Motorcylists roar through town for Toys for Tots

Big Island motorcyclists thundered through Kailua-Kona on Saturday, bringing gifts for needy children on their sleds.

The annual Toys for Tots ride, now in its 20th year, drew more than 250 cycles, riders in Santa hats and plenty of stuffies and other Christmas gifts.

“It’s all about giving. It’s all about toys and kids. And the ride,” said Serena Jarvis, who stood with her husband Kurt at the Old Kona Airport Park Makaeo Events Pavilion, near a Harley Davidson being ridden by a giant Minnie Mouse in a pink skirt.

The Hui Makai Motorcycle Club sponsored the event with the help of the Hawaii Police Department and will turn over the toys collected to its partner, Hawaii Electric Light Co. This year, people who want to donate to the Toys for Tots cause can make drop-offs at the Big Island Harley-Davidson dealership on Palani Road, said Dexter Chaves, president of Hui Makai.

Numerous motorcycle clubs were represented in the rally, he said. After the ride, toys were bagged inside the pavilion and riders lined up for food. Door prizes and live music were also featured.

“Our whole objective is to collect as much as we can to help get toys to kids who otherwise wouldn’t have any,” said Chaves.

Unlike some other toy drives, the event did not have any particular target, Chaves said.

“It’s whatever we can get, whatever the bikers bring,” he said.

Each year, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program collects new, unwrapped toys and then distributes those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community. The event has been held for 49 years in Hawaii. Last year, more than 45,000 toys were collected statewide through the program.

The public can drop off new, unwrapped toys in collection boxes positioned in various businesses islandwide, including Alii Gardens Marketplace on Alii Drive.

For more information, including where to find a drop-off site, or to donate, call Paul Fujioka at 969-0123.