WAIMEA — Pauly Valmoja used a flatbed hauler to motor his 1929 Ford Model A to Waimea, Saturday. Valmoja, the owner of the Model A, said the car is his new project after acquiring it from a Wailua person who
WAIMEA — Pauly Valmoja used a flatbed hauler to motor his 1929 Ford Model A to Waimea, Saturday.
Valmoja, the owner of the Model A, said the car is his new project after acquiring it from a Wailua person who was thinking of getting out of the car.
“It’s got all original equipment,” Valmoja said. “Everything is original, down to the paint and the whitewalls on the tires.”
First on the needs list is a set of tires, the set on the classic car showing its age.
“They still make tires for this car. I just have to order them,” Valmoja who was using the vehicle to drive 2009 Miss Kaua‘i Filipina, Tashana Valmoja, in the annual parade.
“The ‘rumble seat’ is too low for her to sit, so I had to make adjustments so she could be up higher,” Valmoja said. “Even the upholstery in the back is original.”
Having motored vehicles participate in parades, especially lighted ones, can be a challenge, but those were overcome.
Wally Rita piloted one of his big rigs and was making final adjustments to the lighting of the truck.
“It’s kind of hard to figure out what to do because you need to see it in the dark,” Rita said of his working truck.
The man of the hour, Santa Claus, last week rode a Harley Davidson to lead the convoy of motorcycle enthusiasts in the annual Toys for Keiki Ride in Lihu‘e.
Saturday, Santa, aka Kaua‘i Fire Chief Robert Westerman, traded in the Harley for a Kawasaki Mule enshrouded with miniature lights.
Sparky, the Kaua‘i Fire Department, also was piloted on another Mule as the parade started.
Anna Henriques was car-sitting her son James’ tow truck of J&T Towing.
The rig was outfitted with its complement of attachments for towing and decorated with lights highlighted by a hang glider towing a sled, one spot being reserved for Haley Oyamot, 5, who kept Henriques company while waiting on the sun to set.
“This is the first time they’re in the parade,” Anna said. “They are doing it to promote the Westside towing service. The “J” stands for James and the “T” is Terza, his girlfriend from Alaska. She tried to make snowflakes, but I guess snow doesn’t work in Hawai‘i.”
