Liliha resident has aloha moment with Bush
By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hilma Chang stood quietly in the shadow of the jumbo jet as the most powerful man in the free world glided toward her yesterday, his palms still warm from shaking the hands of senior U.S. military leaders and the governor and lieutenant governor of Hawai'i.
Jeff WIdener • The Honolulu Advertiser
And yes, Chang was nervous.
USS Arizona volunteer Hilma Chang gets up close and personal with President Bush and first lady Laura Bush at Hickam Air Force Base. The president praised Chang for her efforts at the memorial, telling her to "keep up the good work."
But President Bush, accompanied by first lady Laura Bush, put the 79-year-old Liliha resident at ease with warm smiles and a few words.
In one of the first things he did after arriving yesterday in Hawai'i, the president thanked Chang for her decade of service as a National Park Service volunteer at the USS Arizona Memorial.
Chang, dressed in the green shirt and white slacks she wears each Sunday to the memorial, where she helps raise the flag and greets visitors, could scarcely believe the recognition.
In a moment normally reserved for heads of state, the retired government worker stole the spotlight with a slice of local style.
The president praised Chang for her volunteerism, then told her she had done much for her country. Chang then gave Bush a large maile-ilima lei and gave the first lady an ilima-pikake lei.
She touched his arm and Bush shook her hand as a White House photographer posed them beneath Air Force One.
And just like that, it was all over; the president and Mrs. Bush speeding away in a huge motorcade as Chang left the tarmac.
Meeting the president was a moment to savor, she said.
"I told him, 'Aloha, and on behalf of the USS Arizona volunteers, we welcome you to Hawai'i,' " Chang said. "He said he was happy to see me and to keep up the good work."
Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8012.
