LIHUE — Volunteers donate, too, said Dan Sanchez, who was readying his bicycle for a friend Sunday at the Kukui Grove Center.
“I’m not riding today,” Sanchez said. “But a friend wanted to ride so I’m loaning him my bicycle. I’m volunteering, and I donated, too. Even volunteers donate. This is for a good cause.”
Sanchez said he knew some people who lived close to where Typhoon Haiyan came ashore, but they escaped any serious damage.
“It’s sad when you look at the picture and videos,” Sanchez said. “There are about 6,000 dead and we know how bad it can get because we went through Hurricane Iniki. This is going to take a long time to recover.”
Angelo Cattigay, organizer of the ride with Kenny Ishii, said there are some members of the Philippine Islands Hawaii Island Bicycle Club who have relatives who live in the Visayas, but were lucky to have escaped the major damage from Typhoon Haiyan.
Also in the group, Tommy Noyes led a good-sized number of Team Budley members, joining Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry and recent Ironman standout Joe Kali.
Noyes said the group would ride from Kukui Grove to Moloaa Fruit Stand for a smoothie before returning to Kukui Grove, a distance of about 60 miles.
Dirk Soma and the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce assisted in the afternoon of entertainment, which included Aki Conquest, John Dumas and the Joyful Noise taiko ensemble from St. Michael and All Angels Church, the Kapaa Middle School Choir and Ukulele Band directed by Mary Lardizabal and Daphne Sanchez, Dan’s daughter and host of The Jam Room at the Kukui Grove Center.
The PIHI fundraising ride comes on the heels of a fundraiser Saturday night at the Hukilau Lanai, where Chef Ron Miller prepared a special Filipino, Hukilau-style buffet complete with entertainment, with the proceeds earmarked for relief efforts in the Philippines.
Thursday, Alan Villaflor is heading a Zumbathon from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Kato Gym in Kalaheo, where funds will be turned over to the Consuelo Foundation.
Another fundraiser by the Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce, the Kauai Filipino Community Council, Kauai Visayan Club, and the Kauai Filipino Catholic Clubs is scheduled 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Kukui Grove Center.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
