You may not know it, but we are all in the midst of heroes. You might pass them every day on the street without realizing how much they give. They don't do it for money or recognition. They do it simply from the heartfelt urge to reach out and give something to those who really need it. Today The Advertiser puts a spotlight on some of the people who give of themselves and their time, making sure Hawai'i's aloha continues to thrive. Take a moment to find out who they are.

IMMIGRANTS WHO PAY KINDNESS FORWARD

Ann Tho Le and Joseph Nguyen Leaders in the Vietnamese Catholic community coordinate fundraisers, donate clothes and money, and spend hours volunteering to help the less fortunate — all while remembering the help they got when they had nothing.

Ages: 57 and 56

Neighborhood: Palolo

What they contribute: Leadership in the Vietnamese Catholic community, hours and hours of volunteering and plenty of donations — of toys, clothes and money — to the less fortunate.

About these heroes: Nguyen and Le got to the Islands with their children in 1982, nearly two years after fleeing war-torn Vietnam. They had stayed in refugee camps in Indonesia and Thailand after leaving Vietnam, and were optimistic about their new start in Hawai'i.

But life for the new immigrant family, with four young children, was not easy. They had nothing when they got to Hawai'i — no clothes, no furniture, no money. Catholic Charities helped the family with clothes and food. They also got help from Vietnamese friends.

Le said she would ask Catholic Charities for the largest donated clothes available, then use the fabric to sew new clothes for her kids.

Soon after arriving in Hawai'i, the couple got jobs to start supporting their family. Nguyen worked as a landscaper, a cook, and later as a taxi cab driver. Le got a job at a restaurant.

The couple were frugal, telling their children they would have to do well in school to get scholarships for college. All three of the couple's daughters did just that. By the time their son went to college, the couple had enough money to pay for his tuition.

Fourteen years ago, Nguyen and Le opened the Kailua Pawn Shop. And in 2003, they bought their own home in Palolo.

As Le and Nguyen have bettered their financial standing, they have made sure to remember how much help they got when they had nothing. It is their desire to give back. "I have to return something," Le said.

Making a difference: For years, Nguyen and Le have served as leaders at the Vietnamese Martyrs Parish.

Le is president of the Catholic Daughter's Society, and teaches classes for First Communion and the Vietnamese language.

Nguyen is also active. Previously, he served as chairman of the parish pastoral council. In addition, the two coordinate fundraisers for the less fortunate, and donate money and clothes to charities.

— Mary Vorsino

Henry 'Hanalei' Ramirez For four years, this co-owner of Salon (808) has been offering affordable wigs and free styling to cancer patients who have lost their hair.

Age: 59

Neighborhood: Ala Wai

What he contributes: Ramirez is co-owner of Salon (808) and has been styling hair since 1973. About four years ago, he started offering affordable wigs to cancer patients who have lost their hair. He shaves their heads and styles the wigs for free. "Sometimes it's the best medicine they get," Ramirez said.

About this hero: Born and raised in New York City, Ramirez moved to Hawai'i in 1972. (His mother is from the Big Island.) He opened Salon (808) 19 years ago.

Since offering affordable wigs to cancer patients in 2002 — he charges them $15 for wigs that cost up to $60 each — Ramirez cuts and styles about three a day. "This is like my second career," Ramirez said. "It's my second wind. It just makes everybody feel better."

Making a difference: Ramirez shies away from attention over what he does. Instead, he points to people like Marie Winner, a client at the salon who gives him $100 every Christmas to help him purchase wigs. In his words, he just wanted to do something to make a difference in someone's life. "It's reality to them to lose their hair. They want to put themselves in a box and put the cover on," Ramirez said. "Now they've got their self-esteem back. They're shining again ... It's amazing. It gives them life."

— Catherine E. Toth

Wendell Ko Spearfisherman, entrepreneur and father juggles two jobs with leading school field trips and opening his home to those in need.

Age: 45

Neighborhood: Makakilo

What he contributes: A father of four, Ko juggles running his own plexiglass company, The Classic Plastic, and working as an assistant manager at Maui Sporting Goods. Somehow he manages to find enough time to devote to the students of his alma mater, Hawaiian Mission Academy. Several times a year, Ko takes the students who dorm at the school on island excursions, from surfing to playing paintball to snorkeling with dolphins. Ko even opens up his home to people who need a place to live, sometimes housing them for months at a time. "There's always somebody at our house," Ko said, laughing.

About this hero: This Kaua'i native is best known for his accomplishments as a spearfisherman and free diver. Ko starting spearfishing competitively in the '80s and captained the 1999 team from Hawai'i that won the U.S. national championship in Islamorada, Fla. He's active with Hawaiian Mission Academy and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. For the past six years, he and his wife, Joleen, have conducted a free weekly relationship talk-story at their home. Dozens of couples — even singles — have attended. "It's just enriching to see couples strengthened by this," Ko said.

Making a difference: Ko may not see himself as a mentor to these kids, but his influence is undeniable. His 19-year-old daughter is majoring in social work and his 24-year-old son became a Marine to serve his country — all because of their father's generosity and compassion. "I see it in my kids and how they react to people," Ko said. "That's when I can say (what I do) is beneficial."

— Catherine E. Toth

Mark Ozaki Full-time officer, family man set up and runs the 1,500-member Kaua'i Police Activities League to keep youth active and out of trouble.

Age: 37

Neighborhood: Kalaheo, Kaua'i

What he contributes: Founder and program director of the Kaua'i Police Activities League.

K-PAL began in 2002 by picking up a 175-player flag football program that was in danger of shutting down. The league immediately doubled to 350 players that year. K-PAL now runs seven sports – including basketball, cheerleading and jiu jitsu – and boasts a membership of 1,500. The number of volunteers, meanwhile, has grown from about 50 to 400.

About this hero: The on-campus Kaua'i Police Department officer at Kapa'a High School, Ozaki is a former plumber who has been on the police force since 1999. He is also a husband and father of four children, ages 15, 14, 12 and 6, all of whom are active in K-PAL in some manner.

Ozaki was nominated by Anne Kane, whose son Todd was among the first to participate in K-PAL's wrestling program and became a state champion.

"Mark is a full-time officer but manages to organize volunteers, write grants (and) attend meetings in order to ... grow the organization," Kane wrote. "No wrestling mats on the entire island would have stopped most people. Not Officer Ozaki. He wrote grants and worked with the mayor's office. Now we have three mats, one for each side of the island."

Making a difference: A former boxer, Ozaki said his initial goal was to start up Kaua'i's first boxing program. Instead, the flag football opportunity came along. That was followed by requests to start other programs.

"We started a nonprofit, got some people that were willing ... to join a board of directors and from there, we just went out and found funding grants, donations, however we could find money to get the program started," he said. "And we've just grown."

Ozaki said K-PAL's goal is to fill recreational voids that exist on the island rather than compete with the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation or other established programs. "If there's a need for us, a want for us, we'll think about it," he said.

The main purpose is to find new and different positive activities for youth and keep them out of trouble. "Sometimes, it's just about giving them something to do," he said. "You don't have to be trying to make an NCAA team, be a college player or be a pro player. It's about not hanging out with the wrong crowd and going to someplace that's somewhat of a safe environment."

Ozaki has not given up on his original dream of starting up K-PAL boxing, and 2007 could finally be the year. He's received a grant for a boxing ring that will be set up in Lihu'e.

— Gordon Y.K. Pang

Nalani Holliday Owner of Red Pineapple and Auntie Nalani's Cookies has gone without pay to take care of her employees.

Age: 35

Neighborhood: Ala Moana

What she contributes: Holliday is the owner and creator of Red Pineapple at Ward Centre and a self-described cookie mogul and owner of Auntie Nalani's Cookies.

About this hero: Growing up in Guam, Holliday learned about running a small business from her parents, Frani and Bob McLaughlin, who own the Chamorro Cookie Co. She used her father's recipe to expand the brand on O'ahu eight years ago.

Though it was never her dream to bake cookies for a living, Holliday can't think of anything else she'd rather do.

"In the first week, I thought, 'This is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing,' " said Holliday, who earned marketing and human resources management degrees from Boston College. "It's in my blood."

Making a difference: Holliday knows the success of her businesses depends, in part, on her employees. And she's very appreciative, something she's learned from her parents.

"I definitely hire human beings, so with hiring people, you have to be really flexible," she said. "As a small company, we may not have a lot of the big perks that big companies have. But we can offer the little ones. ... My philosophy is everybody in the company matters."

When manager Sheila Simeona was pregnant with her fourth child last year, she was worried she would lose her job. Instead, Holliday figured out a way she could work from home.

"(She goes) many months without paying herself to make sure her bakers are taken care of," Simeona wrote. "When we need something, she never hesitates to fulfill our needs before her own. ... For a little cookie company, that Nalani has the biggest heart in the world."

— Catherine E. Toth

Utu Langi His mission grew from giving away a blanket to becoming managing director of the Next Step homeless shelter in Kaka'ako.

Age: 39

Neighborhood: Pauoa

What he contributes: The managing director of the Next Step homeless shelter in Kaka'ako, Langi also heads the H-5 Project at First United Methodist Church. For about a decade, Langi has served thousands of hot meals and provided blankets to Hawai'i's homeless.

About this hero: A father of three, Langi was born and raised in Tonga before moving to San Francisco in 1987. Two years later he moved to O'ahu, where he worked as a carpenter and roofer. He has been an advocate for Hawai'i's homeless for about 10 years.

Langi now manages the Kaka'ako shelter and serves hot meals seven days a week, from Wai'anae to Waikiki. He's working on converting eight buses to serve as mobile shelters. "I'm so proud of what he's doing because he's helping those who need help," said Langi's wife, Samiana. "That's what our faith tells us to do."

Making a difference: In 1997 Langi was a carpenter working the graveyard shift on renovations to Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children. On his way home one night, at a red light, he noticed a man sleeping on the sidewalk on Beretania Street. Langi thought the man might be cold and gave him a blanket that was in his truck. He went to church the next Sunday and told his pastor, "There are people sleeping outside. We need to do something." He collected 22 blankets to hand out on Christmas Eve to people sleeping downtown. When the blankets were gone within 15 minutes, Langi knew this wasn't enough.

"For the first time, my eyes were open to the whole thing," he said.

Langi has made helping the homeless his mission in life. But he wouldn't call himself a hero. "I'm not really special," he said. "There are more people doing more than me."

— Catherine E. Toth