Interesting Islanders

Introducing Patricia Vincent

By Karen Welsh

Crossing guard Patricia Vincent is a hero.
Every school day, this Hilo native stands on road leading to Ernest B. Silva School, risking life and limb to make sure the keiki crossing her path make it to school safely.
For one hour every morning and one hour every afternoon, Patricia faithfully dons her bright yellow hard hat, whistle, reflective vest and white gloves, literally pitting her diminutive life and limbs against tons of speeding metal and delinquent drivers to do her job.
And, every day, this 36-year-old mother of two teenagers keeps coming back for more.
"Oh my goodness, it's like a racetrack going through here," Patricia said. "It's a dangerous road, the way people speed through here."
She said it's also very noisy and the weather isn't always cooperative.
"It's miserable when it's raining," Patricia said. "But, the way I look at it, this is life."
The truth be told, the act of stopping trucks, busses and inattentive drivers dead in their tracks is a cinch compared to motherhood.
"It's hard raising teens," Patricia said. "When they want to go out, they try and push you and pull all the wrong buttons."
With that said, Patricia dearly loves her children. The two girls, Ashley and Jessica, have been her sustaining factor in her life.
It's been a long road, full of twists and turns, for Patricia. She has only been off the Big Island one time in her life and that was a short trip to Oahu to visit an aunt. Patricia was only 16-years-old at the time.
She was young when she got married, started her family shortly thereafter and was a content homemaker for many years.
Unfortunately, the marriage didn't work out, so Patricia decided to find a job working with those whom she felt most comfortable being around -- children.
At first, she cleaned classrooms, helped out children out on the field and was a crossing guard at Keonepoko School in Hawaiian Beaches.
Eventually she made her way to the hillside in Ainako Terrace and she's been working there ever since.
Not only does Patricia assist the children, she also gives her maternal aloha, cheering up those who are grumpy about going to school in the morning, and asking others how school was or if they have homework on their way home in the afternoon.
"I love kids," she said. "This is the joy of my life. The kids here are polite and respectful. They know how to say thanks. That makes my job worth it everyday."
This patient crossing guard will also serve as a stalwart reminder to fulfill my personal resolution to be a more considerate and conscientious driver in the new year.