Photo By Capt. Charles Bierwirth | Gale Yoshimoto, known to most as Auntie Gale is the bright spot for those deployed in...... read more read more
LAHAINA - Joy is where you find it, and sometimes you find it in the most unexpected places.
For U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff deployed in support of the Hawaii Wildfires recovery mission on Maui, that joy comes in the form of Gale Yoshimoto, known to them as Auntie Gale.
"Working 12 hours a day, seven days a week on a deployment leaves very little time for quality human connection—something I thrive on," said Brittany Keyes, a training officer from Honolulu District deployed as a quality assurance inspector.
"I'm so grateful for Auntie Gale. I've had the privilege of starting every morning and ending every long workday with her warm embrace and a kiss on the cheek- along with a sweet reminder to drink plenty of water," said Keyes.
Yoshimoto, who had lived in her apartment for 30 years, needed something to fill her days when she moved to Westin Maui following the fires.
"I noticed all of the workers here and decided to go downstairs and greet them before they left each morning," said Yoshimoto."
During Phase I of the work, she says there was a lot of congestion from everyone leaving simultaneously, so the workers weren't going through the front valet area when they left.
She decided to go to them, so she took her walker down to the end of the entrance in front of the hotel, ensuring she could send them a warm greeting to begin their day.
The personnel working this mission have 12-hour days beginning at 6 a.m., so she's out in front of the hotel around 5 a.m., not wanting to miss them when they leave.
"They don't know what to think of me at first," said Yoshimoto. "After about three days of seeing me out here, they finally warm up and stop to talk."
"I know they have taken time away from their families and friends to be here, and I just want to be the one who comes and tells them to have a good morning and welcome home," says Yoshimoto.
When they are all gone for the day, she waits for her next round of people, families with school-age children still living in the hotel.
"I just started thinking about what those children had been through with the fire," said Yoshimoto. "Their parents are their safe place, the ones who are there to protect them, and this has been such a traumatic experience. I knew it was hard for them to leave their parents to attend school daily."
Yoshimoto sends each of them off with a snack each morning, hoping to give them a bright start to their day.
"Auntie Gale is one bright light shining in a dark world," said Jennifer Lawson, who left Maui and returned to her home district this week. "Every morning and evening for the entire time I was deployed, Auntie Gale was there to tell us to have a good day and welcome home."
| Date Taken: | 04.23.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 04.23.2024 15:18 |
| Story ID: | 469257 |
| Location: | LAHAINA , HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 74 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Radiant Resilience: Auntie Gale's heartwarming welcome amidst Hawai'i Wildfires Recovery, by Stacey Reese, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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