The annual drive for the Toys for Tots campaign officially kicked off with the “Bikes for Tykes” event in Downtown Honolulu. I didn’t know about this event. It’s the third year and I did not know about it. I missed it. I will make it a point to NOT miss it next year!
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is on my list of wonderful organizations and the local Marines in Kaneohe do them proud! The Marines and the Hawaii Chapter of Street Bikers United join forces, once a year, to take toys to the keiki — via their motorcycles. I love this event because it is a rare occasion that we get to see so many riders all together at the same time and, best of all, for a common cause. Regular readers know how much I love this event. Guess what? I missed that too! The worst part is that I promised you guys last year to get it done this year!

Here is the one photo that I was able to get for this year’s event. That’s it. That’s all I have. Last year I suffered from an equipment failure when my camera decided to have a memory meltdown. This year, I was severely slowed down in the morning and then the husband locked his keys in the car (with it running) so I missed the end of the run too!
Needless to say, I was not happy. Again. This event only happens once a year! I swear, next year is mine! I will get those pictures that I discovered I really can get if I have to die trying! Okay, maybe I won’t go quite that far.
I Have an Attitude Problem
So often seen as the kind of people you don’t want to take home to meet your parents, these tattoo-sporting, bike-riding, beer-drinking hooligans are, for the most part, just the opposite — they’re sheep in wolves clothing! 😉
These horrible monsters are taking toys to children. Gasp! Oh the horror! Yeah, I’m being a wise a** but cut me some slack. For all the “bad boy” or “hoochie mama” notoriety they get (yes, women ride too!), they’re just like the rest of us — they are passionate about what they do. I keep grilling this “they’re good people” stuff into the ground, I know, but I can’t help it. I can relate to that passion, be it as a loaner or as part of a group.
Any bikers reading this will be thinking, “Yeah! We’re good!” Then they hate me because I continue to caution them about safety and helmets and the like. I can’t help that either!
I did tell the new downtown Honda store that they need a couple of motorcycles in the window if they expect to draw people in. “We have a location for that,” was the comment.
“I know that,” I quipped back, “so have them lend you guys a couple to draw people into the store and then you guys can sell them the other stuff. You need bikes on the floor!” We’ll see what they do. Trust me, if it happens, you guys will hear about it as soon as it does! Then again, nobody listens to me so don’t hold your breath.
Anyway, if you can swing it, bikes are always good Christmas gifts. Big bikes, little bikes, big tykes, little tykes, boys and girls — it’s freedom for the free spirited. Don’t forget the helmets, knee pads, elbow pads…
I will add a link to this post later that includes all of the pictures that I have from the 2006 event. Again, I apologize. I also have four or five other posts sitting here waiting to be written. Off to work!