Monday, January 12, 2009

A Hero

A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."
Christopher Reeve



"The hero draws inspiration from the virtue of his ancestors."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


“A hero is a man who does what he can."
Romain Rolland

Her people, "Na Pua" (The Flowers) are the ornament of Hawaii













Every day, all over the world, countless acts of heroism and humanity are accomplished by people who didn't ask to be there. . . The heavy rains we in the islands were "blessed" with last month caused some amazing flooding. Paukauila Stream, near O`ahu's North Shore Town of Hale`iwa, overflowed it's banks, and the waters were lapping at the door of the Gonsalves Ohana before they could be evacuated. Young Mom, Johnell was braving the torrential downpour to get to work on the bus. When she realized how trecherous the storm was, and that her baby Ikaika might be in very real danger, she grew frantic. Soon she was screaming into the phone for her brother, Henry Gonsalves, 24, to do something! Henry, unemployed and looking for work, is an experienced surfer who has lived near some of the most famous big-wave surfing beaches in this world his whole life. In water up to his neck, Henry made his way to the neighbors house where a surfboard awaited him. Somehow, he managed to jump to the cottages roof and then jump the 12 feet to his own. Clambering down through a window he retrieved his screaming nephew and paddled against a raging current to safety. Then he went back for his girlfriend, mother, and aunt. An opportune kayak floated by; Henry placed his relatives aboard and towed them into the arms of Honolulu firefighters (Yay!) who then helped to secure the family's handicapped father. "I got bit by centipedes and cane spiders . . .I wasn't going to let anything happen to my nephew. My sister would have died." he told reporters later. In Hawaii, it is a sign of respect to call folks older den you "Auntie" & "Uncle." That's how we roll in the 808. Well, Uncle Henry is a hero indeed to his nephew and all the local folks on the "country" side of our island. To me too!

A L O H A! Cloudia
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15 comments:

  1. the walking manJanuary 12, 2009 at 3:11 AM

    Right man + right place + right time = hero. Big wave surfer or not weather can over come experience yet this young man overcame nature. Both climate and human. He is a true hero.

    It makes me happy to have been able to read of his extraordinary feat.

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  2. Brother TobiasJanuary 12, 2009 at 4:09 AM

    Go Henry Gonsalves! That took plenty of guts. It's an odd thing about courage; we can take pride in other peoples, as if it rubs off on Humanity as a whole.

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  3. BubblewenchJanuary 12, 2009 at 8:07 AM

    What a great story. Go Henry!

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  4. nonizamboniJanuary 12, 2009 at 8:18 AM

    love to read your musings and feast on fresh views of the world thru your eyes
    happy week, my friend!

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  5. RiverPoetJanuary 12, 2009 at 8:28 AM

    A hero is a person who forgets their own safety in the service of others. Henry definitely is that. I'd be willing to wager he never gave it a second thought.

    Thanks for sharing this story with us!

    Peace - D

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  6. The GrandpaJanuary 12, 2009 at 9:35 AM

    That was truly a courageous act. I believe a hero is someone who responds in the way the humanity inside of us tells us is possible.

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  7. claudeJanuary 12, 2009 at 10:18 AM

    I love very much each photo of sky.

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  8. Charles GramlichJanuary 12, 2009 at 10:28 AM

    It's so true. The acts of everyday heroism go unnoticed while brutality gets a head shake from everyone.

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  9. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2009 at 12:49 PM

    Unca' Henry's brave actions should have been front page news....at least to give hope that some good in the world is happening. I didn't know the streams could get so bad so quickly in Hawai'i. How do centipedes and cane spiders bite? Are they hanging in the water? DrumMajor

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  10. Reader WilJanuary 12, 2009 at 1:06 PM

    Such an ordeal had been terrible for those people. And Henry Gonzales is a real example of a true hero. Great story, Cloudia! Thanks for sharing.

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  11. AkelamaluJanuary 12, 2009 at 1:51 PM

    Uncle Henry is a true Hero!

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  12. ★ Crazy Drile™January 13, 2009 at 12:17 AM

    Aloha Cloudia.....amazing chapter!

    Greetings from Canberra

    Crazy Drile

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  13. Barbara MartinJanuary 13, 2009 at 9:09 PM

    It's ordinary folk who become heroes, only because they only think of doing what is necessary.

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  14. CloudiaJanuary 13, 2009 at 11:57 PM

    Today just got away from me, but I wanted you all to know just how much I appreciate your visits and comments. Truly, they are gifts that I cherish. MAHALO!!

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  15. Eric S.January 17, 2009 at 6:29 PM

    Wow, that was quite a feat for "Uncle" Henry. He is a hero indeed for going back after even more people.

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