LIHU‘E — If the keiki benefiting from the Toys for Tots could have seen the sight, their hearts would have melted on Sunday.
Hundreds of motorcycle riders turned out, taking advantage of the clear and sunny skies to enjoy camaraderie and provide a new toy for Kaua‘i keiki.
“This has got to be one of the biggest rides ever,” said Santa Claus, busy working the crowd with conversation and a candy cane.
Russell Haluapo, the ride organizer, watched anxiously as bikers continued to rumble into the area fronting the historic County Building.
“I’m really nervous,” Haluapo said. “There are many bikes here already and I know there are others that haven’t reached here yet.”
Haluapo said the toy collection was headed up by Dai Arnado who has been contacting schools, churches and housing projects to see what their respective needs are.
Arnado got the help of Laura McPeek, a returning volunteer, and Sandy Sanchez of Garden Island Motorsports.
“This is at least five times bigger than last year,” McPeek said. “We should have toys for every child that needs one. This is just so cool.”
Arnado said last year the goal of providing for children fell far short of its needs, the collection being able to provide for children only from Hanalei to Anahola.
“This is a tough job,” Arnado said. “We have to match the toys to the kids, and it’s not for rich kids. These are for kids that just don’t have the money to be able to have a Christmas.”
Arnado said once the matches are made, the loads are delivered to the community contacts who are able to deliver the toys to keiki in time for Christmas.
Jose Aguayo, sales manager of King Auto Center, said the auto dealership became involved when people started showing up with toys on Wednesday.
“We’re not riding, but we are helping them,” Aguayo said. “People just started showing up with toys and this is a really good feeling.”
Mark and Nadine Meyers, visiting from Portland, Ore., said they would not miss this event.
“We’re from the Rose City HOG Chapter and after hearing about this from the Internet, we’re here,” Nadine said.
“We rented bikes from Kaua‘i Harley-Davidson who took really good care of us and we’re riding.”
Other notables making the ride were Ron Wiley who also took advantage of a Kaua‘i Harley-Davidson rental, and former Councilman Mel Rapozo who makes it a point to ride in almost all of the charitable motorcycle rides. Wiley said he will be wearing a helmet because it’s the L.A.W. (Laura A. Wiley).
A rider who was not riding because her bike was in the shop said she never realized there were that many Harleys on the island, her video camera capturing the seemingly endless flow of motorcycles thundering out of the access road fronting the historic County Building.
“This is so, so nice,” Nadine said. “The people are so accommodating and accepting. It’s almost like riding at home.”
