Wallet finds its own lucky pennies in park
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
Fifth-graders Deira Hanzawa and Nicole Leslie knew there was a lot of money in the wallet they found Saturday at Blaisdell Park in Pearl City because they saw two $100 bills sticking out when they peeked inside.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
Without a second thought, they turned it over to Deira's parents, George and Christine Hanzawa of Wahiawa, and went off to play again.
Nicole Leslie, left, and Deira Hanzawa, both 10, found Richard Childress' wallet in a park and returned it to him.
From a state identification card, the Hanzawas knew who the owner was but were unable to contact 23-year-old Richard Childress of Kapolei until yesterday with the help of KSSK Radio.
"God bless those kids," Childress said yesterday after the girls returned his wallet containing $643 in cash. "I never expected to see it again."
In appreciation, Childress gave each girl $100. He's also treating them to a magic show as a birthday gift to Deira, who turns 11 Thursday.
The money is crucial to Childress, who has been saving paychecks since January in anticipation that his family will have to travel to New Jersey, where his grandfather is terminally ill.
A year ago, Deira lost her wallet containing more than $50 in birthday money at Pearl City Shopping Center.
"Nobody called. They weren't honest," she said. "I know how it feels."
