Posted on: Tuesday, June 26, 2001

Big Island welcomes classic cars

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — About 250 classic cars from the West Coast and Hawai'i will be cruising the Big Island during a nine-day gathering that starts Saturday.

"Cruise Paradise 2001" is the brainchild of retired Hilo plumber Tony Rodrigues and businessman Herbert Leite of Papa'ikou.

The two men decided to organize a Big Island event, with sponsorship from NAPA Auto Parts, after joining other car fanciers in traveling to a Maui gathering every four years.

About 30 cars are being shipped from the Mainland to Hilo via Matson, which offered a discounted round-trip rate, and approximately 100 other cars are being barged in from Maui and O'ahu to join the 120 vehicles owned by Big Island residents.

Dan Akamine and Gary Mizuno are serving as coordinators along with Leite and Rodrigues.

Leite, who owns a 1932 Ford coupe and a 1929 Ford touring sedan, said some owners have spent up to $72,000 to restore cars that date from the 1920s to the 1960s.

Many have been retrofitted with modern auto devices and safety features.

Rodrigues has eight classic cars, including a 1927 Ford Model A.

The collection of vehicles will be on display from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at East Kawili in Hilo; from 10 a.m. July 5 until sometime in the afternoon at Church Row in Waimea; and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 8 at Keauhou Shopping Center in Kona.

In addition to the display days, the Hawaii Classic Car Cruisers group is organizing excursions around the island, including a tour along the twisty Kohala Mountain Road.

All events are free. For details about "Cruise Paradise 2001," call Rodrigues at (808) 967-7133 or Leite at (808) 964-1245.