Page 2 - MidWeek Kauai - June 15, 2022

2 KAUA‘I MIDWEEK JUNE 15, 2022
My Mother, My Mentor
OP l a n B
ne thing that’s surfaced from the pandemic is
“... The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will Rhave sought and found how to serve.” — Dr. Albert Schweitzer
etirement brought took him fundraising; and (3) fantry rifleman, he witnessed questions: (1) what to told him about Dr. Albert Sch- the ravages of war and its cata- do with my life? and weitzer (1875-1965). strophic impact on the civilians
the sense that we really need a “Plan B” —
what results? A friend arranged a meeting with John Henry Fe- lix. I had met him once, briefly, but we had no discussion about purpose or the rest of my life.
Schweitzer, one of the most brilliant minds of the 20th cen- tury, was a theologian, philos- opher, organist and physician who spent his life treating the sick in Africa. He started a hospital and raised money by giving organ concerts. He actu- ally lived his philosophy: “The purpose of life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others.”
Purpose is the key to John Henry. It motivates and sus- tains, provides direction, rele- vance and value. Purpose came to him early from his mother and mentor. The only one he needed.
something alongside tourism as a dependable, economic driver here. As horrific as bubbles, isolation, quarantining, social distancing and staying put have been, the more people you talk to here, the more you realize how nice many feel this place is without huge crowds, constant traffic, parking dilemmas, short-term renters, et al. Geez, what a concept.
Our two-hour conversation barely scratched the surface. Many more followed. Enlight- ening.
We cannot all be John Henry Felix. But we all can be more like him. I had my answers.
But reality indicates that despite omicron’s ominous overtures, the vital visitors are back, and so are the dis- comforts many feel with that additional human crunch. Yes, tourism is the engine of our economy, with huge ripple effects felt throughout so many other industries. We got it. But now that we’ve had a glimpse of what Hawai‘i looks and feels like when the visitors don’t arrive in droves, wouldn’t today be a really good time to focus on Plan B and even C?
Genius? Probably. Driven? Absolutely. Committed? To- tally. At 91, John Henry works even longer and harder, and still volunteers. He says his mother, Melinda Pacheco Felix, gave him purpose and shaped his life before first grade. She: (1) taught him to read (the Bible) and the need to help others; (2)
Joining the March of Dimes and Red Cross in third grade, John Henry became a national leader in both. He became that leader after returning from the Korean War where, as an in-
The March of Dimes, and American and International Red Cross organizations have recognized his contributions with numerous awards, which he appreciates. But they do not motivate him. Relief from suf-
David Fairbanks is a retired attorney. He lives in Niu Valley with his wife, Sharon.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Robin Stephens Rohr and Lynne Johnson.
Since we didn’t solve the local alternate economic source dilemma during the 1995 or 2009 recessions, and since inflation, supply shortages and workers’ malaise are also a reality today, now would be a great time to pool local and outside brainpower as we seek new options, rather than just speculate, pontificate and ponder?
(2) how to find purpose, rele- She also pushed him to pur- trapped by it.
vance and value?
Others had faced them. With
sue education and to excel. He did: two master’s and a Ph.D. from Oxford.
He became national chair of the March of Dimes and broadened its focus. For the American and international Red Cross, John Henry has undertaken varied projects all over the world: refugees; natu- ral disasters; started remote Red Cross “Societies”; even prison- er of war exchanges. Orphans are a particular concern. He es- tablishes facilities, personally directs care, feeds and tries to comfort them.
fering is its own reward. There is a palpable urgency: so much need, so little time. Inspiring.
By David Fairbanks
Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9. Each number can appear only once in each row, column, and 3x3 block. Use logic and process of elimination to solve the puzzle. The difficulty level ranges from Bronze (easiest) to Silver to Gold (hardest). Answers are on page 7
RATING: SILVER
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Can Hawai‘i become a bigger haven for remote work- ers due to its natural charm, friendliness and all of the other reasons one might want to live here but work elsewhere? Can public-private partnerships or tax incentives allow Hawai‘i to become a hub for alternative energy corpora- tions, cybersecurity firms, think tanks, or other sectors that might keep a workforce well-paid and engaged?
Plan B could be an all-encompassing effort to keep 25- to 55-year-olds here, rather than continue to see the emi- gration we’ve witnessed over the past five years. For if we don’t get serious about Plan B, the “B” will stand for Plan Bail, Plan Bumbai or Plan Bye-Bye, as floundering res- idents will continue seeking greener pastures elsewhere.
And before you say, “Good — if no can, no can” rela- tive to people staying, take a look at our aging population. Who’s going to provide the resources, labor capital and tax base for everyone’s golden years if we don’t act now? A series of all-inclusive, action-oriented strategy conferences might provide tangible, actionable and even legislatable answers needed today, and not in 2035 or 2050. Maybe, just maybe, Plan B could evolve into “Plan Brilliant.”
Think about it ...
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com