The sweetest memory

There comes a time when the tables are turned and we become the caretakers of our parents. On Mother’s Day, I’m reminded of the sweetest moment I experienced in my Mom’s life. It plays in my heart, in my head, and always brings a smile to my lips and chokes me up remembering.

My mom was born and raised in Lahaina, Maui as was her mother; her father was a clerk at the Pioneer Mill company store on Front street. This store space now houses the Fleetwood’s restaurant and bar. As with most kids and teens in Hawaii, my mom took hula lessons. As an adult, she would break into a hula at whatever party she was at, freely making up her own hand and hip movements. To her teenage children, this was a source of embarrassment… “Mom’s dancing again and there’s no Hawaiian music!” She didn’t care — just loved to dance hula.

In her 96th year, my beautiful mom, who lived a life so full of aloha, happened to fall and break her femur (thigh bone), a common occurrence for the elderly. The tumult of pain, ambulance, hospital and surgery was overwhelming to her adult children, but we were pleased to see her recovering well in her room post-surgery in a Northern California hospital.

And then it begins. She is sitting up, wanting to swing her legs out of her bed and walk, told she can’t, and does the next best thing — begins dancing a noho hula (a seated hula). Smiling and moving her hands gracefully, we all smile at this scene. In walks a nurse’s aide, a handsome man — I would say either Tongan or Samoan. He sees Mom dancing, puts down his tray, and proceeds to dance over to her side of the bed. My Mom sees him doing this and suddenly her face lights up like a flirty 16-year-old. And together they dance, without music, but mimicking each other’s movements.

That is the sweetest moment I’ll ever remember of Mom on this Mother’s Day — when time was transcended, pure joy was on her face, and she was doing exactly what she wanted to do. I have been lucky to have many good memories of my mother, but I know that isn’t always the experience of many. So, I invite you, even encourage you, to borrow this sweetest memory of mine and make it your own — to lighten your heart, to perhaps see your own Mom in a new light whether she is with you now or no longer in your life. And the question hangs in the air: what are your sweetest memories?

JOANNE MOONEY DOELL, Kihei

Maui Humane Society should expand services in West Maui

The Maui Humane Society mission and vision, as quoted from their website, is: Maui Humane Society’s mission is to protect and save the lives of Maui’s animals, accepting all in need, educating the community, and inspiring respect and compassion towards all animals.

On behalf of a group of independent pet-loving people on the West Side of Maui, we would like to share some of our experiences with MHS.

First of all, we are grateful that there is a Humane Society on Maui and so many other pet rescue organizations, and for their dedication and compassion to try making the life of feral and abandoned pets a bit better. Too many need to be rescued, and they all need all our love, compassion, TLC and care and sense of responsibility.

Many of us are feeding and taking care of several feral cat colonies, totaling more than 100 cats, every evening. We pay out of our own pockets for cat food, dry food and meat or fish, as we want to feed them as healthy as possible. Our expenses also go for gas, time of preparation of the food as well as driving to the different spots along the highway and in town. Some of us have a huge group of cats on their properties, which stay close — despite being feral — because they are fed there every day. For all these expenses, we do not get, nor do we ask for, any compensation, but we get a sense of fulfillment and joy that some soft, furry souls are taken care of, so that some of their needs are met.

We also trap the cats and get them spayed, which means we spend a good time of a couple nights to get them trapped. In that process, we need the help and support of the MHS to get appointments to get them spayed and vaccinated. We also would need functional traps, for which we shouldn’t have to pay a deposit. A deposit of $85 is unmanageable for some of us, even if reimbursed after the return of the traps. In case they are not returned, there certainly could be a different way to reach these people. We believe that a person who is dedicating their time, effort and money has no interest in taking away from the MHS; we are supporting their work within our own means. Nonetheless, we do what we feel is the right thing to do: help keep the feral cat colonies controlled and the cats prepared to live a healthy life. But when we call the MHS, if we are lucky, we get only two appointments at a time, and with a week- or month-long waiting period. In our opinion, that is counterproductive, as during all these months any feral female cat could get pregnant anytime, which is not helping at all to keep the colonies under control in their amount of litters. Additionally, we feel that the MHS is lacking coverage on the West Side of Maui.

In the past, we got appointments for up to ten cats, which included neutering as well as the vaccination and overall health check. Nowadays, MHS charges $5 for getting a feral cat also vaccinated when it is there to get spayed. Is it not the goal, mission and vision of the MHS to do exactly that? It is outrageous and disgraceful that every person who already spends a huge amount of money and time for our furry friends is then forced to pay even more, instead of having the costs completely covered for the feral cats. It is puzzling and disgraceful that MHS reduced the available slots and their service so drastically, although the demand is growing. The amount of donations received (as per public records) is also increasing every year.

Consequently, the question is, where is all the money going if not into rescuing, helping, saving and improving all these animals’ lives? Why is it not taken into consideration to invest into opening another location of the MHS on the West Side? There are so many pet-loving people here who would be willing to help and support their work if they had easier access. Too many people are dependent on taking the public transportation, which is reducing their range of how and when they could help.

When we contact MHS, all we need is support when it comes to TNR (trap-neuter-release) or finding a forever home for the young or tame kitties. It is heartbreaking that we are forced to put them back to the spots where they were found, often in unforgiving circumstances, instead of MHS helping to find them a loving and responsible owner. Isn’t our goal the same? Given the increasing pet-friendly housing problems, the costs of living and amount of abandoned pets, it is necessary that the MHS is supportive. It is heartwarming that some organizations — like the Maui Cat Cafe, Maui Cat Coalition, Maui Cat Rescue and others — are there to rescue pets on the island and also find them forever homes, in many cases on the Mainland.

Our mutual wish is to increase public awareness and attention to a growing problem, which has been caused by the aftermath of the pandemic. We all understand that and agree, but we all need to get back to a new normal and take a community responsibility. Our wish is to reach out to everyone whose mind and heart are hardened and not yet open to understand and feel that every living being needs our love, respect, dedication and care.

Most of the dire pet situations are made by humans, who would have a positive impact if they pulled together and did the right, humane, loving thing! Where are all the pet lovers and owners expected to go to get their pets spayed at a reasonable rate? Most of us certainly do not have the money to pay the outrageous veterinary fees. The result is more unwanted and abandoned animals.

Stop that helplessness we all may feel and the animal suffering. Let us turn the wheel around into the better world we all desire. Mahalo nui loa for taking your time and to open your heart to live aloha for every living being!

NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST