The Hawaiian hospitality
is the memory the
trio will cherish

By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

They were shoeless, giddy, hungry and grateful to be alive following their Christmas Day rescue at sea.

But it was the Hawaiian hospitality that left an indelible impression on balloonists Richard Branson, Steve Fossett and Per Lindstrand.

"Fortunately ... of all the places in the Pacific to be stuck, we were in easy reach of these lovely islands and the hospitality," Branson said.

The trio originally was set to go to Queen's Hospital for an examination, but they apparently were uninjured.

Instead, they had an unexpected treat waiting for them: a limousine.

"Yes, they were surprised," said Hilton Hawaiian Village General Manager Noel Trainor, who met the trio at the Coast Guard air station at Barbers Point. "When I first met them, they were happy and giddy."

Trainor said he received a call at 5:30 a.m. yesterday from hotel-chain board Chairman Barron Hilton, who is a balloon enthusiast and heard about the rescue efforts.

"Barron Hilton was initially very concerned about their safety," Trainor said. "We took our limo out there (to Barbers Point) and also set up rooms."

While riding to the hotel, the balloonists dined on breakfast wraps, sandwiches, juice and coffee.

When they arrived, they were still wearing their flight suits.

"We realized that they didn't have shoes and we had to get their sizes for shoes," Trainor said.

They also asked for shirts, he said.

"And we said: 'We got to get you aloha shirts. You're in Hawaii, right?' "

Fossett and Lindstrand donned their newly acquired shirts at a news conference at the hotel yesterday.

Asked how they felt following what Branson described as the "most hairy landing" he's ever been through, Branson, sounding tired, responded, "Grateful to be alive."

The adventurers also were guests of the hotel at its weekly fireworks display.

Branson intended to leave last night to be with his family, which is in the Caribbean.

Fossett said he would probably leave Hawaii today.

Lindstrand said his family -- his daughter, son and girlfriend -- was planning to join him in Hawaii.

He also wanted to remain to examine the balloon wreckage.