Posted on: Saturday, December 11, 2004

EDITORIAL
Spirit of sharing pervades holiday season

Hawai'i people have long had a reputation for generosity. When someone is in trouble, needs a helping hand, their fellow Islanders are almost sure to step up.

While this generosity is not unique to Hawai'i, that spirit of sharing seems particularly strong here.

Consider these recent examples: When a local family wrote to this newspaper about the theft of their car, their point was not to complain or ask for help. They simply wanted to acknowledge publicly that the theft taught them a good lesson about what is truly important in life.

In fact, they originally didn't even want their names to be known. But as soon as their letter was published, several readers called to offer help.

Then there are the young people at Noelani Elementary School, who recently won a prestigious $2,000 award from Hui Malama and the Board of Water Supply for an environmental project aimed at water conservation.

What to do? Trip to Sea Life Park? Big Christmas party for the entire school? Nope.

The students decided they would donate their award to Hawai'i soldiers serving in Iraq, the nearby Ronald McDonald House and the Institute for Human Services.

These students taught themselves an important lesson. Often, the greatest pleasure comes not from receiving, but from giving.

That's an important lesson to remember this holiday season. Opportunities for giving abound, including to The Advertiser's Christmas Fund.