The Koa Puna Motorcycle Club invites the community to help out with its Saturday food drive for the Food Basket at the Hilo Bayfront.
The Koa Puna Motorcycle Club invites the community to help out with its Saturday food drive for the Food Basket at the Hilo Bayfront.
The event — from 10 a.m. on, into the evening — will be by the canoe hales. Taking the stage will be eight bands, including one flying in from Las Vegas. Admission is two nonperishable food items.
The food drive is part of the club’s Labor Day Weekend “Come Together Bike Rally,” celebrating the 35th anniversary of the organization’s founding.
Throughout the day, between music sessions, various competitions will be open to the public. They include custom bikes, stock bikes, “rat bikes” and a People’s Choice Contest for “the nicest bike.” Action-packed biker rodeo activities will include “barrel rolling,” “slow motion,” “tire toss,” “balancing beam” and “wiener bike.”
Contests also will include Miss Koa Puna, a bikini contest and a wet T-shirt contest. Trophies, prizes and awards will be given. The entry fee per contest is $10. Vendors on-site will be selling ice cream, shave ice, Hawaiian plates, pulled pork and other food.
Following Saturday’s Hilo rally, next up will be a cross-island ride Sunday. Starting at 9 a.m. at the Hilo Bayfront, the big biker brigade will head out to Kona. Participants will include more than 300 Koa Puna East Hawaii members, about 40 Koa Puna members from the Oakland branch, additional mainland riders and motorcyclists from Maui, Kauai, Oahu, Kona and Kohala chapters of Koa Puna.
Non-affiliated bikers also are invited to ride along.
Assistance in putting on the big event has come from Mayor Billy Kenoi, the county Department of Parks and Recreation, Gov. Neil Abercrombie, the Fire Department and lots of community volunteers.
For more information, call Elson Kalawe at 640-2131.