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(c) Elliott Publishing.

Nice People
Err Travel · January 18, 2002

By now, the third week of the new year, many of us are ditching our plans to improve our eating habits, get more exercise, or (in my case) avoid making unflattering comments about others.

However, before I abandon my noble resolution - I know I will, because I have every year for the past three decades - I want to at least take a shot at writing about the nice people I've met while traveling.

An opportunity to test my resolve comes from a review of a recent trip to Hawaii with my wife. It will take a good dose of journalistic fortitude to overlook travel delays, overpriced meals, out-of-control kids, and tourist rip-offs. But here goes.

Some of the nice people we met:

  • Gene and Shirley, who we met in line while waiting for nearly three horrible, frustrating hours to check in at... [oops, almost blew my resolution right off the bat] told us of the "blue room" in one of the wet caves near Tunnels Beach on Kauai.

  • Shuna Webb (a masseuse at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the Big Island) shared conversation with us and helped us celebrate Christmas Eve.

  • Peter (a real estate appraiser from New York City) joined us at the Nalu pool bar at the Outrigger Hotel in Waikoloa on the Big Island and made us feel lucky and thankful to be able to celebrate Christmas-anywhere.

  • Judith (a tour reservation agent, also in the Outrigger Hotel) helped us book what was the best value-rather than the biggest commissioned-snorkeling trip.

  • Cynthia (who has lived in more countries than I've visited) brought perspective and interest to our snorkeling pseudo-adventure.

  • Rich (a busboy at Dondero's in the Hyatt Regency Kauai) treated us like we were the most important diners in his restaurant.

  • Melody Pigao (owns Kilohana Clothing Company at the Kilohana Plantation on Kauai) made us feel like neighbors.

  • Chris and Juliet (he is a corporate jet pilot, she is "between jobs") joined us on a kayaking jaunt and became great friends.

  • Edwin (a waiter at the Beach House in Kauai) coached us in ordering the best and freshest menu items.

  • Mark (the restaurant manager at Joe's on the Green in Koloa, Kauai) acted as though he had invited us to his house for breakfast.

  • Nancy Marion (she owns Absolute Hair & Health in Wailuku on Maui) engaged us in what seemed more like a party than simple conversation.

  • Wilder (he is a bartender a Stinger Ray's Bar & Grill near the inter-island gates in the Honolulu airport) demonstrated how a person behaves who is good at and enjoys his job.

  • Brooke Adams (an investigator in the office of Children's Ombudsman for the State of Michigan) infected us with her enthusiasm for travel in the islands.

  • One additional mention - and an unsolicited plug: Dick Olson is the owner of the condo in Poipu Kai where we stayed while on Kauai. Although we have never met, Dick proved what a nice guy he is when we were making plans to rent his condo. He had a mix-up concerning our deposit and, with no hesitation, made it right by us.
By no means are these the only nice people we came across on our recent trip. There were plenty more. But they reminded me of a sometimes-overlooked pleasantness of travel: The people we meet who enrich our travel experiences.

Okay. There, I've done it. I've written an entire column without cynicism, sarcasm, or rage. (No way can I keep this up.)

Dr. Terry Riley is a psychologist and travel security authority. He is author of the popular book Travel Can Be Murder. Visit his site at http://www.appliedpsychology.com or e-mail him at terry@ticked.com.