Vicki Viotti contributed to this report. Reach Jennifer Hiller at jhiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.