The September 11th attack
Local relief efforts strong

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Shoppers at Ala Moana Center stuffed hundreds of dollars into a huge jar awaiting donations to the American Red Cross, the blood bank reported another day of back-to-back donors, and it was nearly impossible to buy an American flag.

Shoppers at Ala Moana Center yesterday filled a glass jar with donations to the American Red Cross. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

They also are looking for ways to reach out to one another yesterday. Among the thousands drawn to the State Capitol memorial were a number who had never attended an event there.

Radio station Star 101.9 teamed up with Hilo Hattie to sew an "Aloha Quilt" for anyone who wants to send a message of caring on a square of fabric that will be sent to the people of New York.

Red, white and blue shirts were dug out of closets and drawers, and flags flew in neighborhoods across the state.

Dexter Suzuki, Ala Moana Center marketing director, set up a booth for Red Cross donations, figuring contributions would trickle in slowly.

But for a time yesterday morning, nearly every other passer-by stopped to pull cash from their pocket and purse. Suzuki had to empty the jar before noon. "It's just overwhelming — the amount of people that are coming out to contribute, all the way from a dollar to $100," he said.

Few wanted a receipt for their donation. The center, and all others owned by General Growth Properties, will collect for the Red Cross through Sept. 23.

Sonja Suk and Cassy Muragin took time off from their jobs at Ala Moana's Agnes b women's clothing store to buy some flowers, write cards and deliver them to local firefighters as a gesture of appreciation. They said their company urged them to reach out.

They decorated the shop's window with a white bouquet of flowers and a sign: "United in memory, 09-11-01." Both said they were impressed with how shoppers have come together.

"You can see more caring," Suk said. "Usually, people are like 'I'm shopping, I'm busy.' Now they're opening doors for people, they're making more eye contact. I notice little things like that."

Firefighter Nilo Mello said the rescue workers at the Waikiki fire station were pleasantly surprised by the gesture of the women and the store.

"That was really nice," Mello said. He said family members directly affected by an emergency call will sometimes drop off food or sodas, but this was quite different. "It was nice that we're appreciated."

More local stores reported being sold out of American flags yesterday.

At Ward Warehouse, Flags Flying owner Mary Phillips said that she has been overwhelmed by the demand. "It's such a statement."

Phillips said that normally her sales of Hawaiian flags outnumber U.S. flags. "But I think that's changed forever."

Residents continued to roll up their sleeves to give blood, making it a record-breaking week at the Blood Bank of Hawai'i. Communications Director Stephanie Rosso said 398 pints were collected Thursday; and 158 more by noon yesterday.

Old Navy manager Michelle Miyamoto said the clothing store got a lot of customers asking for flag T-shirts. She said parent company Gap Inc. is planning to print more T-shirts and give the proceeds to relief funds related to the terrorist attacks.

Even in New York, Hawai'i residents managed to help.

A delegation of chefs from the Big Island volunteered to feed more than 1,000 emergency relief staff members from hospitals in New York City. Just two miles north of "ground aero," the chefs worked with volunteers at the James Beard House to help feed doctors, nurses, police, firefighters and rescue workers yesterday. The chefs were in New York as part of a Hawai'i Visitors & Conventions Bureau promotion of Big Island culinary resources and decided to help while awaiting flights back.

Carlton Kramer, vice president of sales for Hilo Hattie, said the company handed out at least 20,000 7-inch fabric squares over the past two days to help with the Aloha Quilt project.

Kramer said schools, local residents and visitors were writing on the squares or bringing in their own.

Hilo Hattie seamstress Sandra Parisi said she woke up early yesterday after dreaming about the need to reach out to respond to the tragedy. "I wanted to do something special but I didn't know what."

Parisi went through her scrap fabric, found some with an American flag design, fashioned a twist bracelet out of it and then thought of a design for a square for the quilt. She used the flag motif fabric to represent the twin towers, added a heart with a Hawaiian print and stars.

The radio station plans to have the quilt sewn and the retailer will ship it to New York.

Lynn Dykes, who lives at Hickam Air Force Base, took her 3-year-old son, Austin ,and her mother-in-law, Donna Clark, to sign fabric quilt squares. Her message was simple:

"God bless you. You're in our prayers."