HANAPEPE — The din that shattered the noonday quiet yesterday was not from artillery but from the roar of motorcycles as a contingent of Sons of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i pulled into the parking lot at the Hanapepe Armory. The Sons of
HANAPEPE — The din that shattered the noonday quiet yesterday was not from artillery but from the roar of motorcycles as a contingent of Sons of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i pulled into the parking lot at the Hanapepe Armory.
The Sons of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i, stopped their Sunday ride to present a check for $21,000.
The total represents the proceeds from Operation Military Appreciation which was held July 1, and will be shared among the Family Support Groups of the Army National Guard, the Navy, the Air National Guard and the Kaua‘i Veterans Council.
“There was a lot of bitchin’ and moanin’ the last few days before the event,” said Tony Ricci, one of the event sparkplugs. “But this is all worth it, and there is no bitchin’ or moanin’ now. This was all worth it.”
The Sons of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i, combined forces with Tim Lach and his staff at Harley-Davidson in Puhi to stage the July family event that kicked off with a fund-raising ride that was taped for airing on “Good Morning Hawai‘i,” a television show produced on Maui and shown locally.
Invitations were extended to include all motorcycle enthusiasts on the island which added to the number of riders leaving the Grove Farm Park behind the Harley-Davidson shop.
Dan Haggerty of “Grizzly Adams” fame and Branscombe Richmond, the host of “Good Morning Hawai‘i” and star of many films, made guest appearances and joined several of the Kaua‘i Police Department officers in leading off the caravan which a few spectators described as being the biggest one on the island as more than 200 motorcycles shattered the Puhi calm on a ride to the Westside.
“People were very generous, and we had a lot of community sponsors,” Ricci said. “It was very heartwarming to see just how giving our island can be when it comes to supporting our troops.”
For 1st Sgt. James Jimenez, the presentation is especially poignant because he leaves for Iraq in a few days on his third deployment to the region.
“It is nice to see that our troops’ families will be taken care of while we’re not here,” Jimenez said, recollecting some of the previous support efforts shown by island residents.
Ricci said plans are under way to make Operation Military Appreciation an annual event with sponsors already lined up for the next event.
In appreciation for the effort spearheaded by the Sons of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i, Jimenez presented a paddle with a plaque expressing appreciation from both the soldiers and their families.
