LIHUE — Thomas Awong had a mission — get to the Historic County Building early on Sunday morning. He also had a second mission: Help raise toys for the underprivileged. Strapped to the back of his motorcycle, a stuffed bear
LIHUE — Thomas Awong had a mission — get to the Historic County Building early on Sunday morning.
He also had a second mission: Help raise toys for the underprivileged.
Strapped to the back of his motorcycle, a stuffed bear as big as he was clung on as Awong rolled into the parking lot with the stuffed animal garbed in a Sons of Kauai T-shirt.
“We were at the Toys for Tots ride on Oahu last week, and it dumped,” said Awong. “Not rain. It dumped, and it looks like it’s going to rain so I had to get this guy in, quickly.”
Awong’s entry came on the heels of more than two pallets of toys, securely wrapped in plastic, contributed by associates and representatives of four seed companies and an agricultural labor pool service to Sunday’s annual Keiki Toy Ride.
“The employees wanted to do this,” said Laurie Yoshida of DuPont Pioneer. “In addition to what the employees of each company and what the company provided, there’s more than $1,000 worth of toys here.”
The contribution provided by associates of Dow, BASF, Pioneer, Syngenta Seeds and Global Agricultural rolled up in three pickup trucks ahead of the arrival of the motorcycle riders.
The goal was to raise toys for those who need help during the holiday season.
“We’re going to have to break this down,” said Russell Haluapo, who spearheaded the annual Keiki Toy Ride. “We have some going to the Lihue Missionary Church, the Awakening Church, and there are other families who need help.”
Several hundred motorcycle riders arrived, each rider bearing either a freshly-bought toy, or nonperishable food for the Hawaii Foodbank, Kauai Branch, the riders being met by Michelle Panoke and Joan Conrow.
“We started the food collection a few years ago after some riders were making comments about food,” Haluapo said. “We try to take care of everybody.”
Jack Wilhelm, a longtime motorcycle rider, said the event was good.
“Every time you have to do things for keiki, people come out,” Wilhelm said. “This and the ride for Special Olympics have to be the biggest rides.”
