LIHUE — Rhocel Basilio of Lihue was surprised when she saw the Toys for Tots collection table at the Haunted House Friday at the Kukui Grove Center. “I’ve always donated to Toys for Tots,” Basilio said. “But we normally do
LIHUE — Rhocel Basilio of Lihue was surprised when she saw the Toys for Tots collection table at the Haunted House Friday at the Kukui Grove Center.
“I’ve always donated to Toys for Tots,” Basilio said. “But we normally do it at another store. When I saw the table, I just went to Ross Dress for Less and bought some toys to give. I tell my children that we need to help other children who don’t have toys.”
Basilio was selected the random winner of a $250 gift card to Kukui Grove Center provided by Dow Agrosciences and DuPont Pioneer and presented by the management of Kukui Grove along with representatives from the Family and Friends of Agriculture and the Kauai County Farm Bureau who sponsored the month-long Haunted House and part of the Halloween festivities at the shopping center.
“This has been a crazy month,” said Laurie Ho, president of the Kauai County Farm Bureau. “There have been different nonprofit organizations benefiting each week, and during the final run, we added the Toys for Tots campaign.”
Chantal Zarbaugh of the Kukui Grove said the presentation to Basilio wraps up a busy Halloween month, which came to a climax Saturday with the Kauai United Way walkathon and the Halloween festival, where more than 600 people turned out.
Zaraugh said the first 400 keiki were given Halloween goodie bags filled with toys and certificates from Jamba Juice or McDonald’s. Kukui Grove and KQNG Radio Group provided more than $4,000 in prizes.
Araceli Kingor was presented the grand prize valued at $1,200, which was an overnight stay at St. Regis, dinner for two, and Sunday brunch for two.
Christian Mahuka, Tory Refamonte and Karli Labanon were named winners of the 9-11 division of the Keiki Costume Contest, and Trey Refamonte, Jaden Gandia and Isaac Catbagan were winners in the 6-8 division.
Ellie Yu, coming off a first place in the Wilcox Hospital 9th annual Halloween Baby Parade, continued her winning ways, earning top honors in the Kukui Grove Keiki Costume Contest, 0-2 age division. Liam Carolan and Vaylen Efhan were other winners in the division. Maeven Lytle, Kalena Coreia and Adrian Smith were winners in the 3-5 division.
John Alcaraz pocketed $75 in Fun Factory tokens for topping the Howl for Boys top prize followed by Axten DeRego and Harrison Clarke. Grace Lopez topped the Scream for Girls followed by Janicee Mahuka and Jasmine Castro.
